You want me to do what?

"You want me to do what?"

 The sermon was about Jesus as a shepherd. A shepherd was the lowest of the low. Looked down upon. Couldn't even testify in court.

At Bible Study, I learned that bramble bushes were gathered and stacked to make the sheep pen. The shepherd slept at the opening. Anything: sheep rustlers, wolf, lion or bear had to get past the shepherd to get to the sheep.

My mind flew to heaven. I pictured God and Jesus discussing his 'trip to earth'. "You want me to be what? A shepherd? Keeping them safe. Sleeping on the ground? Keeping them calm, so they can eat? Going after the ones that won't stay with the flock? Giving up my life for even one wayward lamb?" 

"Why do I have to go as a Jew? Most of the world hates Jews. Jews think they know it all. Their leaders will not want to give up their ideas nor authority. They are certain who God is and how He works and what his plans are. You, dear Father, have to be kidding!"

"You want me to ask for water: From a Samaritan, A women? Come on, I invented water. Jewish men don't talk to women. And certainly not Samaritan women. And her? Good Grief! Do you know what kind of woman she is. What if someone sees me? You're kidding?"

"I'll spend nine months where? Oh, NO! then thirty years just hanging around Nazareth. Then three years wandering around Israel with a dozen unusual, arguing misfits. Crowds pushing and demanding miracles. Come on, Dad, can't we come up with a better plan?"

"A cross? A CROSS! A long painful death. And naked! With people mocking. Spitting. Jeering. And to top it all off, You won't be able to stand the sight. All of the evil, hurtful wrongs of the world will be piled on me. Just as if I had really committed them. Father, just when I need you the most, you won't be there. Are you sure this is the only way?"

"Remember, they have chosen to walk away from us. They made the choice. Then followed up with actions. Hurtful evil. Sin after sin. They don't deserve mercy or grace."

God said, "Will you do it?" Jesus said, "Of course!" 

 And He did.

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A Work of Art... A Gift of Love

       A Work of Art... A Gift of Love...


       Our wonderful friends, Kathi and Frank, came for a visit on Monday.  They came
       bearing gifts --

       Frank brought a bottle of wine - Sweet Peach wine. Wine he made in his own 'Lab'. 
       In his basement. From the fruit on his farm.  

       Kathi, the multi-crafter, brought  a 'portfolio'. Homemade from her crafting, sewing, 
       quilting place upstairs. Describing this portfolio is difficult. You really have to see,
       hold and page through it to get the real 'feel'. It fits perfectly on my lap. Soft but sturdy.          Filled with STUFF. A holder for a note pad and cards. There are several writing                      notebooks. These are removable, so I can put new ones in as I fill them with 
       Thinkin's,Thoughts and Randomness. Finishing off is a booklet with grid paper 
       for ideas, plans and whatever.

       Works of Art - their kind of art.

       Gifts of Love - Time spent. Knowing that I love sweet wine, writing and
       sometimes thinking and dreaming.

        Best of all - their presence. Which was way, way too short.

       But, as I write and drink the wine, they are here with me.

       Gifts of Time.    Love in action.   That is what friends do...
              

Here I Am...

  

     Yep… Here I Am…

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        Again.  Finally.  

     So many times, I have tried to POST to my blog. I sit in front of my BIG MAC. Pull      up juju-beenthinkin’ and search for New Post. It is nowhere to be found. Next Blog      leads to a How to Page. I search and search. ‘Doing the same thing over and              over’ expecting different results. (Is that called, insanity?)

     Finally, I give up. Ignore the whole Blog thing. Shut down the computer with                various descriptions of my mental capacity running through my head. I then go            play Spider Solitaire, it is more user friendly. I even stop Thinkin’ and writin’. A few      weeks or months later, I try again. Same results. An empty cycle of non-                      blogging.

    Today, while face timing with Karmen, she suggested that, “Maybe, I was in the           wrong app, or something like that. I went to the blog. Dan held my iPad so                   Karmen could see the blog on the BIG MAC and I moved the cursor! (do you know     why it is called, the cursor?  @#$%! That’s why!)

    And, together we figured the whole confusing mess out. SIGH… I was in the wrong     place to write and  post to my Blog. I was in the reading place. Not the writing             place. Didn’t know there was a difference.

    I needed help. But, I didn’t ask the right questions to the right person. Therefore, I       made zero progress.

     Been Thinkin’

   Others are willing and even happy to help. I need to ask! Now, I can start Thinkin’         and writin’ again.

          Keep checkin’…

Been Thinkin': Assume...Chocolate chipcookie dough. That’s what...

Been Thinkin': Assume... Chocolate chipcookie dough.  That’s what...: Assume... Chocolate chip cookie dough.  That’s what our friends brought last night.   They had called and wanted to stop by.  Since...

Assume...

Chocolate chip cookie dough.  That’s what our friends brought last night.  

They had called and wanted to stop by.  Since it was dinner time they would bring pizza. So I turned on the oven and waited.  

When they arrived I stuck the pizza in the oven and the dough in the refrigerator.  

We visited, ate the pizza, cleared the dirty dishes. It was time for dessert.  

So, I removed the dough from the refrigerator, grabbed four spoons and plunked the container on the table.  

Everyone stared at me. I stood there puzzled.  Thought a minute and began laughing. “Oh, when you said you brought dessert, you meant hot freshly baked cookies."

I had even laughed when I stuck them in the refrigerator looking for the “don’t eat raw cookie dough” and finding it!  We all had a good laugh as I turned the still warm oven on to bake the cookies. 

Sometimes I assume one thing and another person has a different plan.  Personally, I like cookie dough  raw and baked. Last night baking the dough never entered my mind.  Until I saw their stunned faces. 

Sometimes, my husband says something and I assume he means something else. Or I respond in an unexpected way. It is best to check our what he means. Solves many misunderstandings.

Do I do the same with God’s Word?  He has one meaning and I read it my way?

Good Friday

Good Friday

I wonder why they call it “Good Friday?”  It certainly wasn’t one of the easiest days of Jesus’ life on earth.

He had eaten the Passover with His disciples. Tried in vain to explain the bread - His body broken for them.  The cup – His blood. God’s new covenant poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

He confronted them - one of them would betray Him. One would deny knowing Him.  They bickered over which one   would be greatest.  

 He warned them of trouble. They each would have great responsibilities for His people. They just didn’t understand.

 After the meal they went to Mount Olives to pray.  He prayed, they slept. He pleaded with God. Then submitted to His will.  

He was arrested, drug from Chief Priest to High Council and finally to Pilate himself. He was dragged, beaten, mocked, spit upon,lied about then condemned to death.  He had pulled an all nighter.  

Finally, he hung on a cross.    The people mocked and stared – his followers were stunned and frightened.  Many deserted.  The agony of the sins of all mankind was a crushing weight.  His Father turned away. A great darkness hung over the earth.

And then He gave up His spirit and soul.  All that was left was a dead, beaten, broken body. 

And we call this “Good Friday.”

Thinking another way – 

If this had not happened there would be no hope.  But because of Good Friday, sins are forgiven.  Abundant life is available.  And heaven is the destination.  So, I guess it really is “Good Friday” for you and me...

 4/4/2010

A Wild Ride...

Dan was in a dance band in College and when we were first married.  The band, The Stompers, traveled all over Washington, Idaho, Montana and Canada.

The previous year they had played in Kimberly, BC for the snow Fiesta.  The Car Club that had hired them asked them to return.  I decided to travel with them. 

After the dance, we went to someone's house for drinks. I 'wowed' them with my funny American accent and different words. (Napkin for serviette, etc)

About 2 a.m. we decided to go check out the Bobsled run. The club had a bobsled that would be racing later that day. 

"Would any of you like to have a ride?"

Of course, I'd like a ride! 

So, helmet on I climbed between the driver and another guy. And away we went. Let me tell you: Bobsleds really do go fast and they really do go up the sides of the course. Going up and around one of the curves we went too high and the bobsled flipped. Dumped us and flew over our heads. (It's the only time I have ever seen stars.)

We all slid for quite a bit and watched as the sled hit a bank and stopped. The two fellows righted the sled, found my shoes and said, "Get on!"

They spent the rest of the night repairing the run.

I realized the wearing a skirt, riding a bobsled at 2 in the morning was not a good idea.
But, it was and is a memorable experience.