Not Really My Thing

I don't think I ever showed you the picture of the vase of flowers I arranged a few months ago. Last December, I signed up to provide flowers in our church sanctuary on August 1 for our anniversary. When I began to consider how large the space is up front (the church seats about 1,200), and what it would cost to have a florist make something that large (probably $200), I decided that I would try to arrange some silk flowers myself. I happened to be at JoAnn's (a craft store) a couple of months ago when they were having a 60% off sale on some of their floral items. I grabbed a tall vase and started choosing flower stems to see if I could pull this off successfully. Here is how it turned out. From this first picture of the sanctuary, taken from the balcony, you can see why I wanted a large, tall arrangement. Anything smaller would be lost down there. Here are a couple of more pictures made before the service from the center aisle by my always-prepared-former-Boy-Scout husband.
The 50" height of the arrangement is a bit overwhelming for my smallish house, so I donated it to the church rather than bring it back home. Occasionally there are Sundays when no one has signed up to provide flowers, and so this one can be used again as needed. So, even though floral arranging is not really my calling, I think for about $45 this hits the mark, and I got lots of positive comments.

Happy Easter!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

May you have a blessed Easter and know the power of the resurrection, the love of Christ, and the sure promise of eternal life in Him.

Always Thankful

In exactly two days, we'll be pigging out, but I hope we'll also remember to do what the Pilgrims did so long ago: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. In All Circumstances. That's the rub. What were the Pilgrims' circumstances? After religious persecution drove them from their homeland, they endured nearly three months at sea (and it wasn't anything like a Carnival Cruise). Even after reaching America, they continued to live aboard the Mayflower for many weeks, as this was their only shelter from the New England winter. They faced cramped living quarters aboard the ship, then starvation, sickness, fear of Indian attack, and grief as half of their original numbers died. Help came the next spring in the form of Squanto, about whom William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth, wrote, "he was a special instrument sent of God for good beyond their expectations." And you know the rest of the story. So let's be thankful every day in which God gives us breath. And especially on Thursday as we celebrate the bountiful way in which He has poured out His blessings on us.

Where Did the Week Go?

It went by so fast -- unlike when you're working! Monday I made my usual grocery store and drug store runs. Run of the mill, that is. Also on Monday I went to the framing shop to order a shadow box of this Boy Scout memorabilia.This will be a birthday gift for James' daddy next month.The rest of Monday and Tuesday (excluding my dental cleaning -- no cavities) was spent doing the housework that didn't get finished last week. Also, I did some minor cooking in preparation for lunch with a couple of friends at my house on Wednesday. It was lots of fun looking at pictures from a recent class reunion and then looking up people in the yearbook when we had no clue who they were!

I went to Hancock Fabrics and Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts on Thursday. One of the things on my list was outdoor fabric to redo the cushion on the porch glider. I didn't come home with any. Bummer. I was also looking for Christmas fabric, but I'm still a bit early. They had Christmas crafting-type fabric out, but not really any dress fabric. Bummer. And I had to go to Little Quilts because neither of the fabric stores had leather thimbles, and I recently lost the one I had. Bummer again. Then... I had to go back to Jo-Ann's on Friday because I didn't realize that the sale featuring several things I wanted didn't start until Friday. This extra trip is beyond bummer, but I'm trying to keep it clean here. I got six patterns for $1 each. One dollar is about right. There's no way on earth I would pay $15.95 (the regular price each of three of them) for an envelope full of paper. If you want to look at my purchase Emily's way, I saved 94% on patterns! I also got ten spools of thread and a roll of quilt batting at half-price.

I spent a good part of Friday morning trying to figure out how to list something to sell on Ebay. I finally got there. Or here, if you prefer.

Finally, I've had this for a month and I keep forgetting to post it. When we vacation in the Charleston area, we usually attend Sunday worship at Eastbridge PCA in Mount Pleasant. When we stay on Isle of Palms, it's not a bad trip, but when we are at Folly Beach, it's nearly an hour drive. Come Sunday morning of vacation, James and I decided we didn't want to make the hour-long drive. (Takes longer to recover from the seven-hour Saturday drive to get to the beach.) So, we decided to go to the local Baptist church. It was an OK service, with a good, scriptural message. I love their slogan, taken from the bulletin:

A God Like No Other

I haven't shared one of my hymns in a while, so I thought I'd do that today. I haven't written anything in a long time, but an idea was swirling around in my brain last night as I was drifting off to sleep. Stay tuned to see if it finds its way onto paper and into blogdom.

A God Like No Other

Meter: Common Meter (8.6.8.6.)
Tune: Martyrdom (Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed)

Was there ever a God like this
Who left His heav’nly throne?
Abandoned riches, joy, and bliss
To make the earth His home.

Was there ever a babe like Him
Who chose His mother’s womb?
Who knew the cup He came to drink,
By violence, meet the tomb.

Was there ever a man like Him,
Full mortal, divine Son?
The One in whom no guile was found,
Perfect, obedient one.

Was there ever a love so great?
He suffered and He bled.
The curse of God’s wrath for man’s sin
Heaped on His sinless head.

Was there ever a mighti’r power?
He burst forth from the grave.
Defied the foe, crushed sin and death
For those He came to save.

Was there ever a God whose grace
Could cover all my sin?
My works are filth, my love a fraud;
But His love took me in.

All glory, laud, and honor be
To Him! Exalted high!
There is no other God, but One,
And Him we magnify!


Soli Deo Gloria
Joan Jordan
© 2005

Precious

(Written yesterday.)
I was there today when my best friend from adolescence buried her mother. But let me start at the beginning.

Sharon and I first became friends in 7th grade. We’d left the secure nest of different neighborhood elementary schools and were thrust into a scary junior high school. I’d heard rumors of fist fights in the halls and bullies beating up 7th graders in the stair wells. (At least no one brought guns in those days and most of the stories turned out to be suburban legends.) As teenagers, Sharon and I lived almost two miles apart. Before we could drive or had cars, we would walk to one another’s houses, setting out at the same time, and meeting half-way. Even that simple bonding act is lost among today’s youth. She and I remained close friends throughout high school and young adulthood. But as the laws of God and nature dictate, we married and began our families (our oldest being born within a month of each other), and we were no longer in close contact. Still, we never lost touch completely, and each time we were able to see each other again, it was all the more sweet.

But this is about her mother. Sharon is the youngest of five children, all but the oldest of whom were still living at home when we first became friends. If you were a friend of one of Mom Rex’s children, then you were enfolded into the family. Her influence is profoundly impressed upon my teenage years and I still bear that imprint today. Although one or two memories are as crisp as today’s headlines, most of them are as fuzzy as new puppies. What I recall is that she was perpetually happy, usually singing, never idle, and continually mindful of heavenly things. Wherever she was, or whatever she was doing, if I came following behind Sharon, I was welcomed and included. She started calling me Joansey, and the way Sharon’s siblings are likely to know me today is if I re-introduce myself that way. Just remembering her calling me that is like a warm blanket wrapped around my heart. And that’s what it felt like to a mixed-up, insecure, awkward teenaged girl… a place, a family, a person that was warm, secure, unwavering. And that’s the heart of it: On Christ, the Solid Rock, she stood, and I believe, although I don’t recall her verbalizing it to me, that she knew or sensed I was in desperate need of a rock. The Rock. It is no accident that today I also stand on that Solid Rock, having first drunk from the well springing up in Sharon and her family.

Her mother died on Sharon’s birthday. That was the first thing that hit me when I heard the news. I was so choked up I couldn’t even tell James. Earlier in the week, Sharon was grieving over that “coincidence,” when her daughter comforted her with these words: Mom, she loved you the best and she wanted to tell you Happy Birthday, but she knew she couldn’t on earth in the body she was in. Does Sharon really believe, that in a family of five children, her godly mother would love her “the best.” I doubt it. But those were words she needed to hear at that moment. What a wise-beyond-her-years and compassionate daughter Sharon has.

At the chapel today, the first words spoken by the pastor were these: We preach our own funeral service every day of our lives. Each person there could have simply echoed, “Amen.” Mom Rex’s testimony of loving service to the Lord and His people lives on. Undoubtedly, she had her eyes fixed on Him and on things to come. A small slip of paper with faint, barely perceptible writing was found in her Bible. It read, I want to wear a flowered dress so that Jesus will know how happy I am. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15) Precious, indeed.

Thought for the Day

I had a thought last week, and since that so rarely happens, I felt the need to share it here.

I've been staff, and I've managed staff, not to mention having spent my whole life living among people. (Go figure.) Anyway, I was thinking about the inevitable personality conflicts that arise in any group of people (work, school, church) and how I like to believe that I am capable of getting along with just about anyone. I may not like them, nor choose to be bosom buddies (BFF, for you texting types), but I think I can manage to avoid the clashes and sometimes out-and-out wars that can erupt when people are vastly different. My first thought was that maybe it's because of the maturity that comes just by virtue of living enough years. As that thought meandered further, I mused that maturity helps a person overlook the faults of others. Then came the thought that shot right to the heart of the matter: Maybe I can overlook the faults of others because I've lived long enough to find so many faults in myself.

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Thankful

How thankful our family is for God's watch-care and protection! My daughter fainted today while driving with her two young children in the back seat. She's spending the night at the hospital while they monitor her and do some tests to try and figure out why she fainted, but no one was hurt in the accident. Her minivan is probably totaled, as she went off the road, over a yield sign (it yielded) and was stopped by the brick-surround of a restaurant sign. No other people, cars, or property were involved. As further evidence of God's provision, she was minutes away from getting on the interstate where the outcome could have been far worse.

A Place to Worship

Midway Presbyterian Church spent the weekend with an open house and dedication of our new sanctuary and fellowship hall. My post title is borrowed from Saturday's title of an article on the front page of the Lifestyle section of the Marietta Daily Journal. Here are some photos I made on Friday night.

The front doors.
The sanctuary, with the choir loft in the middle of the back balcony. The empty space will hold the pipe organ, the installation of which will begin next week.
Closer view of the choir loft.
View of the sanctuary from the choir loft.

The new pulpit (Pastor David Hall seated).

Closer view of the mahogany pews.

One section of the lobby. There are several different nooks with seating areas like this one.

The sanctuary has hardwood floors and marble title, but the lobby area is carpeted, including some neat inset areas.

Friday night was a children's' concert, including the Atlanta Boys' Choir, the Midway children's choir, and the Midway Covenant Christian School choir. Here is Judy Dodd directing the Midway children (Atlanta Boys' Choir members in the background).

The sound "booth" is located on one side of the balcony. Pictured is the world's best church sound board operator.

Only Your Own - Thought for the Day

This morning our pastor's sermon text was from John 14, particularly the portion wherein Jesus tells his disciples about the Holy Spirit. The pastor pointed out that one of the Holy Spirit's roles is to make believers holy... to convict them of unholiness in their lives. Pastor Hall also noted that the Holy Spirit only points out a person's own sin. He is not in the busybody business of pointing out someone else's sin. It made me think of Aslan's words in The Chronicles of Narnia. I believe he made this same, or a similar, statement to more than one child who questioned him regarding another character in the story. Aslan patiently explained to the child, "I tell no one any story but his own." And so it is with the Holy Spirit.

Post script: We did not get the necessary permits to worship in our new sanctuary, but the permits are "sure to happen" this week.

Yesterday's Events... And Today

1. I've waffled back and forth between glasses and contacts several times. I like wearing contacts, but with changes to my tears induced by allergy medicine, I had a difficult time keeping the contacts clean enough to get a month's wear out of a pair. So, I bought one of those ultrasonic lens cleaners to try. Stay tuned.
2. Headaches are something that I live with nearly every day. Recently, they've been accompanied by visual disturbances, and it was the eye doctor who told me that I was describing a classic migraine. So there you go.
3. I've mentioned that our church is toward the end of a building project. We may be able to worship in our new sanctuary this Sunday if we're able to get the CO today or tomorrow. So last night at the end of rehearsal, the choir went to the new choir loft (now located in the back balcony) to rehearse. It's going to be marvelous!
4. I'm keeping Caleb and Alexa today. That's why I'm blogging at 7 a.m. I'll probably be too dead after that!

Worship God or...

Since Sunday is worship day, I thought I'd share this bumper sticker that we saw in Tampa. Human beings were created for worship, and if they don't worship God, they will worship something. Dirt is just about as good a substitute as anything else.

Not a Great Gadsby

I've posted a couple of hymns included in a volume called Gadsby's Hymns. This time, I'm posting one of my own hymns.

Abba, Father!

Meter: 6.6.6.6.8.8.
Tune: Darwall (Rejoice, the Lord is King)

Along life’s pilgrim way,
Adversity in view,
The Lord will guide my steps,
His Word, my compass true.
To Thee I fly.
Thou wilt draw nigh and hear me,
“Abba, Father!” cry.

When loneliness surrounds,
No friend stands by my side,
My God will not forsake;
He constantly abides.
To Thee I fly.
Thou wilt draw nigh and hear me,
“Abba, Father!” cry.

The enemy prowls ‘round,
My life he would devour.
But my Defense is sure,
My Shield, my Refuge, Tow’r.
To Thee I fly.
Thou wilt draw nigh and hear me,
“Abba, Father!” cry.

When darkness shrouds my soul,
And grief my heart impales,
My Comforter speaks, “Peace.”
His balm has never failed.
To Thee I fly.
Thou wilt draw nigh and hear me,
“Abba, Father!” cry.

When life and breath shall cease,
The last of tears are shed,
I’ll triumph in the Lord;
For this, my Savior bled.
To Thee I fly,
Forever with the saints will
“Abba, Father!” cry!

Joan Jordan
© 2006

Tasked

Just before quitting time today, my boss gave me an assignment: Write a job description for myself so that he can post the job opening. I could say, "Office Manger - Bookkeeper." The End. But here are some other things that I do on a regular basis.

• Make sure the community plastic ice cream pail is stocked with an assortment of Dove chocolates.
• Run the carpet sweeper in my office and my boss's office, especially after his children have been in the office.
• Keep endless supply of paper towels handy for when boss slops his coffee everywhere.
• Fix, or at least attempt to fix, anything and everything including toilets, printers, postage machines, computers, and telephones.
• Sanitize the water cooler.
• Provide feedback for online store issues, new cover designs, marketing materials, proposed book titles, and fundraising letters.

And last, but not least, strive to demonstrate Christlikeness and a calm spirit for those times (often) when the customer service waters are turbulent. On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand.

When Bondage Equals Freedom

For a Christian woman, being in bondage to a Heavenly Father's love and to a husband's love is true freedom indeed.

Thoughtful Thursday

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
I finished the Ellery Queen mystery about 4 a.m. yesterday (don't ask). In addition to a good story, there were these words of wisdom from the famous detective: It pays in the end to tell the truth in the beginning.

Thoughtful Thursday

A Marriage Moment for Wives

A friend of mine told this true story several years ago, and it actually happened many, many years before that, but the wisdom lives on. For ease in telling the story, I'll call the couple Mike and Mary. At the time of this incident, they were both Christians, though not mature nor deeply committed like they are now.

Mary had a friend when they were both teenagers, and Mary's friend's mother is named Sue. As a young wife and mother, Mary would often call Sue for advice on numerous topics. Sue modeled the Titus 2 pattern of older women teaching younger women and she taught Mary much about household management, but also about being a woman after God's own heart.

One night, Mike behaved badly. He didn't come home after work, but spent the night out drinking and partying with friends while Mary was at home with their young children. She didn't even know where he was. Early the next morning, a hungover but contrite Mike called Mary from the house where he'd been partying. Reacting as anyone in her shoes might, Mary let him have it with both barrels. She ranted and raved on and on, venting her anger against him. Finally, she slammed the phone down.

Her anger not fully spent, Mary called Sue to whine about what Mike had done. Sue listened to Mary's recital of Mike's sins, and then inquired as to what Mary's response had been. After Mary told her, Sue's response was, "You call him back right now and apologize for your words and your behavior." Mary was stunned. Didn't Sue understand that it was Mike who was wrong? She tried to protest, but Sue would not let Mary focus on Mike's behavior, but forced her to examine her own. She told Mary, "Your reaction was sinful. You did not show respect to your husband. You need to call him right now and apologize." Mary whined some more that her marriage to Mike was not making her happy. Sue's response is the punch line: "The purpose of your marriage is not to make you happy; it's to make you holy."

Mary hung up, and after a short time, did exactly what Sue suggested -- she called Mike, apologized for the way she'd acted and the things she'd said, and asked him to forgive her.

My friend, Mary, told me that this one act of repentant humility on her part was the turning point in their marriage and in their walk of faith. Mike was so convicted by what Mary did, that he became a new man. He never went partying or got drunk again. Instead, he invested himself in Mary and in their family -- in being the husband, father, and indeed the man that God wanted him to be. Happiness has followed holiness.*

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

* Footnote: Mary also told me that Mike has given her permission to share their story. Though not proud of his past, he realizes that wisdom is meant to be shared, and that Mary is well on her way to being a Titus 2 woman herself.

Thoughtful Thursday

All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth. --Friedrich Nietzsche
I did not know who Friedrich Nietzsche is/was, so I determined to find out before I posted this quote. Even a superficial look at today's culture should convince you of the truth of his statement. For example:

Truth: Thou shalt not kill.
Lie: The powerful (courts) who define truth in this country have ruled that abortion is a right.

Truth: Thou shalt not steal. If anyone will not work, neither will he eat. II Thess. 3:10
Lie: Powerful legislatures have legalized stealing from productive citizens in order to fund welfare programs for those who will not work.

Truth: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen. 1:1
Lie: Public school systems, vested by governments with monopolistic power compounded by compulsory attendance, by-and-large teach evolution as fact and cannot so much as mention creationism.*

I could go on, but you get the picture. Herr Nietzsche, a 19th century German philosopher was right on the money concerning today's relativistic American culture. Remarkably, he repudiated Christianity. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteous, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.... Professing to be wise, they became fools..." Rom. 1:18:22

*Footnote: Some atheist/agnostic scientists have admitted that they know evolution is impossible, but they choose to believe it anyway, rather than believe in "a higher power." More on this topic later. If you want a layman's explanation of the impossibility of evolution, I recommend the book, Darwin's Black Box - The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by Michael J. Behe. Don't let the subtitle of the book trip you up; it really is understandable by a non-scientist.

Easy Come, Hopefully Easy Go

A week ago, at the bottom of the post, I mentioned in a Goody comment that I had won a pretty significant prize by calling a radio station at the right time with a right answer to their question. I think $1,300 is pretty significant... not in cash, but in two 2008 Atlanta Falcons season tickets. Today I went to the radio station to claim the tickets. (And sign the tax documents.) I thought the tickets might be way up in the nosebleed section with a total value of $500, but these are in the second level. A surprise bonus was two tickets for each of the final two pre-season games. I gave the ones for tomorrow night's game away because we already had tickets to the Braves game! Since I've never been to a professional football game (even pre-season), I hope to be able to go to the final pre-season game next Friday night. The seats are Section 206, Row 7, seats 7 and 8. We don't want to go to sporting events on Sunday, and since all the games are on Sundays, my next goal in life is to sell the tickets in one lump, as quickly as possible. I'll need the cash to pay Uncle Sam his share.

Post as Promised: $9,000,000 Addition

No, we're not remodeling our house, and if we were, this price tag is a little steep! Our church is about midway through a building project. Included are a 1,200-seat sanctuary, a fellowship hall, classrooms, and office space. The sanctuary will have hardwood floors (marble in the foyer) and the pews are a rich mahogany. A new pipe organ is being built now for installation at the appropriate time. The project is scheduled to be finished this year, and so far, it remains on schedule. Over half of the cost has already been raised. We're looking forward to occupying and worshiping in this magnificent space.