THE GREAT FLOOD IN EASTERN WASHINGTON

 

I've never been interested in geology but today as I was reading, "The Stars Shine Bright (A Raleigh Harmon Novel)," by Sibella Giorello, I was struck by the fact she mentions in the book that scientists awarded the Penrose Medal to J. Harlen Bretz for his work proving that there was a great flood in eastern Washington of biblical proportions.  Here is the link to an encyclopedia write up. 

Genesis 7:4  "For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 

LAMININ

A few Sundays ago I attended church in Liberty Lake.  We heard the above presentation explaining DNA.  It is 12 minutes long.

The above You Tube is a 42 minute explanation giving more details.  I recommend it as it shows how small the earth is in comparison to the universes.  We have nothing to worry about if we are saved by so great a Savior.

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;  he puts the deeps in storehouses.

A MIRACULOUS VALENTINE'S STORY

 

Sweetest memories from the 1970's and 1980's from Heather and Jes.  

You may have heard this one already:

It was Valentine’s Day and Joey was busy making valentines for everyone in his class. His mother was happy to see her little boy so joyful, but she was worried that the other children would not remember to give a valentine to Joey. You see, Joey was a little slower than the rest of the kids, and he was often forgotten and not given much value by them. That did not seem to stop him, though, in getting into the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Joey was determined not to forget even one child.

Valentine’s Day arrived and his mother waited worriedly as the time neared when Joey would be coming home. To lessen his disappointment, if no one gave him a valentine, she had baked his favorite cookies.

As she looked out the window with her cookies in hand, she saw Joey turn the corner. He was saying something to himself, but she could not make it out. As he got closer, she could see that he had a smile on his face. As he walked into the kitchen she heard him say with glee, “I didn’t miss a one, Mom, I didn’t miss a one!”

She then realized that he didn’t have any valentines in his hands. None had been given him. His joy was not in receiving a valentine, it was in giving them away. Joey had made sure that every child was remembered. He didn’t “miss a one.” That was what brought him joy.

Luke 6:34-35 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

TAKE HEART

 

Photo by Chris

Just finished reading another historical novel by Cathy Gohike.  Talk about intense!  But one thing I can say in favor of her books is that she offers good prayers that we can pray while the peacemakers of this world are seeking peace and pursuing it. Throughout Gohike's book "The Medallion" the theme was "When there is no way God will make a way." We can take heart  from this.

The above picture of small books are classics which belonged to my parents.  The book ends also belonged to them.  I don't know the story behind the books or the book ends.  

Reading good books is a way we can seek encouragement. My mom always read to us and my dad wrote bedtime stories for us.  One time when I was five,  Jay was seven, and Evy was one, we were sitting on our parents bed in our home in Burbank, CA, while our mom read to us.  It may have been this book-

Mom accused us when she said, "You kids stop jiggling this bed."  We were shocked as we weren't jiggling the bed.  (We found out later it was an earthquake.) One time when Jennifer, my niece, was 8, I told her to get ready for bed, and I would read her a book.  She got ready in a hurry and was a most attentive listener.   Jen was reading newspapers copying her mom when she was only two.  If I find a photo of her reading a newspaper I will add it later. So our whole family has carried that tradition of reading forward. 

Heather photo by Chris

Jes and friend Andrea photo by Chris

Natalie photo by Bobbi

Jes and Noah reading engineering material-- photo by Jessica

The greatest book ever written is the Bible.  Now we have paraphrases, many translations, and different study Bibles.  God's Word is the ultimate boost to our souls.  What books have inspired you lately?

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

A COUPLE OF THINGS

 

This is believed to be a shell box a great grandfather made while he stood guard duty in Florida during the Civil War.

Two topics interested me this week  One was prison reform.  World Magazine is doing a series on the history of prisons in the U.S.  Go HERE for the first podcast.  The second subject which intrigued me was on the persecution of Christians around the world.  Go HERE for a blog on that topic.

Let me know what you think.  

Proverbs 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

OXI AND THE BIBLE

 

Antique Bible that belonged to my mother's ancestors

It takes God and only one person to combat sin either in an individual or in society. I think there is a missing point in THIS blog.  Not all people and doctors abuse prescription drugs. Some people and doctors use prescriptions responsibly. 

And then in the illustration about racism in the blog-- Some people are not racist especially children.  Most do not see color of skin until an adult points it out.  My family stood up for the oppressed as have many over the years. 

Back to the drug example-- in my case, I could not take oxi for my pain, as it caused severe gastric reflux.  I could use Lidocaine patches as it is an external med and doesn’t affect the stomach.  My insurance company would not allow me to have the patches through them as it is for cancer patients only. They would allow oxi. So this is a mistake.  People who have chronic pain should be allowed to take what relieves their pain. As far as getting these pain relievers-- Chris went to bat for me to get these patches no matter what the cost.  I haven't had a headache since I have been putting one patch on my neck at night.

Back to racism-- In Germany there were pastors and lay people who stood for what is right. This included hiding Jews.  So the whole of the German society wasn’t systemically racist.  But it is correct, as we study the Bible, we learn more what is true.  "The gospel is the answer to both individual and institutional sin." There are many crying in the wilderness "make a way for the Lord❗"

II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

TRUST

 

Grandma Grace Belle with her honeysuckle plant at the farm. I still have that hat.

Grandma Grace Belle trusted in God.  She wrote in my autograph book, when I was 13, that I should "always remember that God answers prayer."  Grandma was a pleasant person.  She rarely complained.  She wanted the best for her children and grandchildren no matter how they acted.    If anyone complimented her children or grandchildren she would pass on the praise to us. 

As I think about the new year I like to remember the good things from the past, and those who were a comfort to me.  I miss them but I am thankful I had them in my life for a time.  In the new year I pray that I can be a comfort and a pleasant personality like Grandma.  

Ray Ortland, a pastor, wants to be more gentle and comforting in the new year. He writes in this blog and says--  "Hopefully, the beautiful orthodoxy of gospel doctrine is flowing into the pastoral gentleness and comfort and guidance and encouragement inherent in that beautiful orthodoxy. Hopefully, there is more gracious culture in the pulpit, and hopefully, more lasting friendships outside the pulpit."

So as we step forward into 2022 may we seek God in prayer and trust that He will answer according to His will and for our good.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.