A Christmas Devotion from Jan

Adonai

Every year, it seems as though the Lord gives me a special Christmas message that helps me to see Christmas in a new and fresh way.  This year that message began with a word: Adonai.  Maybe it’s because He’s been teaching me so much about obedience in the past few months. 

Adonai.  One word.  One meaning:  Lord, Master.  One personal application:  is He Lord and Master over your life?  Many, many uses.

So, I asked God how  what He was showing me  related to Christmas.  Here is how He answered me.

While Scripture may not answer every question we have about Jesus, and we don’t know much about his childhood, it still  tells us a lot about His purpose for coming and His earthly ministry.  As always, God tells us what he thinks it’s important for us to know.

This is one of my favorite and very illuminating passages:

The Incomparable Christ

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven .

Col 1:13-20 (NASB)

Another place the Lord took me is to 2 Chronicles.  When King Solomon decided to build a tabernacle for God, he realized the greatness and glory of God which is why he said:

 "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him?   2 Chron 2:6 (NASB)

And, finally, one more wonderful O.T. passage:

Psalm 8

The Lord's Glory and Man's Dignity.

For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained ;4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God , And You crown him with glory and majesty!6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Psalms 8:1-9 (NASB)

So, what does this have to do with Christmas?  I have a wonderful little book written by Bob Coy called “Devotionary” that I like to take out this time of year.  In it, he writes:  “why would this God who has the wisdom and ability to create all life as we know it, who is so immense that we cannot contain Him, and who has the authority to part the sea, shut the mouths of lions, and stop the sun and moon in the sky choose to inhabit the body of a vulnerable, helpless baby? The author of life took on human form for the sole purpose of dying, because death was the penalty for the wrongs we had committed.  That is the heart of Christmas.”

As I reflected on what that Christmas message means to me,  that led me to consider what Scripture tell us about His birth and what it meant to the Jews.  The Jews weren’t ready for Him.  They expected a King mightier than Saul and handsomer than David.  Even so, Luke writes:

As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,38 shouting: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"   Luke 19:36-38 (NASB)

This is a ceremony fit for a King.  It’s the same ceremony 2 Kings 9 records about the crowning of Jehu as King of Israel.  But, Jesus wasn’t the King they were expecting because He didn’t come to bring them a kingdom that would be victorious over their oppressors.  He came to usher in a spiritual kingdom.   Luke further records:

41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,42 saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.43 "For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side,44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

Luke 19:41-44 (NASB)

As Jesus came to Jerusalem He knew what awaited Him.  I wonder if when He met with Moses and Elijah on the high mountain, the time that He was the connecting point or the bridge between God and man, temporal and eternal, if they discussed what was to come?   What could they have told Him?  What had God already told Him from the time He was a child?  What did He know and understand even as He was learning to talk in earthly words?  I believe God had prepared Him from the beginning for what He was to face. 

There is one more thing that we need to see in this Christmas message.  How are we to respond to it? Isaiahs’ vision and call to ministry is a wonderful answer to that question and one that has very special meaning to me personally:

1 In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.7 He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven ."

The Lord Isaiah saw sitting on the throne is our Adonai.  And, what was Isaiah’s response? 

Isaiah's Commission

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"9  

Isaiah responded by humbling himself completely before His God; His Adonai and said simply, Here I am; send me.

So, this is the message I believe God has for me this Christmas.  A life for a death.  A death for a life.  He was born to die so that I might have everlasting life.   As Adonai, He could have commanded the heavens to open and obliterate the Romans.  And yet He came willingly as a sheep to slaughter.  Whether we see Him as a babe in a lowly manger, or as Mighty Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father or Almighty God.  He is Adonai, Lord and Master, seated on the throne and worthy of our worship and our obedience.  And, the take away message for me this year has been will I be?  Will you?

Rogers Family Christmas Newsletter 2012

Rogers Family News

Christmas, 2012

Greetings to all our dear Family and Friends!

Well, another year has almost come and gone.  Where does the time go?  It seems like only yesterday that I was typing up last year’s newsletter!  As we greet you in the name of the Lord, it is our hope and prayer that you are well.

How has your year been?  We earnestly hope that it has been a good year, and that you are in good health.   Our year has probably been much like yours; life just ‘happens’! But, through it all, the Lord protects, grows, disciplines and provides, and we have experienced all of those things this year as I imagine you have as well.

One constant in this year has been that our whole immediate family still lives in Greeneville.  Michael's parents and sister are still doing well and living in the Winston-Salem, NC area.  We have made many visits over to see them and they have made some visits here as well.  We also had the fun of going back to Hilton Head again this summer with Jon, Kara and the Grandkids.  This year, we rented bicycles and rode around which we could finally do because the kids were old enough.  We also took Asher and Sadie on a pirate ship adventure out on the sound and all had a ball.  It was a fun trip.  No trips overseas this year, but, we are planning to go back to Germany next year.

Jon and Kara, both 31 now, have been busy with their many family activities and involvements.  Jon is active with the Praise and Worship ministry at church, plays soccer, and I’m not even sure what all else, but, he is always busy.  Kara is plenty busy keeping up with house and home and all the kids’ different activities.  Despite that, she continues to do well with her online sewing business, sew.hip.mama.  She makes many smaller things for little ones like darling hair clippies, but, also makes purses and other accessories, putting her art background and talent to good use.

Elsie, their youngest, turned a year old in October.  She is walking up a storm with a little personality all her own, different from her older siblings.  She loves all things doll and stuffed and keeps Kara running.  She is quite inquisitive and loves to walk around seeing and learning new things.  When she smiles, she smiles with her whole face and is so much fun to be around.

Sadie, now the middle child, turned 5 in March.  Sadie is unique.  She can be the most feminine little girl one moment, and in the next sink her fingers into things that would make other little girls run from!  She is beginning to look a lot like Jon and I think she has a lot of his personality.  She is outgoing and personable, and quite self-confident.  She’s still a ham and loves to be on stage.  The other day I was at her school checking in and the ladies in the office were telling me how she brought a boy from her class who wasn’t feeling well down to see the nurse.  She mothered him and proceeded to tell the nurse all about his symptoms and how he had been feeling sick the night before.  Then, as she was leaving, she asked them “wasn’t I brave to bring him down here all by myself?”  Apparently, this had happened just before I arrived and they were still talking about it. 

The photo below was taken at the local Kids Fishing Day last Spring.  It’s a fun activity up on Viking Mountain and both the kids had a really good time, as did we.   Dressed all in pink, Sadie ran from person to person, dancing excitedly whenever she got to handle the fish which even the boys her age (and some older) wouldn’t do.    She’s a tough little girl in some ways, with hardly and ounce of fear and a really off-the-wall sense of humor.  To read more stories about Sadie, go to my Facebook page, because I have lots of stories about the kids there in some of my posts earlier this year.  She reminds me a lot of Jon at that age.

Asher, the oldest, turned 7 this year.  Precocious, cautious and an analytical thinker who likes to be in charge and who doesn’t adapt to change really well, he has parts of both his parent’s personalities.  I can see some of both of his Grandfathers in him, too.  Asher is extremely bright.  In second grade, the last I saw, I think he was reading at 5^th-7th^th grade level with comparable comprehension.  I have the blessing of helping in his classroom again this year, and most frequently, I help with what they call ‘directed reading’.  It amazes me how more quickly his brain processes information and how advanced his skills are.  I usually stay and eat lunch with him after helping in his classroom, and one day earlier this year, I was at the lunch table with some of his classmates who are probably his best school friends.  Asher got up from the table in search of a spoon, and one of the boys said “Asher is the BEST kid in the whole class!” a statement with which most of the other kids at the table agreed.  I later told him he had a fan club and he looked me and said “Oh, Grandma, c’mon!”  He’s a lot of fun to be around and when he’s here I try to rattle his world a little because I think it’s good for him.  He usually goes along with me pretty well.  He’s a whiz at computer games, loves Angry Birds, and loves to read and write.  In that way, he reminds me of myself at his age, where I could most often be found sitting upside down in Dad’s red leather easy chair with my nose in a book.

Last May, Jon and Kara had a wonderful opportunity to go to Sweden for an international Dental Implant Conference which Jon had the distinction and honor of being selected for with all expenses paid.  They went and had a blast, and, while we were gone, we had the kids most of the week and had a blast of our own.  It was pure joy and I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun.  It’s nice to have them close by.

And, speaking of close by, Tim, 28, is still living here in Greeneville, and still playing in a band.  He is working at Applebee’s now, serving, and still hoping to get more involved in the restaurant business.  He’s busy with life and we don’t see him too often, but, he does stay in touch.  At the present time, he doesn’t have a girlfriend, but, that never seems to go for too long! 

Michael is still practicing, and still loves dentistry.  Lately, he has felt his heart being called more and more towards dental missions, so, we will see where the Lord has in mind for him to go.  I have been learning a bit about dental assisting, and have assisted him a little bit after hours with patients.  It’s my hope to study more of this in the coming year so that I can be prepared to go with and assist him on mission trips in the future.  He still loves to hike and be outdoors, accompanied by our dog, Polly.  Polly is a chocolate lab mix who loves to hike and swim, so, she’s a lot of fun to take along.  He is playing bass guitar now on a rotating basis on our church Praise Team and really enjoying it.

And, lastly, I manage to keep busy.  I took on a couple of new responsibilities this year:  first, I was asked to take over as Director over our church ESL program.  I have really enjoyed becoming involved in this outreach, and lead the beginning class.  Right now, we have students from 6 different countries.  It has been a learning experience for me because I have never done this before, and I continue to research and grow in my teaching skills.

Second, I am facilitating a new Bible Study which really is probably the area of most growth in my life in the last couple of months.  Around mid-October, I had a little scare with high blood pressure.  I had let my weight get rather out of control, and was paying the consequence.  I know what God had been trying to tell me for several years, but, I had been ignoring Him.  Well, there was no ignoring him now.  His message was unmistakeable:  get healthy.  If you can’t do it for yourself, do it out of obedience to ME.  Knowing I could no longer ignore Him or my health, I began my journey to health, and as of today, it has been 2 months and I’ve lost 32.5 lbs. and my blood pressure has gone way down to lower than it’s been for years.  I am also exercising at least 4 days a week.  The third new thing I have done this year enabled me to hire a Personal Trainer who comes to my house to help me with an exercise routine twice a week and that has been an incredible motivator for me.  She’s really good and keeps me working hard at a level I never thought I could do.  Exercise has never been my favorite thing to do, so, help and encouragement was necessary for me to be successful.

That third area was totally new for me and that was that I began selling Mary Kay cosmetics about 6 months ago.  I never in a million years would have pictured myself doing that, but, do it I did.  I can’t say that my business has boomed.  I’ve been busy and it’s hard for me to find the extra time.  However, I am doing it.  So, if you ever need anything Mary Kay, no matter where you are, you can order off my Mary Kay website by going to www.marykay.com/jrogers92330, or just give me a call at (423)552-3622.  I have used Mary Kay products since 1976 and have a lot of confidence in them, so, it seemed like a good fit.

I still have the blessing of teaching a Precept Ministries Sunday School class.  We are now doing Covenants and it has been a real privilege to have such a great class all of whom are so serious about studying the Bible and learning and growing in God’s truths. 

The other new study I’ve been involved in which has helped me tremendously in my health journey, and which I would recommend VERY highly to anyone who wishes to do the same is the Made to Crave study written by Lysa Terkheurst of Proverbs 31 ministries.  It is an incredible study.  She could have been inside my head!  One thing I realized when I began this journey is that I needed to figure out and understand why I overeat in order to overcome the same.  Well, I am learning exactly that and I can’t tell you what a difference it has made in my life!  I feel better and healthier than I have in years.  Our church opened this study up to our community and we meet one night a week with ladies from several different churches, all of whom are serious about getting on a journey to health.  I have truly enjoyed the study and the fellowship and so appreciate the support from our church in this effort.

Through Made to Crave, the Lord has taught me so much about Him and about me, and our relationship.  One thing that He has impressed on my heart more than anything else this year is the need for obedience.  It’s true that our salvation is a free and unearned grace-gift from God.  No doubt about that in His Word whatsoever.  At the same time, there is obedience.  Jesus tells us very clearly that He will abide in us IF we abide in Him.  In fact, John 15:1-8 makes that concept of abiding crystal clear:  if we are truly His branch; we will abide in Him.  If we don’t, we aren’t.  I love the way Kay Arthur from Precept Ministries succinctly puts it:  continuance in the faith is evidence of salvation.  Yes, it’s a gift.  But the gift is received and used through an act of obedience, and obedience should be the natural response to the gift.  Obedience, no matter what the circumstances, requires sacrifice and death to ourselves and our own desires.  The wonderful thing is knowing that God gave us those desires; those cravings.  It’s what we choose to fill them with that matters, and what He wants us to fill them with is more of Him.  That has been an important part of understanding myself, and an important part of the success of my health journey.  It isn’t easy, but, then, obedience rarely is, isn’t it?

One other ministry I am involved in which has been both eye opening and an incredible blessing is our church’s and the Gideon’s’ local jail ministries.  I go with a group and share my testimony and often play and sing.  Last week, I went with the Gideons group and shared my testimony and led the group in some Christmas carols.  It was one of the pods of men this time, and as I shared with them and encouraged them, I also challenged them that they were going to be faced with choices after they got out and what were they going to choose?  Most of them had grown up in church as kids, but, had made wrong choices as adults.  I know all about that.  I spoke to them about obedience and the richness of God’s reward for us when we were, and the consequences they were all-too-familiar with if we aren’t. It's always a matter of prayer when we go to the jail; praying that the Lord will give us the right words to speak and that His word won't return void and that a difference will be made in the lives of the men and women we reach out to.

So, dears, I think that’s about all that’s new in our lives.  Next year will be an interesting year for us. There will be new joys and challenges as we grow older and our lives change.  However, we know God will be walking with us every step of the way.  We do hope that is the strength you rely on as well.  Often times in life, we cannot move forward outside of our total dependence upon God.  I will have a lot more to share in next year’s Christmas newsletter about that!

We sincerely wish all of you and all of those who are dear to you a joyous, blessed Christmas and the best New Year ever.  If we don’t have your email address or Facebook contact, you can find us at:  mikeandjan4him@gmail.com, or on Facebook under Jan Rogers.  You can also follow me on my blog:  tnrogersfamilynews.blogspot.com.  Don’t have time to update it as much as I’d like, but, I try to from time-to-time.

As always, you are in our hearts, ever near and ever dear.

With much love,

Michael and Jan

In a Jam

Well, summer is here in my beautiful Northeast Tennessee Mountains, bringing warm weather right along with it.  And, along with that comes the delight of harvesting fruits and then veggies from the garden or from our local growers.  And, of course, my summer isn't the same without some time spent preserving those fruits and veggies.  I was happy to find some good apricots, which is difficult to do out in this part of the country, and we had some berries from the garden and really yummy ones from local growers.  So, off to the kitchen they go to make the first jam of the season.

You know, there is just something magical about putting several pounds of fruit and some sugar in little tiny jars. I have so many wonderful jam-making memories. I remember the first time I ever heard a jar lid pop signaling to me that the' fruits' of my labor were ready for storage. I remember the excitement of my boys every time they heard that same sound, and even now it brings a smile to my face. There is something about it that just makes me feel good. I wonder if that's where that old expression ' in a jam' might come from? It reminds me of how God stirs us up to good works. We're crushed until the juices flow, poured into a pot , mixed with a little sugar of God's love, and stirred until we boil hard enough and long enough that we are just the consistency He wants us to be so He can spread us where He wants us to go. I only wish I was better at jumping in the pot so I wouldn't have to be crushed quite so hard!

Sadie and the Mustard Plant

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 And He •said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. Matt 17:19-20


It’s been a beautiful Spring, hasn’t it? Even the drive home from town has taken on a special delight. One of my favorite spots is the Impressionist view along Jones Bridge road. Redbuds dot this landscape with smudges of pink tucked in amongst powdered-lavender wisteria vines which are winding their way around and through ivy-covered trees as red flecks of tulips are scattered about. If it wasn’t so fresh and real it might be a Renoir painting. Not long after this breathtaking picture is a lawn with hundreds of dandelions smattered about. It made me think of my Granddaughter, Sadie. Like Grandma, Sadie loves the garden, and she is particularly fond of all things wild and yellow. She will run to pick every dandelion she sees no matter where it is and thinks dandelions and wild mustard flowers are the most wonderful flowers there are. In fact, when I was doing my first Spring weeding in the garden, I discovered a wild mustard plant that had one stalk just about to bloom. I dug it up and put it in a pot for her so she could grow her very own mustard flower on her windowsill. Funny, isn’t it? Most gardeners see dandelions and mustard as weeds, while Sadie at 5 years old, sees them as beautiful flowers. I wonder how different the world would be if we learned to look at life and other people through those same filters? Or, if we could learn to look at others and see them as God sees them whether saved or lost? Would marriages survive better if husbands and wives could see each other that way? What about friendships? What about relationships within the church where, as my dear friend Layne says, “Satan is working like a microwave, from the inside out”? And, let’s take it one step further and see if that could even apply to seeing opportunities within our trials. The possibilities are endless. But, what does it take to have this view? It takes faith. Faith fuels friendship. Faith forgives. Faith feels for the forsaken. Faith feeds the hungry. Faith looks forward and doesn’t dwell in the past. And, faith causes us to come to Jesus seeing Him through the eyes of a child who sees a Father whose love is so great He can do no wrong; whose love secures us and who becomes our All-in-all.
I wonder, precious one what changes we could make in the world if we, like Sadie, saw every weed as a precious flower, claiming all things wild and yellow as our own; loving with such childlike abundance. Would the; could the world be different? What amazing things I believe God could do with people such as this!

Rogers Family News, Christmas, 2011

December, 2011

Christmas greetings to our dear family and friends!

We do hope and pray that this newsletter finds you and yours doing well and we do also sincerely hope that, as this year draws to a close, you will be able to look back and see that in one way or another, through whatever circumstances you have found yourself in, God is at work in you, refining you and working out His plan as He changes you for the better.

This has been a wonderful year for us. We have had much to rejoice in and in many
ways. We have each other and we have our health. We still rejoice that God has
placed us in such a beautiful environment! It’s amazing still to see the beautiful mountains out of my back window, and the elements surrounding them at practically any given time speak to my heart the many lessons God is teaching me.

As winter fast approaches, it is definitely Christmas time here. My mountains are wearing their snow caps today. It’s been cold; the kind of cold that hits bone. As I type this, I have just had my hands around a steaming hot cup of tea and it felt so
good! But, with the cold comes a special beauty and peace, and thus, I welcome it. And, despite the season, I still have my few little pumpkins in the front planter. I
keep waiting for a day of good weather when the kids are here so we can roll them down the hill into the hayfield. However…like all good intentions I mean to remember but don’t write down; it’s here one moment and gone the next!

So, let’s see; where to begin…

We’ve enjoyed family this year quite a bit. I’ll tell you, being a Grandma is one of my greatest earthly joys! And, we have so enjoyed the Grandkiddlins! We have had a few fun trips together. The first one of the year was to Washington DC where Michael and Jon went to a dental conference, and Kara, kids and I walked around DC. Asher, who still loves all things space, was so thrilled to go to the Air and Space Museum, and I think Sadie loved just about everywhere we went. We went to the National Aquarium, the Chinatown area and had lots of fun.

This summer, we went back to Hilton Head and had another really fun time. It was just our two families this year; Scott and Tim weren’t able to come and Kara’s parents had gone the week before. We stayed in a lovely home with a pool and private walk down to the beach. It was fun and rewarding to see Asher overcome his fear of the ocean and venture out more independently (always with us, of course) and Sadie turned into the starfish rescue princess. Every starfish she saw still somewhat alive was carefully picked up and gently placed back into the water. And, of course, there were walks on the beach, wonderful meals and just some nice time of
relaxing.

We didn’t go to the annual Dental convention in Atlanta all together this year because Asher started first grade, and we now have to be a bit more serious about school. And, our travel plans kept us stateside, although Michael and I hope to go overseas again next year.

We had the joy of watching many of the kids’ activities. Asher played soccer again this year and we saw a lot of improvement. Every year he gets a bit more focused and his skills grow. Sadie played, too, and also began ballet lessons, and it’s fun to watch her do both. She just loves dressing up like a ballerina and looks just so cute! She’s naturally athletic. As a matter of fact, she’s like Jon in many
ways. Kara calls her a ‘little Jon’ and she’s right.


Another fun trip we took was just a couple of weeks ago when Asher was selected along with 5 other kids from his class to go to Nashville to make a presentation on how to use technology in the classroom at the Tennessee State Teacher’s technology conference. That was a blast and we were so proud of him. All the kids did a great job.

Of course, we can’t leave out one of our most important pieces of Grandchild news: our family was thrilled to welcome new Granddaughter, Elsie Rose, on October 19. What a darling she is and we are all rejoicing that she is happy and healthy. The pregnancy got off to bit of a rocky start, but, thankfully, God took care of all of that and Kara did really well.

Jon and Kara are happily moving along in life. Jon stays busy being a Dad and working, and is still leading worship at church and working with the youth praise band. He’s doing a great job and the church is so grateful and my heart is so blessed to see him serving the Lord. He still does a lot of hiking and loves to explore the mountains around us. Kara is busy with the kids and still finds some time to sew. Now that Elsie is here her time is pretty filled.

Tim is still in a band and is planning to start school again next year. We are very happy to hear that. He still talks about possibly opening up a restaurant some day, so, time will tell what he decides to do. He has a very nice girlfriend, Rachel, and lives in a house he really likes not too far from us.

Michael still works hard, but, tries to take time off to hike and play his guitar, and work outside. He longs to go back to Mexico and do missions work and I do hope he will do that again in the next few years. He has been involved on a committee reviewing the possibility of opening up a dental school at the University just north of us and that has been interesting for him.


My year has been full. Once Elsie arrived, Kara, like all Mom's of new babies, was more limited in what she could do, so I have had the blessing of helping out with more of the kids’ activities. I’ve gone on field trips with Asher, to ballet lessons with Sadie and soccer with both of them. I’ve been to lunches, Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas programs and taken them to visit a friend’s farm, and have loved every minute of it. I’ve also enjoyed their overnight stays. We do lots of fun things. A new experience for me as a Grandma has been to help out in Asher’s classroom a couple of hours a week working with the kids on technology and that has sure been fun.

This year I have also had the privilege of teaching a Precept Ministries Sunday School class at church; their first. Our first study was on Spiritual Gifts and with the diverse backgrounds in our class we had some interesting discussions! We are now working our way through Philippians and it is so rewarding to see the students catch on to the inductive method of Bible Study which opens so many doors to them in their understanding of God’s Word. Another church ministry I have become involved in is the jail ministry and that has been an incredible experience.

On the home front, I did a little gardening this year, but, we had awfully dry conditions, so, the garden didn’t do as well as in past years. We did get a good first crop of asparagus and are looking forward to more. I also found some time to sew, but, not as much as I would have liked. I am still involved in the office, and am blessed to help Michael, but, must admit, am looking forward to retiring some
day to get to all those sewing and quilting projects I’d like to do!

I had a funny conversation with Sadie the other day. We were talking about the end of the year almost here, and, at 4 years old, she said “Grandma, I just don’t know where the year has gone!”, and then we laughed together. It was hard for me to imagine how that looks to a 4-year-old. But, I do know how it looks to me and she’s right! It has gone by quickly, once again, but, I can truthfully say that I have grown. Lately, I’ve been on a ‘journey to health’ and through that process, God has been teaching me many things about sacrifice and surrender. Those lessons are
not always easy. But, as I’ve been reading and re-reading Philippians, I am reminded of the constancy of Paul’s faith. I have asked myself if I, like
Paul, can reach the place where I can count all those earthly, worldly things I’ve
been or done or held onto as rubbish for the surpassing value of knowing Jesus
Christ (Philippians 3:7), and, like Paul, learn to be content despite my
circumstances. (Philippians 4:10) And, where did Paul get his example? From Jesus, Himself, who, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8).

Oh, what humility there was in that sacrificial act! What obedience! I never, never can think just of the birth of Jesus. My heart; my will; my soul; every part of my being can never stop to see the shadow of the cross over the manger, because there it looms! Would you; would I; could we go willingly to die for the sake of the
world? The answer is no. And, God knew that and made provision for us not to die for the world’s sake, but, for our own as we become crucified to our flesh and sin; buried with Him and rise into His resurrection; into newness of life. Do we stop to consider the awesomeness of that? Or, has it become routine? WE MUST NOT LET IT BE
SO!!! The world needs for us not to let it be so. We cannot settle into the easy
chair of complacency, taking such a great grace-gift for granted. That is my goal for the New Year; it is my goal now as well.

We can never be Jesus. We can never be perfect. God didn’t intend for us to be either. However, we can strive, again like Paul, to recognize that we are not perfect, but that we are pressing on for the upward call of the prize in Christ Jesus. That is why we are celebrating what we are celebrating, and that is what we must do. May 2012 find us doing both with all our hearts, minds and soul!

And you, dears, are in our hearts as well; ever near, ever dear.

Wishing you and
yours a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year,
Michael & Jan

Recently, there was an interesting Facebook exchange on one of my 'friends' pages. I made a brief suggestion that the book "A Time of Departing" by Ray Yungen might be a helpful resource that addressed some of the comments. One of my 'friends' friends posted the following. I do not know this individual, but, rather than post my comments in that forum, I decided to post them here. It just didn't seem like Facebook was the appropriate place to enter into such a discussion. Below, I am posting his comment and my response:

Dale T. : Thanks for the suggestion, Jan. I clicked the link for the sample chapter (chapter 2) and read through it. (Rolling out the soapbox...) I should say first that I consider the Bible to be one of the great spiritual books of the world, containing some profound truths. I'm not a fundamentalist though, so in my view, a Bible-centered argument carries not so much weight. One Bible teaching I do try to live by is "JUDGE NOT", which to me means that our knowledge and wisdom is severly limited (compared to God's) and it's not our place to condemn the spiritual/religious practices of others, as long as they're not causing harm to another person. It's another statement of the Golden Rule. Many Christians (such as the author of this book), however well-intentioned, seem to have lost sight of this. The author seeks to draw lines and declare that "these practices over here are the True Christian Way, and all those other practices (even if the fruits of the practice are comparable!) are heretical and guided by Satan. This purist attitude has led to religious war for thousands of years and is, I think, one of the major stumbling blocks hindering our advancement as a species. I DO believe that God is present in us and in the world around us. If all was created by God, how could it be otherwise? Finally, I'd like to say that I offer these words as an honest exchange of ideas, and it's not my intent to attack anyone's beliefs. Thanks for your consideration.

My response:

Hello, Dale…I read this original post with interest. I don’t know you, of course, so that must be taken into account as I post this. It’s been awhile, and I sat down to do so a couple of times but, time just didn’t permit. To begin with, I will say that we have quite divergent views of the Bible. It has been my experience that most people I’ve met who share that particular view of the Bible as “one of the great spiritual books of the world” (which is a postmodern view) #1…have never read the entire book from Genesis to Revelation and /or #2, hold a similar view of God, Jesus and salvation. The truth is…God Himself does not share that particular viewpoint. He reveals Himself to be unchangeable, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent, entirely true and incapable of lying, Sovereign over all things; the ONLY way to heaven; the beginning and the end, creator of time and epochs (and everything else we know and don’t even know for that matter) and that’s just the beginning of the list. I must also take issue with some of your comments about judging. I agree that we, in the fallibility of our humanity can never see others through the same eyes of God. There are some things, like the heart, that only He can judge. At the same time; we are called in Scripture to hold one another accountable and to inspect the fruit of others in order to determine the impact their individual ‘walk’ will have on us and to avoid like-minded fellowship with those who are ungodly, distorting God’s Word intentionally, or knowingly, willingly, habitually allowing sin to rule their lives. In John 17, the passage known as Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, it is clear that He did not leave us to be separated physically from the world, but to be separate from the world in terms of spirituality, faith and world view. We are left in the world so that we can be the salt and reflection of God’s love, mercy and grace. Sometimes, that means calling a spade a spade, just as Jesus did when He was here.

God also calls people to be prophets and heralds for the protection of His people. So, when I read a book such as “A Time of Departing”, I read it from that perspective. And, as far as the golden rule goes…well, if I’m saying something that isn’t true, or if my theology is skewed especially if it is skewed to the point where it could lead other people astray, I sure hope someone would say something to me! As a teacher of the Bible, I am particularly cautious about that fact, and always tell my classes to be Bereans, just as Paul encouraged Christians to be in Scripture. And, as a Christian who does take Scripture literally, just the way God intended for us to as made clear in His Word, I am thankful for authors and teachers who will go out on a limb for God and expose the very kinds of things God warns us about and I appreciate Ray Yungen for taking that kind of a stand. Do I check them out against Scripture? Absolutely. It just so happens that I am aware through other sources of many of the things he writes about truly happening in Christendom today.

It also turns out that God Himself, Dale, has the very ‘purist’ attitude you mention. This ‘attitude’ is seen throughout Scripture. One of the names of God is Jehovah Quanna, which translated, means Jealous God. There are a number of reasons He is jealous. Among them is the fact that in His jealousy, He protects His people from those “wolves in sheep’s clothing” who would attempt to distort, steal and destroy their faith.

Another commonly held post-modern view of God is that He is a tolerant God. Well, that is also a misunderstanding of who God is. Today’s cultural view of tolerance includes being tolerant of sin; homosexuality, for example. The Bible makes it very clear that God cannot and will not tolerate sin, and that all sin will be judged, either at the Bema (Judgment) seat of Christ for believers and at the Great White Throne of Judgment for non-believers. That is what hell will be created for and we all, Christian or not, will someday be judged by God.

God knew, Dale, that man’s post-modern view of God (which in my opinion is the open door to a Godless view of the world) would happen. It’s predicted in the Bible. If you have read the Bible in its entirety; from Genesis to Revelation, you must know that the Bible really is a book of prophecy, centered on the revelation of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for His creation which is seen first in Genesis 3 and lastly in the book of Revelation. We are warned throughout Scripture; beginning in Genesis, and continuing on through the major Old Testament prophets (Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel, etc) and into the New Testament in the gospels, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Jude, 2 Peter, 1John, Hebrews and Revelation, that many people will arise who distort the truth of God’s Word, attempting and sadly, often succeeding, in leading God’s ‘elect’ away from the protective truth of Scripture. Jesus Himself told us this was going to happen, so it really should come as no surprise to anyone who is a student of Scripture. It simply is a continued sign that the return of the Lord, and the Day of the Lord, are imminent. And, what I have learned, and am continuing to learn, is that it is far less important to debate people over that fact than it is to share God’s love and truth in a dark and hurting world so that when the Lord does return, more will be ready to join Him.

So, Dale, I stand by my recommendation. I think his book is a good and relevant assessment of what is happening in modern Christianity and is a good warning for Christians individually and for the church as a whole.

The Bird and the Burden

The Bird and the Burden
May 23, 2011

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.30
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matt 11:28-30 (NASB)

It’s been a wonderful “Lord’s Day” today. However…the last few weeks have been rough around here. We live in the area of NE Tennessee where an F3 category tornado roared through a couple of weeks ago leaving a swath of destroyed houses, property, and loss of life. It was devastating for many people. For whatever His reasons, God protected our home and property and I am grateful. As we’ve driven around and heard story after story, it made me think I should never complain again…about anything. Images of people sifting through the rubble of broken hearts and lives will be forever etched in my memory. But, this morning was different. And, that difference came in the form of a little bird.

It’s funny, isn’t it; the things God chooses and uses to speak to our hearts sometimes? But, if He can create dust and then take it, breathe life into and form it to make man; well…He can do anything He wants. And He did that for me this morning.

I was driving along on my way to church; praying and humming a praise song. It was one of our NE Tennessee beautiful Spring mornings. If you live here, you know exactly what I mean. It’s one of those Spring mornings where Spring is about to spring right into summer without taking a breath. As I went through ‘The Crossroads’, suddenly a little black bird flew right in front of my car. It was carrying a rather large stick. In fact, this stick was as long as it was and, I couldn’t exactly tell if it was being carried by its beak or claws, but whichever it was, it was held pointing backwards at a rather awkward angle, and the little bird was really struggling to rise higher. However, it flapped its wings wildly and ever-so-slowly, it began to rise. There were no other cars in the intersection and I slowed down to a crawl just transfixed with this scene. And, as I watched the little bird’s struggle, I wondered, “why doesn’t it just drop the stick?” But, it didn’t. It held tightly to its burden and persevered, and finally, began to soar upwards.

What struck me in that whole picture was how much that applies to my own life. We have a heartbreaking family situation that has been a burden to our hearts for many years. There have been times I have cried out to the Lord in utter desperation and despair. Other times, I have wondered if my prayers and tears are making a difference; if it’s even worth it to keep bringing this burden before the Lord.

What the Lord also reminded me this morning is that He cares for every sparrow. Surely, if He cares so deeply for a little bird; He cares so much more for me. He knows what I am going through. He understands my burden because He is walking right next to me, helping me to bear it when it threatens to overwhelm me. And, just as that little bird, I can soar towards the heavens where Ephesians tells me I am seated at the right hand of the throne of God in Jesus Christ. But, I can only soar; rise above the trials life throws at me IF I appropriate what God’s Word tells me He has made available to me.

We must remember that Jesus was and is our faithful and merciful High Priest and that He has known every trial and temptation of man. I’m still waiting for someone to tell me they’ve experienced all that Jesus did and survived. We just can’t do it. God didn’t intend for us to. But, His intention for His own beloved Son was different than His intention for us. His plan for Jesus is hard for us to fathom. I also have yet to meet someone who sacrificed a child to save the life of a whole creation's worth of people! God meant for His Son to die. He willingly sacrificed Him; shed the drops of blood He Himself created so that my blood-requiring debt would be paid. He did all that for me, but, Jesus Himself NEVER promised that He was isolating us from the world. In contrast, He told us that He was leaving us in the world so that we could be a light that shines from within, illuminating the darkness of the forces of evil so that we could help to grow His kingdom. And, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on whether you are a ‘glass half-full or glass half-empty’ kind of person, that means that we live in and suffer the effects of living in a fallen world. And, one of those effects is realized in the trials of life that result in the burdens we carry.

So, what burden are you bearing today, dear one? In Matthew, Jesus says very simply, “Come to Me”. Have you done that? “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me”. Are you spending time in His Word and in prayer, seeking His face; His help in the burden you bear?

Jesus can say that His burden is easy and His yoke is light, but, that’s only when we bring it to Him and find the rest therein that only He can offer. Jesus alone can be our ‘burden-bearer’. With Him helping to shoulder the load, the burden becomes light enough that we can carry it.

Paul well understood the responsibility and hardship of burdens. Who among us can say we’ve been beaten; once with rods; whipped, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead as well as having the burden of responsibility for many churches? Not only that, his had physical infirmities, and knew opposition, rejection and abandonment even by those he loved. Even so, he was able to write these encouraging words:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-4 (NASB)
No matter how heavy your burden is, He can help you carry it. But, you must let Him. He will not take it from you. You must give it. And, no matter what it is, remember the example of the Lord, and the saints who have gone before you, many of whom lost their lives in terrible ways to bring to us the very words that tell us we can “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”( Heb 4:16)