tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81707361842902776442024-03-13T18:20:19.471-06:00Reading the LeavesThe kettle's boiling and the tea pot's warmed. Come sit with me by the fireside and let's visit awhile ...The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-79161468023956224922017-04-20T02:22:00.000-06:002017-04-20T02:51:53.917-06:00The Final LeafWay back, well over a couple of decades ago, I sketched on a paper napkin a dream I had for a tea house. I was with my brother. He kept the napkin.<br />
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On Thanksgiving weekend of 2002 my brother and his crew broke ground for the tea house.<br />
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We opened the doors of Nilgiris Tea House at 7:00 a.m. on April 13, 2003.<br />
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On April 19, 2017, I watched as my dream was compressed into 53 feet of storage space and was driven carefully away by the best Class 1 licence holder I know.<br />
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How I loved the Tea House! I think back to the beginning - Brenda and Andy and Mum and Dad and BethAnne and Bonnie C and Allan and Angie and Don and Norma, all pitching in to get the thing off the ground.<br />
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And my Girls - and Guys - who worked hard and cheerfully, doing whatever was asked of them, charming the guests, displaying unswerving loyalty and dedication. I am so proud of you, "my" kids, proud of what you have all gone on to accomplish with your lives. Truly, of all employers, I am so blessed.<br />
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The crowning glory of the TH was you, my guests. I LOVED my Oldies and their birthday party breakfasts ... the tiniest ladies and gentlemen who toddled through the door and would hug Baby Elephant and sit and have tea parties with miniature cups and plates ... the crew who wanted cinnamon rolls and strawberry cheesecake ... the private functions for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Christmas parties, Valentine soirees ... Easter and Thanksgiving dinners, where the staff knew that the portion size needed to be "enough so everyone could take food home."<br />
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I made many wonderful friends at Nilgiris. Thank you for sharing your china cups and your lives with me. Thank you for Reading the Leaves and encouraging me to write. You all made my life richer and fuller, far, far beyond my biggest dreams.<br />
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And now this beautiful space is about to embrace someone else's dream. I am excited to see it unfold.<br />
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But still ... as I looked one last time around the place that held my heart for so many years, memories and emotions I had thought were firmly in check welled up unbidden.<br />
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One of my wise sisters says, "You have to say hello before you can say goodbye." Nilgiris and I have been saying hello to each other for 14 years. Now it's time to say adieu. Go with God.<br />
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Oh, my little Tea House! How I loved you!<br />
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The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-80964186347635776342014-07-28T23:52:00.000-06:002014-07-29T14:30:20.880-06:00Nilgiris Tea House - the Tour<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here are some of the spots I'll remember fondly - I took these pictures in the midnight hours of the last Friday night, after the wonderful Debbie M had cleaned and before the mayhem of Saturday hit ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first place everyone's eyes go to as they walk in the door is the fireplace. Mum's and Dad's pictures hold places of honour, as does the beautiful elephant carving - a wedding present to them and given to me by Dad on my fiftieth birthday - resting at the bottom of the Victorian mahogany mantel mirror. People would call and reserve the Purple Chairs for special occasions or just to be comfortable and watch the goings-on in the dining room ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The table (which you can barely see!) to the left of the Purple Chairs is called Father Time, a nod to the clock Don and Norma presented the TH when we opened. The cabinet - acquired from Rosalie and David - contains, among other things, special little china cups and saucers and tea sets that our smallest patrons delighted in choosing to use for their tea parties ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bookcase beckons from between the Purple Chairs and Father Time. A treasure trove of reading material for all ages, as well as games, challenges for trivia buffs and, of course, elephants ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To the right of the Purple Chairs is a nondescript table - the biggest in the room - named the Looking Glass because of its proximity to the largest window in the room. To <i>its</i> right are two little tables in the bay window: Quiet Corner is on the left, and Hidden Valley is on the right. (Hidden Valley's pet name is the Komorowskis' Table ...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hidden Valley is so named because it's tucked behind my favourite spot in the TH, the piano. This beautiful upright grand was given to me - through Bronwyn - from <a href="http://www.foothillsalliance.com/" target="_blank">Foothills Alliance Church</a>. Above it hangs a picture painted by my artist sib to remind me that the former things - antique pianos, estate china, Beethoven from my friend Mary, photographs of friends who have left this world and pictures from my own childhood, even me! - will be <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021%3A4-5&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">made new</a> ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wall to the left of Quiet Corner houses one of my dearest treasures: pictures of Alex, the boy from South Africa who changed my whole outlook on life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story of my encounters with Alex is simple and yet profound. In the providence of God, on our first day of service I was in the group of people who met a woman asking for us to go visit a home where a young boy was "sick in the head." The home was not on our list of places to visit, but the team of home-based care workers from <a href="http://www.handsatwork.org/south-africa/" target="_blank">Hands at Work</a> decided that we could go. We got there to see a small boy sitting on a blue plastic chair somewhat apart from his Go-Go (grandmother) and her sister. The latter two set chairs out for us and started to tell us his story: his parents had both died of AIDS and now these two senior ladies were attempting to care for this child, who had been doing okay until he was assaulted on his way to school some months earlier. From then on he began to withdraw into himself until he was unable to talk or participate in any way at school. When he became unable to control his bladder, the teacher called his Go-Go and said that he was "sick in the head" and couldn't return to school. The only thing for him was for his grandmother to beat him until he was able to "behave" properly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My sister, our team leader, earnestly spoke to these two ladies who truly wanted only what was best for the boy and believed that the educated teacher must be right. She told them how important kindness and love were to a child, how much better to build him up, how beatings would only drive him further away from getting better. She besought them to love him and not to leave him alone and to stop the beatings. They listened carefully to her, interjecting now and then with some of their own sad stories. She in turn listened to them, encouraging them in their difficult journeys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On impulse I wandered off to talk to Alex while this interchange was going on. As soon as I stood over his cowering little frame I realised that of course we wouldn't be able to understand each other through words; so I reached down and, holding both of his hands in mine, gently raised him to a standing position. "U sisekele," I said quietly. "You are so beautiful." These were the only words I could remember from our training, and so I reiterated them as I started walking with him, hand-in-hand, the length of the little house in which the three of them lived. I asked the ladies, through our home-care workers acting as translators, what his name was. <i>Alex</i> was the answer. I picked up a stone, and wrote <i>Alex</i> with it on the wall where I could see that pictures had been previously sketched. He pointed silently to his name. With the strictures of the others about writing on people's walls finally penetrating my consciousness, I turned Alex to the ground and traced around his hand in the dust. Then I handed him the stone and he did the same for me (centre picture). The Gog-Gos became animated - he was responding to something! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon it was past time for us to leave. As was their practice wherever they visited, the home-based care leader asked me to "give a word" before we prayed together and went on our way. I was unable to speak so I just asked if we could sing the children's song <i>Jesus loves me</i> - except instead of singing <i>me</i> we would sing <i>Alex. </i>As I knelt down to his height the ladies surrounded us and began to sing and clap, their love and concern for this child palpable. He buried his face in my neck and I hugged him fiercely, wishing I could protect him, wishing I could do something (top picture) ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That evening after dinner our team went back to our accommodations and decided to sort clothes and toys we had brought with us for the children we would meet. We had talked about our day and I had talked about Alex. As we went through the stuffed toys that people had donated we suddenly came across a teddy bear wearing a light blue baseball cap. And on his little white shirt was a name in red.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ONLY toy out of all of them with a name on it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course we had to go back - even though a home visit usually occurred about once every two or three weeks, when the home-care workers saw the little bear, they immediately agreed that we would return the next day! When we arrived at the house Alex was by himself in his little chair. He stood slowly to his feet as we approached him, and I held out the toy to him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cautiously he reached for it and looked at it, and then a shy smile broke out over his face. He traced with one hand the name. Then peeking up he said, "Aaaaaaa ...," almost inaudibly (left picture). The home-care workers swooped joyfully on him, hugging him and laughing and chattering to him about what a good boy he was, how beautiful he was. He didn't say anything else but he submitted to their love and gentle ministrations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again we had to leave too soon; but this time he raised a timid hand in farewell, the other hand clutching his teddy bear. I doubted that I would ever see this little one again because, really, two visits in two days was unheard of! However, we were able to obtain occasional updates over the next couple of weeks and he seemed to be doing better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On one of our last days there our Canadian team put on a celebration of the local workers. We had prepared snacks and decorated the small hall, wanting to do what we could to express our love and appreciation for these women who basically volunteered their time for an occasional stipend but who served God and their people with their hearts and everything they were. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dressed in their finery, they sang and danced in procession to the centre of the room. After we sang and clapped and joined in as best we could, we partook of the refreshments and then we all sat down and talked about what we had learnt in the last few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Alex," one of the ladies said almost immediately.She went on with words to this effect: "We learnt that love can change things when talking and beatings and nothing else can. If love can change one person at a time love can affect a whole community."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our very last day the home-based care workers came to me. "Would you like to see him again?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Would</i> I?! My sister and a couple of others and I went with the team toward his home. On the way we met his Go-Go. "We are loving him and we are not beating him and we are telling him he is beautiful!" she said breathlessly. Oh, and he was not at home today - they had taken him a few houses down to a neighbour who was watching him because they were not leaving him alone to be frightened ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We arrived at the neighbour's home and suddenly a little whirlwind in a grey shirt with red trim launched himself at me, hugging me. He was smiling. And his trousers were dry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only picture that was posed in this series is the one at the bottom. My sister took all the Alex pictures, and in this one we smiled together for the camera.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is impossible to maintain contact with specific patients; but other teams who went out would check on Alex and a couple of years later someone sent me the picture on the right. He was thriving and back in school, was the report we received. His Go-Gos were still loving him and caring for him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was five years ago; but the memory of this child remains with me every day and he is what prompted me in 2011 to raise money through the TH for beds for the <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2011/05/good-nights-sleep.html" target="_blank">kids affected by the tsunami in India</a>. It is what led me to try to raise money for the van for the <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2014/02/holding-ropes.html" target="_blank">Children's Home on the outskirts of Bangalore</a> this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The life of one needy child on one continent is impacting the lives of needy children on another continent because you who gave so generously were also impacted indirectly by Alex. No wonder Jesus exclaimed, "Allow the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven!"</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlcGUcYEa9w/U9dWUV98OaI/AAAAAAAAKYs/Q1V0qrNgFhE/s1600/Tea+Trolley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlcGUcYEa9w/U9dWUV98OaI/AAAAAAAAKYs/Q1V0qrNgFhE/s1600/Tea+Trolley.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the other end of the piano from Hidden Valley is the tea trolley. Above it hangs the inlaid wood picture of a leopard - Mum and Dad gave each of us one and they have a spot in each of our houses to this day. To the left of the trolley is <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2011/05/small-elephant-in-room.html" target="_blank">Baby Elephant</a> ...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DacjEwN6324/U9dXL2HGw9I/AAAAAAAAKY0/DWBc0YsWkw0/s1600/Pat's+Corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DacjEwN6324/U9dXL2HGw9I/AAAAAAAAKY0/DWBc0YsWkw0/s1600/Pat's+Corner.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other side of the foyer is Pat's Corner, named for Sweet William's Patsy and for my Mum, both of whom liked that spot a little bit away from the main part of the room. Above the window hangs the stunning print on three canvases of African elephants with Kilimanjaro in the background, given me by our own <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2012/12/phantom-child.html" target="_blank">Brent</a>. Update on him: he's been accepted into medical school!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5_4cBGBCUs/U9dYodiA6DI/AAAAAAAAKZA/PImgKIyN9CI/s1600/Safari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5_4cBGBCUs/U9dYodiA6DI/AAAAAAAAKZA/PImgKIyN9CI/s1600/Safari.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next comes the Safari table, dominated by the most impressive elephant in the room: <a href="http://www.artcountrycanada.com/banovich.htm" target="_blank">The Power of One</a> ... On occasions when I might have been a little discouraged, this poster reminded me that one person can indeed make a difference!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r3M8--kpwI/U9dZ0XfXVKI/AAAAAAAAKZI/vMAv5eON8kU/s1600/Guest+Book+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r3M8--kpwI/U9dZ0XfXVKI/AAAAAAAAKZI/vMAv5eON8kU/s1600/Guest+Book+desk.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guestbook desk stands sentry next to the space leading to the kitchen. AT the top left of the picture you can see the bottom right of the old 1955 Map of India, rescued from disposal and given to the TH by Mr A shortly after we opened ...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ES4rMAXOFpo/U9dab2_8wRI/AAAAAAAAKZQ/VHWwiXH5P8E/s1600/Teas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ES4rMAXOFpo/U9dab2_8wRI/AAAAAAAAKZQ/VHWwiXH5P8E/s1600/Teas.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Across and a little bit down from the map are the shelves that house the teas we enjoy ...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAv4EtRviso/U9dacpQkMTI/AAAAAAAAKZY/PbocbdzMPUA/s1600/Wall+of+Great+China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAv4EtRviso/U9dacpQkMTI/AAAAAAAAKZY/PbocbdzMPUA/s1600/Wall+of+Great+China.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... and across from the teas is the Wall of Great China. Many times people would walk back there to check out the Wall and choose the cup they would like to sip their tea from ...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsqhz1WaOa4/U9dadRouLUI/AAAAAAAAKZc/a7bgBMXLCO8/s1600/Notes+on+the+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsqhz1WaOa4/U9dadRouLUI/AAAAAAAAKZc/a7bgBMXLCO8/s1600/Notes+on+the+Wall.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But tucked away on the left side of the WoGC is found one of the sources of hope and joy that have sustained me: some of the little notes and written and / or given by Dad and others to encourage me personally as I try to do the same for my guests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go through the door you can see at the edge of this picture and you'll find yourself in the Staff Lounge ...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VseCzhR-GV4/U9dcHGLrnWI/AAAAAAAAKZs/VWPuOty4Z7Q/s1600/Staff+lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VseCzhR-GV4/U9dcHGLrnWI/AAAAAAAAKZs/VWPuOty4Z7Q/s1600/Staff+lounge.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(If you were to continue up the stairs you would find yourself in my little apartment!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BH6pzZqXm88/U9dcnIf8NTI/AAAAAAAAKZ0/kXemXt1LxQo/s1600/The+Hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BH6pzZqXm88/U9dcnIf8NTI/AAAAAAAAKZ0/kXemXt1LxQo/s1600/The+Hug.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Across from the counter is The Hug, table of confidences given and comfort received, presided over by the unique piece of art that reminds me that <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2012/06/gathering-up-fragments.html" target="_blank">beauty can be found even in brokenness</a> ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And down the hall behind the w</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ing chairs are the men's and ladies' loos:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VXFsAfdp18k/U9decVkutzI/AAAAAAAAKaA/nPlLDhNRhgc/s1600/Men's+loo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VXFsAfdp18k/U9decVkutzI/AAAAAAAAKaA/nPlLDhNRhgc/s1600/Men's+loo.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(The fascinating maps will be returned to their rightful owner!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vd-CZnfzWs/U9dfK8jpKZI/AAAAAAAAKaY/DMkqzOwib_k/s1600/Ladies'+loo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vd-CZnfzWs/U9dfK8jpKZI/AAAAAAAAKaY/DMkqzOwib_k/s1600/Ladies'+loo+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dNboGLkaYM/U9dfLSZ0BqI/AAAAAAAAKac/keyKk30TyKY/s1600/Ladies'+loo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dNboGLkaYM/U9dfLSZ0BqI/AAAAAAAAKac/keyKk30TyKY/s1600/Ladies'+loo+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZpaVUgjKLU/U9dfrJYu3eI/AAAAAAAAKa4/FnZdci-vUEg/s1600/Ladies'+loo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZpaVUgjKLU/U9dfrJYu3eI/AAAAAAAAKa4/FnZdci-vUEg/s1600/Ladies'+loo+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cNGmxcsMsvY/U9dfMpGz8ZI/AAAAAAAAKas/6gv0S2WvzOE/s1600/Ladies'+loo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cNGmxcsMsvY/U9dfMpGz8ZI/AAAAAAAAKas/6gv0S2WvzOE/s1600/Ladies'+loo+4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">H'mmmmmmmm ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you leave the dining room your eyes will be drawn to the Traveller, a sculpture formed entirely out of leather and given to me by Dad and Mum:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lhzCCU5_5sE/U9dgSKtvahI/AAAAAAAAKbA/dpyInOmLkWY/s1600/Traveller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lhzCCU5_5sE/U9dgSKtvahI/AAAAAAAAKbA/dpyInOmLkWY/s1600/Traveller.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz0kNr9YRN8/U9dgT0nsI4I/AAAAAAAAKbI/9zB-DT3bJgQ/s1600/Tea+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz0kNr9YRN8/U9dgT0nsI4I/AAAAAAAAKbI/9zB-DT3bJgQ/s1600/Tea+Tree.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the left hand side of the little foyer sits the Tea Tree, laden with little bijoux given to me over the years - miniature cups and saucers, tea pots, charms ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the last thing you will see before you walk outside again is stencilled right above the front door, a gift from my dear Zeba:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ8rBFs0n8U/U9dgUeItR8I/AAAAAAAAKbQ/0hghe6Sxs7U/s1600/Sign+in+entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ8rBFs0n8U/U9dgUeItR8I/AAAAAAAAKbQ/0hghe6Sxs7U/s1600/Sign+in+entry.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for visiting!</span><br />
<br />The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-15614869447856518942014-07-11T13:01:00.000-06:002014-07-11T13:01:09.193-06:00Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone knows that there's not much I enjoy more than planning a special occasion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the one special occasion I never wanted to plan, the one invitation I never wanted to issue:</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #af1616; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is with
a heavy heart that Nilgiris Tea House announces we will be closing weekend
operations at the end of July. (We are still available for private functions
and special events; email cleosriver@yahoo.ca.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #af1616; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All our friends who care for and patronize the TH</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #af1616; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">are invited to a come-and-go farewell tea </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #af1616; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">on Sunday, July 27, 3 - 6 pm</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #af1616; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We thank
you for your patronage, friendship and many kindnesses. We have loved serving
the community that has developed in the TH over the past 11 years. We will miss
you deeply.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The morning I finally came to the conclusion that this is the way God is leading me, I felt desolate. The sky was thundering, scowling at me as I peered out of my bedroom window overlooking the park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tearfully made my way down the 16 steps to the TH. After half an hour or so of busyness in the kitchen, I walked into the dining room. I opened the front door, and I was greeted with this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0e9mCIhkag/U8AyuAX9CTI/AAAAAAAAKXE/t9JvK2B41qg/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0e9mCIhkag/U8AyuAX9CTI/AAAAAAAAKXE/t9JvK2B41qg/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A double rainbow - Mum's sign of God's promise and care - beamed over the park across from Nilgiris!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was 6:15 in the morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God has plans for me, and He has plans for this little TH that we all have grown to love. We don't know what His plans are right now, but we do know that His wisdom is staggering in its depth, and His love has no limit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Great is His faithfulness.</span></div>
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The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-42871539033570236692014-06-17T23:17:00.000-06:002014-06-18T00:31:52.740-06:00My Heart Belongs to Daddy <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wy4DqOW47y0/U6Ethnj6nzI/AAAAAAAAKWk/V4VSbjWAxv0/s1600/Chairs+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wy4DqOW47y0/U6Ethnj6nzI/AAAAAAAAKWk/V4VSbjWAxv0/s1600/Chairs+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2023%3A26&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">My son, give me your heart</a>," entreated the wisest man in the world, "and let your eyes observe my ways."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been observing my Dad's ways for over five decades now. He knows the value of a child's heart and he has always done everything he could to build up the hearts of each of his children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Always seek to <i>encourage</i> those with whom you come into contact," he has said to us on many occasions. "Build up their hearts. The origin of the word itself has "heart" embedded in it ..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I of course looked it up on dictionary.com:</span><br />
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<h1 class="query_h1" id="query_h1" style="display: inline; font-family: Arial; font-size: 27px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
courage</h1>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span class="aud" id="aud" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px;" title="Listen to the pronunciation of courage"></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px;" title="Add to Favorites"><span id="nonfav" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://static.sfdict.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_New.png); background-position: -177px -195px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 19px; left: 6px; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 17px; z-index: 1;"></span></span></div>
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<h2 class="me" data-syllable="cour·age" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
cour·age</h2>
<span style="bottom: 1ex; color: #333333; font-size: 0.75em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span class="pronset" style="color: #333333;"><span audio="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/audio/luna/C09/C0919100.mp3" default="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/C09/C0919100"></span> <span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[</span><span class="pron" style="display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">kur</span>-ij, <span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">kuhr</span>-</span><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]</span> <a class="questionmark" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://static.sfdict.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_New.png); background-position: -176px -215px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; display: inline-block; height: 16px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 16px;" target="_blank"></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 11px; text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">quality</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">mind</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">spirit</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">that</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">enables</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">person</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">face</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">difficulty,</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">danger,</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">pain,</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">etc.,</span> </span><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">without</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fear" style="color: #333333;">fear</a><span id="hotword">; <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">bravery.</span></span></div>
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<span class="labset" style="display: inline;"><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">Obsolete</span> </span></span><span id="hotword">. </span></span><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">heart</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">as</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">source</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">emotion.</span></span></div>
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<span class="pg" style="display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 3px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">Idioms</span></span></span><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-image: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword">3.</span></span><div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 37px;">
<span class="secondary-bf" style="display: inline; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">have</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">courage</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">one's</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">convictions,</span> </span><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">act</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">accordance</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">with</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">one's</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">beliefs,</span> </span></div>
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<span><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">especially </span></span><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">spite </span><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">criticism.</span></div>
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<b><i><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">Origin:</span> </i></b><br /><span class="rom-inline" style="display: inline;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">1250–1300;</span> </span><span class="rom-inline" style="display: inline;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">Middle</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">English</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">corage</span> </span><span id="hotword"> < </span><span class="rom-inline" style="display: inline;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">Old</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">French,</span> </span><span id="hotword"> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">equivalent</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">cuer</span> </span><span id="hotword"> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">heart</span> </span></div>
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<span>(< </span><span class="rom-inline" style="display: inline;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">Latin</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">cor;</span> </span><span id="hotword"> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">see</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heart" style="color: #333333;">heart</a><span id="hotword">) + </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">-age</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-age" style="color: #333333;">-age</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"When you <i>discourage</i> someone, you're hurting their heart," Dad observed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Dad had to discipline us as we grew up, we always knew - although he never uttered that platitude - that it did indeed hurt him more than it hurt us. It got to the point that when we might be debating whether or not we should do something, "It'll hurt Dad" was often enough to stave off the action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Honey, keep their hearts</i>": you disclosed in a Wednesday Bible study that you would say this to Mum on occasion. You don't harp on the inconsequential, which might do not much more than cause resentment. Because of this, when you speak, we listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have indeed kept our hearts - not only the hearts of your family, but the hearts of your extended family at the Bible College as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your own heart has taken a beating, both physically and emotionally; but it still beats strong and true, an example to all of us who love you and have a place in your enormous heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday afternoon - the day after Father's Day, when this entry would already have been late - you stopped by the TH and had tea with me. We sat in the cozy wing chairs and sipped that most comforting of all beverages, this day sweetened with condensed milk and served in simple, comfortable mugs. We talked about being just, about justice being served, about the Justifier who took our penalty and how it all comes together without incongruity: "<i>Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other</i>," says the 85th Psalm, verse 10.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTnJNT4d29U/U6EtijcGSjI/AAAAAAAAKWs/_hBofg5hZ-M/s1600/K+and+Dad+cropped+-+Feb+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTnJNT4d29U/U6EtijcGSjI/AAAAAAAAKWs/_hBofg5hZ-M/s1600/K+and+Dad+cropped+-+Feb+14.jpg" height="320" width="157" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I never realised until recently that this happens twice," marvelled Dad. "It happened when Jesus died on the cross; but it also happens in each person when he or she accepts the gift of salvation, when we give our hearts to God and ask Him to take control of our lives ..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a blessing it is to have a father who has our hearts, and whose own heart is held in the hand of his heavenly Father!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although this is late, I can't let this Father's Day time slip away entirely without saying <i>Thank you, Dad</i>, for recognising the value of a heart - of each heart. You encourage me to encourage others and to love with all my being.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I heart you.</span></div>
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The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-51466267572191440282014-05-30T23:56:00.001-06:002014-05-31T08:19:10.175-06:0011 Years Ago Today<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eleven years ago today Dad was under the knife ... unexpected open heart surgery ... triple bypass the result. We read all of that this evening in Mum's <i>Daily Light</i>, where Mum used to note the events of each day in the margin and which Dad reads every day. It's a history of our family, along with the ever-present backdrop of God's faithfulness</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEK_cVFCeOc/U4ls_ubd3hI/AAAAAAAAKVc/969SilWFxmA/s1600/Dad+at+Scott's+church+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEK_cVFCeOc/U4ls_ubd3hI/AAAAAAAAKVc/969SilWFxmA/s1600/Dad+at+Scott's+church+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4DMccfufjw/U4ls-YBuLoI/AAAAAAAAKVU/mxQZZlotK4w/s1600/Dad+at+Scott's+church+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4DMccfufjw/U4ls-YBuLoI/AAAAAAAAKVU/mxQZZlotK4w/s1600/Dad+at+Scott's+church+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This evening, Dad stood up to preach in the little Baptist church housed in the tiny old Orthodox building in Kindersley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This evening is also notable because it is the first series of sermons he has been able to preach since we thought we were losing him in January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Truly God has His hand on Dad!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His text for the evening was from Isaiah chapter 44, verses 21 and 22:</span><br />
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<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">
Isaiah 44:21-22</h3>
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King James Version (KJV)</div>
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<span class="text Isa-44-21" id="en-KJV-18555"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">21 </span>Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.</span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-44-22" id="en-KJV-18556"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">22 </span>I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.</span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-44-22"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="text Isa-44-22">He spoke of the five things this passage tells us to remember -</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are My servant</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have formed you</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will never forget you</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have blotted out all your sin, all your failings</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have redeemed you; indeed I paid the ultimate price for you.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in exchange, there is one thing He asks us to do -</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Return unto Me</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems so little to ask in return, really. And, like the prophet Malachi, in chapter 3 and verse 7, states: " Return to Me and I will return to you." He is more than willing to meet us more than half-way.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This evening as we rested in our motel room - loving provided for us by the church - Dad read from the Psalms, as is his wont:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="background-color: white; color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">
Psalm 116</h3>
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King James Version (KJV)</div>
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<div class="chapter-3" style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-KJV-15850"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">116 </span>I love the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-116-2" id="en-KJV-15851"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-116-3" id="en-KJV-15852"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsp0HOCsQJ0/U4ltCj0z_BI/AAAAAAAAKVk/10Z0CW5gTak/s1600/Dad+in+hotel+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsp0HOCsQJ0/U4ltCj0z_BI/AAAAAAAAKVk/10Z0CW5gTak/s1600/Dad+in+hotel+room.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="text Ps-116-4" id="en-KJV-15853"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Then called I upon the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>; O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-5" id="en-KJV-15854"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>Gracious is the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-116-6" id="en-KJV-15855"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-116-7" id="en-KJV-15856"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> hath dealt bountifully with thee.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-8" id="en-KJV-15857"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-9" id="en-KJV-15858"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>I will walk before the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> in the land of the living.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-10" id="en-KJV-15859"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-11" id="en-KJV-15860"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>I said in my haste, All men are liars.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-12" id="en-KJV-15861"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>What shall I render unto the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> for all his benefits toward me?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-13" id="en-KJV-15862"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-14" id="en-KJV-15863"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>I will pay my vows unto the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> now in the presence of all his people.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-15" id="en-KJV-15864"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>Precious in the sight of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is the death of his saints.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-116-16" id="en-KJV-15865"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: white;">16</span><span style="background-color: yellow;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;">O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, truly I am thy servant</span><span style="background-color: white;">; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-17" id="en-KJV-15866"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-18" id="en-KJV-15867"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>I will pay my vows unto the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> now in the presence of all his people.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-19" id="en-KJV-15868"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>In the courts of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>'s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-19"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-19">Dad is God's servant; God still is using Dad, whether it be praying for people, speaking one on one with someone, conducting his Bible studies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, singing, writing.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-116-19"><br /></span>
<span class="text Ps-116-19">Or whether it be preaching.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-19"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Ps-116-19">As the last verse says, Praise the Lord ...</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-116-19"><br /></span></div>
</div>
The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-47485669483225617772014-05-11T23:31:00.000-06:002014-05-13T12:36:56.555-06:00And His Mother's Name Was ...<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's reading from the 2014 edition of the <a href="http://choicegleanings.gospelfolio.com/index.php/home-topmenu-17" target="_blank"><i>Choice Gleanings</i></a> calendar, a daybook our family has read each morning for years, reminded me anew how much influence our mothers have on us:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.328125px;">
<strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.328125px;"><span style="color: #38761d;">In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Zibiah. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days, in which Jehoiada, the priest, instructed him. </span></strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.328125px;">
<strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.328125px;"><span style="color: #38761d;">2 Kings 12:1-2</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />The little phrase “and his mother’s name was,” appears 23 times in the Old Testament. The significance seems to be the influence each mother had on her son. With the help of the priest of the Lord, Zibiah's son was properly instructed and he was enabled to carry out his responsibilities with God’s approval. A godly mother is a treasure and one for whom Mother’s Day should be celebrated! —David McCulloch</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I live in a world where men feature prominently these days, and I see firsthand the impact their mothers have had on their lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting my friend Derek's mom, Diana. This lovely lady, who until her recent retirement held positions of responsibility in the corporate world, nonetheless has ensured that her priority is her home and her son. I watched the easy interaction between the two of them, the way she could anticipate his words and actions, the way he would step in to help her in little ways around the kitchen table where we sat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also seen the impact that the loss of a mother can mean. I remember a man close to me remarking that exactly one week after his mother passed away he "could feel the loss of her prayers."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never been privileged to have a child of my own; but I <i>have</i> had the privilege of working closely with numbers of young people over the years, particularly in the Tea House. This reading gave me pause. We women, do we consciously take the time to realise the importance our sway is in the lives of the impressionable children God has given us? Some of the 23 mothers listed in the Old Testament were not wise in their dealings with their children, causing detriment to the child as well as domino-like calamity to people and situations around that child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here, off the top of my head, is a list of 23 names of mothers who influence sons who have an impact in my life in some way. I'll start with Derek's:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Diana Cleland</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Ruth Ironside</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Brenda Spilsbury</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Zeba Husain</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was BA Ironside</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And their mother's name was Angela Ironside</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And their mother's name was Bronwyn Spilsbury</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Irene Walsh</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Katherine Creasser</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Darlene Johnson</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Alice Tateson</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Debbie Tateson</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Muriel Kirk</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Marion Warnock</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Jeanne Carlzon</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Eileen King</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Margaret Kremer</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Thankamma Cherian</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And their mother's name was Salome Cherian</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Evelyn Ironside</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And their mother's name was Merah Chelli</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And their mother's name was Jacqueline Benavides</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And his mother's name was Patricia O'Halloran Ironside </i></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are your mothers' sons. And I am so thankful for each of them.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-55825829404901946922014-04-14T10:39:00.001-06:002014-04-14T10:40:40.353-06:00April 13, 2003<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eleven years ago on April 13, we opened the doors of Nilgiris Tea House.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday morning my Dad came over after church and cut up all my potatoes for the evening meal - the first time he's done that since October ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad and Mum were with me when we first opened the doors at 7:00 a.m. on that fateful April 13, 2003. We were woefully unprepared and ludicrously naive as to how it would all work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But by the grace of God and the kindness of Nilgiris' friends, the little TH perseveres still.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fM7WncoIm0E/U0wMenb2vZI/AAAAAAAAKTg/aVxVTivC07I/s1600/Dad+and+Kit+-+11+Anniversary+of+nilgiris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fM7WncoIm0E/U0wMenb2vZI/AAAAAAAAKTg/aVxVTivC07I/s1600/Dad+and+Kit+-+11+Anniversary+of+nilgiris.jpg" height="302" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday evening Dad came back with a box of cookies he had made that afternoon: sugar cookies, his mother's recipe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attached to the box was this note, summing up the last decade-plus-one as only Dad can:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dearest Karyn,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">[Eleven] years ago today the "Nilgiris Tea House Adventure" began.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There have been so many experiences and challenges. I want to congratulate you today, for under God, great blessing and life have proceeded from this mountain stream.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Congratulations for pressing on and touching many lives ... May [our Lord] continue to guide you as to the future, knowing His way is the best. There are no surprises or unexpected events with our Lord.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May our Heavenly Father bless and provide - as He will - for all the future holds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My love and prayers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dad xxoo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppYdgGwPRPE/UPmjn5w_eZI/AAAAAAAAIxk/9wQHYKtOw2g/s1600/Nilgiris_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppYdgGwPRPE/UPmjn5w_eZI/AAAAAAAAIxk/9wQHYKtOw2g/s1600/Nilgiris_logo.jpg" height="395" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Thanks to my artist sibling for infusing the present<br />with the past for the perfect cup of tea ...</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-33854357180951311292014-02-22T17:48:00.000-07:002014-02-22T17:48:00.245-07:00Holding the Ropes<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story is told of that great pioneer missionary to India, William Carey. A minister to a congregation in England, he was in a meeting discussing the spiritual needs of various places, and the secretary of the committee remarked, "There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the centre of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I will venture to go down," Carey responded, "but remember that you must hold the ropes." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carey_(missionary)" target="_blank">April 1793, he sailed for India</a>. Through his work and example, and with his oft-repeated challenge ringing in their ears (</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God"),</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> others like David Livingstone, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor left their homelands to care for the physical and spiritual needs of others. Many years later, in 1959, Allan T. Ironside also followed God's call to India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He and Mum officially "retired" in 1999; but the reality is that almost without fail they went back to India every year, trying to plan their trips so that they could participate in the graduation conferences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, Dad will not be able to make it back for the graduation conferences at those beloved colleges in which he and Mum invested their lives. Although he's better, he is not strong and the travel would be too much for him. Our winter has been so long and the super bugs making their rounds throughout Alberta have been particularly merciless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so this year he will be holding the ropes all the way from Canada for the men who are scheduled to speak. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKzuWqmwFm0/UwkqE1TXvtI/AAAAAAAAKS0/dUnJ4Pj3qgg/s1600/Holding+the+ropes+-+Dad+praying+at+Manor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKzuWqmwFm0/UwkqE1TXvtI/AAAAAAAAKS0/dUnJ4Pj3qgg/s1600/Holding+the+ropes+-+Dad+praying+at+Manor.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Prayer time at the Manor: taken<br />two days before he became so ill ...</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deb and I also got a mild version of what Dad has been enduring, so we too will be doing our best to hold the ropes from this end as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you know, every year <i>Reading the Leaves</i> and the Tea House work on a project for one of the children's homes associated with a college in India. This year, we discovered an urgent need for the children's home where <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2013/03/day-2-friend-for-chetan.html" target="_blank">our little buddy Chetan</a> lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Powers That Be have decreed that the Children's Home needs to have a vehicle with separate seats and seat belts for each child. Now, for anyone familiar with travel in India, we know that there is <i>always</i> room for one more person in any type of vehicle! However, we also know that the kids would be much safer if they had a reliable vehicle to transport them to school each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ed and Sarah Chelli have spearheaded the research and the most economical, practical van with 15 passenger seats is this one, manufactured in India:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OmDW99wT54I/Uwk6CYC-lxI/AAAAAAAAKTI/Tqk3S9SmY9Q/s1600/WingerBus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OmDW99wT54I/Uwk6CYC-lxI/AAAAAAAAKTI/Tqk3S9SmY9Q/s1600/WingerBus.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brand new it costs $14,000-15,000 - a great price compared with what we would pay in North America, but still staggering for our little Children's Home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to the amazingly generous response of last year, after the mattresses and bedding were purchased we had a surplus of $2,000, which I left with Ed to be used for the Children's Home. He is putting that money toward the van. In addition, in the last few weeks we have received $1,490 from people who have asked what this year's project is. (A goodly portion of that was given with much love and prayer from the Oldies who attend Dad's Tuesday morning Bible study group at the Robertson Manor!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I'm putting it out to you all who have held the ropes for these children's homes right from when we raised money for the bunk beds for the Tsunami Children's Home: if you feel that you are able - in these tougher economic times - to help toward the purchase of this van, the TH will once again be accepting donations. As always, ALL the money goes directly to the project. And because this is not what's called a "soft" project (which apparently bedding and bunk beds are!), we can get tax receipts for donations over $50. If you would like more information, please email me at cleosriver@yahoo.ca.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad is back in Three Hills, and this week he once more took the Robertson Manor Tuesday study. This coming week he hopes to be able to resume the Wednesday evening study at the Tea House. Please continue to pray for continued restoration of strength and health. God promises that His strength is made perfect in our weakness and we see Him working even through this time of Dad's suffering.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLLXkytj5tw/UwkqEfjZLJI/AAAAAAAAKS8/lghhzZTnL7M/s1600/Holding+the+ropes+-+Dad+at+Deb%2527s+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLLXkytj5tw/UwkqEfjZLJI/AAAAAAAAKS8/lghhzZTnL7M/s1600/Holding+the+ropes+-+Dad+at+Deb%2527s+door.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today would have been my Mum's 77th birthday. Dad always would sing to her that old song "Have I told you lately that I love you?" Today he had no voice for singing, so he played Jim Reeves' version of it for BA and me as we sipped tea and remembered a truly great woman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But oh how he longs - how we all do! - to be back in what we consider in many ways to be our true home land ... to rid ourselves of this bitter cold, these mountains of snow; to be in the place of great congregational singing and outstanding preaching and unquestioning welcome and unwavering love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be in India.</span><br />
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<br />The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-42534937590156451132014-02-10T11:22:00.001-07:002014-02-10T12:29:37.548-07:00If a Picture Is Worth 1000 Words, What Are 1000 Prayers Worth?<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This picture, for starters ...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8cG0nFW40g/UviWxPyljdI/AAAAAAAAKSY/OqwQRmlqolo/s1600/Matt+and+Dad+Feb+9+-+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8cG0nFW40g/UviWxPyljdI/AAAAAAAAKSY/OqwQRmlqolo/s1600/Matt+and+Dad+Feb+9+-+4.JPG" height="240" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday morning an anxious 22-year-old grandson made his way to Deb's home. He opened the front door and was greeted by a dear, familiar voice:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"How's my boy</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>There's</i> my Poppa!" he exclaimed, his voice catching in his throat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And indeed, our beloved Dad / Poppa / Grandpa / Bop / brother/ uncle / pastor / teacher / mentor / friend is showing remarkable signs of unmistakably improved health. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I33jlgW5kug/UviWzr8cxJI/AAAAAAAAKSg/2HODetyL364/s1600/Matt+and+Dad+Feb+9+-+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I33jlgW5kug/UviWzr8cxJI/AAAAAAAAKSg/2HODetyL364/s1600/Matt+and+Dad+Feb+9+-+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We often quote the words of that ancient sage, Job: The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away ..." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday morning the Lord <i>gave</i> - "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">" ... Blessed be the name of the Lord."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-23127396444627594992014-02-09T23:41:00.000-07:002014-02-10T01:53:45.006-07:00"Who Am I Going To Call On Sunday?" - Bernice Anderson McComish<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday we laid to rest one of the best women I know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Here is the obituary for Bernice:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Bernice McComish (nee Anderson) – The memorial service for Bernice McComish is scheduled for 11:00 am, Saturday, February 8 at Bethel Evangelical Missionary Church, 123 4th Ave S, Three Hills. Bernice Elsie McComish was born the fifth child of nine to Alfred and Elsie Anderson on July 29, 1931. She lived on the Anderson Farm in the Lake Thelma district and attended a one-room school to grade nine. For high school she stayed in a dorm in Castor, returning to the farm on weekends. The farm was a busy place without the modern conveniences of today so Bernice did her share of farm and house work, including milking cows, stooking, and driving her own team hauling bundles. During the years of high school and of sharing an apartment with other young ladies while working in a bank in Coronation, Bernice made friends that lasted a lifetime. At 23 years old on Feb. 19, 1954, she married a local rancher, Arden McComish, They worked together on the farm for 20 years, raising four children. In 1974, they moved to Three Hills where their children finished their general education at Prairie High School. Bernice lost her spouse in July, 2002. She lived her final years at the Golden Hills Lodge and felt so blest to be surrounded by wonderful friends and staff. It was in her early twenties that Bernice realized the importance of having God in her life and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour and Lord. During her years on the farm, she was very involved in her small local church. Bernice was a devoted wife and mother who gave her time to her family, while also providing encouragement and help to extended family and friends. As she got older, her conversation turned more and more toward heaven. On Friday evening, January 31, 2014, after a few hours in hospital, God took her home. She leaves many who will miss her greatly but also rejoice with her in the new life she is enjoying: her sons, Wallace (Bonnie) of Stettler and Bryan (Eileen) of Erskine; her daughters, Deanna (Glenn) Odland of Singapore and Arlene of London, Ontario; three brothers, Lawrence (Edith) Anderson of Hanna; Ken (Lil) Anderson of Calgary, and Cliff (Helen) Anderson of Calgary; one sister, Edna Kary of Irricana; one brother-in-law Dave (Mary) of Three Hills; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; in-laws through marriage to Arden, numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Arden, four sisters, seven brothers-in-law and two nephews.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to know Bernice through my parents. Bernice and Dad had grown up in the same area; she was a year older than he and never failed to delight in that fact.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">She and her husband, Arden, befriended my parents as they worked in India and helped support them financially and with their love and prayers. After Arden passed away, Bernice continued on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">It was always a delight to have her in the TH - she would give me both a hello hug and a goodbye one. She liked her coffee black, the mug set down on the left side of her place setting, with the handle of the mug to the left, because of her poor arthritic hands. And she liked her chocolate Ovation served to her not at the time of the bill but with her last half cup of coffee. She would come to the TH with her friends; but what would make her light up were the visits with her family - she, Edna, Lynette, Dave and Mary were often together at one of our corner tables for Sunday dinner. She unfailingly made me feel that what I was doing was important and that she was grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Her funeral was a tribute to a gracious, godly woman. Not only her children but her grandchildren spoke about her as the one they wanted to spend time with, the one who loved them unconditionally, the one who was always there for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">At the funeral I sat next to my Uncle Clark, who had known her his whole life, and who said this about her: "She was always smiling. You never saw her without a smile on her face ..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Pastor Dave Lanigan brought a very fitting word for this extraordinary woman who never pretended to be something she was not; she didn't have to because who she was was courageous, loyal, loving, happy, caring. But one part that particularly gave me pause was when he was talking about Bernice departing this world for the next. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The word <i>depart</i>, he said, has several different applications. First, it was used for a ship sailing out of the harbour. We can watch that ship travel further and further away from us until it's a dot on the horizon, and then it disappears. It doesn't mean the ship has vanished; it's still sailing toward its destination, getting ready to drop anchor in another port.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Secondly, Pastor Dave said, the word <i>depart</i> also applied to a soldier pulling up his tent pegs and packing up his tent to move to the next destination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Lastly, the word is evocative of oxen who have been labouring under their yoke from the start of the day, methodically ploughing field after field. Finally, as the sun starts to set the farmer approaches his team and with his own hands lifts the heavy, cumbersome frame from off his animals' shoulders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">As Pastor Dave talked about Bernice being released from her burden and care just as surely as the oxen were, my mind darted off to the words the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples: "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls" (gospel of Matthew chapter 11 verse 29). Bernice of her own volition answered that challenge - and on January 31, Jesus lifted the yoke off her faithful shoulders and said, <i>Well done!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Toward the end of the service her son Wallace spoke, a deeply moving tribute to this mother who loved her children with every fibre of her being. He talked of how he always called her every Sunday night, not because he had to but because he knew she enjoyed that special time they had set aside. Even if he'd talked to her on Saturday, he would call her the next night. One of the things she used to love about this particular son is that he has an uncanny way of imitating singers, much to her delight - music was one of Bernice's passions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">As he closed his remarks, he said he was going to sing for her one last time - just his voice this time, singing to his beloved mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">And the song he chose? Johnny Reid's poignant "Who Am I going To Call On Sunday?" Just a boy, longing to talk to his Mom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Just like each one of us who've lost someone so precious to us we can't imagine quite how life can go on without our beloved one. We would never wish them back to this world of care and pain and suffering; but oh, how we'd love to hear their voice one more time ...</span></div>
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The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-91383849791049390202014-02-07T11:12:00.000-07:002014-02-07T11:19:17.222-07:00Where Two Or Three Are Gathered Together ...<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had been a particularly tough day, Tuesday. Dad was almost motionless all day: he could barely open his eyes, barely eat or drink anything, barely speak to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even Matt, when he came over, was unable to capture his interest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We called our dear Naomi and our dear Navaid, who reassured us of their constant support and availability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later on Elliot and Oliver, and an assortment of Dad's children, filled up the house and the space with sound, with laughter, with conversation; and he managed to sit up for a while, to half-enter into what was going on, to walk around behind us when the swirl got too fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday was slightly more promising. He was more alert and he could move around with greater ease. But his eyes were dead, glassy, no light or spark in them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then Brian came over to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brian may as well be another son to Dad. They have known each other since Brian was about 16, and Mum and Dad loved Brian as though he was their own from all those years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He sat across from Dad, not saying too much or forcing the conversation, his penetrating, loving gaze never leaving Dad's face. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And suddenly Dad began to talk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"You know the verse, <i>The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous shall run to it and be safe</i>?" he asked Brian, who nodded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I've been giving these kinds of verses to people for decades. I need them for myself now ..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deb said to me later, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"When you can't talk to your best Friend, who you're used to talking to throughout the day every day, you just want to die ..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"They're still there," Brian replied confidently, with conviction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Yes," Dad whispered.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y03D75J17nE/UvSNiQhjL-I/AAAAAAAAKR0/pL57mnFObTk/s1600/Dad+and+Ian+Feb+5+-+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y03D75J17nE/UvSNiQhjL-I/AAAAAAAAKR0/pL57mnFObTk/s1600/Dad+and+Ian+Feb+5+-+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday evening Bronwyn came over with the boys; and she brought Ian Trigg, the lead pastor of Foothills, with her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ian sat on a little stool that had been drawn up next to the couch where Dad lay. He took Dad's hand and started to ask him questions about India, about his ministry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They began with Dad arriving back in 1959 and teaching a few students in Chembur, Bombay. They went on to how the college moved to Bangalore but how Dad stayed in Bombay to continue studying with the students there, to work in the churches he had become involved with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We talked about coming back to Canada on furlough ... the educational systems for us as third culture kids - "Fourth culture kids, really!" Bronwyn exclaimed when we looked at it through the eyes of Ian ... what it was like for Dad and Mum to leave us in Canada - "The worst kind of pain," he admitted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We talked about how, through the seeds planted by two men who sent letters requesting Dad to join their work, John Teibe and Jake Johnson, Dad went to India to fulfill God's calling for his life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as Dad told Ian about churches planted, colleges started, orphanages and children's homes flourishing, work with prostitutes and victims of HIV, deaf schools, music ministries, Ian marvelled at how God had worked and continues to work because Dad and people like him were and are so faithful to their call.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bronwyn told Ian that the verse that has governed Dad's life, that has comforted him and directed him and sustained him, is the one found in the first letter to the Thessalonian church, chapter 5 and verse 24: "FAITHFUL IS HE THAT CALLETH YOU, WHO ALSO WILL DO IT."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"It's about <i>His</i> faithfulness," Dad replied to Ian. "<i>He</i> is the One who does it all."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As he prepared to leave, Ian asked if he could pray for Dad. These two godly men linked hands and Ian thanked God for the ministry Dad has had that has impact all over the world today. He thanked God for the ministry that Dad continues to have, preaching, leading Bible studies, counselling, sharing, helping to shape the characters of those who will seize the baton and carry on with the race. He prayed for strength for Dad in a huge ministry that he has and that will continue to develop: that of praying for people, of holding them up before God, a ministry of intercessory prayer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then Dad prayed for Ian - for his ministry, for his family, for him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in the hush, all of us in the room knew that we were standing on holy ground.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAkzmL_SHEw/UvSNjHRG_SI/AAAAAAAAKR8/sgaKgsq4RAQ/s1600/Dad+and+Ian+Feb+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAkzmL_SHEw/UvSNjHRG_SI/AAAAAAAAKR8/sgaKgsq4RAQ/s1600/Dad+and+Ian+Feb+5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For where two or three are gathered together in My name,<br />there am I in the midst of them.<br />(Matthew 18:20)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-75439886021297781362014-01-29T23:30:00.000-07:002014-01-31T00:43:10.401-07:00Of Para-flus and Paracletes<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The results are in: Dad's H1N1 test came back negative, but he tested positive for para influenza, which in most healthy people will run its course in 3 - 10 days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Dad has pulmonary fibrosis and struggles for breath now ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Certain words fascinate me. For example, <i>cleave</i> means both to cling together and to slice apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Flammable</i> and <i>inflammable</i> mean the same thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And <i>para</i> has a number of meanings and uses. <i>Wikipedia</i> gives a succinct summary of two definitions that seem contrary, that seem to be at odds with each other:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">- a prefix widely used in various compound words (para-olympic, para-medic, para-gliding etc.) which can signify alternately: "alongside, altered, beyond, contrary," originating from the Greek preposition para that means: "beside, next to, near, from," and also, "against, contrary to," similar with Sanskrit para "beyond." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Para influenza</i> has made my Dad's heart race far too fast; has made his concentrator pump out oxygen levels at a rate of 4 litres rather than 2; has made him cough up vile green gunk; has forced him to sleep 18 hours a day; has zapped his strength; has almost curtailed even minimal movement. It is certainly <i>against</i>, certainly <i>contrary to</i>, what we want for him. It might even have <i>altered</i> the course we thought was charted for him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But through it we have seen many people come <i>alongside</i>, <i>beside</i>, <i>next to</i>, and <i>near </i>him. <i>Paracletes</i> have encircled him with love and concern and practical guidance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Wikipedia</i>, again, describes <i>paraclete</i> as follows:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">Paraclete comes from the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Koine Greek">Koine Greek</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> word </span><span lang="grc" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;" xml:lang="grc">παράκλητος</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> (</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">paráklētos</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">, that can signify "one who consoles or comforts, one who encourages or uplifts; hence refreshes, and/or one who intercedes on our behalf as an advocate in court").</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> The word for "Paraclete" is passive in form, and etymologically (originally) signified "called to one's side".</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">Let me give you just a few examples:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><b>Dr Rimmer</b> - his pulmonologist who, after assessing Dad and wanting to admit him, went and checked the realities of the bed situation in the hospital and reluctantly decided that he would receive better care and rest at Deb's home ("You're sensible," Dr R said to Deb!). From that time she has called frequently to check up on her patient, exhibiting the same level of care and compassion she has always given Dad over these years. Last night she called at 7:45 - what other doctor does that any more?! - and discussed with Deb the plan of care and action that she feels would be best for Dad in the short-, medium- and long-term.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">What other doctor calls at 7:45 in the evening? <b>Dr Husain,</b> that's who - Dad's family doctor in Three Hills and someone whose family we have grown to love as an extension of our own. Deb apologetically called him at home, and he immediately phoned a late-night pharmacy in Calgary with a prescription to ease the excruciating cramps that Dad was experiencing from the Tamiflu. He called upon the recommendation of</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><b>Dr Naomi Chelli Gunti</b>, the eldest of the Chelli kids, who called from the States to see how Uncle was doing. She listened while Deb went over the symptoms and as they were discussing treatment options, she said, "Deb, what about the drug that's used for the unbearable cramping caused by Crohn's disease?" Deb called Dr Husain, who agreed that this could work and called the Rx in. Dad has not suffered that terrible pain since.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><b>Zeba Husain</b> - <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/search-to-belong-day-23.html" target="_blank">Zeba</a>, Dr Husain's wife, cares very deeply for Dad and on Saturday she called me just as I was closing the TH to head up and see Dad. "Karyn, I've made some khichdi [kitcheree] for Uncle Allan - will you take it to him?" I gladly agreed. When I got to Deb's house I said to her, "Zeba made khichdi for Dad ..." and she immediately took it, saying, "Dad asked for khichdi this morning!" Zeba, you were the direct answer to what he needed that night and I thank you for your sensitivity to the promptings you felt to make that ultimate comfort food for Dad.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3JXmjLD4Ck/UunkvJQmucI/AAAAAAAAKRE/r4uLQiweACo/s1600/Deb+feeding+Dad+khidchi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3JXmjLD4Ck/UunkvJQmucI/AAAAAAAAKRE/r4uLQiweACo/s1600/Deb+feeding+Dad+khidchi.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Almost too weak to eat, Dad managed to swallow some of Zeba's khichdi</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6O2QA194NaE/Uunk2KLHC6I/AAAAAAAAKRk/W_5YKUFrBwc/s1600/Sue+and+Les.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6O2QA194NaE/Uunk2KLHC6I/AAAAAAAAKRk/W_5YKUFrBwc/s1600/Sue+and+Les.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NeKi-EVjPe4/UunkyDXsWsI/AAAAAAAAKRU/x5VzFKjLo00/s1600/MelMal%2527s+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NeKi-EVjPe4/UunkyDXsWsI/AAAAAAAAKRU/x5VzFKjLo00/s1600/MelMal%2527s+girls.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J827uGbVuG0/UunkzLXwNkI/AAAAAAAAKRY/u1P4BnMYW-Q/s1600/Naomi+and+John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J827uGbVuG0/UunkzLXwNkI/AAAAAAAAKRY/u1P4BnMYW-Q/s1600/Naomi+and+John.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">Flowers and flags - Peter and Mel Mal's girls came to the TH on Saturday: "We made a picture / a flag for your Dad!" He has them on his window sill ... And that same day Naomi and John, and Sue and Les, sent beautiful flower arrangements, reminding us of all the beauty to be appreciated in the ashes of the situation we were facing. Debby cleaned the TH for me so that I could get to Calgary. Don and Norma came over and got me back on my feet again on Sunday afternoon.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">Dozens of you have called, left messages, sent cards, written words of encouragement for Dad and us - and he has read EVERY comment, asking about the people he doesn't know personally and asking God to bless them for their kindness.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">There are five very special paracletes who have come alongside their Grandpa / Poppa / Bop whenever they can. Luke, Craig, Matthew, Elliot and Oliver - how he loves you boys! His spirits brighten measurably upon a visit from you guys. There is no doubt how much you love each other and him. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">And THOUSANDS of people are praying. You are all paracletes as you have come alongside Dad, bringing him before the throne of grace around the clock.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">The most valuable Paraclete of all for Dad - for all those who have trusted in Christ - is God the Holy Spirit. This is how He is described in the gospel of John: <i>counsellor, helper, encourager, advocate, comforter ... the one who makes free</i>. As you all pray, Dad feels the presence of God and the power of all your prayers in a very real way.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">I and my family - siblings, nephews, aunts and uncles - have derived much comfort and love from your outpourings of sympathy. But two special reassurances were given to me personally that have brought me peace regardless of whatever lies ahead.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">The first was a comment left by Sumitra. Sumitra was in the group of men who met Dad as he disembarked off that ship 55 years ago in the port of Bombay. He and Dad studied together, prayed together, served together, preached together, ate together, laughed and cried together. He has always held a very special spot in my parents' hearts,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">This dear man's comment read: "</span></span><span style="background-color: #fff9e7; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Dear Karyn, sorry to learn of your dear Dad's ill health. Be assured of my prayers for recovery of his health. I praise the Lord for Bro. Allan's input in my life. I remember welcoming him in Mumbai 55 years ago. God has made him blessing to many through his and yes through your Mum's simple life style and teaching because of which many are serving the Lord and I am one of them. Be encouraged, Dad will be well soon."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">I could not help but think of the story recorded in the gospel of John chapter 4 about the nobleman whose son was dying. He sought Jesus out and begged Him to come to the house to heal his son. Jesus said only six words: "Go thy way; thy son liveth" (verse 50). And the child did. When I read Sumitra's last seven words, it was as if the Lord Jesus Christ himself spoke them to me. </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">Those last seven words broke through my grief and despair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">And then Tuesday morning, Dad was too weak to read, so he asked me to read the morning passage from the Daily Light devotional that Mum read and recorded events of note in for years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNRWjMgoY4w/UunkuO4SIII/AAAAAAAAKQ8/j7zYjWaQJ3w/s1600/As+thy+days+so+shall+thy+strength+be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNRWjMgoY4w/UunkuO4SIII/AAAAAAAAKQ8/j7zYjWaQJ3w/s1600/As+thy+days+so+shall+thy+strength+be.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">The captioned verse was this: <b>As Your Days, So Shall Your Strength Be</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">My breath caught in my throat and I checked the date. You see, last year, on February 27, I boarded the plane a few days ahead of Dad, BA and Deb as I was flying on points and had to leave on that day. I had been worried about Dad's low energy levels and the long flight ahead. God brought this verse to my mind, and I have claimed it on behalf of Dad almost every day since then. "As many days as You want him on this earth, give him strength for each one," I ask. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">Yet for the past few days, since Thursday, I must confess to my shame that I had completely forgotten about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">But my Paraclete gently reminded me that God is in control by sending the verse I had been praying for almost a year directly back to me right when I needed it most. Not only that, the entire reading is of encouragement and strength. Truly God's timing is impeccable ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SavA-stwqmc/Uunkvzm0JgI/AAAAAAAAKRM/vU8vqFFkJTw/s1600/Deb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SavA-stwqmc/Uunkvzm0JgI/AAAAAAAAKRM/vU8vqFFkJTw/s1600/Deb.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Sitting on the floor beside his bed:<br />"someone to watch over me"</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">There are two more paracletes I must mention. The first is our beloved Deb, who faithfully cared for Dad and continues to care for him. She it has been who sat up with him on those first critical nights, monitoring his pulse and O2 levels, giving medicine, holding the straw to his mouth so he could take a few sips of liquid, washing him, cooling his forehead and piling on hot water bottles and blankets as he shivered his way through his fever until it broke. She has had very little sleep in the last week, but she never once expressed even that she was tired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">As a matter of fact, at the conclusion of Dr Rimmer's most recent phone call, Dr R applauded Deb: "You managed very well the care of a patient who should have been admitted." Thank you, Deborah Joy, from all of us who love him and you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">The last paraclete is our beloved Dad himself. In an almost whisper he marvelled at the prayers offered up on his behalf from the people of God all over the world. "I am so blessed," he murmured. That Tuesday afternoon he finally felt able to pray aloud, asking God's blessing on our simple lunch. And after he thanked God for the food, these are the words he said next, the ellipses indicating where he had to pause for a breath:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We remember others ... just as sick ... weaker ... more needy ... without people to pray for them ... Hold them in your tender mercies ... Heal them ... Forgive them ... Restore them ... Comfort them ... Meet <b>their</b> needs ... today.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-11760370603876661492014-01-27T16:51:00.001-07:002014-01-27T17:05:28.494-07:00If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words ...<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... here's 2000 words, with a full heart of gratitude:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OrJOvPhP7cs/UubutOAeAuI/AAAAAAAAKQY/GVfV4vhGQKY/s1600/Lab+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OrJOvPhP7cs/UubutOAeAuI/AAAAAAAAKQY/GVfV4vhGQKY/s1600/Lab+pic.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad at the lab this morning ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad, home at Deb's, this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bronwyn reported the words he was reading, from the gospel of John chapter 10:</span><br />
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<span class="text John-10-27" id="en-KJV-26509"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">27 </span><i>My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:</i></span></div>
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<span class="text John-10-28" id="en-KJV-26510"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">28 </span><i>And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is still very weak, but he has turned a corner; and his pulmonologist called and the H1N1 test came back negative! They have to find out what is wrong, but for now we are so grateful for what is wonderful ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, you get 3000 words - per Bronwyn, "Now that the patient is doing better, the cute little nurse can rest!"</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sbdkf2Cm1oU/UubuuV86s8I/AAAAAAAAKQo/JBu6RswgXSo/s1600/DEBORAH+JOY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sbdkf2Cm1oU/UubuuV86s8I/AAAAAAAAKQo/JBu6RswgXSo/s1600/DEBORAH+JOY.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>On the floor, next to the couch he's lying on ...</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THANK YOU, all who have prayed and continue to pray for him. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Dad's reading his Bible again, all's right with the world!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-84059270773166733012014-01-27T11:23:00.001-07:002014-01-27T11:23:19.133-07:00Power In The Blood<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a brief post - this morning Dad has to go to the lab for blood work. He is having extreme pain in his right hip, which makes weight bearing difficult. Bronwyn and Deb are going to take him as Bronwyn's van will be easier for him to negotiate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His wonderful doctor has ordered that the blood work be processed instantly and the results sent to her STAT.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is knowledge in what is going on in his blood. And, as we have heard so often, knowledge is power. Therefore, there is power in the blood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which we, as children of God, already know. It was the shedding of Jesus' blood that has the power to give us all eternal life. And because of that life, even though Dad is so ill, so frail, we KNOW that the One who shed His blood for Dad that awful day is with him now, is watching as Dad gives some of <i>his</i> blood today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make no mistake - God is in control of all of this; He, who knows the end from the beginning, loves Dad more than any of us do; and we are so thankful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RtL just received a comment from the girl I have been waiting to hear from. This 16-year-old girl adores Dad as much as any of his grandchildren do, both Ironside and Chelli grandchildren:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff9e7; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Dear Aunty Karyn, All of the youth at Berean had a special time of prayer after the service yesterday for Grandpa. I continue to pray and hope for a speedy recovery. May God give all of your family His grace during this difficult situation. Psalm 91:1,11 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Give my love to Grandpa. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff9e7; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Chloe</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please pray for him today; please remember him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-32356892161657875522014-01-26T01:16:00.000-07:002014-01-26T02:26:21.235-07:00Words To Rest By<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I closed the TH at 4 pm today. I needed to see Dad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is very weak, frighteningly so. However, some wonderful things occurred to make his suffering a little easier, and I will tell you about them tomorrow morning; but suffice it to say for now that the prayers of literally thousands of people around the world were heard last night and he passed a relatively peaceful night - no real sleep but at least no debilitating pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's about time for the awful side effects of the medicine to take their best shot at him again. For any of you up, please do pray ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I say good night, I want to share the Psalm I was privileged to read to Dad this evening. He reads a few Psalms every night before he goes to bed, and this was where he is up to. He reads the King James Version, but I'm also including the English Standard Version for another beautiful reading:</span><br />
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Psalm 4</h3>
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<span class="text Ps-4-1" id="en-KJV-13967"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; font-size: 1.25em; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">4 </span>Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-4-2" id="en-KJV-13968"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-3" id="en-KJV-13969"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>But know that the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will hear when I call unto him.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-4" id="en-KJV-13970"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-5" id="en-KJV-13971"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-6" id="en-KJV-13972"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-7" id="en-KJV-13973"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.</span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-8" id="en-KJV-13974"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, only makest me dwell in safety.</span><br />
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<span class="text Ps-4-1" id="en-ESV-13967">Answer Me When I Call</span></h3>
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<span class="text Ps-4-1">To the <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13967A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span>choirmaster: with <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13967B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span>stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.</span></h4>
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<span class="chapter-1"><span class="text Ps-4-1" style="position: relative;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: 0.1em; font-size: 1.25em; font-weight: bold; left: -3em; line-height: 0.8em; position: absolute;">4 </span>Answer me when I call, O God of my <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13967C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span>righteousness!</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-1" style="position: relative;">You have <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13967D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span>given me relief when I was in distress.</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-1" style="position: relative;">Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-4-2" id="en-ESV-13968" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-2" style="position: relative;">How long will you love vain words and seek after <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13968E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span>lies?<span class="selah" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-3" id="en-ESV-13969" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>But know that the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13969F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span>set apart <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13969G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></span>the godly for himself;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-3" style="position: relative;">the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> hears when I call to him.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-4-4" id="en-ESV-13970" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">4 </span><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13970H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></span>Be angry, and do not sin;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-4" style="position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13970I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></span>ponder in your own hearts <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13970J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></span>on your beds, and be silent.<span class="selah" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-5" id="en-ESV-13971" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>Offer <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13971K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span>right sacrifices,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-5" style="position: relative;">and put your <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13971L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></span>trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-4-6" id="en-ESV-13972" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-6" style="position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13972M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></span>Lift up <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13972N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></span>the light of your face upon us, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>!”</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-4-7" id="en-ESV-13973" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>You have put <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13973O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></span>more joy in my heart</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-7" style="position: relative;">than they have when their grain and wine abound.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-4-8" id="en-ESV-13974" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>In peace I will both <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13974P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></span>lie down and sleep;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-4-8" style="position: relative;">for you alone, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, make me <span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-13974Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></span>dwell in safety.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As my voice faded into the stillness, Dad's voice, almost a whisper, said, "Read that last verse again."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as he prepared to sleep, he commented, "What comfort can be derived from the Psalms! What a comfort to know we can simply rest in Him ..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I, along with all of you I know, claim that last verse for him tonight. My family and I thank you for praying, thank you for caring about him. As one of Dad's favourite songs says, "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God!"</span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-56694451216779758772014-01-24T22:57:00.004-07:002014-01-24T22:57:59.682-07:00Not Above What You Are Able To Bear<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a very rough night for Dad; and Deb being the resident RN, the majority of the responsibility (she would say <i>privilege</i>) fell to her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad has been prescribed Tamiflu and its side effects can be daunting for people who are healthy. For someone with pulmonary fibrosis the side effects can be staggering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He managed to keep down some electrolyte-spiked beverages and a small bowl of thin oatmeal gruel this morning. He spoke a brief birthday greeting on the phone to his beloved Lloyd, friends for over 60 years now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But then this afternoon, when I was in the grocery store getting ready for the weekend at the Tea House, I got an urgent text from Deb at 4:41:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Really bad cramps - please pray</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in the aisle that holds basmati rice and dosai mixes and coconut milk and mango juice I stopped and forwarded on her text to a few of you whose numbers I have in my phone. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Immediately the responses came back:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praying</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're on it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praying</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will pray for him. I'm sorry to hear that</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two of my Chelli sisters, Salome and Naomi, called me, and others of them called my Ironside sisters.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then at 4:47 I heard from Deb again:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Seriously ... subsided within 5 mins of sending out a text for prayer! </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He's almost resting now</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got back to Deb's house as fast as I could and went up the stairs to see him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was ashen against the sheets, and utterly exhausted. In a very muted voice he said that the pain had been so intense he thought he couldn't bear it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But then God brought two thoughts to my mind," he said. The first was of Mum."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One night, at about 2 a.m., Mum's pain was so eviscerating that she groaned, "Dad, the pain is too much ..." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"There was nothing I could do," he whispered to me with tears rolling down his face at the memory of that awful night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second thought that came to him were these words from the Bible, found in the apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 10 and verse 13:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There has no [testing] taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be [tested] above that you are able, but will with the [trial] also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"And I thought to myself, 'Just think how Christ suffered - He has felt every pain that we go through and far more!' " he exclaimed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"And as I concluded that verse, the awful pain started to subside."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"God is able, honey," he said. "He might even want me to go to India - He is already providing ..."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must have reacted adversely, because he hastened to assure me that he wouldn't go if he felt like this. "Dr Rimmer won't sign off on you," I interjected dryly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Not only that, but I would have to gain a lot of strength. I feel so, so weak right now," he acknowledged.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WObS2TTGz2w/UuNRXblMv9I/AAAAAAAAKP4/HpdNV1xBqpo/s1600/Dad+-+first+day+at+Deb's+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WObS2TTGz2w/UuNRXblMv9I/AAAAAAAAKP4/HpdNV1xBqpo/s1600/Dad+-+first+day+at+Deb's+house.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We talked briefly about how many people are praying for him all over the world, how many people love him and are rooting for his recovery. And then I had to leave, to come back to the TH and unpack the groceries that this evening seem like sandpaper and sawdust to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I kissed him on his forehead, our family's traditional "blessing kiss" started by my grandmother or her mother or hers before that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I love you, Dad," I murmured as his eyes drifted shut again and he settled more deeply back into the pillows and covers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deb had to give him his second dose of Tamiflu later this evening. The worst of the effects should hit him between midnight and 1 a.m. Please remember this man, a treasure in so many of our lives, as once again his already frail, tired body has to battle the medicine that is supposed to help him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-87714101430705186302014-01-24T01:45:00.000-07:002014-01-24T01:45:22.007-07:00Fifty-five Years Ago This Month<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was the day Dad was scheduled to meet with his pulmonology specialist to get sign-off on his flight to India in March.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dr Rimmer took one startled look at him and expressed her shock and concern. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then she started ordering tests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight Dad is resting and in Deb's home - there were no beds and none opening up at the hospital, so Dr Rimmer was unable to admit him and get him on an IV for dehydration and to break his fever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SC1Ws2evF-I/UuIl_wFNknI/AAAAAAAAKPo/gTkxbUr-b5A/s1600/Dad+-+Pulmonology+appt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SC1Ws2evF-I/UuIl_wFNknI/AAAAAAAAKPo/gTkxbUr-b5A/s1600/Dad+-+Pulmonology+appt+2.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, he was quite ill earlier this evening, with nausea and an upset stomach. His oxygen machine is cranking along at level 3 (earlier he had had to have it up to level 4, so this is an improvement).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RtLers, this is a plea for prayer for my Dad tonight. Pray that he will have a good sleep. Pray that the nausea will stop and that the stomach pain will cease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fifty-five years ago this month Dad boarded an oil tanker converted to carry grain to India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And even though he is in Canada, his heart remains in India, where he has spent most of his life. He loves India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pray that God, who knows the end from the beginning, will guide and direct His faithful servant, this <a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/good-friend-to-god-when-dad-and-i-were.html" target="_blank">"good friend to God,"</a> and will give him healing and grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We already called our friends at the Prairie Congregation in Three Hills and they immediately put it on their "prayer chain," which means that the people who have signed on to pray for the needs that are brought before them, immediately start to pray and pass it on to the next person in the chain to pray until all of those people are praying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very few minutes after we asked our friend Gaylene to get Dad onto the prayer chain, he started to feel less nausea and was able to sip a little peppermint tea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But he knoweth the way that I take," God's servant Job said from the depths of his suffering, "And when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job chapter 23 and verse 10).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad's own life verse holds him in good stead tonight: "Faithful is he that called you who also will do it" (I Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 24).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad is unable to take phone calls right now; but his life is - over and over -</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a testament to the power of prayer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please, pray ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qK47tCgPQGI/UuIlt800yUI/AAAAAAAAKPg/GHMWeqPjjRo/s1600/Dad+-+Pulmonology+appt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qK47tCgPQGI/UuIlt800yUI/AAAAAAAAKPg/GHMWeqPjjRo/s1600/Dad+-+Pulmonology+appt+1.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-51476411232582396102014-01-05T00:13:00.000-07:002014-01-07T11:06:58.068-07:00Calling 9-1-1 ...<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://nilgiristeahouse.blogspot.ca/2010/10/day-1-josephine-i-met-her-not-too-long.html" target="_blank">Josephine</a>, bless her, has an incompetent for a driver on some nights. Last night was one of those nights. I managed to run right into my very own snow drift on my very own driveway. And I actually managed to grind my front tires into the multi-layered snow and ice until she was not budging.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I called BA, that genius sister of mine who can figure out the logistics of pretty much everything. She dug snow out from under Josephine, pushed, pulled, put down that gravel stuff around the tires ... one hour later, and Jo hadn't budged. I crawled out the passenger side of the car (the driver's side was firmly entrenched in the snow bank) and BA helped me lug the groceries from the bottom of my driveway into the Tea House.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next day Don, the man who rescues me from all sorts of peril, came to take a look. He enlisted Mike, who had brought his snow blower to the TH and blew clear my parking lot before starting on his shift. Together they whittled away the snow on the driver's side of Josephine, and dug around the tires some more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rick, one of my kindly neighbours, joined the men with his shovel. The tires kept spinning. They needed another person to push, Don decreed. That would be me, I surmised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I put on my boots and coat, I asked the occupied tables in the TH if they would be patient with me as I was running outside to try to help push my car out of the icy rut it had ground itself into.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One table had four EMS professionals at it. They asked me what was going on; when I told them, they all jumped up as if they had just heard the first notes of the <i>Hallelujah Chorus</i> playing. "We'll push!" they volunteered and all trooped out of the back door at the TH.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Within 30 seconds or less - actually, JUST long enough for me to snap this picture - Josephine was free. No, no, they didn't want any thanks, they said; they were just happy they could be of service and that it all worked out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, Lisa, Mel-Mal, Ben and Erica - with Don tucked in between them! - you don't know what a re-charge you gave to my heart and to my day by your great kindness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDGLp6-2wts/UskELXDFUNI/AAAAAAAAKPE/3DFekZUDpzo/s1600/EMS+people+pushing+Josephine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDGLp6-2wts/UskELXDFUNI/AAAAAAAAKPE/3DFekZUDpzo/s400/EMS+people+pushing+Josephine.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our paramedics are amazing. Three Hills is so blessed to have people of such calibre working and living among us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But please, keep parking across the road when you come to the TH for your breaks ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-41675418546532104562014-01-03T10:52:00.001-07:002014-01-03T10:52:54.889-07:002014: Never Alone<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNO4UIZh1e0/UsZwbEVaKpI/AAAAAAAAKOE/t9n_rehyMM0/s1600/New+Years+Eve+3+-+Dad,+BA,+Angie,+Deb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNO4UIZh1e0/UsZwbEVaKpI/AAAAAAAAKOE/t9n_rehyMM0/s320/New+Years+Eve+3+-+Dad,+BA,+Angie,+Deb.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was upon us again, my most treasured tradition of the year: New Year's Eve with my family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We met at the Tea House because it seems that we really do need a fire place for the occasion; we started with hors d'oeuvres and sparkling apple cider and frappuccinos; we played a few rounds of a game; and then, just after 11:30 pm, it was time.</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xwBMv5tjzA/UsZwVw7efoI/AAAAAAAAKN8/Tj2Wshqpbdw/s1600/New+Years+Eve+4+-+Beverage+table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xwBMv5tjzA/UsZwVw7efoI/AAAAAAAAKN8/Tj2Wshqpbdw/s320/New+Years+Eve+4+-+Beverage+table.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The table by the fire place was cleared off and the tray containing the promises for the year was brought over.</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--u2666zy5uY/UsZxjdConhI/AAAAAAAAKOg/8HN7fm5Ifu8/s1600/New+Years+Eve+12+-+Promises+3+w+Dad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--u2666zy5uY/UsZxjdConhI/AAAAAAAAKOg/8HN7fm5Ifu8/s320/New+Years+Eve+12+-+Promises+3+w+Dad.JPG" width="237" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We sang some songs from the cherished song book that BA had carefully typed out all those years ago. Dad read a few verses from the Bible. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few people said what they were thankful for about the year making its exit. Allan prayed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then Dad lit the candle in the centre of the tray upon which the promises he had typed out rested, and moved the whole plate to a table in the middle of the room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Selection order this year was decreed to be youngest to oldest, so Matt went first.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgB6E18u_z8/UsZxGedmnrI/AAAAAAAAKOM/ObDXHagrQMM/s1600/New+Years+Eve+5+-+Matt+and+Dad+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgB6E18u_z8/UsZxGedmnrI/AAAAAAAAKOM/ObDXHagrQMM/s320/New+Years+Eve+5+-+Matt+and+Dad+1.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> When it got to my turn, I silently committed the selection of my promise to God, asking for a verse that would show me how He would meet my needs, known and unknown, for the coming year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I chose a green ribbon this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XO1vT1UKGj4/UsZxmW9v93I/AAAAAAAAKOo/eovh5GVN5vs/s1600/New+Years+Eve+13+-+Promises+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XO1vT1UKGj4/UsZxmW9v93I/AAAAAAAAKOo/eovh5GVN5vs/s640/New+Years+Eve+13+-+Promises+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the last few weeks of 2013 I had been contemplating my life, my work, my relationships, my future. I had asked for wisdom and guidance. I had asked for security and reassurance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the verse I chose met me at each of those question marks: <i>He</i> will be there, with me and for me; <i>He</i> will help me; I do not have to be afraid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though I don't know what this year holds, I know Who holds the year, and that is enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was confirmed for me the next night when we were joined by Bronwyn's family and they drew their promises. Then someone asked Allan to "sing like George Beverly Shea," and this is the song he sang (this version is <i>not</i> GBS, but still a sweet rendition):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5bnXSXkdoCs?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Many things about tomorrow</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I don't seem to understand</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>But I know Who holds tomorrow</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And I know Who holds my hand</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-70511398837969225782013-12-28T10:40:00.001-07:002013-12-28T10:40:49.008-07:00Here Comes the Sun<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Images this morning as I returned from picking up my car where I had left it yesterday afternoon in order to drive with my friends to Red Deer:</span><br />
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The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-99457741097001452013-12-28T02:13:00.000-07:002013-12-28T09:43:00.000-07:00White-out!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had been at the Red Deer Rebels hockey game on Friday night. We got on the road and discovered wind flailing the snow until it was tumultuous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three of us wanted to turn back and stay in Red Deer. But the driver felt we needed to keep going, that there was a reason ...
We stopped at every vehicle that had hit the ditch, ensuring that there was no one inside; the reason we were not there ourselves was that there were three of us navigating between the bumpy yellow centre line and the suddenly wavy outer white lines - on both sides of the highway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We had just passed a little town called Huxley when we encountered a complete white-out. With our hazard lights on, we sat in the middle of the highway for a few moments until the wind died down somewhat and we could inch our way forward again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suddenly: "Are those footprints?!" and a few yards up ahead there was the bobbing figure of someone walking on the side of the road. We picked him up. His truck had swerved all over the road before coming to rest, stuck at the side. He had no cell phone and had running shoes on his feet and a Red Deer Rebels cap on his head. He was trying to get to Trochu, where he lived. He had about eight miles to go, and he was pretty frozen and somewhat disoriented. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We drove him to his home: his wife was sitting in the semi-dark next to their front window. And then we pulled wearily back onto the highway for the last 15 kms to Three Hills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if we had stayed in Red Deer and that man had been struck by a vehicle in one of those white-out spells or had wandered off into a drift himself? We ourselves made it safely to Three Hills, three hours after we had set out from Red Deer.
I am so grateful that our driver didn't listen to the majority vote and listened instead to the "still small voice" in the middle of the storm compelling him to carry on.
God moves in mysterious - sometimes terrifying - ways!
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we, all four of us, are so grateful.</span><br />
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<h1 id="wb-cont" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 34px; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
Three Hills, <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Alberta">AB</abbr></h1>
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<h1 id="wb-cont" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 34px; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
Three Hills, <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Alberta">AB</abbr></h1>
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<a href="http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?ab13#ab13-22cweg-072300" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">BLOWING SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT</a></h2>
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<a href="http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?ab13#ab13-29cweg-072300" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">WIND WARNING ENDED</a></h2>
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Current Conditions</h2>
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<div class="temperature" style="font-size: 2em;">
-18°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></div>
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<li style="border: none; display: block; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; width: 2em;">°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li style="border-left-color: rgb(136, 136, 136); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: block; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.7em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; width: 2em;"><a href="http://weather.gc.ca/forecast/city_e.html?ab-69&unit=i" style="color: #5a306b;" title="Convert to Imperial Units">°F</a></li>
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<dt style="float: left; padding: 0px; width: 9em;">Observed at:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 125px; padding: 0px;">Three Hills</dd>
<dt style="float: left; padding: 0px; width: 9em;">Date:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 125px; padding: 0px;">12:00 AM MST Saturday 28 December 2013</dd></dl>
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<dt style="float: left; padding: 0px; width: 105px;">Condition:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 125px; padding: 0px;">Not observed</dd></dl>
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<dt style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">Temperature:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">-17.6°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></dd>
<dt style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">Dewpoint:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">-19.5°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></dd>
<dt style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">Humidity:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">85%</dd>
<dt style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">Wind:</dt>
<dd class="longContent" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"><abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="North-Northwest">NNW</abbr> 51 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="kilometres per hour">km/h</abbr></dd>
<dt style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=5FBF816A-1" style="color: #5a306b;" title="Wind Chill">Wind Chill</a>:</dt>
<dd style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">-32</dd></dl>
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<div id="forecastData" style="float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; width: 700px;">
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Forecast</h2>
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Graphic forecast</h3>
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<div class="fperiod" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 98px;">
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<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Friday night">Fri</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">27 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="December">Dec</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="Chance of flurries" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/38.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="Chance of flurries" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;" title="Chance of Precipitation">60%</li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;"> </li>
<li class="low" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: 49px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; z-index: 10;" title="Low">-19°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
</ul>
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<div class="fperiod" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 99px;">
<h4 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Saturday">Sat</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">28 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="December">Dec</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="Chance of flurries" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/08.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="Chance of flurries" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;" title="Chance of Precipitation">60%</li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;" title="High">-15°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li class="low" style="cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: -49.5px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative;"> </li>
</ul>
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<div class="fperiod" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 99px;">
<h4 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Sunday">Sun</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">29 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="December">Dec</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="Cloudy" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/10.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="Cloudy" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;"> </li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;" title="High">-8°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li class="low" style="cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: -49.5px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative;" title="Low">-21°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="fperiod" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 99px;">
<h4 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Monday">Mon</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">30 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="December">Dec</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="Chance of flurries" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/16.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="Chance of flurries" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;" title="Chance of Precipitation">60%</li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;" title="High">-12°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li class="low" style="cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: -49.5px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative;" title="Low">-14°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="fperiod" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 99px;">
<h4 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Tuesday">Tue</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">31 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="December">Dec</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="A mix of sun and cloud" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/02.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="A mix of sun and cloud" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;"> </li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;" title="High">-7°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li class="low" style="cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: -49.5px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative;" title="Low">-17°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="fperiod" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 99px;">
<h4 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Wednesday">Wed</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">1 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="January">Jan</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="Sunny" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/00.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="Sunny" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;"> </li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;" title="High">-4°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li class="low" style="cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: -49.5px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative;" title="Low">-10°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="fperiod fperiodlast" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-style: none none solid; float: left; text-align: center; width: 99px;">
<h4 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Thursday">Thu</abbr><br /><span class="fdate" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">2 <abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="January">Jan</abbr></span></h4>
<img alt="A mix of sun and cloud" src="http://weather.gc.ca/weathericons/02.gif" height="51" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; width: auto;" title="A mix of sun and cloud" width="60" /><br />
<ul style="list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="pop" style="cursor: default; font-size: 10px; line-height: 17px;"> </li>
<li class="high" style="cursor: default; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; padding: 4px 0px;" title="High">5°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
<li class="low" style="cursor: default; font-size: 13px; left: -49.5px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative;" title="Low">-9°<abbr style="border: none; cursor: help;" title="Celsius">C</abbr></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 class="wb-invisible" style="clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); color: #666666; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; height: 1px !important; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; position: absolute; vertical-align: bottom; width: 1px !important;">
Detailed forecast</h3>
<div class="fdetails" style="clear: both;">
<div class="fissued" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding: 5px 6px;">
<span class="section"><span class="bold">Issued:</span> 1:33 AM MST Saturday 28 December 2013</span></div>
<div class="warningText" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 5px 6px;">
Blowing snow warning in effect.</div>
<dl style="margin: 3px 0px 0px; padding: 3px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px;">Tonight</dt>
<dd style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin: 0px 0px 0.4em 3em; width: 650px;">Snow ending overnight then mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Amount 5 to 10 cm. Blowing snow with visibilities frequently less than 1 kilometre. Wind north 50 km/h gusting to 70 diminishing to 30 gusting to 50 overnight. Low minus 19. Wind chill minus 27.</dd>
<dt style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.1875px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px;">Saturday</dt>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Local blowing snow early in the morning. Wind north 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light in the morning. High minus 15. Wind chill minus 31 in the morning.</span></dl>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section></div>
</div>
The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-21669530412611424752013-12-25T23:17:00.000-07:002013-12-27T00:40:54.672-07:00Christmas 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H1Ea8W7HwtI/Urvj8B3EawI/AAAAAAAAKLo/gPsPQqUq56o/s1600/Christmas+Day+-+table+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H1Ea8W7HwtI/Urvj8B3EawI/AAAAAAAAKLo/gPsPQqUq56o/s320/Christmas+Day+-+table+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After dinner there were presents, interspersed with moments for private conversation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvKsIdLP7IE/Urvj5T-RUOI/AAAAAAAAKLk/250CNSqP78Y/s1600/Christmas+Day+-+Dad+kissing+Bronwyn%2527s+forehead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvKsIdLP7IE/Urvj5T-RUOI/AAAAAAAAKLk/250CNSqP78Y/s320/Christmas+Day+-+Dad+kissing+Bronwyn%2527s+forehead.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Blessing kiss": Dad and Bronwyn</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With hearts full, we thought of the Creator of the world who, 2100 years ago, could find no place to lay His head; who spoke the world into being but yet had to gestate for nine full months before being born to Mary; who holds the world in His hands, and yet was fully dependent on His mother to care for Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in gratitude we cry out with the song writer: "O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for Thee."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PBXpuLT1ilo?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-50827373568569636732013-12-25T11:12:00.000-07:002013-12-25T11:12:07.420-07:00Advent 2013, Week 4: Love for the World, and for Me<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PDEIZxsV68w/UrkdKjKv8rI/AAAAAAAAKJE/M9IRSa8825w/s1600/Advent+week+4+wreath+-+BVC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PDEIZxsV68w/UrkdKjKv8rI/AAAAAAAAKJE/M9IRSa8825w/s320/Advent+week+4+wreath+-+BVC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On this last Sunday before Christmas, Pastor Allan lit the fourth candle and said that today we would talk about Love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we wouldn't waste our time on the "Man, I love pizza!" or "I just love walking in the snow on a quiet moonlit night ..." kind of expression by which we have diluted the meaning of the word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In these troubled times of war, famine, flood, cancer, abuse, disease, homelessness, anger, loneliness, depression - we could go on and on - we often lose sight of the fact that God is a loving God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But God does love us. God is love, and everything He does - or allows to happen - is based on that love. John chapter 3 and verse 16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When God loves, He takes action. His love is not based on an emotional response that could change by the next day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201%3A18-25&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">The gospel written by Matthew, chapter 1 and verses 18 - 25</a> never mentions the word <i>love</i> in it, but it is the story of Joseph who loves first God, and then Mary, the young woman to whom he is betrothed. Joseph's love came at a high cost to himself: he would have been scorned for the rest of his life as the cuckolded husband. But because of love, he did exactly what the angel said and married Mary, raising Jesus as his own son.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pastor Allan pointed out that God's love is not exclusionary; John 3:16 says that God love the world - everyone. <i>Anyone</i> who believes on Him, regardless of background, is welcomed by Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord Jesus Christ came to die for the whole world, Pastor Allan went on; "but He would have done the same thing if it had been just me." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sitting with this thought as I went to sleep on Sunday night. And it was illustrated for me so perfectly the very next day, through another Allan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My brother has been doing some renovations for me, and everything was accomplished with his usual precision, attention to detail, and distinctive eye for the beauty that can be found in the mundane. I couldn't have been more pleased with the result.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But after lunch, when I was cutting up a pan of Norma's inimitable Rice Krispies squares for dessert, I sliced the tip of my thumb fairly deeply. "Ahhhhhh!" I cried out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then from the table came "<i>Karyn!</i>" - my name from my brother's lips uttered with such concern, such immediacy, such anguish, such deep love. I have heard that exact sound only once before in my life ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... and it was also from my brother, and it was the morning of September 11, 2001. I had been working in Ottawa the night before and was due to fly in late September 10. There had been various issues with the plane but we finally made it to Calgary in the early hours of the morning, over four hours late.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was in my house getting ready for the day when the phone rang. "Hello?" I answered, all unaware of how the world was changing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Karyn!</i>" My brother's voice filled my ear, and then he burst into tears. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay, that you had gotten home okay ... I love you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And on this past Monday afternoon, with blood dripping from the gash on my thumb and Allan's exclamations echoing in my head and heart, I completely understood what it meant that Jesus loves <i>me</i>. I could hear <i>Him</i> saying my name with even more intensity, more love, more depth of concern, than my brother had.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More than from his perfect workmanship, more than from everything else he has done for me over all these years - and it's been a lot - when he said my name in that particular way, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt Allan loves me; and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves me. Love forces action; the love of God for us - for me - compelled Him to send His Son to effect reconciliation between a righteous God and unrighteous humankind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we love God, Pastor Allan went on, we too will be forced to love others as well. Jesus' commands were very simple: "Love the Lord your God; love your neighbour." It isn't possible to accomplish the second without experiencing the first. The Greek word </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>ἀγάπη ("agape</i>" pronounced</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>agápē</i>) came into use during the establishment of the early Christian church, denoting Christian love or charity not looking to advance its own ends but a reflection of God's love for us - a perfect love because it was not only voluntary but also unconditional. It was a sacrificial love so radical, so different, that it caused people to give up their wealth, their possessions, even their lives. The second-century Tertullian wrote in his <i>Apology 39:</i> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">"What marks us in the eyes of our enemies is our loving kindness. 'Only look,' they say, 'look how they love one another.' "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">This Christmas season marks the greatest love of all, that God sent His Son - knowing full well the horrors of what would come 33 short years later when He was crucified - for all of us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">For <i>Karyn</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-38673953002392812302013-12-22T22:57:00.000-07:002013-12-22T22:57:02.981-07:00Advent 2013, Week 3: Joy for the Woebegone<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMWkf6fDwPM/UraT7Kj_lzI/AAAAAAAAKIQ/N8RHiG0qSMg/s1600/Advent+week+3+wreath+-+BVC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMWkf6fDwPM/UraT7Kj_lzI/AAAAAAAAKIQ/N8RHiG0qSMg/s1600/Advent+week+3+wreath+-+BVC.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A number of small but significant events happened in my week that caused me to pause and think about the trajectory of my life. Other people make choices that impact me; but I, too, make decisions that impact the direction my life takes. And these decisions - something as little as my response to a situation - can take on a life of their own and become of greater consequence than the initial action that spawned this response.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to Big Valley Church on Sunday morning and sat in the back row by myself. In the quiet I got out my notebook and made two columns: the things I felt I would be sacrificing comprised the left column and what I would be gaining went into the right column. In my present state of unhappiness, the two columns were tilted heavily to one side. My bleak mood darkened several shades.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then Pastor Allan lit the third Advent candle. "We're going to be talking about Joy today," he said. "One of the biggest misconceptions is that in order to be joyful, you have to be happy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But joyfulness and happiness are not mutually inclusive."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in the day, when the Ark of the Covenant was <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%206%3A5-15&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">being brought back to Jerusalem</a> under the cautious auspices of King David, the people were <i>joyful</i> - including David! There was dancing, trumpets and cornets blaring, percussion pounding away, people shouting. Allan commented, "So often today we sit still and say, with glum faces, 'We have the joy of the Lord ...' But we don't have to be afraid of showing the joy that we have. We are reconciled with God - we should be joyful!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He gave us three instances where we are encouraged by the joy of the Lord:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah%208:10&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">Nehemiah</a> tells us that it is our strength</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%205:11-12&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">The Psalmist</a> says that if we put our trust in the Lord God we should be joyful because He is our defender</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2043:4&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">The Psalmist again</a> says that God is his exceeding joy</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In each of these three situations, Allan, pointed out, it is God who is both the <b>source</b> and the <b>object</b> of our joy: He brings joy to us, and He is the one to whom we offer our joy back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then, a few minutes later, Allan said something that made me wonder if I had been saying my thoughts aloud, if someone had been reading over my shoulder at my list. "Circumstances!" he said.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's easy to be joyful when everything is good; but the letter that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201:2-3&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">St James</a> wrote challenges us to be joyful even in terrible times, looking ahead to see the result of our trials should we allow our faith to work. The writer of the book of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:2&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">Hebrews</a> reminds us that this is what Jesus Himself did: He thought of the trials, the desertions, betrayals, denials, beatings; He thought of the actual crucifixion and burial; most horrific of all, He thought of His own Father turning His face from His Son. Jesus looked past all of this, willing to endure it all because of the end result: reconciliation of humankind to the God who so dearly loves us despite ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need, sometimes, to have that physical, material suffering to produce spiritual strength, Allan mused. No one is <i>happy</i> about suffering - Jesus wasn't <i>happy</i> about the horrendous suffering He would endure, and He doesn't tell us to be happy in our trials; rather, He says, through James, "Count it all joy ..." You cannot possibly be happy in the circumstance of a terminal illness, the death of a loved one, a job loss, a physical calamity. But you <i>can</i> be joyful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need to have a vision of what is on the other side of our suffering in order for us to be joyful <i>through</i> the untenable circumstance in which we might find ourselves. We are more than just physical creatures; we're also spiritual beings, and as we go through our lives, the deeper our spiritual relationship with God is, the deeper the joy we will experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Seek God for your strength," Allan urged. "Seek God for the joy you need. Don't look at just your external circumstances; look at <i>God</i>."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As he dismissed us I looked at my list again, and made a break for my car. Every single thing in the negative column was a secondary, external item. As I sat in the driver's seat, stunned, my friend Winnie came out and squatted down to talk to me. I told her a little bit about the impact the sermon had had on me, and how all the negative emotionalism and feeling sorry for myself was swept away by the objective words I had just heard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CENp99mFFDY/UrfORjH5N8I/AAAAAAAAKI0/FMWX-0Ll60M/s1600/Advent+3+-+The+List.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CENp99mFFDY/UrfORjH5N8I/AAAAAAAAKI0/FMWX-0Ll60M/s1600/Advent+3+-+The+List.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I glanced down at my list. On the positive side the top three things were, none of them, superficial. And this beautiful woman, it turned out, was at the top of the list. God sent specifically <i>her</i> out to my car to remind me of what was important, to remind me of the people He was bringing into my life who would befriend and come alongside of me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I thought that even in our moments of doubt, even in our trials, God often provides us with tangible support. All we have to do is to keep our eyes fixed on Him:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Turn your eyes upon Jesus</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Look full in His wonderful face</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And the things of earth will grow strangely dim</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the light of His glory and grace.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's simple; it just isn't always easy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we could only seek His face more and look less at our own "stuff," our circumstances might not change one whit; but our attitude and our inner resolution will rise up with joy, giving us strength for the next hour or day or circumstance.</span></div>
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The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170736184290277644.post-27365952966472624862013-12-18T23:14:00.000-07:002013-12-20T00:19:19.851-07:00Advent 2013, Week 2: Peace for the Waiting<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuN6yVxHVNg/Uq1PEsl10tI/AAAAAAAAKIE/ZpY_4qogN7M/s1600/Advent+week+2+wreath+-+BVC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuN6yVxHVNg/Uq1PEsl10tI/AAAAAAAAKIE/ZpY_4qogN7M/s1600/Advent+week+2+wreath+-+BVC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He sat slumped in his chair in the corner, for the first time since I have known him unable to summon a smile. "It's been two years now," he said softly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She sent me a note. The birth mother had changed her mind: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just a bit ago we got a call from [her] birth mom, and she's reconsidering, and wants to come pick [her] up tomorrow. Throughout this whole process I've guarded my heart so carefully, and I do feel like even last night The Lord reminded me that we only have any child for the days he numbers.. But this is really hard, and our hearts are a mess right now. We appreciate your prayers, and really long to be able to say that all the time The Lord is good. Thanks for interceding for us. It's really hard to right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month Dad spoke to a local congregation, a message he entitled </span><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here and Now</u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. (To hear the whole thing, click </span><a href="http://prairietab.com/resources/sermon-audio" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and then scroll over until you see </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dr. Allan Ironside</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 11-17-13; follow that link).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Here</i> speaks to place; <i>now</i> speaks to time, Dad prefaced his sermon. We all live in a here and a now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He turned our attention toward the Gospel of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201:5-55&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">Luke, chapter 1</a>, to the story of an elderly couple whose names were Elisabeth and Zechariah. Their here and now was Jerusalem in the rule of one of the terrible despot Herods. It was an awful time to be living, and yet despite everything they carried on with their lives and their callings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad broke it down quite simply as follows:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Their character:</i> In spite of their surroundings and difficulties, both Elisabeth and Zechariah were righteous before God. Zechariah was actually a priest in the temple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Their problem:</i> 1) Elisabeth is unable to have a child; and 2) they are both old.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Consider what Elisabeth experienced!" Dad exclaimed. Verse 25 speaks of her <i>reproach</i> - for all those years she lived under a cloud of shame and disgrace. Very often in eastern cultures, even today, a woman who fails to bear a child is almost a pariah. "Elisabeth lives with this, and Zechariah feels it," Dad reminded us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zechariah had been praying for years that they would have a child, but to no avail. "Sometimes we have to face delays in our lives: this was no yellow light - it was a red light." There was a sense of failure, a cloud of sorrow and helplessness in their home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet, through it all, the two of them remained righteous and blameless before God. They carried on loving him and serving him despite the burden they bore ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad then got us to turn to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2028%3A23-29&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">Isaiah 28:23-29</a>, where the prophet is insistent that we pay attention to what God is saying. "Give ear!" he urges. "Hear my voice! Hearken! Hear my speech!" We are to listen carefully and with intelligence; we are to respond with obedience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then the prophet talks about the different stages of growing a crop. First the soil must be prepared - but that is not forever. The land must be tilled. Next the seed appropriate to the soil is planted - not all the same seed. And when it comes time to harvest, the crop is not extracted the same way - it depends on the crop itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is the one who instructs this farmer on how to proceed, on how to make the best decisions for the most abundant crop. God wants what is best for us and he is <i>wonderful</i> in his leading. We ourselves might not understand his purposes; we might be confused as to what it is he is doing in our lives; but we have to believe that he wants the very best for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These verses in Isaiah tell us that God knows the best PLACE and the best TIME and MEANS to attain his purpose in our lives. And because we are all different, he deals with us in the best way <i>for us.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to Zechariah and Elisabeth: Zechariah is serving in the temple when the angel makes the announcement that the elderly Zechariah and Elisabeth will have a child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Six months later, the angel comes to a teenage girl and tells her that she, too, will be having a child. "Your cousin Elisabeth is also pregnant," the angel assures her. "With God, nothing is impossible."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Mary decides to go visit her cousin. It would have been a long journey for a sheltered, frightened girl. But suddenly, one day, she was at Elisabeth's house - what a wonderful surprise for Elisabeth!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was even more amazing were the words that tumbled from Elisabeth's wise old mouth when she saw this young cousin of hers:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. </i><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201:42-46&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">(Luke 1:42-45)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These words could never have been uttered by Elisabeth if she had not had to undergo all the pain, the disappointment, the waiting, the scorn, that she had spent decades of her life living with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listen to Zechariah when John, their son, was born:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Luke-1-68" id="en-ESV-24953" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">68 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24953DN" title="See cross-reference DN">DN</a>)"></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessed be the Lord <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24953DO" title="See cross-reference DO">DO</a>)"></span>God of Israel,</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-68" style="position: relative;">for he has <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24953DP" title="See cross-reference DP">DP</a>)"></span>visited and <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24953DQ" title="See cross-reference DQ">DQ</a>)"></span>redeemed his people</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-69" id="en-ESV-24954" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">69 </span>and <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24954DR" title="See cross-reference DR">DR</a>)"></span>has raised up <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24954DS" title="See cross-reference DS">DS</a>)"></span>a horn of salvation for us</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-69" style="position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24954DT" title="See cross-reference DT">DT</a>)"></span>in the house of his servant David,</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-70" id="en-ESV-24955" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">70 </span><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24955DU" title="See cross-reference DU">DU</a>)"></span>as <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24955DV" title="See cross-reference DV">DV</a>)"></span>he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-71" id="en-ESV-24956" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">71 </span><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24956DW" title="See cross-reference DW">DW</a>)"></span>that we should be saved from our enemies</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-71" style="position: relative;">and from the hand of all who hate us;</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-72" id="en-ESV-24957" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">72 </span><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24957DX" title="See cross-reference DX">DX</a>)"></span>to show the mercy promised to our fathers</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-72" style="position: relative;">and <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24957DY" title="See cross-reference DY">DY</a>)"></span>to remember his holy <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24957DZ" title="See cross-reference DZ">DZ</a>)"></span>covenant,</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-73" id="en-ESV-24958" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">73 </span><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24958EA" title="See cross-reference EA">EA</a>)"></span>the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="text Luke-1-74" id="en-ESV-24959" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">74 </span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span>that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-74" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;">might serve him <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24959EB" title="See cross-reference EB">EB</a>)"></span>without fear,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="text Luke-1-75" id="en-ESV-24960" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">75 </span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24960EC" title="See cross-reference EC">EC</a>)"></span>in holiness and righteousness before him <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24960ED" title="See cross-reference ED">ED</a>)"></span>all our days.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-76" id="en-ESV-24961" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">76 </span>And you, child, will be called <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24961EE" title="See cross-reference EE">EE</a>)"></span>the prophet of <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24961EF" title="See cross-reference EF">EF</a>)"></span>the Most High;</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-76" style="position: relative;">for <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24961EG" title="See cross-reference EG">EG</a>)"></span>you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-77" id="en-ESV-24962" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">77 </span>to give knowledge of salvation to his people</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-77" style="position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24962EH" title="See cross-reference EH">EH</a>)"></span>in the forgiveness of their sins,</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-78" id="en-ESV-24963" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">78 </span>because of the <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24963EI" title="See cross-reference EI">EI</a>)"></span>tender mercy of our God,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-78" style="position: relative;">whereby <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24963EJ" title="See cross-reference EJ">EJ</a>)"></span>the sunrise shall <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24963EK" title="See cross-reference EK">EK</a>)"></span>visit us <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24963EL" title="See cross-reference EL">EL</a>)"></span>from on high</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Luke-1-79" id="en-ESV-24964" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">79 </span>to <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24964EM" title="See cross-reference EM">EM</a>)"></span>give light to <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24964EN" title="See cross-reference EN">EN</a>)"></span>those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Luke-1-79" style="position: relative;"><i>to guide our feet into <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24964EO" title="See cross-reference EO">EO</a>)"></span>the way of <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24964EP" title="See cross-reference EP">EP</a>)"></span>peace. </i><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201:68-79&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">(Luke 1:68-79)</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their extraordinary gift of a son, the one who would come to be known as John the Baptizer, the one who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, his cousin and Lord, Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John had been born at the exact right time. If Elisabeth had had him when she was a young woman - if she had not had to wait for God's time and place - there would have been no special encouragement for Mary in her unique situation, no extra measure of understanding and joy from her cousin. The words "<i>with God nothing is impossible</i>" would not have been uttered - they would not have been appropriate if John's was an ordinary birth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elisabeth and Zechariah could look back at the barren years culminating in their deepest heart's desire being fulfilled and say, "We just wanted a child. But think of what God has given us - far more than we could have imagined or hoped for!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was all worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think for a moment of the mighty King David who, after coming through an inordinate amount of suffering and danger, exclaimed joyfully, "As for God, His way is perfect ... and He makes my way perfect" </span><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2022%3A31-33&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">2 Samuel 22:31-33)</a>.</u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elisabeth and Zechariah: two people living in a real world with real problems and unbearable heartache. We may not have their burdens exactly; we may not understand why - though we pray and pray and try to live upright lives - our burdens don't go away, why it seems like God is not answering our prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The old southern funeral hymn starts with these lines:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I like to think my Father knows,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>My Father knows it all ...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>That's</i> the here and the now. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don't necessarily see the breaking up of the soil, the harrowing, the seeding, the harvesting, the threshing out in our lives. But when the day comes that all is revealed, we will say, "This is far more than I could have imagined!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The stories of my two friends mentioned at the beginning continue - he was asked for a continuance into the new year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And she - there is another sweet baby, a little one determined to keep her cracked heart open and tender. Her beautiful son - she will love him as long as God gives her strength, as long as He gives her <i>him</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like Elisabeth, she will never entirely forget the anticipation and the sorrow, the high hopes and the ensuing pain that went before. But she can say with the wise author of Ecclesiastes: "<i>He has made everything beautiful in his time</i>" <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203:11&version=KJV;ESV" target="_blank">(Ecclesiastes 3:11)</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We just need to learn to rest, in peace, in Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Selah. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>The Sidekickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288429350660571515noreply@blogger.com2