No Longer a Little Girl!

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Tomorrow my youngest granddaughter starts high school. How did that happen? When did she grow from a little girl to a beautiful young woman? While I enjoy our new relationship as we relate more adult to adult, I confess I miss playing “imagine” with her.

These twelve toy animals have been stored in a box for some time now. My husband and I put the animals, along with a couple of her favorite books and a stuffed animal called Willy, in a container and labeled it “to be opened on Zoe’s 18th birthday.” When we did that we thought that date was far, far in the future. But as quickly as time goes by, we have just four more years before she graduates.

To be honest, while she has been growing up, I have been growing old. I am not sure that I still have the energy to play for hours imaging all the different places we and the animals could go.

Still, as I read this post and remembered all the times we let our imagination take us to wonderful places, I will always be grateful for time spent with Hippy Hippo, Ted Tiger, Winnie Warthog and their friends.

Twelve Little Toy Animals, A Little Girl and a Big Imagination

Mint City Festival

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Located in the heart of Michigan’s lower peninsula, St. Johns was made for mint. The area’s rich soil – and the dedication of the hardworking farming community – presented the opportunity to plant a legacy.

Peppermint was introduced to the U.S. by English settlers, with cultivation beginning in Massachusetts in the early 1800s, before larger scale production commenced in New York State (1830s) and then the Midwestern states (mid 1800s). In the 19th century, mint farming was taking Michigan by storm, spreading northeast from the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo regions. By the mid-1800s, mint production in Michigan had skyrocketed, rivaling New York as the national leader in mint supply. By the turn of the century, 90% of the world’s supply of mint oil came from the region reaching from St. Johns to the southwest corner of the state.

St Johns gained the title of “Mint City.”

Peppermint (Mentha piperita, named for its pepper-like taste) and spearmint (Mentha spicata, named for its arrow-shaped flower spires) are related plants that are rich in volatile oils called terpenes. These ethereal, complex organic compounds—mainly menthol and carvone—give mint the taste and aroma that make it a favorite for chewing gum, toothpaste, candy and medicine.  The two mint plants are believed to have originated in the Mediterranean basin, where their earliest uses were for fragrance and flavoring, especially in medicinal products.

It is used in baking, candymaking, coffee, cocoa and many other products. The oil extracted from mint through a steam distillation process is highly concentrated. One pound will flavor 135,000 sticks of gum. Initially, mint oil was used mainly for medicinal purposes, but the popularity of both chewing gum and toothpaste in the early 20th century provided a new market. Today 70% of US mint oil is consumed in the United States, and 40% of that goes to improve the taste of gum and 30% to toothpaste and mouthwash.

Mint field

While the mint production has declined in the area with mint farms now in the Pacific Northwest and the production of synthetic and artificial products, there are still three farms producing mint here in Clinton County.

The town celebrates its history every August with a Mint City Festival. This year is the 40th year of the celebration which attracts 60,000 to 80,000 people. Events are scheduled at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, St Johns city park and the downtown area throughout the weekend. There are food trucks, bands, car show, parade, carnival rides and, of course, mint ice cream.

Of course, we have a royal court for the year also. These girls represent the Mint City Festival throughout the year.

No festival would be complete without a parade.

My church also created a float for the parade. Our worship team played music throughout the parade. it was a fun time for all.

In the midst of all the craziness in our nation and our world right now, it’s so encouraging to celebrate a legacy that started in the fields but has blossomed into a vibrant community tradition. So good to see families, young and old, enjoying life in small town America.

Happy Anniversary to Me!

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How quickly times flies. Seems it was only yesterday when I said “I do” to my husband. Today we celebrate 41 years of marriage. How we have changed!

The dark hair and mustache on my husband is now gone. His grey hair gets thinner every year. My thick red hair has been replaced with very thin white hair (so I wear a wig). We both have put on some pounds, and we walk a lot slower.

Travel has always been a part of our life and on our anniversary we travel somewhere to see some new place or revisit a favorite spot.

The six kids we had together when we married (a blended family – two mine, four his) have now become a tribe with our second great, great grandchild coming soon. We have rejoiced as our tribe married, graduated from high school and college. (Check out my slide show below). We count schoolteachers, nurses, pastors, event director and even an attorney among the gang.

We have cried as the loss of a son and a grandson. We have struggled with health issues such as heart attack, advanced breast cancer and a brain bleed as well as health issues with children and grandchildren. And, yes, we have had moments when we struggled with misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

But through it all, we never lost sight of our initial commitment to truly take each other “for better, for worse.” We wrote our own vows and part of our vows declared:

“By the choice of God and by the choice of my heart…..I pledge myself to you alone with a devotion that shall increase as we pass together through sorrow and joy, through darkness and sunlight and through all the circumstances of life that God may send our way.”

One big difference today. For the first time we have not traveled anywhere. Old age is catching up with us. We settled for lunch at our favorite steakhouse. After a nap, we will end the day with a game of Super Scrabble. My husband also has promised he will serenade me with the song he wrote and sang to me on our wedding day as part of our vows.

So from this

to this

to this

I’m grateful for the ride thus far. While our traveling days are probably over, our love remains strong – and we have albums full of memories we can look back on and share.

And just before we say good night, I will remind my husband of one important thing:

A Story of a Miracle

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This is my husband’s story. Over five years now – he is still doing great although the doctors were not too sure he would regain all his mental capacities. Still praising God and he is still painting.

God’s Miracle For Me

Are We….Should We Be a Christian Nation?

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Growing up, I always heard that the USA was a “Christian” nation. The last few years have seen us move away from that description. Many today would argue that we are anything but a Christian nation. The solution for many is to pass laws, laws they feel will return to the “good old days.”

But laws do not make a person or a nation righteous.

God’s Word and the whole idea of our Christian faith speaks against that.

Look at the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.  Led by Moses out of Egypt bondage, God Himself gave them laws.  If you read the Old Testament you see how many times they failed to follow those laws.  Why?  Because as God’s Word says “For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. ”

The story of the Christian faith is that laws did not work.  They could control the behavior of man to a point, but in the end, they always failed.  Man always found a way to ignore and/or disobey the law.  The nation of Israel wandered further and further away from the law because the law did not change their hearts.

So we can pass laws that make what we believe is sin against the law.  We can even persecute those who break those laws and send them to prison.  But how has that make our nation a Christian nation?  Granted it would mean that we as Christians might feel safer in a nation where everybody had to agree with us or go to jail.  We as Christians might enjoy a great safe and comfortable life.

But how would that change the hearts of the people?  How would that truly make us “all” Christians?

Jesus spoke about the importance of a change in our hearts, not just our behavior in that famous passage we call the “Sermon on the Mount”

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

So – we can make laws against murder (not saying we should not do so) but we cannot change the hearts of people who harbor anger in their heart.  And sadly, I have seen on numerous Facebook posts where Christians have been so guilty of disobeying Jesus’ instruction as they begin to call each other “fools” when they disagree on an issue.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Clearly Jesus was calling us to a higher standard than just setting up a set of laws for all to obey.  He was calling us to a change in heart.

Only God can change a heart.  All the “righteous” laws in the world, even if enforced by our courts, cannot change the heart of men and women.

My fear is that instead of trying to share God’s love and God’s truth to our neighbors, instead of reaching out to those who were planning an abortion, who were taking illegal drugs, who were living a lifestyle we felt was wrong, we looked to a man/a political party to pass laws that would stop them from that lifestyle or punish them for it.

What if we went to that woman contemplating abortion and asked what we could do to help her keep the child?  Could we pay her medical bills?  Could we help her find a good family to adopt the baby?  Could we help her gain skills to get a better job?  And, if in the end, we could not change her mind, could we show her love and compassion as we pray to God to change her heart and mind?

And what about Jesus’s statement:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

I am thankful that I have lived my life in a nation where many Christian beliefs have guided our country – and I’m all for promoting those principles.  But we must never think if we force people to live by our Christian standards through fear of persecution or punishment by the courts, we are making our nation a righteous nation.

No law – no matter how good – can change the heart.  That is the whole point of our Christian faith.

Just a closing thought:  what if we spend as much time praying – seeking God – sharing His love to those we do not agree with – as we spend arguing, debating and even attacking those who are opposed to our Christian standards – would that make a real difference?

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An Amazing Book

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The Bible is an amazing book! Written over a 1500-year span from three different continents in three different languages by approximately 40 authors, it still is relative to us today. There are arguments about what it has to say (or not say) about abortion, prayers in the schools, displaying the Ten Commandments or the cross in public places (and the list could go on). Three major religions take many of their traditions from this book (Jewish, Christian, Islam). Much of our art and literature are based on Biblical stories.

When my husband and I pastored we often started the morning message by having the congregatdisplaion repeat this. Looking through my sermon notes from the past, I thought I would share this statement of facts regarding the Bible with you.

As we approach our reading of God’s Word, may we approach it believing that we can do, we can be what it says. May we ask the Lord to help our mind be alert and our heart responsive as we read.

This is my Bible.
It tells me what I was.
It tells me what I am.
It tells me what I shall be.
I am what it says I am.
I have what it says I have.
I can do what it says I can do
Today I will believe what it says.
Today I will be caught the Word of God.
I boldly confess: my mind is alert,
my heart is responsive,
I will never be the same.
I am about to receive the incorruptible,
the indestructible,
the everlasting seed of the Word of God.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus name.

Worship Appears to Be Important to Me

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This summer our pastor is teaching on the book of Exodus. She, along with my husband and I, created a study guide to help supplement her sermon on Sunday and to give more background on the story of the Exodus. One of the articles I wrote was about the furniture in the tabernacle and how it pointed to Jesus Christ.

This led me to the subject of the importance of worship (both collectively in church and individually throughout the week). Brimming with all kinds of thoughts on the subject of worship, I did a query for any blogs I may have written on the subject.

To my surprise, I found a multiple of blogs. So, I decided what my blog probably did not need was another blog on worship.

However, I found the following as part of one of my blogs from 2021 and I could not resist sharing it again.

Worship Our Way

  • Conductor – God
  • Performers – Worship Team
  • Audience – Congregation

Worship God’s Way

  • Conductor – Worship Team
  • Performers – Congregation
  • Audience – God

How Beautiful!

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One of my favorite singers – Twila Paris.

Get Out of the Fort!

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This is another post from several years ago, but in our current climate, I thought it would be good to repost.

Hold the fort!

Feeling Persecuted?

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I posted this blog several years ago, but in light of all the media and politicians talking about Christian persecution here in the USA, I thought it might be good to revisit what real persecution is.

Faith in the Face of Evil

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I just finished reading a powerful book about the suffering of a Christian man imprisoned in Sudan for 445 days.  While I understand the concerns of Christians here in our country that we might lose some of our religious freedoms, I had to once again see that we have no idea what real persecution for the cause of Jesus Christ looks like. 

Petr Jasek,, a citizen of the Czech Republic and an aid worker, made a trip to Sudan in December 2015 to see what Christians could do to help their fellow Christians suffering at the hands of the government of Sudan.  After meetings with local pastors and other Christians he was at the airport getting ready to return home to his family when he was detained for questioning by  Sudan security agents.  They took his computer, phone and camera and charged him with espionage, waging war against the state and undermining the constitution.

After hours of no sleep and repeated interrogation, he was taken to prison and placed in a cell approximately eight feet wide by fourteen feet long.  There were already six men in the cell with only one bed. The five men without a bed slept on mattresses on the floor.  The only space he had to lay his body down was next to the entrance to the bathroom.  The shower was completely broken and the Western-style metal toilet was covered in rust.  He saw a hose coming out of the wall for water but soon discovered that the water was only on once or twice a day.  

I can’t imagine the stench of the room with seven men crowded together and no real facilities to maintain cleanliness.  

Added to that horror, he soon discovered his fellow inmates were ISIS fighters.  Although Sudan is an Islamist government, they did not want ISIS to find a home in their country because they were afraid they would win the people’s allegiance  and their own control of the country would be lost to ISIS leaders. 

He first realized who he was sharing his cell with when he was awaken at 4:30 a.m. by the call to prayer.  The men in the cell rose to their feet and began their morning prayers.  He was told that when they prayed he had to wake up and stand in the back corner of the room where they would not have to face him.  

Since they had no access to news on the outside, they asked him to share the latest news.  He immediately thought of the terrorist attack that had taken place in Paris earlier in November.  At the mention of the death of 129 people, he was shocked when they at first became very silent, then began hugging one another and shouting with great joy “Allabu Akbar!”

After weeks of imprisonment he was set for a trial.  While waiting for his trial he was moved several times to different prisons and different cells.  Toward the end of his imprisonment he was able to share a cell with fellow Christians.  

Peter

After delay and delay he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.  A fine of 100,000 Sudanese pounds ($17,000) was also imposed on him. 

For most of us I am afraid we would have been crying out to God “why me?”  Petr came to the understanding that his time and his life were in the Lord’s hands.  With confidence that God was still in control regardless of how hopeless things looked, he began finding opportunity to share the Gospel with other prisoners and with his guards. 

One of his greatest joys while in prison was when he was allowed to have a Bible.  He said 

The Word of God is not chained – even when God’s people are.  The Scripture is alive and active, and when I began feelings its activity in prison, I would not keep it to myself.  The Lord began prodding me to share the Gospel with my fellow prisoners – nominal Christians, animists, and even Muslims….In prison I truly learned to love my enemies.  I still pray for the ISIS prisoners and I pray that many Christian prisoners in Sudan might have the opportunity to share the Gospel as well.”

Thankfully the Czech government and Christians around the world continued to intercede for Petr and he was released in 2017 after 445 days.   

This story is one worth reading.  “Imprisoned with ISIS – Faith in the Face of Evil”.  

The book is worth taking the time and money to read but you can also check out his story at

https://cruxnow.com/interviews/2020/06/christian-aid-worker-says-time-in-sudanese-prison-allowed-him-to-share-gospel/

Next time I hear someone complaining about how we are persecuted in this country for being a Christian, I will just remember Petr’s story and say God help us if we ever really have to suffer persecution.