Spam

Maybe it was all the stories we heard about Spam growing up in Minnesota.

We grew up in the northern part, still the stories took on mythical proportions. We knew that Hormell made this canned meat known as 'Minnesota Delight' and the meat plant was somewhere down in the mysterious southern part of Minnesota. We didn't get around much in Minnesota. Austin, MN proudly claims Hormell packing plant as their own, and of course we are proud that Minnesotans have employment. The money stays in the state because we didn't go out of state. Most Minnesotans are born, raised, married and buried in this beautiful state.

Everything about Spam was mysterious to us because we never knew for certain just what parts of the pig went into the mixture. Anyhoo, (that's a Minnesota word for anyway) it comes out of the can a pink color. Why do they call pork the 'other white meat'? We enjoyed the good natured fun around Spam. There are Spam carving contests and inventive Spam receipe contests. There are Spam Festivals where everyone gets to be silly and think up silly Spam costumes to wear. The winters are long in Minnesota.

It's only been in the last couple of years that Spam has made it into our house again. Spam was considered survivor meat in Alaska when we ran out of moose, caribou, salmon, hooligan and halibut. It made it back on the grocery list because they lowered the sodium content. Hmmm, funny. Jim reached for the salt shaker tonight. I decided to overcome childhood memories about Spam and become inventive where this meat is concerned. BTW, what have they possibly used to keep all those pork parts together, it never falls apart in the frying pan.

Our favorite dinner with Spam is stir-fry. You may not see the pictures very easily, but the stir-fry was chopped Spam in Minnesota orderly squares, asparagus, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, cilantro, green onion and low-sodium soy sauce. I forgot to put in the mushrooms!! Oh well, left over Spam makes a good omelet with mushrooms.

Now the real reason I love cooking Spam is because it makes Jim happy! I had to face it, Jim loves Spam.

Spam hint: Costcos price is best, four cans to a pack. We have it hidden in the garage in a cupboard. Our kids know where it is though and it keeps disappearing. Life is full of mysteries, right?

More on the Eyewitness

This afternoon I began reading Mark 16 and there it is, do we believe the eyewitnesses or not? There has always been a great challenge to Christian beliefs in a world that can only believe if they see first, 'show me the money.' Sunday in church, a friend reported a conversation she had with someone about faith and his response was, "show me the evidence." When we have God's word backwards, we will not see.

Christians who have seen and believed the Lord, love to celebrate who He is. Two of the days we love to celebrate more than any other are Christmas and Easter, the beginning of our faith for salvation and the resurrection to eternal life with Jesus. We love to celebrate and the world increasingly loves to castigate the meaning of our celebrations. But they can never change what God has given us.

What were the expectations and hopes of the people we read about in Mark 16? 16:1, they were going to anoint a dead body; 16:3, who would roll back the stone for them? Every emotion these three women felt is probably exactly what we would feel. They have been grieving, terror-filled, amazed, frightened enough to be trembling, bewildered and seized with consternation, they were held captive by fear and alarm (all scriptures are from the Amplified Bible). Verse 9 says that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, she went and reported to the disciples (v.10) what she had just SEEN and HEARD, and the disciples response was to weep and grieve. Yesterday (March 29) we had a very good description from P. Rory of what it is to weep like that. It's pretty messy, but there is no way to stop it because you don't care who sees it. The Bible calls this "godly sorrow for sin". Could it be that the eleven were sitting around thinking of the last few days and everything they had done and experienced? When the Master's name was mentioned, did Peter remember his betrayal of his Master? They grieved and wept. After all this, still they could not believe, "And when they heard that He was alive and that she had SEEN Him, they did not believe it" (v 11). Jesus never gives up on His people!! He appears to His apostles and rebukes and reproves them for their hard hearts and lack of faith, "...they had refused to believe those who had SEEN Him and LOOKED at Him attentively after He had risen [from death]." Thank you Jesus for not giving up on our frames of dust! Jesus believed in them! After His sharp rebuke, He gives them the Great Commission! And here we are today.

Soon we will be celebrating again. Easter is in a couple weeks, April 12. This year is the fifth year since we first came to TRC. Broken-hearted and unhealed, but Jesus...

I'm blogging like the whole world is reading everything, so this is my message to you today. Even if you have heard it many times and your response is "I'm still not ready", make this year different. Believe the eyewitnesses, believe the pastors when they preach their hearts out that Jesus loves you and will save you. They and many others have SEEN and believed. Believe the eyewitnesses in Mark 16, it is these people who changed the world. Jesus still wants more world-changers, you are one too when Jesus gets hold of your life. Forsake your life and your life will be saved. This Easter time!

Do You Believe the Eyewitness?

A number of years ago I served for three months on a grand jury in Anchorage. The function of the grand jury is to show up on time when you are called and hear testimony of several witnesses, among them, eye witnesses. Based on the testimony we heard and after asking questions of the witnesses, we voted yea or nay on issuing an indictment. We heard testimony from many people, relating to many different cases over those three months. Some of the most important testimony was from eye witnesses. We believed some, and others we did not believe.

One of the blessings we have in our Bible is the testimony of the eye witness, and our choice is to believe or disbelieve. Holy, inspired men and women of God have carefully laid out their testimony of their experiences with God and with His Son, Jesus Christ. Their testimony has survived every test the world can throw at it. It still changes peoples lives because of its truth. God can tell nothing but the truth and when we believe by faith, that truth sets us free. (John 8:36; John 14:6).

For the Apostle Paul, there was no mistaking the experience he had on the road to Damascus. Still in the midst of threats, conspiracies and murder against the Church, Paul (or Saul at that time) had an unforgettable experience with the ascended Jesus Christ. He is ready to meet leaders of the synagogue in Damascus to carry out these plans against the Church but as he nears the city, he has a meeting with Jesus that knocks him off his horse and blinds him for a time in the light around him. Saul's first statement from the ground is "Who are You, Lord?" He immediately had the witness that the voice he heard was to be called 'Lord.' From that day on, Paul (God changed his name, as He did everything in his life) gladly gave eyewitness testimony of the transformation he had in his life and the credit belonged to Jesus.

The Apostle Peter was preaching to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:36-43) "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. And we ARE WITNESSES OF ALL THINGS which He did..." The apostles eyewitness never softened, remained consistent to the end of their lives. The kind of eyewitness the whole world could believe in! Even the prophets of the Old Testament saw the Messiah by faith, Peter goes on, "To Him all the prophets witness that, [Jesus was to be Judge of the living and the dead] through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." Peter was an eyewitness to the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. An eyewitness to believe. How boldly Peter told the story of the Savior! Can you imagine sitting down with Peter and listening to the complete story of what he saw when he lived with Jesus?

When Jesus was speaking at Capernaum, the multitude asked for a sign, "...that we may SEE it and believe you?" It was show me, and I will believe, with Jesus it is, believe and you will see. The statement that Jesus gives the crowd is, "But I say to you that you have SEEN Me and yet do not believe. (John 6:28-36). How blessed we are to have never seen, yet believe!! We who are transformed by the power of His blood know and have seen by faith that He is real and is everything He said He is.

Blogs permit only a few paragraphs. The scripture is full of eye witnesses who met the Living God and had their lives changed. I challenge you to find the eyewitnesses and believe them! Act on what the Holy Spirit witnesses in your hearts as you search His word.

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who SEES the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40

The Mystery of Socks

I read a comment by friend Stacie about her families sock problem. If you have had children, you know exactly what I'm getting at. The greatest household mystery of all time, the most asked question in a child filled household is, where is the other sock?? Why is it that every washer that has ever been manufactured has a hunger for one sock of each variety? Why don't matching pairs disappear? I fully understand your plea Stacie. If it's any consolation, millions of moms have had your experience!

The mystery of socks is right underneath the skin, and it doesn't take much to bring back the memories of the one missing sock. After reading Stacies remark on FB, memories of socks running away from home flooded in. All the crazy places they hide, all the odd uses kids find for their socks...it was too much, it had to go on a blog. It was imperative in our household that we find these socks, just wouldn't do for a kid to get out of the house in our Alaska winter with only one sock that could be found. Summer was no problem, kids loved bare feet. Finding socks became a goal, an inspiration to overcome the power that socks have over your household budget. Of course we can overcome this mystery!

First, find all the hiding places your kids use for candy, for incomplete homework, for the bug collection you said no to, the flashlight they use to read at night under the covers. That's some of the easier places to look. Then there is the deep recesses of the closet. Get beyond the locker room smell, the lunch box that disappeared with the sandwich still in it and you will find at least two mismatched socks in each place. NEVER throw away single socks, as soon as you do... you know what happens. I can't even write about that!

Kids socks have many uses other that covering feet. I have found lost socks being used to carry a marble collection. The sock would hang in a knot through a belt loop on jeans. Remember when we told our kids, "you've had enough candy today!" There's more in a sock somewhere. I have found caterpillars in a sock. That is really gross to reach in to turn the sock inside out and your fingers squish a caterpillar.

We eased the single sock problem at our house by buying same color socks. My girly girls didn't appreciate the gym socks though. We depended on grandparents to provide our girls with the pink, purple and lacey socks they loved. Whenever Grandma and Grandpa asked what they could get the kids for gifts, the one word response was always the same, socks.

The end of this mystery, frustrating mystery, is laugh at our frustration (s)!

Thanks to Jim for the sock picture, you are a dream come true.

P.S. I want to paragraph, but when I publish it, no paragraphs! Another mystery.

The Auction

Tonight at 6PM at TRC, we are having an auction to raise funds for kids camps, kids activities, and kids ministry. Please try to come, it's funny as all get out. The bidding gets hot and heavy when the chocolate goodies come out for bid! It's nice to see the kids take part in their own fund raising by helping deliver the goods to the high bidder. There's a great variety of goods and services, for instance; what would you bid for cooking lessons? Delivery of fresh farm eggs? Try the auction, you'll like it. You might even meet new friends that could end up being your friends for decades. It's fun at TRC!!

More on Bill and Karen

One of the great things about having friends that are a 'little' younger than you are: their memories are better! Got an e-mail from Karen at 6:19 AM (why was she up so early on a Saturday morning?) and she reminded me of a few things.

We were at both of David and Amy's weddings; the civil ceremony before he left for Iraq, and the second Catholic ceremony when he got back. We also went to Bill's retirement party in The Dalles, a retirement that really meant he was just changing jobs. Jim wired their house, forgot all about that one! I'll tell you a little about their house. Mt. Adams is right (almost) out of their kitchen and bedroom windows. Bill made the staircase to the upstairs from wood on their property, it's beautiful. If you look at the house, it seems like it could be a house in Alaska. Throughout their home building project, Bill learned how to be nice to inspectors. We got in touch again in 1986, (where does she get this memory?) when she was pregnant and living in NH. The first time we got together after Alaska was 1986.

I really hope all of you will have a chance to meet them, some of you have met Bill. He had retirement business at Ft. Lewis and when he came up for that, he attended the TRC with us. There is a lot more to the story. You have heard nothing about Banjo Bill yet, or the organizer Karen is. Another day.

Let Your Alls Be All

"Let your alls be all." We first heard that quote from P. Dick Benjamin in Anchorage, Alaska in 1973. One of those quotes that stick with you for a long time. It's about believing the word of God, having faith in the Living God. Our trust is never offended when we put it in Christ.

"All" is one of those little words that would be easy to overlook when we are reading the Bible, but when we do a double-take with words like that, God is sure to make life come through. I have notebooks full of good quotes from messages we have heard for the last few years and I'm going to paint them in a house some day, probably as a border at the top of a wall in a central room. I think the words of encouragement we hear are worth posting, speaking, living all over the world. Here are just a few of the "all" verses:

"...All authority (ALL power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of ALL the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you ALL the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age." Matt. 28:18-20

"And ALL the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was ALL the while going forth from Him and curing them ALL [saving them from severe illnesses or calamities]." Luke 6:19

"We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with ALL power according to the might of His glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy. Col. 1:11

"For His divine power has bestowed upon us ALL things that are requisite and suited to life and godliness, through the full, personal knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence." 2Peter1:3. ALL scriptures are from the Amplified Bible.

Let your ALLS be ALL. Wonder how many more ALL scriptures there are?

Friendship With Bill and Karen

Aren't they a cute couple? They still are. This is Bill and Karen Smith and that picture was taken in the late 70's in Anchorage. Bill was stationed at Ft. Richardson, Karen at Elemendorf. They met at the church Jim and I were attending. After a few weeks of seeing them at church, we just had to invite them to our house to get acquainted. Unknown to us, Bill and Karen had decided they just had to meet us. We headed over to where they were and they were walking toward us. Our meeting was a God thing. Karen said, "We just had to meet you." Our 30 year bond started with that meeting. There is a scripture in Psalms that states, God puts the solitary in families, and that's the way we looked at the military in Anchorage.

Bill is a Scot, and Karen is Boston Irish. Whoa!!! That says a whole lot doesn't it? It's really simple to get acquainted and build relationships with new people; dinners, game nights, church functions, long talks about dreams, vision, pain, joy. It's easy to see when God has bonded you with people, the friendship lasts through everything, including decades.

We were blessed to be at their wedding and further blessed to visit Karen in the hospital when their first baby, David was born. There have been three others born to them. David is married, served honorably in the Washington National Guard, with one year in a tank unit in Iraq four or five years ago. Their other kids are Joanna, Ian and Morgan.

We lost track of each other when we left Alaska in 1980. Bill and Karen moved to Talkeetna after Bill got out of the army, and then moved to the east coast to New Hampshire and worked at carpentry. About fifteen years ago, we got a call from Bill. They had an opportunity to move out west again, it's in their blood! Our conversation just picked up where we left off in 1980. Bill joined the Oregon National Guard and worked as a recruiter for years and then retired a few years ago. He and Karen and the kids built a beautiful home in the woods in SW Washington, off the Columbia River. We spent one July 4th with them by the river watching the fireworks. What memories.

Here's the thing about this friendship. Jesus has always been at the center of our relationship. Whatever either family has gone through, we have been there for each other. Been some pretty hairy stuff too. There has been great, funny moments and moments when you hold your breath. There has always been prayer for each family. We talk about silly stuff, but serious stuff too. We can say anything to each other and know it's ok. Here's another thing about Bill and Karen. When you love Bill and Karen, you love their kids and dogs too. You even love their families even though we have not met all of them. We've been there for David and Amy's happy wedding in Portland a few years ago. Karen and I have been at a beach house in Lincoln City with other women from her church several times. We have shared life, whatever it brings. Jim and I treasure Bill, Karen and their children. They are part of us. That is the work that Jesus does.

There is a lot of loneliness today. I pray that you will find this kind of friendship, the kind that lasts for more than thirty years. Cultivate the friendships you have now. Trust. Share your dreams with your friends, exhort, encourage and give in Jesus name. Be loyal. Be proud when it's time to be proud, be compassionate and honest with friends. Friendship is a reward from the Lord that comes out of fellowship. Never give up on friends.

Jan

My cousin Jan found out a couple months ago that she has breast cancer. I read entries on Facebook today about her experience so far and at the center of it all is Jesus, the Prince of Peace. She has a PET scan that doesn't give a very good report, yet she is at peace. Starting next Wednesday, she is facing five days a week of treatment, yet she is at peace.

The peace that Jan is experiencing comes directly from knowing Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. No use trying to explain what this peace is like, just can't do it. This peace must be personally experienced, and it's for anyone, everyone who wants to know Jesus. This is not the kind of peace that evaporates with the first bad news we hear, and it's not the kind of well-being we occasionally feel when life is going well for us. This is peace that comes only through Jesus, it is of eternal value and nothing in this world can destroy it. It's a never changing peace that resides in the very deepest parts of our being. It's a peace that knows Who our consolation is. It's a peace that knows who our Provider is. It's a peace that covers all things and remains when big adversity comes into our lives. This peace of eternal value is ours through faith in the Lord Jesus, yes, He is Lord. It's yours too if you ask for it. It's a peace that trusts what the Lord says is true. Ps. 4:8, Isa. 26:3, John 14:27, John 16:33, Philippians 4:6-7.

Macaiah

Last Friday, we drove to the Tacoma Dome to visit part of our family. Our grandson Macaiah is in the drumline for Curtis High School in Tacoma, Macaiah is the tall one in the pictures. Our daughter Patti and our son-in-law Marc is with Macaiah. We heard a lot of school spirit and saw passion for what they were doing. Loud and proud! Grandchildren are a blessing from the Lord and we are thankful for every one of them. CHS was eliminated from the tournament that night, but that didn't stop the drumline from giving everything they had. Thanks for the invite Macaiah!!

Holy Seed

"And though a tenth [of the people] remain in the land, it will be for their destruction [eaten up and burned] like a terebinth tree or like an oak whose stump and substance remain when they are felled or have cast their leaves. The holy seed [the elect remnant] is the stump and substance [of Israel]." Isaiah 6:13 Amp.

Some of the greatest wonders created by God in our world are in the Olympic Peninsula. One of our favorite places in Mora Campground, Rialto Beach. Just nothing like sitting in the sand and listening to the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula is full of beauty since it's a rain forest. When the explorers started coming over from Europe, they wrote in their log books and journals of the grand Douglas fir trees that covered the the west. Much of the logging was done to provide war ships for Great Britain and Spain. Our family fell in love with this area from the first time we went camping there. Some of the later generation trees were not as tall as the old growth which were 300' or so. The fallen trees are so large, we have had grandchildren climb up inside the hollowed out center. Great pictures!

These beautiful trees call out for close inspection, otherwise you miss what is going on in these stumps or nurse logs. Stumps are left when the logger has cut the tree, or the tree has fallen because of age, or disease. First look says the tree is gone, what is left is dead. This is where close inspection reveals the truth. The nurse log will soon be home to a new generation of growth. In time, a new giant tree will come out of this nutrient rich log...that only looks dead. The stump has the same purpose, provide life. Look inside the stump and you will see all kinds of creepy crawlies in there. They are getting their food and shelter there. New generations of moss, flowers, and trees will find their way into this richness.

There have been times that I thought my life was like a stump. Everything seemed it couldn't possibly recover, but God's plan is always life. Life, life, life. Sometimes it seemed like the rubble was just too great to be useful. Go back to the top of the blog, to the scripture and read it again.

O.K. Now that you have read it again, did you see it with new eyes? Do you see God's eternal plan with new eyes? We all have feelings of life being down to a stump, but God makes that stump a nurturing place for the holy seed, us ! I've been thinking about this scripture for several days, and I am struck by the wonder of it all. All of us saved by the precious blood of Jesus are holy seed because of our new birth in Christ! I can barely write, think or comprehend the greatness of God! How many times have I read Isaiah? And this verse has become the rhema in my heart.

My prayer for the Church in these troubled times is for us to see these experiences we go through with new eyes, new faith...the faith as small as a mustard seed. God IS our Protector and Provider, never doubt that.

The next time you go to the Peninsula, take your camera and find the stump and nurse logs. Share the pictures with everyone you know and tell them of the holy seed that survives because of the glory of God. Who serves a God like our God? No one.