THE BEES THAT SAVED AMERICA

We live in a world that is inspired. It's filled with majestic order, unbelievable beauty, and brilliant design.  I heard about "The Master Designer-- The Song" movie when I listened to breakpoint.org this last week. Here are a couple of trailers for the movie  The first trailer is about bees and how they function.  The second a glimpse into the blueprint of creation that reveals a dramatic story. A story of purpose, meaning, significance and ultimately love, all crafted by The Master Designer.  

For more information go to Exploration Films.

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

Samantha pre-school graduation

At the pre-school graduation ceremony the teacher asked each child to announce what they wanted to be when they grew up. Many of the children wanted to be doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers, policemen, and firemen.  When my granddaughter, Sammy, stepped forward she said that she wanted to be a "surfer girl."  "Wow!" I thought.  "That is really my granddaughter.  All I ever wanted to be was somebody who had fun.  She is just like me!"

It wasn't until I was about to graduate college that I realized I needed a job to support myself.  I considered moving to Korea and working as a "Gray Lady,"(The Gray Ladies were American Red Cross volunteers who worked in American hospitals, other health-care facilities, and private homes, notably during World War II. They provided friendly, personal, non-medical services to sick, injured or disabled patients.)

Another idea I had was to move to New York City and to try out for the Rockettes. (The Rockettes are an American precision dance company. Founded in 1925 in St. Louis, they have performed at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, since 1932. Until 2015 they also had a touring company. ) Unfortunately I was an inch too short.  I was almost 5'5" but 5'6" was the minimum height requirement.  

It was at that point I started talking to a fellow student who was one of the EWU newspaper and yearbook photographers about taking portfolio pictures of me that would make me look taller.  He did photograph me several times.  We began talking about his dreams--to sail in the ocean.  I thought that sounded like fun.  One thing led to another and we ended up getting married that August after we had both received our Bachelors degrees.  

Our first born, Heather, always wanted to be whatever her daddy was.  When he was a photojournalist she wanted to become one.  When he worked in high tech she followed in his footsteps.  Our son, Jes, on the other had was like me--he had interests but none that really seemed like viable vocations. He was interested in playing the drum and specifically playing music from around the world, but the lifestyle of a musician is never something he entertained. His grandfather, who had been a professional musician, urged him not to be a musician, but he already didn’t see the benefit of it. He enjoyed working on bicycles, but not enough to do it for a job (also a hard vocation if you want to make a living). There was nothing really where he felt settled. After working on a number of tech contracts and moving to an area where those are few and far between he needed to reinvent himself.

So I tell him and others the story of how my mom wanted to be a nurse, teacher, farmer, musician, secretary, and a missionary.  She did end up doing all of those things because as a mother that is what you do.  My dad on the other hand just did whatever came up.  He made his best grades in physics so he ended up as a meteorologist.

The question is how should one choose a way to a path for this life?  Ecclesiastes 12:13 says " The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." 

 Well, what does God command? The Bible says in Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

How should one love God and love others? If I were advising a young or an old person on how to choose a path for this life I would say--pray about it and ask God to put on your heart and mind something you could do that would use your talents you want to develop.  Try out something new. Have a passion to help people who have experienced some of the same life happenings that you have experienced. Also, be humble before God.  Confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

If you delight yourself in the Lord,... he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

EASTER IS NOT CANCELED

During WW II many events were canceled.  In Spokane, WA.  the 1942 Lilac Parade was called off.  My dad's cousin, Audra Snedden, was a lilac princess.  

While the main parade was scratched several smaller events took place.  So, in like manner, Easter services are canceled this year due to coronavirus, but smaller home events can take place because of the internet.  There were over a million people streaming Cardinal Dolan's mass this past Sunday for Psalm Sunday mass.  Tomorrow there will be many services streamed.  Our church-- Imprint-- will be streamed on Facebook at 10 am  click here.  It may just be you and the people on line, but those who love the Lord cannot be separated from Him.

Romans 8:38  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

REFLECTIONS FROM QUARANTINE

 Barney Gargile is a pastor from Santa Rosa, CA.  His interview on "World Magazine" caught my ear as Chris used to work at HP in Santa Rosa.  We lived in  Rohnert Park near by.  Pastor Gargile explains in his interview how he coped with quarantine on a cruise ship. Click here to listen or read the transcript.

In the above you tube he explains how this world is not our real home.

COURAGE

Courage-- God showed me once again that I have none.  Here is my explanation of how I discovered that. 

Back in the 80's, one of my daughter, Heather's, friends, had name plaques such as those above, in the entry way of her house, where she lived with her pastor father, mother, and brother.   After we moved to Mississippi, then to California, and back to Washington, I discovered some of these plaques in the local Christian book store.  I ordered them for our family.  Then Heather hit 15.  Need I say more?  I would look at the plague with my name saying that I press on for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Then I would get terribly depressed.  I couldn't deal with a teenager.  I told God I wanted to run away and sit under a tree like Elijah did in I Kings 19:4.  

Well, God didn't provide a tree for me, but through Bible study, prayer, and spending time with friends, plus exercise, I made it through to her 18th birthday.  We then paid her to live away from home--( we sent her to live in a dorm on the EWU campus.) 

But before that, almost 40 years ago, I came down with fibromyalgia.  I told God I couldn't live with this chronic pain.  But when I called out to God I was able to get some pain relieving prescriptions to help.

Now once again God has shown me I have no courage.  It was through the new Mr. Roger's movie. Chris and I watched it over the weekend.  The movie for me was terribly emotional.  When Mr. Rogers talked to a little boy in the first part of the movie he was able to get through the boy's fears.  He told him that he was brave and strong.  It brought tears to my eyes because I realized I was not able to deal with another month of being shut in, or the deaths of many, or the suffering of the world, or that many are not listening to the Voice of God and obeying His laws. So today I'm going to look up some Bible verses on courage and pray that God will give me courage.  I pray the same for you.

(BTW-- Heather turned out great and is the best daughter anyone could ask for.)

 Psalm 56: 3-4 When I am afraid,

    I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

Isaiah 41: 10 fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41: 13  For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”

Matthew 10: 28 And do not fear those who kill the body

 but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Philippians 1:12- 14 I want you to know, brothers,[a] that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard[b] and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word[c] without fear.

II Timothy 1: 7 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.