Ahhh!

Apologetics & Outreach by: Jerram Barrs

I am listening to free recordings of a seminary course from Covenant Theological Seminary. Jerram Barrs is the professor teaching about how to witness in a Post-Modern World. You can listen here: http://www.covenantseminary.edu/worldwide/en/CC310/CC310.asp

Also, here is a great review to give an overview of what will be taught:
http://www.joethorn.net/2007/02/21/the-heart-of-evangelism/

Billy and Blaze books

Billy and Blaze: A Boy and His Pony is the first in a series and was written around 1936 by C W Anderson (We've read book two: Blaze and the Forest Fire as well!). There is a feel of the passions of young boys of the era in which this book was written. I can almost hear my father's child voice in Billy.

I enjoyed the simple story, but even more precious to my mother's heart is the depth to which my youngest ds was drawn into this story and begging for more. He wants a horse too, just like Billy.

The other day we were riding in the country and passed some horses of someone my husband worked for years ago. I said, "Look, it's Blaze" and ds son sat up straight straining to see, sorted them out and said, "That one really does look like Blaze, Mommy!"

As a "girl", I often feel inadequate to the task of inspiring my boys to be conquering, passionate men, but I CAN point them to great literature that will!

This is someone else's description:

C.W. Anderson's Billy and Blaze Stories revolve around the adventures of an intrepid young boy who explores the world astride his loyal pony Blaze. These exciting tales of burgeoning independence and exploration, set against the landscape of New England, have been popular entertainment for young readers for more than 50 years.

Silas Marner by: George Eliot

I am going to start reading books that I might use for high school Literature for the kids. I just finished reading Silas Marner and it will definitely be on the list.

Silas Marner is a good natured man enjoying life with his community, his church, his best friend and the woman he loves and is engaged to marry, when his life takes a cruel turn. He is falsely accused of a crime, set up by someone close to him. When the "lots" fall against him he feels, according to his religion, that God has turned his back on him as well. This is one of the saddest parts of the book for me, due to the things I have seen in church, which only prove our sinful nature, not God's character. Unlike the unshaken faith of Job of the Bible, Marner's faith seems to be too closely tied to his religious community than to the Lord, thus his faith is shaken to it's core.

"But you may prosper, for all that: there is no just God that governs the earth righteously, but a God of lies, that bears witness against the innocent."

After he looses his betrothed as well, he looses all hope, and quietly leaves for another country. He lands in Raveloe and for fifteen years keeps to himself as a hermit, with exception to interaction necessary to earn a living by his weaving. The rumors run wild, because no one knows anything about from what country he has come and because they believe the set of his eyes means he is no good.

Marner lives in this condition until one stormy night, his hoards of gold are robbed and he comes outside himself to report the crime to the community. The community is sympathetic to him, searches and inquiries are made, but no one is able to crack the case.

Then on another dark stormy night, a deep dark secret of Godfrey Cass, a member of Raveloe, comes walking in the open door of the weaver. I will leave you curious as to the changes in Marner this brings and the ending of the book, but I will say, that this is a thoughtful and enjoyable read that will lead to much discussion.

Quote

"The happiest of people
don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything."

Praying God's Will for Your Life By: Stormie Omartian

The Lord has really convicted me of my lack of prayer. It has always been my biggest weakness and my biggest need.

For years he has been implanting Philippians 4:4-8 into my heart, which says,

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
—think about such things.

So, lately, he has helped me see the bigger picture of verses he has given me and I realize how lovingly he has worked to draw me closer to him.

So, I was compelled to read Praying God's Will for Your Life and I started today.

In Chapter one she describes how she came to know the Lord. Then, in chapter 2, she goes into more detail about her own depression and desire to commit suicide. When I was a teenager I experienced this struggle too. I have listened over the years to the comments of those who have never known the pain of this struggle. People say, "You have to be crazy!" ect, ect. But Stormie describes it the best I have ever heard!

At Twenty-eight years old, fourteen years after my suicide attempt, I still felt as if I were down in a dark hole, and I couldn't produce the strength to pick myself up
one more time. Death was again the only solution I could see. I was amazed that
in all those years of struggle my life has still come to nothing.

(I can't leave this topic without sharing that the answer God gave me years later in my life, was Phil 4:4-7. If I had given him everything through prayer and trusted him, he could have guarded my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.)

The thing that spoke to me the most in Chapter 2 this morning, are the two verses from the Bible she quotes on page 15:

"Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? (Jeremiah 8:22)

And God's answer: "They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me." (Jeremiah 9:3)

Quote

“I long to accomplish great and noble tasks,
but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks
as though they were great and noble.
The world is moved along,
not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes,
but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes
of each honest worker."
Hellen Keller

"He will be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water..." Psalm 1

August 6: Edges of His Ways

"One night in a dream someone seemed to ask me, 'If you were writing your last note to your children, what would it be about'? And I said, 'It would begin with these words, "Beloved, let us love" (1 John 4:7). And the voice said, 'Write it now'; so I began to write that note, but cannot remember a word of what I wrote except these four words, "Beloved, let us love".

This is not, I think, anywhere near my last note, but even so, I am writing these words for you to-day. Are there any of you out of love? Have any a feeling of unlove about any? Has anyone said anything about another which would hinder prayer, if you and that one were alone together? Is there any least thought of unlove anywhere? O Love of God, search us and see. O Love of God, Thou art Light, search us and see. Cleanse us, prepare us to draw near to Thee, alone or together, unhindered by the least unlove. 'Beloved, let us love'."

August 1: Edges of His Ways

Love through me, Love of God,
There is no love in me;
O Fire of love, light Thou the love
That burns perpetually.

Flow through me, Peace of God,
Calm river flow until
No wind can blow, no current stir
A ripple of self-will.

Shine through me, Joy of God,
Make me like Thy clear air
That Thou dost pour Thy colours through,
As though it were not there.

O blessed Love of God,
That all may taste and see
How good Thou art, once more I pray,
Love through me, even me.

by: Amy Carmichael

Some Beautiful Images from the Cherokee Reservation

These are from the Gardens and the last one if from the bamboo cave in Cherokee! What a beautiful place!