Return of the BLOG!

If you're a regular reader here at my blog--all 3 of you--you'll know that my blogging began to tapper off this past spring as our personal and family commitments shifted into high gear. Not much has changed in that regard--if anything it's just shifted into other areas of life and accelerated! Nevertheless, I've missed blogging. Blogging--writing my own and reading those of others--provides a great way to challenge my thinking and sort out my understanding of so much. I tend to focus primarily on spiritual and theological matters.

So, I thought it was only right to give you fair warning that I'm hoping to return to regular blogging in the coming weeks. Even amidst the busy-ness of life, plenty has been running through my little 'pea brain'--here are a few topics I hope to work through in the blog:

- Presuppositions--we've all got 'em

- My Biblical Presuppositions

- My Counseling Presuppositions

- Redefining God

- Knowledge of God is not the same as Knowing God

- Framework of a Biblical Worldview

One reason why my blogging MAY return to 'normal'

Click the title and find out! :-)

It's a small world after all, it's a small world...

Lisa @ Deo Volente, "Ukrainiac", and me!

Earlier today I had the GREAT joy of meeting "Ukrainiac" (a blogging friend) face-to-face! Ukrainiac and her dear husband "Dr. Ukrainiac" are medical missionaries in--guess where--Ukraine! They were passing through our area while here in the States for a few weeks and my 'real-life' friend Lisa at Deo Volente made sure I knew they'd be at the airport long enough for a short visit.

The next time we all meet again just might be in Glory!

Blogging 'lite'...

...is pretty much what I've been doing and will be doing here for the next few weeks.

I'm trying VERY hard to complete both of my NANC exams before the annual conference--time will tell! Would appreciate your prayers, while I love all the reading, thinking, and studying it definitely doesn't 'fit' neatly in the life of a busy wife, stay-at-home mom, and home schooling mom!

Well, thank you!

Ramona at Light in Earthen Vessels gave me a blogging award! **Thank you, I love your blog(s) too!

Here's how the award works,

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate up to 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

I'm delighted to share this award with the following bloggers:

Carla at Reflections of the Times

Lisa at Deo Volente

Kim at Upward Call

Kim at Hiraeth

Ellen at The Happy Wonderer

Rebecca at Rebecca Writes

Kim at Lifesong

Old Ladies Blogging...

...speaking for MYSELF of course, cause just by looking at these ladies I think I'm old enough to be their--um, err, ahem--'older' sister! :-)

Recognize that face above (sorry it's a little blurry)? I don't think she knew I was taking her picture at this time (duh, she was busy talking to the Harris twins!), but because I really like 'candid' shots I gave it a try! Give up? That's Kim from Lifesong!

And this smiling face is that of none other than, Lisa from Deo Volente!

What a special treat to get to meet Kim in person, and get to see Lisa again since her family moved from our area several years ago. I'll admit, this just made me a little more jealous of a couple of bloggers I know (Carla and Kim) who apparently get together over a hot cup of coffee (tea?) and delicious treats to visit, discuss, and encourage each other!

A Meme for Me!!!

Whoa, it's been a long time since I've been tagged for a meme--thanks Jen at joythruChrist!

Jen's tag comes at a really good time cause I could use a fun diversion after spending a solid 3 1/2 hrs. this morning working on one of my NANC exam theology questions--"Compare and contrast the Bible and its authority to general revelation and its authority." in at least one to one and a half pages, double-spaced. :-)

Here goes!

What was I doing 10 years ago?

Oh, that's easy to remember cause it is one of those chronological 'pegs' I often hang my hat on when reflecting on my life. We were in the process of moving here after enjoying 3 1/2 years serving a small Bible church in rural Oklahoma. It was a bittersweet time since we desperately wanted to remain there but our small congregation (only about 5 yrs. old) was no longer able to support even a part-time pastor, and secular jobs in the area had no need of my husband's computer and programming skills/experience.


Five Snacks I enjoy:

1) salted peanuts
2) dark chocolate
3) baby carrots
4) fresh fruit
5) cheese sticks


Five Things On My To-Do List Today:

1) breakfast out with my best-friend (my hubby!!)
2) make significant progress on the Bibliology portion of my NANC Theology exam
3) mow the lawn
4) tidy up our bedroom
5) make fresh yogurt


Things I Would Do If I Were A Billionaire:

1) Do what is necessary to establish a wise and moderately 'secure' financial future, then go with my family and do mission work in Russia (or some other Russian-speaking area).


Five Jobs I Have Had:

1) ice cream store
2) clothing store
3) bank
4) bank
5) bank


Five of My Bad Habits (only five????) :

1) staying up too late to read (I get my 'second-wind' around 10 or 10:30)
2) procrastinating on sewing projects (I and my girls have many clothing items finished just hours--minutes--before dawn and/or a special event)
3) waiting till Sunday night to draw up the coming week's school schedule for our daughters
4) waiting to do the laundry until everyone in the family is down to their last pair of underwear
5) not getting enough exercise

Five Places I've Lived:

1) Oklahoma
2) Oklahoma
3) Oklahoma
4) Texas
5) Oklahoma


5 People I Want to Get To Know Better--'tag, you're it!'

1) Lauren
2) Rebecca
3) Kim
4) Ukrainiac
5) Staci


Five Random Things (most people wouldn't know about me):

1) I've witnessed three bank robberies while working at the same bank in Dallas
2) I was a rabid Mike Warnke fan--even had my pic. taken with him at the 1988 Christian Bookseller's Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
3) I've known countless FBI agents on a first-name basis (all related to my former fraud detection and prevention work at the bank)
4) My not-so-secret 'dream' is to own a classic Mustang before I die--candy apple red convertible, please! (BTW, I don't see it happening anytime soon!)
5) I'm not a 'risk-taker', but after going to Russia TWICE in order to adopt our daughters, living there for four weeks, bringing home and raising two 'older' foreign-born children (who know NO English), pretty much everything else is 'peanuts' in my books! :-)

Please pardon the 'dust', I'm doing a little blog cleaning...

To A Recent Anonymous Commenter...

Several weeks ago I received the comment below related to one of my "Survey of Denominations" posts, and since it has become my practice to ignore anonymous comments I didn't publish it at the time. However, because the questions posed are pretty common within Christianity these days I thought it might be beneficial to present the comment along with my response.

"I don't mean this to be disrespectful, but I am interested if you are approaching these visits from the perspective that your denomination is "correct" and "Biblical" or are you being open so that your children can learn about different styles of worship and some variety in Biblical interpretation so that they will decide what is the best style of church they would like to attend?"

Here is my response:

I did not consider your comment(s) to be 'disrespectful'. However, I do think your anonymity does bring into question the sincerity of your comment(s), and challenges the same 'openness' you question of me.

You may like to read my original post on our "Survey of Denominations" course to better understand our goal. Briefly, it is to challenge and train our children to think Biblically regarding various churches and/or denominations--not to simply respond and embrace something that they 'like', find appealing, or makes them feel a certain way. There is a great deal in the church today that is appealing because it is man-centered, while the things that are clearly God-centered are increasingly being down-played and/or rejected.

'Different styles of worship' is a wildly popular catch-phrase within Evangelicalism today and often is used in an effort to introduce and even allow all sorts of man-centered behavior and entertainment. However, any and all 'styles' of worship must be evaluated and embraced (or rejected) based on God's criteria for worship as He has revealed in Scripture. We are commanded--and are to be compelled by our love--to worship Him. Therefore, He is the best judge of that and has given sufficient instruction for that in His Word. By visiting various churches and denominations our children will be exposed to some Godly modes of worship and some clearly ungodly aspects of worship--they need to be (and Lord willing will be) equipped to sort through those things.

On the matter of 'some variety in Biblical interpretations', I submit to you that God intended and purposed only one meaning in His Word--not a variety of interpretations. The challenge for Christians is not to blindly accept each and every interpretation put forth, but to consider and examine every interpretation with the goal of embracing and promoting the most Biblically consistent and accurate understanding. The bottom line is this, where there is disagreement we cannot simply walk away saying, 'we'll have to agree to disagree'. There will always be disagreements on interpretations, even that is not outside the sovereign purpose of God--we are to grow as we examine and challenge even our own understanding of God and His Word.

In closing, I hope you'll see and understand the value in equipping our children to think, consider, examine, discern, and even critique what is being presented as 'worship' in today's evangelical (and some non-evangelical) churches. That way, when they do leave the care of our home they are well-aware and better-prepared to address the many challenges that they are sure to encounter within the church today.

Thank you for your interest. I hope you'll feel free to comment again in the future--identifying yourself and/or providing a blog link! :-)

Break...

...that's what I'm gonna take until further notice! :-)

Thank you, but you're too kind...

Thank you Terri and Lisa for a most unexpected, and I may I say very lofty award! :-) I want you to know that I gain much encouragment and insight from reading your blogs--nice to be growing in grace alongside you both!


Here's how this award works, “By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you have to award it to 10 more people who’s blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. Thank you out there for having such great blogs and being such greatfriends! You deserve this! Feel free to award people who have already been awarded…”

I'll start my list of 10 with Kim @ Upward Call, Carla @ Reflections of Time,

Something Completely Different ~ How to Keep Up With Blogs

How many blogs do YOU keep track of and follow on a regular basis? I follow several dozen everyday. I track a mix of "high profile" blogs (Al Mohler, Pyromaniacs, etc.) and "unknowns" (people like me!). If you don't mind, would you please let me know how you track my blog (feed reader, manually through your own blog, browser bookmark or favorite, etc.)

How does a full-time stay-at-home wife, mother, home educator, and active church member DO all that? I do it via a 'feed reader' (aka: aggregator) which makes the task very 'doable' in 15 - 20 mins. Now tell the truth, you were picturing me in my jammies slumped in a chair in front of the computer screen for hours, weren't you? :-)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with--or haven't taken the time to explore--feed readers, here are a couple of articles from a VERY helpful website called, 'Blogging Basics 101'.

What is a feed reader? Should I use one?

Would it (a feed reader) make my blogging life a lot easier?

This Blog's Readability Level

Who would'a thunk it? Prolly cause I uses all them thar fancy the-o-log-i-cal wurdz!!!

Thanks to Ellen over at the Happy Wonderer for pointing me to this fun little quiz!

Why, thank you!

Yesterday, Kim at Hiraeth graciously awarded me the "Mathetes Award" --believe it or not, my VERY rusty Greek served me well enough to recognize that mathetes is a Greek word! (blush...)

According to the creator of the award, the "Mathetes Award - Excellence in Discipleship" is given to those who

"...have a similar heart to share God's Word, and further His Kingdom. The role of a disciple of Christ is to carry His message to the ends of the earth. It is with this heart that I have created the Mathetes Award...Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) it to make more disciples."

I'm pressed for time right now, but I'm pondering who I would like to pass this award on to--stay tuned! :-)

Happy Blogging Anniversary to Me...

Yip, I've been blogging for one year--a pleasure and a challenge in so many ways!

I've met some wonderful people through blogging, but I truly owe a debt of gratitude to the following "lady bloggers" for encouraging (actively and passively) my interest in blogging, and for each providing God-honoring examples:

Lisa at Deo Volente (not only do I know her personally, her's is one of the first blogs I ever read)

Ramona at Light in Earthen Vessels (also someone I know personally, she's married to a certified "computer geek", so naturally she was blogging long before many others)

Carla at Reflections of the Times (she kindly answered some of my early blogging questions-- I hope to meet her in person someday if she ever visits the South!!)

Kim at The Upward Call (I'm always anxious to see what Kim is tackling from day to day [sometimes moment to moment]--maybe she'll travel South with Carla and I can meet her, too!)

Thank you ladies--Sisters--for sharing your love for the Saviour!

Money Meme (aka: Time in a Bottle/Jim Croce Meme)

I have no idea how I missed this (life seems to be moving at warp speed these days), but Jen at "joythruChrist" TAGGED ME a week or so ago for this meme, and earlier this week kindly brought it to my attention!

Here's how it goes, grab ten coins out of your pocket, purse, couch cushion or wherever it is you keep your loose change. You have to have ten uniquely dated coins, so if you get a duplicate, pull out another until you have ten unique dates. Next, tell your readers a little about YOU the year that the coin was minted.

So, after digging through my coin purse to find TEN different dates--and in the end coming up with $1.52--I offer you these dates of possible interest:

1979 - graduated from high school - started college at THE university of Oklahoma, Oklahoma STATE University (GO POKES!!!)

1984 - first full year of marriage - we moved to Dallas, Texas to finish undergraduate work and prepare for seminary

1995 - was stunned by the Oklahoma City bombing (surprisingly, we were distantly acquainted with only one victim), I watched in amazement as the unimaginable images flashed across the huge television screen in the trade and investments department of the bank, my boss was responsible for corporate disaster recovery and our OKC office was just blocks from the blast - hubby and I moved from "the city" to "small town USA" where he had been pastoring long distance via bi-weekly three hour commutes (I always got a special preview of his sermons as I drove and he fine-tuned his messages--very sweet times together)!

1996 - bought our first house in "small town USA" - became proud owners of our first cat (a significant event in our marriage as hubby had never been a fan of indoor pets, much less a CAT!)

1997 - our second cat adopted us (he was irresistible) - I began a series of massive doses of medicine to treat my endometriosis and found out EARLY what menopause would be like--night sweats, hot flashes, random crying spells that my dear husband (and even my boss) witnessed with amazement and confusion, brain "hiccups" where I couldn't even add or subtract the simplest equations (not good for a banker!!), discovering important documents in the clothes dryer at home (still have no idea how they got there)--let's just say that it wasn't pretty!!!

1999 - we were now back in "the city" where I was offered and accepted my "dream job" - hubby and I traveled to Yellowstone National Park and had a great time in spite of the "lake" that developed one night in front of our tent!!

2003 - tried to keep up with two very energetic daughters who were still speaking a different language - Hubby was chosen as the corporate "Employee of the Year" which included an all-expense paid trip to Cozemel, Mexico for two--particularly timely since it was our 20th wedding anniversary and we were still in the very difficult early days of parenting to our new daughters - took the girls on their very first "family vacation" to one of hubby's and my favorite places--Colorado (Oh, how we had dreamed for years of taking our children there some day)!

2005 - continued to marvel at God's grace and power in the lives of two former orphans and their "crazy" adoptive parents - found out what it means to be a "soccer mom" as our youngest played on her first real team - camped in and toured New Mexico on our second "family vacation" - lost a very dear friend at the age of only 58 due to a brain aneurysm--the closest Xian friend that we've ever lost--yet another reason I don't necessarily look forward to growing old

2006 - did 2006 really happen cause I don't seem to remember much of it!! Let's see, we took the girls back to Colorado for a second camping trip - our oldest began to drive (legally on real roads rather than wide open pastures!)

2007 - lost my 77 yr. old dad after almost 30 years of battling Parkinson's disease - still trying to figure out where the much lighter colored (aka: gray!!) hairs on my head came from! Looks like 2007 is rapidly becoming "history"!!!

Now I should tag some others for this--hoping that they haven't already been tagged before! I'll tag Kristine, Terri (I KNOW you're out there!!!), and Ramona--all of whom should feel free to play or don't play!

"5 Random Questions" meme

Jen over at Joy Thru Christ tagged me for this "random questions" meme--thanks, I'd love to play! I'm supposed to answer her five random questions and then tag five people with five random questions of my own. Here goes:

1) What's the worst weather event you've ever experienced? Well, being born in "tornado alley" and living all of my life in that region of the world, I've got to say tornadoes in general qualify as "the worst weather event(s)" I've ever experienced. For example, according to my parents I was just three days old (born in late April--tornado "season") when I was first introduced to a storm cellar. Apparently I wasn't all too happy or impressed with this "first" of my life. Then, when I was in about the third or fourth grade my family "sat out a tornado or two" under an overpass in Tulsa. And most recently in May 1999 I actually stayed up late at night because the "F5" that had hit Oklahoma City was still going strong by the time it made it's way across the state. Thankfully it lost it's steam about 40-50 miles west of us. Shew!!! (Side note: while in Russia adopting our daughters one of our Russian translators asked, "Do you have tore-nahw-doughs in Oklahoma?" I'll bet she'd seen the movie "Twister"!

2) What was your scariest encounter with wildlife? I've never personally had a particularly scary encounter--although I love viewing wildlife and do it as often as possible! However, I was in the same car when my brother was "licked" on the face--through the station wagon glass--by a lion at a "safari" ranch in Florida! That was COOL!

3) What's your favourite story in scripture? Hannah--how she pleaded with God, trusted God, and then honored God by willingly giving back what she so desperately desired. Wow, I just don't think I'm quite there yet!

4) Can you bait your own hook? Your bait of choice? You bet cha! I prefer earthworms--used to dig 'em up from under cow-patties on my grandfather's ranch in the Osage Hills of Oklahoma!

5) What is your favourite musical genre? Favourite artist or group? Classic Rock (60's & 70's). Oh, it's tough to decide--Supertramp, ELO, Earth Wind and Fire, Fleetwood Mac...


Okay, I'm going to tag Terri, Lisa, Ramona, Kim, and Gayla. Here are my "5 Random Questions" for them:

1. If you could live anywhere in the U.S., where would it be?

2. You have been given a week off from all your normal responsibilities, what will you do?

3. At what Olympic sport (summer or winter games) would you like to excel?

4. What movie would you enjoy watching over, and over, and over, and...?

5. Have you met anyone "famous"? If so, name him/her/them.

A Little "Blog" Cleaning

Just wanted you to know that I'm doing some much needed "house cleaning" on my blog--updating links, labels, format, etc. Thanks for your patience!

Blog break...

I've been mulling this over for a few weeks now, and have decided to take a "break" from blogging. It may last a few days, several weeks, or many months--I'm not sure yet.

The time I spend blogging (reading and writing) is normally very profitable. However, that time could possibly be better invested in something I've been "picking" away at for several years now--NANC certification (link in sidebar).

So, if you think of it, please pray for me while I take this break and consider God's will in this matter. I will miss you!

Tagged!

Diane over at Aim to Please Him has tagged me with this book meme.

Name three characters (from books):

1.) You wish were real so that you could meet them.

a.) Elizabeth Delaney - Janette Oke's Canadian West series (The quiet strength of this character stood out to me during a particularly trying time in my late 20's)

b.) Marty Davis - Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series (Another one of those "quiet strength" characters from my late 20's)

c.) Ira Fife Pointer - Richard Belcher's Journey series (This character confronts and wrestles with a variety of theological issues from a sovereign grace perspective--read his full name slowly--"I are a five pointer", pretty clever, huh?)

2.) You would like to be.

a.) Elizabeth Bennett - Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (such style, such grace, such tact, such wit!)

b.) Anne Shirley - Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (even though she got herself into some real messes, her zest for life spilled out onto others!)

3.) Who scare you.

a.) White Witch - C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia (she presents herself as beautiful and posed, but she's really dangerous and cruel.)

b.) Grima Wormtongue - J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (flatterer and manipulator, need I say more?)

Well, that's my list, sorry that I couldn't provide three in several of the categories--I tend to read more non-fiction than fiction!