by

Our Daily Thread 1-10-15

Good Morning!

Welcome to the weekend! 🙂

Today’s header photo is from Kim and Ann’s meet up yesterday.

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On this day in 1840 the penny post, whereby mail was delivered at a standard charge rather than paid for by the recipient, began in Britain. 

In 1901 oil was discovered at the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont, TX. 

In 1920 The League of Nations held its first meeting in Geneva. 

And in 1928 the Soviet Union ordered the exile of Leon Trotsky. 

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Quote of the Day

“Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise.”

George Washington Carver

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 Today is Jim Croce’s birthday.

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Anyone have a QoD?

85 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 1-10-15”

  5. Trying to think of a better way to phrase something. Is there a word that encompasses the meaning of a person’s way of thinking? I thought maybe “worldview”, but then I thought that one’s worldview is a result of the way one thinks. Or do you think it is the other way around? I also thought of “thought pattern”, but that, too, doesn’t sound like what I’m looking for, although maybe it is.

    Any thoughts?

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  8. Why Mumsee, I am flattered. My hair isn’t even wet or twisted in a clip!

    I’ve been through Beaumont twice this week. It still has lots of refineries and has that distinctive smell. I am sure to the folks around there it smells like M O N E Y True to past history I got a headache both times through Houston. Thankfull it didn’t last long.
    Jim Croce is one of my favorites and time in a Bottle is one of the best songs.

    We are about to hit the road to get home. I asked Mr P what kind of REAL food he wanted for dinner. I am tired of rich restaurant food. 🙂 Poor man has to go to Pensacola to get his dog. I just have to go around the country block 😉

    Interesting to watch all the talking heads on the news and how little they really say.

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  9. Good morning! It was up at 4:00 a.m. to take son to the airport. It was a 45 minute trip there and back with no traffic. He said he saved $70.00 getting the early bird. We did not even get any worms for our efforts.

    I can’t see the header right now, but will find a way to see it over the weekend.

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  10. Karen, a few words I think of:
    prejudiced
    one-tract thinking
    twisted to fit one’s agenda
    used to justify behavior
    stuck in replay mode
    futile
    self-centered
    God focused
    rehashing the same ole, same ole
    redundant
    materialistic
    compassionate or not
    in the moment
    people pleasing

    I know I probably did not get what you were looking for, but maybe some of the words will lead you to the one you hope for. 🙂

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  11. “To my way of thinking” is a good old folk way of saying what you mean and have given it some thought. Or that it is a universal truth
    Ie. to my way of thinking you ain’t ever gonna get that square peg to fit in that round hole.
    To my way of thinking the sun is gonna rise in the east an set in the west.

    To my way of thinking if you are going to engage in any further discussion of anything with YF you are wasting your breath, time, and typing skills.

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  13. Okay, here’s what I’m looking for, in the context of how I would use it…

    One of my prayers for my girls (& YF & her sister, & some others) is for God to change & realign their “way of thinking & believing” to be in alignment with His word & truth.

    IOW, whatever it is deep inside each one of us that causes us to choose one idea or worldview over another. Is there even a word for that? Or is “way of thinking & believing” as close as I’m gonna get to the idea?

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  17. Conversion begins to change the way one views everything, but it is definitely a process.

    And conversion — or, rather God through the Holy Spirit — has to be the first cause. Once the “center” has changed by embracing the truth of God as the beginning & end, all kinds of issues, events and ideas (slowly) begin to take on new meaning.

    It’s why even so many secular/political conservatives are generally now easy with things like gay marriage, for example. But for the Christian, there’s a core truth about the world and mankind — about how and why God made us — that by necessity separates our views from the mainstream.

    I had generally liberal notions about a lot of social issues in my early and mid-20s (gay marriage may have sounded strange in some ways back then, but it really would not have posed a problem for me at all; I worked in a company in Hollywood for a few years right out of college where many of my co-workers were gay & I was perfectly fine with the burgeoning gay rights movement that was blossoming at that time with the gay pride parades, etc.; I was also pro-choice).

    Coming to Christ came first in what became a sea change of perspective on so many issues. Suddenly, it was a matter of conforming my views to the revealed word of God.

    Seeing the world differently took time, it was a gradual turning that I’d say played out for me over a period of at least a few or even several years. Some issues, such as the death penalty, remain in more of a gray area for me personally and still pose challenges in how they should “look” or be applied in society. I think Christians can and legitimately do differ on some of those matters.

    So keep praying for the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts and minds with regard to faith — and the rest follows. Or should if conversion is genuine. You can’t come to Christ and not grapple with all kinds of issues you thought you’d already figured out.

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  18. Cheryl – “Change their hearts.” It’s as simple as that, huh? (I’m not being sarcastic.) You’re right, that was really all I meant. I kept thinking that there must be some other word for what I was trying to say. (And yes, I do pray for God to change their hearts, so I guess the other part was redundant.)

    Donna – What is so discouraging to me is that so many Christians have come to believe that the scriptures have been misinterpreted for all these years, & that homosexuality is really just fine with God, that He made them that way.

    Or that abortion is the compassionate alternative in an unplanned & unwanted pregnancy. Christian proponents of abortion tell stories of single mothers struggling – & often not quite succeeding – to support themselves & their children, & how the children growing up in those circumstances are often horribly abused or neglected. To them, the compassionate solution for both mother & child is to abort the child before he sees the light of day.

    It must pain the heart of our Lord to see some of His children espousing these very ungodly, unbiblical views that can lead to such destruction in people’s lives.

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  19. We pray in a different direction for young people, and obviously, you need to pray how God leads you for these specific kids.

    We recognize it will probably take a significant event to change their hearts–and so we pray they will hit bottom sooner rather than later–that they not waste years in their avoidance of God, but have an epiphany–usually after something bad happens to them.

    That means we have to deliberately stand back when something awful happens and often support, love and prayers, but allow the circumstances to hit the kid hard. Not bail them out, in other words.

    That’s how, in my experience, God works with us.

    I’m sorry. We hate this prayer. But it has worked.

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  21. Karen, agreed. For the most part, these are folks in churches that are shrinking desperately in numbers, of course, and treading close to extinction. But there have been some also in the broader evangelical community who now are questioning the issue of homosexuality, and it is especially being being embraced by young evangelicals.

    This is a long and rather dense piece I’m linking to below (and I admittedly haven’t waded carefully through all of it, rather I’ve scanned most of the article) that looks at the new book “Changing Our Minds” by a Baptist, Dr. David P. Gushee (professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University) who argues that monogamous, “covenanted” LGBT relationships should be sanctioned by the church.

    http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/changing-our-mind

    From part of the book critique’s summary: “The call for the universal church to abandon its historic biblical teaching on sexual ethics has become quite public. As I’ve noted, Changing Our Mind often lacks the precision of argument lauded early in the book (9). Writing clearly and passionately, David manages to mix relational principles, biblical references, mystical spiritual experience, exhortations to tolerance, the logic of revisionist sexual ethics, and Christian language. Thus, rather than a guided intellectual tour into a more biblically faithful Christianity, Changing Our Mind offers a perfect tract for our times. Regrettably, many will resonate deeply with the spirit of the age reflected in its pages.

    “Some of David’s proposals are well-taken, and his exhortations to love and compassion are appreciated and heard. Many of the proposals, however, remain painfully undeveloped and unconvincing, both in terms of scriptural engagement and ethical reasoning, offering a poor basis for ‘changing our mind’ on a Judeo-Christian sexual ethic that has spanned millennia. Read carefully, the book primarily focuses on David’s ‘existential leap’ to the other side of the debate table. Fundamentally he offers his story and the stories of others, rather than Scripture or reason, as an authoritative basis for others to take the leap with him. …”

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  22. Obviously serious arguments from within the church, including some evangelical voices, are now being advanced for accepting committed gay relationships.

    Whether this will be an issue that the church will struggle with for many years to come remains to be seen — but I suspect it’s one that’ll be a challenge to us within the church for a while.

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  24. It’s that word undeveloped that stands out to me, Donna. And if you “arrest” your sexual development as a teenager–when it is still forming–you can get yourself trapped.

    I have great respect for those who have wrestled through their sexuality against Scripture and have come to the conclusion that while their sexuality may lean towards their same sex, they choose to be celibate. I, personally, don’t believe a person should only be viewed through their sexual choices–because I don’t think God views us that way. We are whole people, imago dei, and how we express our sexuality, eating habits, loose tongue, and so forth demonstrates how we honor God’s word.

    I think that’s what I believe . . .

    And as to my other comment, I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve read lots of books about nutrition, have walked “religiously” for 28 years, but it was only when the sword of diabetes diagnosis came within .2 of hitting me that I worked really hard.

    God provides us with the means to know the truth–whether it be about our sexuality or our health–but it’s up to us to “develop” or mature or deny ourselves, before change can really take place.

    No miracle for me.

    Work.

    I don’t like it.

    I’d rather be lazy and blame my problems on someone else . . . who would that be?

    I know!

    The world’s chocolate manufacturers!

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  26. regarding “Christians” who think the Bible doesn’t say anything against homosexuality: I saw this cartoon posted on Google+ the other day: http://adam4d.com/who-said-it/. Very concise as to Who says marriage is between one man and woman, and no other marriage is acceptable tho Him.

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  29. It’s still raining here, yay. The cat just made a beeline from the backyard into the doggie door and now is curled up at my shoulder on the back of the sofa, purring.

    It’s cold in my house. But after seeing my latest gas bill (Eeek!) I think I’m going to just put on yet another layer. 🙂

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  30. Thinking back on the gay issue, it was before I became a Christian that a friend from highschool, one of my closest friends, got swept into relationships with older lesbians. She struggled with whether or not to continue in friendship with them. I was away at college and had a boyfriend by then (a long-lasting ten year time that I thought would eventually end in marriage). I did once go out to dinner with my friend and a group of her lady friends. It just felt so awkward. I really felt my friend who had previously been in relationships with guys got snatched up by these people. Her main boyfriend had joined the Navy so she was vulnerable for companionship. Her friends had gone off to college. I just felt saddened and angry about the turn of her life and the lost friendship. Also, while in college I worked in the junior department of a large downtown store that is now a Macy’s. Directly across the way was the beauty shop in the store so I got my fill of hearing flamboyant gay hairdressers talking and acting to the max the roles they had taken on. Again, all this happened at least ten years before my salvation. So my beginnings with knowledge of gays gave me strong opinions. I think being a Christian has probably made me feel more compassion for them. I recognize they are each made in God’s image, but have not accepted that part of themselves because they have gone overboard with their sexuality. They really want acceptance and want us to become little God’s and give them the acceptance that they really need from God. It is really a sad thing. They seek for Christians to usurp authority that rightfully belongs to the Creator and say He is wrong and they are right. I can’t do that. They do not seek my best interest when the want me to deny God and go to hell to support their sexuality choices. They just don’t get that and won’t try. They are very selfish in that regard.

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  31. I have been to get Amos, to pick up my birthday cake from Aunt Leesee, to the grocery store and am now cooking hamburger meat, elbow macaroni, and tomatoes. Once it is done I will add cheese and be in heaven. I have had room service and restaurant food for a solid week! I want home made food.
    Mr. P has gone to get his dog.

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  32. Along the lines of Michelle’s post above about people having to hit bottom…Some things came out yesterday afternoon about Oldest Son. He has severe PTSD and will NOT talk to anyone about it. Having been around him, he is emotionless and has a vacant look in his eyes. His dad thinks he needs to have inpatient treatment, but he won’t even go for outpatient.
    He needs to hit bottom and be forced into treatment or given no other option..

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  33. Mother’s heart tremors–but he’s the head of his household and two small children are involved. I hope his father keeps talking to him–he would understand better than anyone–that a family needs healing to function well.

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  36. And it’s a steady rain here, now, just when it’s about time for me to head out for our little dinner-by-the-sea gathering. It’s going to be messy — and part of the scheduled timing was so we could watch the sunset over the ocean, but there’s really been no visible sun today.

    I may also have to walk a ways, last time I went there we found street parking a few blocks away only, so … Got my boots on! Add a hooded jacket and I should be fine … The gift & card are tightly encased & tied (I hope) in two plastic bags.

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  40. 🙂 When I went to get Amos this afternoon, George nor Chloe were there. I visited with ex-MIL for a little while and helped her fix something. She told me that she and George had discussed getting partial custody of Amos! She told me that he is such a good dog that he had almost had her convinced that she might want another dog until she was standing out in the back field with him on a leash in the north wind. 🙂 She loves to watch him “bury” his squeaky toy under a throw that she knitted. I asked her if she minded and she said no, he can’t hurt it. She has not had a dog in all the years I have known her. She and Pop had a poodle for many years but after he was gone she never wanted another.

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  41. Kim, do you think he would be open to reading books on PTSD? My friend’s husband is the head of the VA PTSD outpatient clinic here in Atlanta. I could ask her to ask him for some good resources for someone who refuses to get treatment. Let me know.

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  44. Does anyone here use Avast anti-virus/anti-malware? If so, does it tend to slow down your computer or keep some websites from coming up?

    Lee downloaded that into my laptop before heading off to bed, & ever since then, I’ve been having problems. I realize that it could be a coincidence in timing, but thought I’d ask. I’d ask on Facebook, too, if I could, but the “This webpage is not available” message. It does that for Biblegateway, too.

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  45. It has been a lovely day in Colorado…sun shiny and kinda sorta warm…lots of snow melt…it will be replenished tomorrow evening, Monday and Tuesday…hmmmmm….perhaps this weather guy will be wrong about that 🙂
    Karen, when we have prayed for those who seem stubborn and obstinate in their views, never to even give ear to another view….we have asked our Lord to “bring them to the end of themselves”….”give to them eyes to see and ears to hear”….it truly must be and is a work of the Holy Spirit….praying with you that their hearts might be softened to hear the living word of God Almighty…..

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  46. Michelle – I do pray that God will do “whatever is needed” in their lives to bring them to Himself, & He knows that my meaning includes even if that means hitting bottom.

    As to the matter of homosexuals, you must remember that most of them completely reject the idea that it is a choice. The term “sexual preference” is out, but “sexual identity” is in. Most of them, but not all, truly believe that their homosexuality is something as integral to who they are as individuals as any other personality trait or inherited trait. Therefore, to not fully accept that part of them is to not accept them at all.

    There is no longer any allowance of agreeing to disagree on this issue. 😦

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  47. NancyJill – I often pray those words, too, & pray each day for God to open their eyes, open their ears, soften & open their hearts, & awaken their spirits.

    Along with the hitting bottom part, which I don’t specifically pray each day but the meaning is included in what I do pray, when I do specifically mention that, I pray that it be sooner rather than later.

    Funny. I was just trying to think of a word, & that got us talking about how to pray for these wayward children.

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  50. KarenO, my friend and her husband prayed for their daughter for several years “Lord, if you need to, send her to Africa” He did just that – daughter and her family are in North Africa as missionaries.

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  51. Karen, I do pray for those caught up in that lifestyle as I would for any of the lost in this world. I know they are all off God’s track and not living the better life God had planned for them. We all fall short, but some are going forward toward God and others are walking in the exact opposite direction. It seems people are walking one way or the other with no middle ground. So they will eventually hit rock bottom when they keep going away from God. For me it took having our son and being stuck at home with an always sick child. That’s not what most would think of as “rock bottom,” but for me it meant being isolated and feeling out of sync with all I had ever thought I knew about the world. I wanted to at least read the Bible which might give me some wisdom about my agony of being sidelined. I ended up reading the whole Bible and being saved and having a much better attitude and acceptance of being home most of the time. Of course sanctification is a long process that I had little knowledge of at first so I’d take two steps forward and one step back. So, knowing how long the Lord took to bring me to salvation gives me hope for your young girls.

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  52. Partial custody of Amos ???

    Noooooooo

    It’s still raining, the ocean was as gray as the sky — and certainly no sunset to watch before it got dark. But I had a nice time with good friends — fancy food, not completely my *thing,* the grilled salmon was a bit too pink and underdone to my liking, but it’s good to try new dishes sometimes. 🙂

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  55. Finally Miss Bosley has remembered how to retrieve a paper ball. And she has added a new twist. Husband throws it and she brings it right back but out of reach on the floor. Then she bats it with her paw over to husband. Also, sometimes she goes out to catch a pass by leaping up for the ball as it flies through the air. I am now wondering if she is getting ready to play minarets paper Frisbee like you see dogs playing Frisbee in the park.

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  57. The problems with my laptop continued this morning. Websites slow to load or refresh, a couple sites not coming up at all. Laptop slowed down in general.

    So, since Google was still working, I googled Avast reviews, looking specifically at the negative ones. Sure enough, my problems were described by a couple of those reviews.

    So I then uninstalled Avast, & am now installing AVG, the one we used before. (Last night Lee just randomly decided to try something new.) Those websites that weren’t coming up before are coming up now.

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  59. The way this whole thing started was that Amos was supposed to be BG’s dog, so George would take him on the weekends and any other time he had BG. Slowly that tapered off, but Amos does go to football and pool parties with them and has a whole other set of doggie friends. When I have had to go out of town for any reason George volunteers to keep “the Boy”. Now that George and BG live with Nana, I was a little hesitant to ask because Nana has made no secret that she has had all the pets she has ever wanted and she didn’t want a dog using the bathroom in her house and smelling it up. That is why when she was so complimentary of Amos yesterday and told me how good he was and that he almost had her convinced that she might want another dog until she was standing outside in the cold for him to go potty it made me happy. Amos slept with BG the whole week he was there and I know that makes her happy. For that I would let them have Amos every other weekend so that BG still has what was supposed to be her dog.

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  60. Janice,
    Thank you for sharing your story of how you came to Christ. I don’t often mention it anymore but I am still worried about my Baby Girl. She tells me things and then when I speak with her father about her he tells me not to worry that she is “just yanking my chain”. I worry so much about her. Ex- MIL told me yesterday that BG has a good head on her shoulders. That out of all three grandchildren she has been the most responsible at this age. Nephew is 27 and Niece is 23, BG is 17.
    It broke something inside of me when BG left me and went to live with her father, but I do have to admit it has been good for her.
    Yesterday as we were driving and I was staring off into the distance, I was thinking of all of you and this blog. I am jealous of some of you and the conversion stories you have. That BOOM moment when you met God and surrendered. I am more of a spoiled child of God. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in Him and even at my worst in behavior or actions I assumed that He was the benevolent parent in the background waiting for me to need Him and have Him pick up the pieces. I don’t have the Great Salvation Story that many of you have. I realize that really doesn’t sound like much of a problem, but sometimes I wonder if it doesn’t make me just a little weaker where others are stronger.

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  61. Have any of you heard the phrase “dog gone” lately?
    I heard it on a Gaither program this afternoon. I haven’t heard it since way back in the last century. My mother said it was a ‘byword” and wouldn’t let me say it.

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  62. Heidi is half Pit Bull & half Minaret Schnauzer. 😉

    I’m home from church today because I am babysitting Forrest (remember, we’re not allowed to take him to church) while Emily & Chrissy travel about an hour away to spend some time with their cousin, K, whom they rarely see these days. The last time they saw her was at her wedding to a “transman” last March.

    K (who considers herself bisexual) & H originally were in a lesbian relationship, until H decided she was really a he, eventually having surgery to remove her breasts, & then a hysterectomy. I felt so sad, & a little sickened, about the mutilation her body went through, that she exulted over.

    (BTW, I usually refer to H by her preferred male name & male pronouns, but use her real name in my prayers.)

    K is eight months older than Emily, & is their only first cousin, as they are her only first cousins, & neither family is close to any other cousins. (Brother & I each married “only” children.) They spent a lot of time together as children when my parents would have them over or do special things with them. Emily & Chrissy have always looked up to K, & think of her as being so brave & wonderful to be in this relationship with H.

    This is the niece (well, my only niece, & I have no nephews) who cut off her relationship with me over what she perceived my thoughts & beliefs to be about her & H. I was told that unless I could accept & “embrace” her marriage to H, my presence in her life was not wanted. (My brother’s cutting me out of his life began even before that, & is not related to K’s thoughts about me.)

    Sad situation. I wish my girls weren’t so enamored of their cousin.

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  63. Thank you, Kim. I have not felt my story to be very dramatic, and God had been drawing me for a long time. Once, not long after I finished college and was on lunch break from work I was driving down the road on a dark and dreary day. I called out to God, “If You are really real You could part these clouds.” Low and behold, at that moment some sunshine appeared. And another time when I was depressed in January probably I went over by a window where I had rooted an African violet, and the little thing had a totally unexpected bloom that lifted my spirits. I did not admit it was a gift from God. He was showing His love for me and I was just determined to still be doing my life as I pleased. I am glad for you, Kim, that you recognized and acknowledged God all along. That is a blessing. I feel badly sometimes that I did not.

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  65. Kim, my former (now retired) pastor used to say stories like yours were really the most beautiful to him — people who always *knew,* always believed, from childhood. He said he’s always found those the most compelling and sweetest gospel “conversion” stories of all in that God chose to reveal Himself to such tender, small children from the start.

    The rest of us had to get knocked around a bit first. 😉

    One of our associate pastors who preached a week or two ago read part of Kirsten Powers’ story from the pulpit — most of us have read it here before (I’ll repost the link if I can find it) — saying it also offers a very accurate description of what happens to those who are surprised & caught by the Hound of Heaven as adults.

    http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/november/fox-news-highly-reluctant-jesus-follower-kirsten-powers.html

    ” … I tried to write off the experience as misfiring synapses, but I couldn’t shake it. When I returned to New York a few days later, I was lost. I suddenly felt God everywhere and it was terrifying. More important, it was unwelcome. It felt like an invasion. I started to fear I was going crazy. …

    Following a Bible study, “everything had changed. I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment on the Upper East Side and saying to myself, ‘It’s true. It’s completely true.’ The world looked entirely different, like a veil had been lifted off it. I had not an iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy. …

    “The horror of the prospect of being a devout Christian crept back in almost immediately. I spent the next few months doing my best to wrestle away from God. It was pointless. Everywhere I turned, there he was. Slowly there was less fear and more joy. The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me—whether I liked it or not.”

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  67. Scary moment with Tess and the cat today — Tess, being a female border collie, can be pushy and she especially gives the cat a hard time in the kitchen, herding her into corners to where I’m having to often call her off. I don’t think she’d hurt her, but today frightened me because Tess got her down on the floor, the cat was scampering to get way but couldn’t until I grabbed Tess by her fur and yanked her away. The cat is fine, I don’t think Tess bites so much as press her face & upper body into her to get her under her control.

    But I still worry … I keep telling Annie she needs to be better at staying clear of Tess, never passing by too close. But she’s not listening.

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  68. Donna. NO.
    I’m going to take it to a store and ask them about it.
    When the voice at 1-800-288-2020 finds that the remote turns the TV off, he says” good, go to channel 411 for instructions.” I go to channel 411, but when I press OK, nothing happens.
    Most of the things work, but I can’t “Pause” or get “guide” or “record”.
    I go through the “press TV and enter” at the same time for the four flashes, then to the fast forward, but the tv never turns off asindicated. So, I’m stymied.
    It’s exasperating.
    But I have everything I had before U-Verse, but not everything I’m paying for.

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  69. Sorry Chas — hope they can help.

    I mentioned the Live Chat option before as a good way to get personal tech support in real time (better than the telephone nowadays), give it a try sometime. The nice part about using that is they can have you try out different things (since you’re at home) as they try to help you fix what’s wrong.

    A friend at church told me she and her daughter were walking their dog on the (beach) strand earlier today, same place where I was last night for dinner, and saw several leaping dolphins and a whale (spout blowing & tail flipping up over the water’s surface) very close to shore.

    We’re seeing record numbers of migrating whales this year. Many feel it could be a result of healthier oceans.

    It’s been gray and rainy all day again today. We’re soaking up every drop we can get.

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  70. It’s snowing….again…the weather guy was correct…the Broncos are playing and Colorado is a sea of Orange and Blue today!
    Jo if you have some time during your visit to CO, I would love to meet up with you!
    Kim I have known many believers who have “known” God their entire lives…and at times I have so wished I had their story…but, I do not. We all have that “great salvation story”….our paths may look different…but, He knows our weaknesses….He knows our hearts…His grace and mercy is extended to us all….for we all have fallen short and He met us exactly where we were and called us to Himself…we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and his purposes and calling on our lives all look just a tad bit different…but all for the greater good….to be witnesses of His glory, mercy, grace and salvation…it’s all good…and you are an absolute delight ❤

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  71. Kim, I have a “known Christ from the time I was little” testimony, and I’ve never considered it a disadvantage. I wasn’t saved out of a life of sin, but from one (and of course I’ve had my own sins), and I have known Scripture from infancy.

    Karen, I’ve never understood why people stay home from church because they have company. When it’s churchtime, I go to church. If company didn’t happen to want to go with me, they’d be free to stay home (or go to a different church), but they won’t keep me from going. Likewise, if Forrest is in your home and it’s churchtime, he is going to church. If his mother doesn’t like that, she can make other arrangements, but his presence should not keep you from church. (That was a requirement for me when I took foster kids–I had to be able to take them to church with me, or I would not take in foster kids. Non-negotiable. Forrest’s mother is the one who chooses to leave him, or not, but she can’t make the decision for you to stay home from church.)

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  72. God calls each of us at just the right time and right place/circumstances in our respective journeys. It’s different for all of us, but all to God’s glory.

    Powers’ testimony resonated with me as I also was raised in a good/moral but nominal Christian home; I decided in college that agnosticism was the most intellectually honest position; and I had became quite liberal politically.

    In short, I had no real ‘desire,’ if you will, to become a Christian, especially considering some of the caricatures that were so prevalent at the time (think fallen televangelists with epic hairdos & the overly-political ‘moral majority’ types). 🙂

    But there you go. God had his own surprising plans for me …

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  75. KarenO – what Cheryl said about staying home from church – not a choice for you, but for Emily. Let her know you will be going and are willing to take Forrest and if not, then she needs to make other arrangements.

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  76. Found & downloaded a handy little phone app today — Key Ring (free). It stores all your reward cards (by scanning the barcodes) so you just use that at the store.

    Clerk at CVS told me about it as she struggled to scan my little tattered, beat-up card today. She said the app is much easier & better than getting a new physical replacement (plus it’s one thing I can take off my keyring).

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  77. Karen, I’d tend to agree that if she asks you to watch Forrest on Sunday mornings it should be understood that it entails going to church — since that’s what you do on Sunday mornings.

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  78. In a little bit, Downton Abbey comes on. But I cannot watch Hugh Bonneville in the role of Lord Grantham with a straight face again. D3 has on Galavant, and Mr Bonneville is on as a pirate. For those who don’t know what that show is, it’s a spoof musical.

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  79. Cheryl & Kare & Donna – If Emily made this request on a frequent basis, then I would put my foot down. But I had already put my foot down last month (not Sunday-morning related), & caused her to miss the last plans she had to get together with K. Lee & I decided that letting them go earlier (with me missing church while he attended) would work out better for him getting to bed on time.

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  80. My former pastor officiated at his mom’s fourth wedding yesterday. 😦 How can he do that? She considers herself a Christian, & so did her most recent ex-husband (divorced just this past year, after something like 20 years of marriage).

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  81. On a lighter note, that sure was a Texas wedding (saw pix on Facebook). The men wore nice jackets, ties, & white shirts, but with those, they wore jeans & cowboy boots. The bridesmaids wore pretty, but not long, dresses, also with cowboy boots. I couldn’t tell if the bride also wore cowboy boots under her white wedding gown.

    When my parents married in late 1960, when she was already pregnant with me (& already had my big brother from when she was a teen mom), she wore a light blue wedding dress, in the cocktail dress style. Nowadays women wear white no matter how many times they’ve been married.

    Oh man, between this comment & my last one, I sound so judgmental!

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