Perspective.....

Today we did something that we haven't done in 3 years. We attended an AWANA Leadership Conference in Ocala. And even though several years ago, we were the ones teaching, today we were simply leaders attending. In the last few years there have been some changes; some for the better and others I am not so sure about. I participated in three workshops that moved me to ponder a few thoughts I have had about raising children. In one class these statistics, prepared by Barna were cited:

1. One out of every two college students who are raised in the church will walk away from it.

2. Sixty one percent of the 20-somethings that had been churched as kids are actually spiritually disengaged.

3. Only between 10-15 percent of young people have Biblical worldviews.

4. Ten to fifteen years ago the average Bible-college freshman scored sixty percent on Bible knowledge tests; today it's only 39 percent.


I am frightend by these numbers and what they mean in our culture. What is happening to the children that are growing up under the teaching of the Gospel in our homes and churches? At what point are we dropping the ball in living out a passionate relationship with Jesus in front of our children?

We must teach our children to respect human relationships, God's standard, and human authority.

We must teach them that wisdom is based on God's Word and to have confidence in relying on God's wisdom.

We must teach them to respond with grace and mercy when they are wronged.

We must somehow transfer a sense of destiny and teach them that their destiny is God's to choose for them.

So I pose three questions we must all ask ourselves about our children:

1. How are our young people turning out?

2. Do we have a target/goal for our children?

3. What do you want people to say about your children when they are in their
20's?

It is up to parents to take responsibility for the spiritual training of their children. God give us wisdom........

45 things....

♥Mahatma Gandhi said, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

So, here are some things in no particular order I would like to accomplish before God takes me home:

1. Jump out of a plane.
2. Save a life.
3. no tv for a month.
4. Sail up the East coast.
5. Fast for a week.
6. get into the best shape of my life.
7. get fat with no regrets.
8. mentor someone for a long time period.
9. visit the Auca village.
10. take a vacation without a camera.
11. Hike the Grand Canyon.
12. read through the Bible 3x's in a year.
13. volunteer at a soup kitchen.
14. pick the music for my funeral.
15. sail with the seals and orca's through Alaska's Prince Williams Sound
16. Have a dress custom made.
17. Have shoes custom made.
18. Have a pair of jeans custom made.
19. live with missionaries for a month.
20. swim with a dolphin.
21. Stay in Cinderella's Castle at WDW
22. Walk along the Great Wall of China
23. Drive along Rt.66, USA
24. Stand at the North or South Pole.
25. Ride a camel in front of the Great Pyramids
26. Attend the Olympics
27. Cross a country using public transportation.
28. Ride an elephant through an African jungle.
29. Set foot on each of the seven continents.
30. Photograph an endangered species.
31. Visit the source of the Nile.
32. Scube dive in the Great Barrier Reef.
33. Learn the names of flowers, birds, trees, insects, and constellations and impart this knowledge to children.
34. see each of my family come to know God.
35. spend the night on a deserted island.
36. watch a sunset from the top of the Empire State building.
37. watch a surgery being performed.
38. visit the M&M factory.
39. spend a weekend in the Pennsylvania Amish country.
40. take a week long family vacation...with all of us.
41. go to Israel on a study tour.
42. see Yellowstone National Park.
43. watch a volcano erupt.
44. ride a horse down the beach.
45. memorize an entire book of the Bible and recite it to someone.

No matter if I accomplish some or all of these.. ..my main desire is to honor God with my life.

A long journey...and finally, the victory lap.

Last week, September 1st, my mother who had been on a certain path that God was leading entered into the final lap..the victory lap. She often referred to this roadway in her wilderness as "the journey". One of her favorite sayings came from a song from long ago... it goes something like this: "My Lord knows the way through the wilderness; all I have to do is follow. Strength for today, He's mine all the way, and all I need for tomorrow. My Lord knows the way through the wilderness; all I have to do is follow." If anyone has been a stronghold of support in my life, it was my mom. She has always been the one cheering from the sidelines. Now she has joined that "great crowd of witnesses" and I can imagine she is leading the masses in finally worshipping at the feet of Jesus.

Along the way of this journey, Mom journeled through email..high-tech that she was...this is one of the many emails we, as a family received:

"I am "fresh every morning amazed" at the leading of the Lord in this sometimes arduous journey...just makes me more anxious for all my responses to be Christ honoring and a joyous blessing to someone who comes across my path. Love Mt. 28:9---"I will do what I say..." Fits with David in the Psalms..."Commit thy way unto Him, and He WILL direct your path..." His directions are so perfect....not always pleasant, but perfect! God has never, and never will, fail to do what He says He will. That promise alone just keeps us on our journey -- trudging up this mountain with Jesus walking with me -- no better walking partner, right? Love you all so much and am praying for you so much. Linda"

A Trip Down the River...

While Noah, Ruthe and Isaiah have been here we wanted to do some fun things! So we decided to take a trip down the Ichetucknee River along with several of the teenagers from church. So we packed up, fixed our lunch, lathered the sunscreen, loaded the boat and left early one morning. I had forgotten how long it took to get three children ready to leave at a certain, but we made it. When we got there it was already very hot. We got the tubes and rode the tram down to the jumping off point. The water was, as usual freezing, but we had a great day!

The Secret Recipe...

We have a recipe, Noah and I. Something devised by the hunger pangs of the stomach. In the last week we have seen Noah just about eat everything in the house. He must be coming up to huge growth spurt, because if it can be eaten, he will eat it..(for example, one night he ate 2 fried eggs, 2 sausage patties, 2 biscuits and grits). So today while the little ones were napping, he and I came up with a "snack". It is called "The Florida Sandwich". We can't tell you how to make it...it is a family secret.

Snapshots of Fun!

"by the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea; you and me, you and me, oh how happy we'll be..."

The Rules of Being Married...

Today we attended a wedding and Noah, Ruthe, and Isaiah tagged along. The wedding was beautiful and very God-honoring. The church was very full of people who loved the bride and groom, many of them, including us that have seen them grow into the great couple that said their vows today.

As we were leaving I posed the question to the children... "What does it mean to be married?"

This was their response:

1. You have to kiss. (Noah added "a lot".)

2. You get to wear pretty dresses. (guess who added this one)

3. You always have cake. (and again, guess who?)

4. You get to dance.

5. You have to stay together forever and ever.

I think that about sums it up.

BedTime/PictureTime

Since Jennifer and Clint have been gone, one of our bedrooms taken on a new look. From the first night of separation, Ruthe, especially, but also the boys had been missing their parents. So, I came up with a plan to diminish their separation anxiety. They are sleeping in Jonathan's room all together. That very first night I gathered three pictures of the missed parents and gave one to each child. It seemed to do the trick, but the next night they wanted a few more. Thus, Jonathan's room has now become a shrine to Jennifer and Clint. Every picture we have in this house that has them in it, is now in the bedroom. Some pictures I took off the wall to accomodate them. We strategically place them all around the room at night. It seems to make everyone feel safe and loved from afar all at once. It made me think, wouldn't it be great if we all could be so comforted by just a single look at a picture. It's great to be a child.

A Day at the Beach...

One thing I have been reminded of this week is that with small children, you better have a plan. So, today we planned to go on a treasure hunt. The destination was unknown and remained a secret till we arrived. We parked the car and got out with our "treasure bags" in hand ready to pick up anything worthy of bringing home. As we walked on the beach Isaiah informed me that they didn't drive on the beach in Virginia, so what was all the cars on the beach for? Noah then said they had never been to the beach in Virginia so how would he know. Brothers, brothers....So this is what we did: we ran, we jumped into the waves, we picked up everything we saw, we chased a bird..he was running for his life, we made lots of noise and probably made spectacles of ourselves, we saw the lifeguards tell everyone to get out of the water..there was an impending storm, and we had sand EVERYWHERE. All in all it was a great afternoon, but the best part of the day was...we had ice-cream for supper! Oh, Jennifer and Clint are going to love us....

I Remember When...

I remember when my children were growing up that bedtime was the special time. It was a time of hugs and kisses. Last little thoughts said outloud. One more drink, one more trip to the bathroom, and always one last "tuck in".

Tonight as we have our precious three little treasures with us, it was a "remembering time" once again. Lots of hugs, lots of kisses, lots of "Moma and Daddy will come back soon", and tucking in x's three. But the most precious of all was those little prayers sent to the Almightly God that sent their parents away for a short while. From their hearts they prayed for the people of Indonesia and that they would listen to Moma and Daddy tell them about God.

It doesn't get any better than that. " I have no greater joy than this, to see that my children walk in the truth." III Jn. .....and also, my three little "treasures".

Favorites

these are a few of my " favorite things"......

I guess it's about time...

One thing I have observed from being Baby Boomer is that if you don't keep up, you are left behind. And when your 6 1/2 year old grandson has a blog, you better get going on the information roadway. In my defense, I do have a MySpace page which I use to keep up with our youth at church. That is their way of mass communication. So...now if I am to keep up with my peeps, I assume this is the way. Oh, we have come a long way, baby....!