tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21254642242659544772024-03-13T19:47:47.281-05:00First Years in the Blog GardenAlways look on the bright side of life. Otherwise it'll be too dark to read. ~Author Unknownbwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.comBlogger435125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-24502962151081423122015-03-16T17:39:00.001-05:002015-03-16T17:52:11.974-05:00MovingWell, in cyber space.<br />
<br />
I'm branching out a bit -- come see me if you can, and please let me know what you think.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://autumns-garden.com/"> A New Location</a><br />
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<a href="http://autumns-garden.com/%C2%A0"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneV5lrG3ZDSnFp3h_JvZN1FP_CRqiI-olIUVx_B5ImnOGh-NAncUvte0tWLYcrHMD1p_N53EiB3QGB7nF0l5x1YVaBT8JKP9u5eApsql98JHugYkqV3W2ZAkvPNc0XzWVIjqh9aRpxao/s1600/Cactus+Houston.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneV5lrG3ZDSnFp3h_JvZN1FP_CRqiI-olIUVx_B5ImnOGh-NAncUvte0tWLYcrHMD1p_N53EiB3QGB7nF0l5x1YVaBT8JKP9u5eApsql98JHugYkqV3W2ZAkvPNc0XzWVIjqh9aRpxao/s1600/Cactus+Houston.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoping to Avoid Thorns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</a>bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-88981957279757668172015-03-10T10:34:00.000-05:002015-03-10T10:34:20.825-05:00The World Today and My Grandchildren?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsMQ_FR-SFS8Q6cDTAyTCUxna9Ml2qJYm-gIS9y6r58ETFwNtfMksHgKF_F-wLF2FoQEG-yZBt0ShS4djH4K9AkE66QwjEnHXwgjtWgAhDw1tdpFIN7agaSILyjo4k4PSP0c1OzIJJH0/s1600/Jack+and+Papa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsMQ_FR-SFS8Q6cDTAyTCUxna9Ml2qJYm-gIS9y6r58ETFwNtfMksHgKF_F-wLF2FoQEG-yZBt0ShS4djH4K9AkE66QwjEnHXwgjtWgAhDw1tdpFIN7agaSILyjo4k4PSP0c1OzIJJH0/s1600/Jack+and+Papa.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holding Precious Hands</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These stories weren’t on the front page the <i>Dallas
Morning News</i> today. They appeared on the <i>WORLD </i>magazine site – and they
are as troubling as reports of racism, cruelty and other upheavals: </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Conceived by donated sperm or egg, some adult
children are calling for regulation of third-party reproduction. <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2015/03/regulating_the_marketplace_of_children">Regulating
the Marketplace of Children</a></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Nonhuman Rights Project is “ . . . asking
the courts to recognize, for the first time, that these cognitively
sophisticated, autonomous beings are legal <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">persons</i> who have the basic right to not be held in captivity.”</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2015/03/elephants_are_people_too">Elephants are
People Too</a></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Should Christians stop criticizing murderers
because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we’re</i> sinners too?
If we must be free of sin in order to call out sin, we should all cease talking
and writing about it right now. <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2015/03/a_pastor_s_wife_justifies_job_at_abortion_center">A
Pastor's Wife Justifies Her Job at an Abortion Center</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t have a clue how to comment on the complex news that
greets us each morning, much less how to come along side any of the people who
are hurting, confused or just caught up in the craziness these snapshots of
today’s world represent. What’s more troubling is that for our grandchildren,
these may well be normal in their world, the way abortion and homosexuality are
rights in our children’s world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
do I even talk about topics like these without sounding like Chicken Little? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tim Keller, retired pastor from Redeemer Church NYC offers
one suggestion, “Pray and pray a lot. Especially when you don't feel like
praying at all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That’s harder than talking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I opened my Bible, and finished up the book of Numbers,
chapters 33-36: God’s warnings and promises to His people. A Bible teacher
summed them up: “<u>Don’t affirm evil by excusing it as social issues</u>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Aye – there’s the rub – I don’t see how in the world I can
do that! I like a lot the world has to offer – I don’t want to live as a
hermit. But if the above articles are among the stories describing the people
to whom we are called to go, I’m tempted to stay! (And urge the grandkids <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>not</u></i></b>
to get involved!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God help me – and make a path upon which I can walk – being
useful to the folks I love, and those whom you put in my path -- doing no harm,
because these times sure seem crazy and overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Almighty God, we confess how hard
it is to be your people. You have called us to be the church, to continue the
mission of Jesus Christ to our lonely and confused world. Yet we acknowledge we
are more apathetic than active, isolated than involved, callous than
compassionate, obstinate than obedient, legalistic than loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Gracious Lord, have mercy upon us
and forgive our sins. Remove the obstacles preventing us from being Your
representatives to a broken world. Awaken our hearts to the promised gift of
your indwelling Sprit. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</i>Prayer of Confession from 03/08/15, Park Cities Presbyterian
Church<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2010/01/blessing-of-skype.html">The
Blessings of Skype</a></span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-82113849415828874472015-03-09T12:34:00.000-05:002015-03-09T15:03:43.403-05:00March Daffodils<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8Gk_k_u2rCvA0tKIORjsMWVRzOv6wuM79W5O63GyFF3gvQbZa8uNdAoL3U-WDdPHsAdNba5LT08nOJp3K7-wEyGWZrXFmUmZcBE8MWdbN7NqN2pKNlmELr8SJzxMvPSp1c0HuM_2oxo/s1600/dafodills.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8Gk_k_u2rCvA0tKIORjsMWVRzOv6wuM79W5O63GyFF3gvQbZa8uNdAoL3U-WDdPHsAdNba5LT08nOJp3K7-wEyGWZrXFmUmZcBE8MWdbN7NqN2pKNlmELr8SJzxMvPSp1c0HuM_2oxo/s1600/dafodills.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Survivors! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Snow and ice pounded my neighbor’s daffodils – They sprang
up in the warm sunshine of a few weeks ago, but have had to survive recent icy
rain and snow. Their hardiness
fascinated me as I have watched them holding up in the face of the intemperate
weather. They are act as a little goad to get a grip and quit griping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gripe a lot about how bad things are – that is, how <u>different</u>
the world seems from the one in which I thought we would be living. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is one scary place! What’s scarier is how we describe what we see; it
communicates <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>frustration more than
solutions. News of current events, and the reporters and commentators feel and sound as bitter as the recent icy blasts in Dallas –<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">polarizing</i> has a new adjectival
dimension for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, it’s hard to
laugh when popular entertainers lean on the F-bomb crutch for laughs to jokes
anchored firmly to straw man arguments. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kSXhKFZrkM6cUZsVSzYH09h3r3YNToXFRfhsjK6BTXO_Hkne7B0ww9DLEBiz1lysXG1CrePxi-A84p4f6D5kyyfCzQi6ULEMJxucVVGR_NHkW0eosqA_tMoTz3VGzvCOhmbCAIXPPGw/s1600/Vulgarity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kSXhKFZrkM6cUZsVSzYH09h3r3YNToXFRfhsjK6BTXO_Hkne7B0ww9DLEBiz1lysXG1CrePxi-A84p4f6D5kyyfCzQi6ULEMJxucVVGR_NHkW0eosqA_tMoTz3VGzvCOhmbCAIXPPGw/s1600/Vulgarity.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Good Grief! Have I become like the grousers I used to hate
to be around?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That’s why those resilient little flowers intrigued me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The times may be brutal, and bring much that is unexpected. Our social commentators may be harsh -- a bit like our weather has been. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I can weather it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- even flourish. That is true even though a
friend said daffodils reminded her of flowers she used to place on graves. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtpJEg_6jjK4sG6KsVtjebUm9C3GR_tlKPl3Zp9auGwBYpzwr2hF-OjAprLwqViYRtx3liJhCuVjAIvui-i3uA7dJHZZm_bo_es0MgwowzL1y1G4CK8Un_Az-SQJifFrULbkKg5lJoho/s1600/Dafodills+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtpJEg_6jjK4sG6KsVtjebUm9C3GR_tlKPl3Zp9auGwBYpzwr2hF-OjAprLwqViYRtx3liJhCuVjAIvui-i3uA7dJHZZm_bo_es0MgwowzL1y1G4CK8Un_Az-SQJifFrULbkKg5lJoho/s1600/Dafodills+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funereal?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">About time to sow those wildflower seeds. (<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2015/02/seeds.html">Seeds</a>) </span></div>
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major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions. ~Edward R. Murrow</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Nostalgia
is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect!
~Owens Lee Pomeroy </span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-23153939769476851782015-03-03T14:30:00.000-06:002015-03-04T00:21:32.469-06:00Preparing for Purim<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Al6OXjsQCOH1C6CRf_FPkYZltwQJ6Ohk9M9_J1d_6vtrCNbBBjX0qgz9S6ZDbkXfk6a2iKF7UbuaikYmdfnv_KXUSUkdBJUZp2uV4GpB8CzH0SEvnr9ReVG3hlx2cJNFVavFSNJwkXw/s1600/OnTheBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Al6OXjsQCOH1C6CRf_FPkYZltwQJ6Ohk9M9_J1d_6vtrCNbBBjX0qgz9S6ZDbkXfk6a2iKF7UbuaikYmdfnv_KXUSUkdBJUZp2uV4GpB8CzH0SEvnr9ReVG3hlx2cJNFVavFSNJwkXw/s1600/OnTheBeach.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Beach_%28novel%29">A Good Read </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So . . . I have had a BUSY day of Facebook. No sooner did I
read a link from one friend and share it – another friend posted an idea,
prayer, teaching, current event equally pressing. If we were sitting all
together in one room – I don’t think I could have fully <i><u>heard</u></i> what all my friends were saying! Reading, one by one though, what
they thought was important enough to share, I could <i>hear</i>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The most galvanizing were reminders from pastors:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Christ is in the boat with me – literally and
corporately. (<a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=32151419150&lo=true">The
Comforting Presence</a>) </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How to pray right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<u><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://livingchurch.org/covenant/?p=5210">We Are Praying Wrong</a>)</span></u>
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They enabled me to listen calmly to Israel’s Prime Minister’s
address the United States’ Congress. *<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Netanyahu reminded me that tomorrow is Purim – the Jewish holiday of
one woman’s courage to thwart a Persian man’s plan to annihilate the Jews. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. . . Queen Esther
exposed the plot and gave for the Jewish people the right to defend themselves
against their enemies. The plot was foiled. Our people were saved.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today the Jewish people face
another attempt by yet another Persian potentate to destroy us. Iran's Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Khamenei<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . .
tweets that Israel must be annihilated -- he tweets. . in English that Israel
must be destroyed.<br />
<br />
. . .<br />
<br />
But Iran's regime is not merely a Jewish problem, any more than the Nazi regime
was merely a Jewish problem. The 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis were but
a fraction of the 60 million people killed in World War II. So, too, Iran's
regime poses a grave threat, not only to Israel, but also the peace of the
entire world. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the Prime Minister reminded us of how the world has
changed since 1979 when</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">. . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one of the world's great civilizations [was] hijacked by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">religious zealots --
religious zealots who imposed on them immediately a dark and brutal
dictatorship.<br />
<br />
That year, the zealots drafted a constitution, a new one for Iran. It directed
the revolutionary guards not only to protect Iran's borders, but also to
fulfill the ideological mission of jihad. The regime's founder, Ayatollah
Khomeini, exhorted his followers to "export the revolution throughout the world."</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He then said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Iran
and ISIS are competing for the crown of militant Islam. One calls itself the
Islamic Republic. The other calls itself the Islamic State. Both want to impose
a militant Islamic empire first on the region and then on the entire world.
They just disagree among themselves who will be the ruler of that empire.<br />
<br />
In this deadly game of thrones, there's no place for America or for Israel, no
peace for Christians, Jews or Muslims who don't share the Islamist medieval
creed, no rights for women, no freedom for anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">So,
when it comes to Iran and ISIS, the enemy of your enemy is your enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think back to two books and movies that changed me: <i>The
Diary of Anne Frank</i>, and <i>On the Beach</i> by Neil Shute: an eyewitness
account of Nazi occupation, and a frightening real imagination of the aftermath
of a nuclear holocaust. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Praying the world’s leaders will quickly turn to God in
Christ to calm the storms that threaten to swamp us – and that we -- His church -- will not give
up praying.**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
know that in this way we cannot ever really pray wrong. God hears us, and the
distant god of our culture cowers in defeat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">*<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/03/full-text-netanyahus-address-to-congress/">Benjamin
Netanyahu's address to Congress</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">**<a href="http://biblehub.com/esther/4-14.htm">Esther 4:14</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-6895427458165400172015-02-23T10:26:00.002-06:002019-03-21T14:33:45.003-05:00When Another Person’s Choice Becomes Personal<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl_bsKlS0QMsTjpd3nYnzZ562mpXskJH-kYZ9cwxJqbuErB0pdthYqisIufkh7Xh0FGlJjsNPVMTRlYgOYewTa29cEsDWkSNnFwUo0iolW08QMgc6MjqnSxe-OcLEDOvOagzPSgoz1-8/s1600/portrait-richard-israel+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl_bsKlS0QMsTjpd3nYnzZ562mpXskJH-kYZ9cwxJqbuErB0pdthYqisIufkh7Xh0FGlJjsNPVMTRlYgOYewTa29cEsDWkSNnFwUo0iolW08QMgc6MjqnSxe-OcLEDOvOagzPSgoz1-8/s1600/portrait-richard-israel+(1).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Richard+Israel&espv=2&biw=1269&bih=658&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0lLrVOXoJ5PtggSq0YKQBg&ved=0CD0Q7Ak#tbm=isch&q=Richard+Israel+Annapolis+Alderman&imgdii=_&imgrc=GzvUcluT1_1CJM%253A%3BDMY1M20b1_GCHM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.eyeonannapolis.net%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2009%252F05%252Fportrait-richard-israel.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.eyeonannapolis.net%252F2009%252F05%252F07%252Fsome-politicians-are-bravespineless-creatures%252F%3B222%3B305">Richard Israel</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This POST has been moved to NEW Garden -- PLEASE visit! </span>https://autumns-garden.com/revisiting-death-with-dignity/</div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-83219076537166487782015-02-21T16:32:00.000-06:002015-02-21T16:32:08.714-06:00Getting Things Fixed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe it’s the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent">season</a>,
Lent, but recent things on our to-do list seem like apt images for a few heart
and soul issues – when life hurts because of stuff I can’t control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday we got two things fixed: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
persistent, reappearing crack in our bathtub </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLyaz_SQrouqyLTimt2MVTrNIm23za0LMu9Va3XHvt-HW1M5aW51ew2g6tFNC5SwXcNrs0v_-D6diBLpEyB_mk-fUXGbEmfKxv40J6vDuI68kvfmWM7M6QSOakvIyNE7Fxj47wwiLcLk/s1600/Tub+Crack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLyaz_SQrouqyLTimt2MVTrNIm23za0LMu9Va3XHvt-HW1M5aW51ew2g6tFNC5SwXcNrs0v_-D6diBLpEyB_mk-fUXGbEmfKxv40J6vDuI68kvfmWM7M6QSOakvIyNE7Fxj47wwiLcLk/s1600/Tub+Crack.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Reoccurring Crack </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf5A5rWj29i6I3BzL_u47ti9WdeG-j78eTXH8a7eohH1GFyNgyNRFytHN5bXghzagC12YhvCLQskS3EyNWNhy2DdRlNK79h0MXAD63H6upxpF1eIMYseYySCRrWUROtx3AUOggmbJWg0/s1600/Tub+repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf5A5rWj29i6I3BzL_u47ti9WdeG-j78eTXH8a7eohH1GFyNgyNRFytHN5bXghzagC12YhvCLQskS3EyNWNhy2DdRlNK79h0MXAD63H6upxpF1eIMYseYySCRrWUROtx3AUOggmbJWg0/s1600/Tub+repair.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repaired! (Almost)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">– and </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
damage my spiffy Civic sustained when a driver misjudged the size of the
parking space her SUV required. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseyMbfO_7rV2r67KNUFt0KDe0YdvlwDE79YPT0jKd2WKYYT4gQ8Ys0_MKztIL-EJroPpai1BVXQgwkUIDIyU2cjqZBgiXdtVBVhyphenhyphenxXV7FJe0Hihdu3dPPc6-McY-eIHlmQ6t3_RWX3Co/s1600/Civic+SCRATCH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseyMbfO_7rV2r67KNUFt0KDe0YdvlwDE79YPT0jKd2WKYYT4gQ8Ys0_MKztIL-EJroPpai1BVXQgwkUIDIyU2cjqZBgiXdtVBVhyphenhyphenxXV7FJe0Hihdu3dPPc6-McY-eIHlmQ6t3_RWX3Co/s1600/Civic+SCRATCH.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marred!<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxa0V1UaExlB2AccOzIeuJSvPkMmlEFtsRyyctN-bwRzhUgicj3btjjJxwpUZ5cojHP-FS8PIgncybThm7O8nWT9V3Fdc-k-tzDX_YqwAngrSJxFlMmTpgUYrpH2emUtawkH54myy6bI/s1600/Civic+Repair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxa0V1UaExlB2AccOzIeuJSvPkMmlEFtsRyyctN-bwRzhUgicj3btjjJxwpUZ5cojHP-FS8PIgncybThm7O8nWT9V3Fdc-k-tzDX_YqwAngrSJxFlMmTpgUYrpH2emUtawkH54myy6bI/s1600/Civic+Repair.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repaired -- at an OH so Reasonable price! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Truth be told, <i><u>we</u>
</i>didn’t – instead, capable and affordable folks we were fortunate to find
helped us. )</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The initial repair bids for both the tub and the car were so
steep, and the amount of time necessary to right the problems so long, we toyed
with the idea of just ignoring the problems – they were, after all, minor –
maybe, we could just live with their nuisance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a crack in a fiberglass bathtub meant
the tub was out of commission. (We do have a separate shower.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those thin scrapes across the right
back fender looked tacky and could invite rust to breed. Ignoring them would be the
equivalent of walking around with a torn hem, or coffee stains on a white
shirt! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, Doug kept pursuing leads, and he found
service providers whose talents dovetailed into the solutions to our problems
without breaking the bank, and inconveniencing us for weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a relief!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I thought about the willingness with which I can
ignore stress fractures in relationships – caused by old injuries or new
offenses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I say I believe
Christ walked out of the grave, but act like He has no power to heal the harm I
did, or the pain I suffered? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Counting the cost, and remembering Who really paid – pays –
all the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bills</i> I rack up is the first
step in healing stress fractures, recurring or brand new. That's one way to observe Lent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The second is being willing to look for ways to restore and
repair – beginning with me. (Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 51)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other times, it is simply letting go of minor grievances,
real and imagined, believing that God is keeping count of all my tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://biblehub.com/psalms/56-8.htm">Psalm 56:8</a>) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We found affordable help, and fixed two nagging problems, so
that we have the use of what we need and enjoy. How much more important are the
relationships that God established?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never give up on someone you can't go a day
without thinking about</i>. ~Author Unknown (See Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew
18:15-35)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Other ruminations on Lent: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html">Making
Lent a Way of Life</a> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2012/02/american-idol-season-11-and-lent.html">American
Idol, Season 11 and Lent </a></span></div>
</div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-29997219475327274022015-02-17T00:17:00.000-06:002015-02-26T10:07:34.239-06:00Heart Issues -- edited for cartoon*<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYxyMrNNzfmauFFOBMxWAMhhiADSioWkcnSO0dFQefdt_FbjrEbbQVH2eRUNgc4vYGWJQA3S8xgeZEUqOrsL_3msyMiXH-cnZcWbFY8OJbsZrEihoKbFGyB_hYv_H7GxnVfhCqFOsnZc/s1600/sbr022515dapr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYxyMrNNzfmauFFOBMxWAMhhiADSioWkcnSO0dFQefdt_FbjrEbbQVH2eRUNgc4vYGWJQA3S8xgeZEUqOrsL_3msyMiXH-cnZcWbFY8OJbsZrEihoKbFGyB_hYv_H7GxnVfhCqFOsnZc/s1600/sbr022515dapr.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Trying to comment on today's world is difficult -- from WORLD MAGAZINE this cartoon sums up so well what I think</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Published shortly after World War II, <i>A Book of Days for Christians </i>has
been a reliable companion since I discovered it while estate sailing in late
2007. Richardson Wright’s book of mediations seems fresh – and applicable even
though he quotes from Christians, most of whom are strangers to me. (My fault –
not their’s.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In <a href="http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/1951">1951</a>,
the year the little devotional was published, the Korean conflict heated up –
i.e., the backdrop of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">M.A.S.H</i>. It was a time much like our own: we’d come out of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two world wars, survived financial troubles; we now faced
powerful adversaries. Television was giving itself awards – the Emmys. News of
sports, entertainment, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and the arms race had
precedence – religion, not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">We didn't know all that Stalin was doing in the fifties</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2015, we’ve
just been through the Super Bowl, the Grammys and a tribute to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saturday Night Live</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Russia and the Middle East are still in our
news – so is a different kind of arms race. A group of people is systematically
and gruesomely murdering other people – and we are holding back from stopping
it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The reading for February 14 hit my heart. Describing a
bauble that delighted his friends, Mr. Wright correctly described a familiar
image – I have a fun necklace with one: three cute monkeys, one with hands
firmly over his eyes, the next his ears, and the third his mouth that they may
see no evil, hear no evil, nor, speak no evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(pages 55-56) He goes on: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">.
. . Of the these three only the last makes sense. The other two are pretty poor
ideals to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Refusing
to see or hear evil around us is sheer cowardice. We can’t say it doesn’t
exist, we can’t just explain it away. We must face it boldly, whether it crops
up at home, or in the office, factory, market place, government. The swift
wrath with which our Lord chased<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the moneychangers out of the Temple followed on His seeing and hearing
their corruption. Nor for a moment did He hesitate to accuse them of making His
Temple a den of thieves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The right emotion about sin can only be roused and sustained by the
right emotion about God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Kirk">Kenneth E. Kirk</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What is going on . . . it’s like seeing Hitler rise to power
again, albeit in different garb – and hearing Neville Chamberlain declare, “Peace
in our Time!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Evil seems to
pervade. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes it may be so astonishing we can’t believe or understand what
we are seeing; sometimes, like a frog in a kettle, we are inured to its danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is still time to speak – and to
pray that those who have been given the authority to govern will be men and
women who understand the times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/12-32.htm">1 Chronicles 12:32</a>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, reading though Leviticus is hardly reassuring me.
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But, I didn’t know</i>” is no excuse. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/esther/4-14.htm">Esther 4:14</a></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gJ3EyZC9OdVIcWaSULTIQQMF-ePxjElWIJ80dIRi8f9NYarBfiu2mWJ5LvekcPsX8oRRFZSOxE2yDVrykCL-vMs2_SrScTpHi9n-v5Wy3nptQp2rB5tuNBan-C74oj4CqRaCkWx7iAY/s1600/IMG_1214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gJ3EyZC9OdVIcWaSULTIQQMF-ePxjElWIJ80dIRi8f9NYarBfiu2mWJ5LvekcPsX8oRRFZSOxE2yDVrykCL-vMs2_SrScTpHi9n-v5Wy3nptQp2rB5tuNBan-C74oj4CqRaCkWx7iAY/s1600/IMG_1214.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
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bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-48237515899585448142015-02-11T00:19:00.002-06:002015-02-11T00:23:40.809-06:00Seeds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8aYVFfsN6XzcKrbb9WmrYQ3VEta6B4mcg204luHED-Zx6XeWuGWbAqdL6ZOrq12uddx865VGgc8-YoX5MV7O7UCeFnyPZwCv0oGSYtYURjoT2_7Ul9ML-BW5NZqqSUte2cdgLvWYmv4/s1600/IMG_1204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8aYVFfsN6XzcKrbb9WmrYQ3VEta6B4mcg204luHED-Zx6XeWuGWbAqdL6ZOrq12uddx865VGgc8-YoX5MV7O7UCeFnyPZwCv0oGSYtYURjoT2_7Ul9ML-BW5NZqqSUte2cdgLvWYmv4/s1600/IMG_1204.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We spent a lovely afternoon at the <a href="http://www.dallasarboretum.org/">Dallas Arboretum</a>,
meandering about the gardens, most not wholly recovered from January’s chills
and no where near ready for Spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But being able to walk about in warm sunshine and see some color, well
it was time well spent. And my money was well spent too when we stopped by the
gift shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I bought several seed packets!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Two packs of Perennial Blooms for the full sun,
promising blooms from spring to frost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Two packs of Southern Hills and plains, promising
blooms from spring to fall. (Can there be a frost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">before</i> fall?) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->One packet of Hummingbird Haven, again to be
planted in full sun – and months of goodies for the little birdies. And
finally,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Two packets for Made in the Shade – obviously
suited for the corners of our garden that are tucked under foliage and trees. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What’s more, the recommended planting is two weeks before
the last frost, which can come in late March. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The weather for several days has been superb<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- the darker the news, the brighter
and warmer it has been. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How fair is a garden amid the trials and
passions of existence. ~Benjamin Disraeli</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today was as a long cool drink <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- I am thankful to have lived through it, enjoying the gifts
of so many people whose generosity and hard work made our outing a seamless
pleasure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who knew a few
lavish little seed packets could stir up such happy anticipation?</span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-40678472078108057842015-02-06T10:17:00.001-06:002015-02-06T10:26:54.071-06:00The National Prayer Breakfast 2015 -- <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Out of Context – Again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQjlKnmobFrnLZ02BRGs3TeSopz904z5HMO0eVr6kHwm6L8DwO6sCjEqwdXdQz03YOyp6xX_tViyXQG3_fEIpmeVBmHK5UzkpBN0Mx6EWKINrou_WsgbBzsi2Dc4GeY1SQRIZzBxS_GE/s1600/Darrell_Waltrip_national_prayer_breakfast-255x256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQjlKnmobFrnLZ02BRGs3TeSopz904z5HMO0eVr6kHwm6L8DwO6sCjEqwdXdQz03YOyp6xX_tViyXQG3_fEIpmeVBmHK5UzkpBN0Mx6EWKINrou_WsgbBzsi2Dc4GeY1SQRIZzBxS_GE/s1600/Darrell_Waltrip_national_prayer_breakfast-255x256.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A few sentences in the President’s address to the National
Prayer Breakfast 2015 have made for commentary that has created more heat than
light. The entire event is worth watching, especially if you are a person of
faith in God through Jesus Christ. There were several highs, and few lows. (<a href="http://www.c-span.org/search/?searchtype=Clips&sort=Most+Popular&programid%5B%5D=387540">
Clips from Cspan</a>) Among the most touching was <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4526597/dr-kent-brantley-prayer">Dr.
Brantley's Prayer</a> – it’s one that covers so many of my heart’s ache for
this wonderful country and all our leaders – left, right and “moderate.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Obama did state the obvious: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>people of faith, including Christians, have done terrible
things to each other in the name of our faith. But he said other things – such
as being and remaining <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>humble,
remaining vigilant so that the freedom to worship in America is not lost, and
to put on love, treating others as we would wish to be treated. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>But
his were not the only remarks</u></i></b>! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What happened, early in January, that we just discovered has
rocked me to my core – as did the shooting of the injure French policeman
begging for his life. (<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2015/01/exercising-our-freedom-we-better-count.html">Exercising
Our Freedom, We Better Count the Cost</a>) A Jordanian pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh,
was filmed being burnt alive while locked in a cage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole world now knows what happened to one man,
burned to death by his captors. One more heinous act – among so many –
destroying a man who was someone’s beloved child, friend, spouse or father. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe his destruction is a watershed – and America seems
tired and broke. Therefore, watching a replay of the Prayer Breakfast was
simply a refreshing cup of cold water, reminding me that God has loving
servants in places I cannot imagine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are they perfect in their doctrine and practice?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Good grief NO! – Who would like to assert their own is?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The National Prayer Breakfast, this year
more than others, was simply an event wherein lepers showed the rest of us
where the food and treasures are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would that all the news and social media critics, now so freely
dissecting a few sentences, <u>taken out of context</u>, had reported more –
especially the prayers prayed in the name of the Lord Jesus – and the testimony
of HIS powerful grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">*<a href="http://blogs.acu.edu/acutoday/2015/02/05/national-prayer-breakfast-features-brantly/">Dr.
Brantly's Prayer</a> -- Brantly adapted his words today from “The Lord’s Prayer
in Time of War” by Wendy Lyons</span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-52582081989764440102015-02-02T17:12:00.000-06:002016-02-10T21:16:11.545-06:00Stop Trying to Control Others<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdnLuYwACYTo_lBVUfLL1D2d_v-Kw6nDDWinKGhNhbLia19vT_bxM9OEwI08irxBjJ1dZqDIkqvuq1f5EwZLjJlJsQ-SW4qlyoGETIx4BvjaDXavmuojk-UGEAOM7CjvHt1cmJHI46Ps/s1600/Morning+sun+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdnLuYwACYTo_lBVUfLL1D2d_v-Kw6nDDWinKGhNhbLia19vT_bxM9OEwI08irxBjJ1dZqDIkqvuq1f5EwZLjJlJsQ-SW4qlyoGETIx4BvjaDXavmuojk-UGEAOM7CjvHt1cmJHI46Ps/s1600/Morning+sun+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Sun, Spa Creek Maryland 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This article has been moved: http://lettinggoandholdingtight.com/358-2/</span></div>
</div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-87440469068554896802015-01-14T09:47:00.002-06:002015-01-14T09:47:15.729-06:00ROBBED – again<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Carelessness costs . . . Thinking </span><i style="font-size: x-large;"><u>I </u></i><span style="font-size: large;">could never again be a crime statistic, albeit, petty, was plain
stupid. Especially since, I had fair warning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of
years ago, we left our cars – parked in our driveway – unlocked, and were
surprised, chagrined and embarrassed to discover a thief took advantage and
swiped a GPS. Within months, its replacement was also swiped when I left my
luggage in plain view of the desk clerk at our hotel for a few minutes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But the lesson that thieves are bold, especially when I am
careless didn’t germinate many precautions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAifMEK6e64UChBaHR7w3l99J_ZkmUCclNF2KB0GCZ6hUif_iaysJGwkicc5PVH9jBX75wdDJ-gwIvFskFNjDEYp0mWUoenIH1RaxWiL2H93yyhBJSLW9y9l46WZIH8QgwFi9I0d2OhE/s1600/IMG_1113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAifMEK6e64UChBaHR7w3l99J_ZkmUCclNF2KB0GCZ6hUif_iaysJGwkicc5PVH9jBX75wdDJ-gwIvFskFNjDEYp0mWUoenIH1RaxWiL2H93yyhBJSLW9y9l46WZIH8QgwFi9I0d2OhE/s1600/IMG_1113.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Latest Ebenezer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I left a small jewelry bag nestled deep in my suitcase in a
hotel recently rather than taking it with me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">[No] </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Surprise</i></b><span style="font-size: large;">! Someone helped themselves
to my humble treasures, taking the good stuff, and leaving the paste.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Shock, feelings of being victimized welled up. So did the
conviction that I have no more excuse for being so poor a steward than the
thief does, who pilfered through my luggage and helped themselves to what was
not theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jessamyn West, the American author of <i>Friendly Persuasion</i>,
once wrote: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It is very easy to forgive
others their mistakes; it takes more grit to forgive them for having witnessed
your own</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to take
more than grit for me to forgive those thieves for have taken advantage of my
mistake: willful foolishness – and myself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I didn’t discover the loss for several days after we
returned home – and have been mourning the loss of my valuables – and my own
foolishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was taken had some material value – but each piece’s sentimental value was more. The memories of
the givers – their generosity – these are still mine. The recognition I bear
some blame for losing these gifts stings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My little jewelry sack is yet another Ebenezer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . reminding me </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The thorns which I
have reap'd are of the tree<br />
I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed.<br />
I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed.<br />
~George Gordon, Lord Byron, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Childe
Harold's Pilgrimage<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another little reproof that might have wider implications
when I remember a few broken relationships?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-want-to-report-robbery.html"><span style="font-size: large;">I
Want to Report a Robbery</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-do-you-do-when-your-family.html"><span style="font-size: large;">What
Do You Do . . .</span></a> </div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-30035360957922410262015-01-12T11:21:00.000-06:002016-02-11T00:37:19.717-06:00Lessons Still To Be Taught<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGtQrzL2R8GgdYJxNcBp9pM8i61tbu85TqSLoFxJ1SS-hBsTKbcGDSTO5zRpbpWlHOgjTxg8-aINuD3NmjHg8mjnUmHRjv9Afj6DIS35c7NRRQ83eJDEmzlsUQWuceXczI8Wf9oZbkjk/s1600/a7a8d78531438eb062ac9492b59b4a08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGtQrzL2R8GgdYJxNcBp9pM8i61tbu85TqSLoFxJ1SS-hBsTKbcGDSTO5zRpbpWlHOgjTxg8-aINuD3NmjHg8mjnUmHRjv9Afj6DIS35c7NRRQ83eJDEmzlsUQWuceXczI8Wf9oZbkjk/s1600/a7a8d78531438eb062ac9492b59b4a08.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Pinterest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Hi, I've edited this and moved it: http://autumns-garden.com/1340-2/</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-61071224855683615702015-01-11T13:42:00.005-06:002015-01-11T13:44:07.508-06:00Common Sense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm7XPnvP8v-WKOjNoFBfVsV7ZQgnZ3CWVgzczMQALk_xPbKHmNe5l6eSG-Qn_A2gahrxm3P-DQfhwA0IW917kYPElIMXGiUGiQIEKE-JKbrFw8-lW6rxr0_4OjkJkdEU3QVZOluLdxmU/s1600/v30_n02+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm7XPnvP8v-WKOjNoFBfVsV7ZQgnZ3CWVgzczMQALk_xPbKHmNe5l6eSG-Qn_A2gahrxm3P-DQfhwA0IW917kYPElIMXGiUGiQIEKE-JKbrFw8-lW6rxr0_4OjkJkdEU3QVZOluLdxmU/s1600/v30_n02+(1).jpg" height="400" width="305" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My generation was told many things about sex outside of
marriage – most of which we merrily ignored. Go Boomers! Mine was the
generation that succeeded in casting off the double standards former
generations insisted upon. It was common sense that women had just as much of a
right to have fun as men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But my mother who had endured some of the consequences of
those double standards told me one thing that is still true – </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you decide to have a party with your boyfriend, remember: a little
life, innocent and precious, is always a possible unexpected guest. You don’t
have a right to spoil their party</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She wasn’t threatening me. She was offering a common sense
warning based on what she had seen and I was seeing among my friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But my generation knew better – and we had the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_oral_contraceptive_pill">Pill</a>!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And we brought abortion out of the back alleys! We wanted
the lives of women facing unplanned pregnancies protected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was common sense. We knew what
happened in those unclean, unsafe places because either we had to have one, or
someone we knew had to end a pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Too few of us, though, thought about the life of the child –
being assured “it” wasn’t a life – not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, some of us discovered too late exercising our newly
secured constitutional right was more complicated than undergoing a simple
procedure. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Common sense should have told us that ending an unexpected
pregnancy might not be an uncomplicated alternative to carrying a baby to term.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_the_Midwife">Call
the Midwife</a> --- has dramatically taught viewers the harshness and
heartbreak attending a little child’s coming into homes unable or unwilling to
welcome them. It has also candidly depicted the callousness and compassion that
attended adoption in the 1950’s and -60’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers who relinquished their children into the care of
others were not always cherished as sincerely as their babies were. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Single-parenting therefore became a common sense solution,
one which the government of the United States enabled states to support, as the
church and other private charities lost the debate on adoption. (<a href="http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/">Welfare Statistics</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This new normal has changed us – is changing us, not always
in positive ways. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>(<a href="http://www.chron.com/life/mom-houston/article/72-of-black-babies-born-to-unwed-moms-data-1709669.php">Seventy
-Two Percent of Black Babies Born to Unwed Moms</a>)<span style="font-size: large;"> Common sense should tell
us we might need to change course – not so easy in the uncertain times in which
we live; when most standards are just your opinion or mine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">January is among its other designations, a month celebrating
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Right to Life</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others call it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Respect Life</i>, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sanctity of Life</i>. (<a href="http://www.worldmag.com/issue/2015/01/24/">WORLD Magazine 2015</a>) I
hope this will be the first month in a year that galvanizes us to continue
offering <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>real help to real women and men who have
created lives for whom they are unable to care! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">God help us to seek Him and His ways, not as a tyrant spoilsport
issuing threats, but as a Father whose blessed boundaries protect and sustain
life. (Psalm 139)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Resources: </b></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://thrivewomensclinic.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Thrive Clinic</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pregnancyclinic.org/">The Pregnancy
Clinic</a></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2011/07/jk-rowling-and-harriet-beecher-stowe.html"><span style="font-size: large;">J.K. Rowling and Harriet Beecher Stowe</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-52709169492401220332015-01-09T12:11:00.000-06:002015-01-10T19:25:43.443-06:00Exercising Our Freedom, We Better Count the Cost<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Poking fun at people and our institutions is as basic a
pleasure as eating and drinking. Jane Austen slyly acknowledged this as Mr.
Bennet in <b><i>Pride and Prejudice</i></b> observed: “<i>For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at
them in our turn</i>?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sport</i>
is deadly. The marvels of media technology, coupled with a revolution of human
rights have given many in the West unimagined freedoms to mock each other’s
most deeply beliefs, exposing what we think are each others’ hypocrisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can say or print just about anything
and with the Internet, talk radio or cable TV we can find an audience. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet, in these audiences are folks who dislike the clever
little jokes at their expense. They take revenge – and people, who might not
have been contributors to odious political <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">commentary</i>,
die. For example in the most recent terrorist attack in Paris, some people died
who had nothing to do with the offensive cartoons that upset the terrorists. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015 was barely
one week old, and what will be for me its signature is the video of a French police
officer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wounded, begging for
mercy, then executed by a fellow Muslim this image haunts me, as do so many in
recent years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoNzlKX1hMcKlgLBAouYrBB7hKnY2-Cbp0aOQ4d6ByCCwc8P9Hll9-YBrONDVdc5Q6cTxD0lFDETRwqbxiBBcvoMXLA8EQOG5qDIPnE-X5tyXYvHg28xg4AqPEUeAHRPnTz3DlcAvIAY/s1600/20140108-PARIS2-slide-32SW-jumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoNzlKX1hMcKlgLBAouYrBB7hKnY2-Cbp0aOQ4d6ByCCwc8P9Hll9-YBrONDVdc5Q6cTxD0lFDETRwqbxiBBcvoMXLA8EQOG5qDIPnE-X5tyXYvHg28xg4AqPEUeAHRPnTz3DlcAvIAY/s1600/20140108-PARIS2-slide-32SW-jumbo.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/world/europe/charlie-hebdo-paris-shooting.html?_r=0">Officer Slain</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Would that Muslims could rein in those amongst them who
wage war with any who do not embrace their religion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In recent time, the Germans could not stop the Nazis, the
Japanese their militarists or the Italians their fascists. And the church,
visible and invisible, in these countries suffered right along through the wars
necessary to stop the terror these groups perpetrated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The more things change – the more they stay the same. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t want to defend to the death the coarse commentary
that many believe are their inalienable rights. Nor, do I want our children and
any one else to die defending these rights! But, these days are dangerous,
crazy times when words are still <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more deadly than sticks and stones!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t self-censorship that we need – it is common sense
that counts the cost of who might die because I shot off my mouth or pen! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Doug posted links to two articles that come close to
expressing the unease – anger –sorrow – frustration and exasperation the past
few days have caused: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/provocation_is_no_defence_for_the_jihadi_murderers">Provocation
is No Defense for Jihadists: </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don't think they will stop at stupid and
vicious left-wing satirists. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/i_am_not_charlie_hebdo">I Am Not
Charlie Hebdo</a>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Insult is the lowest –
and now most dangerous – form of free speech - </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Americans must choose our response carefully – in what is
perhaps the third World War, or the continuation of the first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church, more so! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: white; line-height: 24.0pt; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="texteph-6-10"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">10 </span></sup></i></span><span class="texteph-6-10"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">A
final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;"> </span></i></span><span class="texteph-6-11"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">11 </span></sup></i></span><span class="texteph-6-11"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">Put
on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all
strategies of the devil.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;"> </span></i></span><span class="texteph-6-12"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">12 </span></sup></i></span><span class="texteph-6-12"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">For
we</span></i></span><span class="texteph-6-12"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6:10-14&version=NLT#fen-NLT-29310a"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">a</span></a>]</span></sup></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;"> </span></i></span><span class="texteph-6-12"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">are
not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and
against evil spirits in the heavenly places.</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="texteph-6-13"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">13 </span></sup></i></span><span class="texteph-6-13"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">Therefore,
put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in
the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;"> </span></i></span><span class="texteph-6-14"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">14 </span></sup></i></span><span class="texteph-6-14"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria;">Stand
your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">(Ephesians
6:10-14, The New Living Translation) </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-37879118609588502062015-01-02T12:44:00.000-06:002015-01-02T12:45:14.253-06:002015 . . . <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmA4BdBgvptOXX2wGgIahMwT5g3C3b7afkGMIMakaWgRZgHkle4veXhHAxueuv9lH6FF4C9uV6NYaTyP3BheULEBbljGh9j7qoYSK-v55z37Zwi572KMAil1baQ_tVRV2d269FdbJ8L_g/s1600/IMG_1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmA4BdBgvptOXX2wGgIahMwT5g3C3b7afkGMIMakaWgRZgHkle4veXhHAxueuv9lH6FF4C9uV6NYaTyP3BheULEBbljGh9j7qoYSK-v55z37Zwi572KMAil1baQ_tVRV2d269FdbJ8L_g/s1600/IMG_1047.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e5e5dd; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-left;">Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One day into the New Year, and I
still can’t come up with any resolutions . . . or anything much to say . . . we
feel like we’ve been sucked up into a whirlwind of people, food, fun, memories,
delights, and a few too many Christmas cookies. This time last year the
following observation was the closest thing I came to, making a resolution:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whatever commands your hope will control your heart, and what
controls your heart will direct your words and behavior. (Paul Tripp) </span></b>(<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/01/this-is-day.html">January
1, 2014</a>) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ryan Bell, chose an unusual of set
of commands and controls for a Christian pastor in 2014, and discovered he was
no longer a Christian after living a year as an atheist. (<a href="http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/12/29/year-without-god-pastor-im-no-longer-believer/">Link
to article</a>) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't understand how he did it –
but I can see that embracing practices antithetical to one’s profession can
have many repercussions. What if I chose to take a year off from my marriage, and
live like I wasn’t married to Doug? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I don’t think he’d give me a year<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- our relationship would quickly break
down, and I wager, he might not return my phone calls. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, let’s look at what hope controlled me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I skim the journal I kept last year, the hope that God
is who He told Moses He was, saw me through – but not without detours through major
skirmishes with silliness, sadness and self-absorption. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For as fast as last year went – I see days upon days of
beauty and delight, and God’s faithfulness. Yet, I know what I was thinking,
even as I tried to sound “spiritual.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear gnawing little “Yes, but’s . . .” like the rats who
sharpened their teeth on the wiring in my former car. (<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/04/rat-tled.html">Rat-tled</a>;
<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/07/those-rascally-rodents-return.html">Those
Rascally Rodents Return</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I got around to completing the <a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/11/first-seasonal-warning-from-dryer.html">Year
End Reflections</a>’ “query” that I recommended in early November. Looking at
the highlights, the disappointments and the game-changes for 2014, so many people
I know have suffered staggering losses – horrifying experiences. Even the most
modest inventory gets me off the pity pot! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful to be alive, having the wherewithal to remember
and resolve! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">10 Highlights – Accomplishments, Best Memory</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Being ALIVE to ruminate!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Enjoying my best friend and husband</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Family reunion at a <a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-family-wedding.html">family
wedding</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Meeting our newest grandchild</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Seeing other grandchildren perform in a
Christmas recital</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Completing gift book of art projects</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Remembering <a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/11/barbara-black.html">Barbara
Black</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Gaining the trust of a few women who want
sobriety</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Deepening friendships </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Getting another commission on a painting – and <u>finishing</u>
it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">10 Disappointments – Failures, Missed Opportunities</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Broken relationships that remain as unhealed
wounds</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Failure to hear what others were trying to say</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Not doing what I knew I should have done, could
have done or said</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Doing what I should not have done</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Seeing the cunning, baffling power of addiction </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Big starts to projects <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- too many remain unfinished! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Caring more about my issues than others</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Fear of others, real and imagined</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Grumbling, worrying and griping about stuff I
can’t control</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ignoring what I can control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">3 Things You Focused on – What you put the most of your time
into</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Others</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->God</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">3 Things You Forgot – What you didn’t get around to</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->God
– that He is always faithful even when I am not. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Others
– that many, many have wisdom worth applying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Self
– Just because I have been through a lot, doesn’t mean I know it all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Reflection. How does this inform your plans for the New Year?
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t live like I doubt God is, or that He is
beyond discovery or knowing. (<a href="http://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-13.htm">Jeremiah
29:13</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Or, that His word is not wise counsel for me.
(Psalm 19, 119)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Although all the highlights in the year have had
depressing shadows, and</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->All the disappointments were not without
glimmers of light, which were not always initially apparent,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->God left blessed fingerprints of His grace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The biggest blessing this year, as always, has
been the people – many and varied -- and I don’t want to forget in the New Year
that those I love are only on loan. <u>Don’t take people for granted</u>! (and
get over being taken for granted!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Today is all I have --therefore, spend my time
wisely. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>(<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2014/01/winter-grace-try-harder-ok.html">Try
Harder</a>)</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In 2015, I choose to place my mustard seed-sized
hope in the God who sees me, and in His word, which understands me. (Timothy
Keller, <i>The King’s Cross</i>.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-8916008606787886582014-12-27T17:56:00.000-06:002014-12-27T17:56:27.987-06:00Christmas Ornaments as Ebenezers*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">One holiday <i>tradition</i>
we established was buying ornaments <i><u>after</u></i>
Christmas, wrapping them up for the next year’s tree. Another was always having a fresh tree until the year I
invested in an <b>artificial</b> tree . . .
I didn’t think it looked so bad once the ornaments were in place; although this
was not a universally accepted opinion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t remember exactly which year we packed away all the
decorative trappings and tree – but, we haven’t decorated a tree for many
years, preferring to enjoy the ones our kids and others create – especially
since in God’s providence, we travel at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLA3mLVBcIF5tVxQrWPTmBjWYLxKECO56Qz7KkMzLMxKLIMcIRtbtF8L6CIFUd5TF6SZRUFlK_1E7I887Rvarzj-FUCP5Cg7v245kKWUpTwm7CuHNqHxZ1_hvrWvFFz25rscNhbWLc2I/s1600/Nan's%2BTree%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLA3mLVBcIF5tVxQrWPTmBjWYLxKECO56Qz7KkMzLMxKLIMcIRtbtF8L6CIFUd5TF6SZRUFlK_1E7I887Rvarzj-FUCP5Cg7v245kKWUpTwm7CuHNqHxZ1_hvrWvFFz25rscNhbWLc2I/s1600/Nan's%2BTree%2B.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug's Sister's Tree 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I now use some fresh greens, and a few holiday ornaments,
recently collected to mark the season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8g0PGvfwMbUz7I88BY19AeNaFZTYfK7wL1Td3uh7RdYahoAVi9haK5TlZm-AmPTAWgVXtAgsVUBqSVRhFyYuYhREtuE2VEXYc3eXq6ok89KugfotCp1bMU4SfH9tW4dtfxVKqHFfgiw/s1600/Mantel-+ours+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8g0PGvfwMbUz7I88BY19AeNaFZTYfK7wL1Td3uh7RdYahoAVi9haK5TlZm-AmPTAWgVXtAgsVUBqSVRhFyYuYhREtuE2VEXYc3eXq6ok89KugfotCp1bMU4SfH9tW4dtfxVKqHFfgiw/s1600/Mantel-+ours+2012.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Mantel 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In her blog, a friend asked what do you love about your tree
this year, after sharing pictures of baubles that anchored her heart to joyful
memories of Christmas past. (<a href="http://workingmomsweekly.com/?p=120">Working
Moms Weekly</a>) Coincidentally, this was the year I inventoried some of our
ornaments – well, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">three boxes</i> of
them, splitting them up between our kids and into a keep pile, and discard
pile. So, her question made me think back to favorite trees . . . each we
declared was the best ever . . . until the artificial one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Decorating Christmas trees over more than 30 years,
generates quite a collection of ornaments, not to mention more boxes of
decorations, a few of which I inherited. Nearly all of the most favorite
Christmas decorations and ornaments were the ones that our kids gave us, or
made. So, I re-gifted most of them back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The best ornaments, real and remembered, included: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a peanut shell, wrapped and decorated as baby
Jesus, now long-gone, was our son’s kindergarten era gift to us;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a clothes pin swaddled in white and pink, a friend’s
commemorative of our daughter’s first Christmas;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a crafty reindeer with a tiny tinsel swag, and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a little salt-dough lamb. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I just wish I could give with them the warm-fuzzies I felt
each year unwrapping them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We still are storing [too] many Christmas decorations in our
daughter and son-n-law’s attic. But nothing compares to these treasures, and
the memories they stir up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the dearest children
ever, family and friends who came to dinner, sometimes bringing gifts of
ornaments and leaving memories of laughter and good conversations.I remember
misunderstandings, frustrations, and failures that have disrupted friendships –
stinging, when I unpacked these seasonal trinkets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">From art classes, I have learned what is light and gay never
looks so bright and appealing as it does against some dark edges. That’s not </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a bad image for all the Christmas ornaments,
real or just remembered,</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">glistening against the dark evergreen trees -- even artificial ones, or
the ones I remember.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Christmas tree is a symbol of love, not money. There's a kind of
glory to them when they're all lit up that exceeds anything all the money in
the world could buy</i>.” ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/35924.Andy_Rooney">Andy Rooney</a>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Andy Rooney: 60 Years of Wisdom and Wit</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKEFDxdmHXfRbMwC94882LsX9LdcYEjEmgD2U3lCYDHs4JUlY9AwJzfc26tDNGsi4hauCVugD5H74LJyb2XoKIWFNlOc7G7jvxoJBR1IKbvQRPSBBZCD9ngBz3GZ24kKK6xMgXrR1ymw/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKEFDxdmHXfRbMwC94882LsX9LdcYEjEmgD2U3lCYDHs4JUlY9AwJzfc26tDNGsi4hauCVugD5H74LJyb2XoKIWFNlOc7G7jvxoJBR1IKbvQRPSBBZCD9ngBz3GZ24kKK6xMgXrR1ymw/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">*<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ebenezers</i> –
stones of mercy, guidance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
comfort, even the ones I tripped over. (<a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/7-12.htm">1 Samuel 7:12</a>) Please God
forgive me for stumbling others on their journey. </span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-85292357424248009892014-12-26T12:29:00.003-06:002014-12-26T12:29:55.376-06:00Reflections on Being a Grandmother, Again<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We welcomed our sixth grandchild into our hearts the other
day – and have enjoyed hearing all the congratulatory wishes, mindful that they
and their parents have been the richest blessing either of us have ever
received.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e5e5dd; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-left;">Babies are such a nice way to start people. ~Don Herrold</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Smarter, wiser women than I have commented on this unique
station in life – but this observation comes closest:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Being
a mother and grandmother is the best of the best in my life. My grandchildren multiply
the joy my [son and daughter] bring me</i>. (<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Alexandra Stoddard)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recognize the emotion I feel for
each little life when our kids put them in my arms – it is similar to the
delight I felt when I first held them – but altogether different. The feeling
is even more wonderful, humbling and bittersweet<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . for I am holding the greatest agent for change in our
own children’s lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Few
things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap</i>. ~Doug
Larson</span></div>
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bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-20330502330669854322014-12-20T12:12:00.000-06:002014-12-20T12:12:23.826-06:00When I Grow Up . . .<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLDER6qrV2eNQDLNSXJM5RdedRCuf2yPf3VD4Y8SXQDT_Il0n3d7JliZY-_HDvnQenip_Afzi59mc3ZKryLr5MY3M0glL0DZsenhP3nM65x1fKhFk7TKs6aC7OlLEa33QMGYOweqwwmc/s1600/34ac454d53861a635af2c2734d726632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLDER6qrV2eNQDLNSXJM5RdedRCuf2yPf3VD4Y8SXQDT_Il0n3d7JliZY-_HDvnQenip_Afzi59mc3ZKryLr5MY3M0glL0DZsenhP3nM65x1fKhFk7TKs6aC7OlLEa33QMGYOweqwwmc/s1600/34ac454d53861a635af2c2734d726632.jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Friends . . . help each other cope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Heather Holleman writes in her blog about hearing a little
child say what she wants to be when she grows up. (<a href="http://tinyurl.com/p324fsp">She Wants To Be a Great Friend</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow . . . I am as impressed as Ms. Holleman – what an
ambition! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hooray for the
influences in this child’s life that sparked such a thoughtful aspiration. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Being a great friend isn’t being a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=people%20pleaser">people
pleaser</a></i>. People pleasers aren’t always residents of the real world – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>been there, done that</u></b> – and did
little good for anybody by pretending, ignoring, or placating, especially
myself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my
shadow does that much better</i>. ~Plutarch</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">God has put people in my life whose friendships have led me
out of crazy dark places and kept me from wandering over stupid cliffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have loved me despite myself, and
believed better about me than I did of myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friendship
is Love with jewels on, but without either flowers or veil.</i> ~Augustus
William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guesses
at Truth, by Two Brothers</i>, 1827</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And they have told me the truth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Only
your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. ~</i>Sicilian Proverb</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Other people’s courage, compassion, commonsense and
forbearance have been more important to me than any day dreams I had about what
I wanted to be when I grew up – and it’s a comforting challenge to know I am
not too old to still want to be a great friend as I grow up! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He became as good a friend, as good a
master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good
old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.</b> Some people
laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little
heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on
this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of
laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind
anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes
in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">His own heart laughed: and that was
quite enough for him.</b>" (The change in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scroog</i>e -- Charles Dickens, <i>A Christmas Carol</i>)</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIiLAFgvOWN9wWam_1Yj27rctDDqOc7QPNKTlRjtPDHQE9qA22OpJTE_NbYhBAHISbNryo6wcMepijyVhdeL1fsyNXMcmoPx1P3zNiy34Nym2VR2CCT6C0M7KFVI6rJxreeSeYZnRQ0Y/s1600/69d35ef6cde94f9fc7c6560533672608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIiLAFgvOWN9wWam_1Yj27rctDDqOc7QPNKTlRjtPDHQE9qA22OpJTE_NbYhBAHISbNryo6wcMepijyVhdeL1fsyNXMcmoPx1P3zNiy34Nym2VR2CCT6C0M7KFVI6rJxreeSeYZnRQ0Y/s1600/69d35ef6cde94f9fc7c6560533672608.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Pinterest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-11956109551888142342014-12-19T10:11:00.001-06:002014-12-19T10:13:33.858-06:00Looking Past the Smudges<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sun shines through the large double windows dominating
the living room in our little rental apartment, and what captures my view is
not the splendid water view but the smudges on the old panes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbml1ThXwKUC4lgZEBXp9JOYMXVapL6RLpBoGotjZejY8uGqOH-HdDjenoaM6mLCDJh6W1bNBWWWj7ql02jAhZ6DfW-ShlEiakHqL4W3O5CNfwY8yspwzKhpBlAfb2P9Eq_x9z35v2uYI/s1600/IMG_0958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbml1ThXwKUC4lgZEBXp9JOYMXVapL6RLpBoGotjZejY8uGqOH-HdDjenoaM6mLCDJh6W1bNBWWWj7ql02jAhZ6DfW-ShlEiakHqL4W3O5CNfwY8yspwzKhpBlAfb2P9Eq_x9z35v2uYI/s1600/IMG_0958.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost missing a great view!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Now, in fairness, the glass panes are
old – and the windows high up; they are also protected by storm windows – so,
keeping them transparent is hard and expensive work!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When the sun ducks behind a cloud –the smudges fade; I can
look beyond the windows and take in the familiar, agreeable view.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Christmas season is a bit like these windowpanes – it is
the lens through which I may view the pivotal historical event<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- Christ’s birth, and its attending
hope of peace with God and His good will towards us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But evil, and its attending suffering splatter grief upon
this lens – and like seeing the apartment’s windowpanes, these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">smudges</i> distract – and I lose sight of
the <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm">Gift</a> . </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sun shines and warms and lights
us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of
all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people. ~<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson">Ralph Waldo Emerson</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I indulged this propensity Emerson described in last week’s
worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the church’s
sanctuary, decorated with poinsettias, greens and candles – my mind only saw
the images of what is happening to people and their children around the world
and close to home. Image after image – from what ISIS does, to what we may have
done to enemy combatants suffocated me. Not to mention the images from my less
than stellar performances, which my own conscience kept inserting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a battle during the service to
subdue their power to assault my hope that God so loved the world, He sent His
Son to save us. But, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>God doesn’t meet us in the
hypothetical places we go to in our minds – he’s a God of REAL time and REAL
space. So we can wallow in “what-ifs” and find little comfort. </i><b><i>But when
HARD shows up, God shows up bigger</i>. </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(<a href="http://www.andbabiesdontkeep.com/kara-tippetts/">quote source</a>)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Christmas is God saying He’s in it with us. He didn’t come
to make life perfect – but to purify a people for God – usually in the midst of
sorrowful sorrows. (Matthew 2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christmas, often the occasion for great gatherings of folk to celebrate
the season, is first a time of private revelry between the soul and its
Maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-15.htm">1 Timothy 1:5</a>) If He is for
us – who can be against us? Christmas, the day Christ was born, began the
change that changed everything – God took on flesh so that He might give His
life as the perfect ransom for yours and mine at Calvary. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The one day – when Christ was born, whenever it really
happened – is the reason I know light from darkness, can live, and have second
chances – and give Him the thoughts of my heart which are often filled with
conflict, doubt and pain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myn8TdSNc4k">Jesus
King of Angels</a> By Fernando Ortega </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus King of angels heaven's light<br />
Shine Your face upon this house tonight<br />
Let no evil come into my dreams<br />
Light of heaven keep me in Your peace<br />
Remind me how You made dark spirits flee<br />
And spoke Your power to the raging sea<br />
And spoke Your mercy to a sinful man<br />
Remind me Jesus this is what I am</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">CHORUS:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
The universe is vast beyond the stars<br />
But You are mindful when the sparrow falls<br />
And mindful of the anxious thoughts<br />
That find me, surround me and bind me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With all my heart I love You Sovereign
Lord<br />
Tomorrow let me love You even more<br />
And rise to speak the goodness of Your name<br />
Until I close my eyes and sleep again</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">CHORUS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus King of angels heaven's light<br />
Hold my hand and keep me through this night</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment-->bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-49816276629585214832014-12-10T01:18:00.000-06:002014-12-10T01:18:14.121-06:00Stay Out of Dark Corners<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA49NUHZloayQok7VxdTHtvEjgSbSTHjZSr-5OQBQ_FqDF6DgLwAFGbuISceRo90s1UYcPBT5ESYx1wV8jjvCkfDwPqFavlS-IZC47v7xQMwg2yZuyVp5B78qBZMqdonNXzM8bX8G6oeA/s1600/Geranium+12.01.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA49NUHZloayQok7VxdTHtvEjgSbSTHjZSr-5OQBQ_FqDF6DgLwAFGbuISceRo90s1UYcPBT5ESYx1wV8jjvCkfDwPqFavlS-IZC47v7xQMwg2yZuyVp5B78qBZMqdonNXzM8bX8G6oeA/s1600/Geranium+12.01.14.jpg" height="320" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Alive in December!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The other day I visited a friend who is staying a spell in
an assisted living unit. I looked at my friend’s lovely face – so glad to see
her. She is younger than I am – but her body is not cooperating with her
heart’s desire to be active, enjoying her husband and children – taking in all
the good things that Dallas offers, and contributing her talents to helping
others. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Her mother, adjusting to her own limitations, came by to say
hello – and it was a lovely, bittersweet moment – a tiny peek into how two
brave women are supporting each other in ways they could never have imagined –
sadness illuminating sweetness – the most tender gesture unable to soothe what <a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS">MS</a> and age wrecks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Life doesn't always follow the script we might write – but
wise women won’t let its orneriness back us into dark scary corners – that’s
what my friend and her mom showed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh, my
friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with
what you have left</i>. ~Hubert Humphrey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you
have nothing to be grateful for check your pulse</i>. ~Author Unknown</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Those who
sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy</i>. Psalm 126:5</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, I
believe; help Thou my unbelief</i>. (<a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/9-24.htm">Mark
9:24</a>) </span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-51657630812369209682014-12-08T10:27:00.000-06:002014-12-08T10:38:52.457-06:00Reflections on Christmas Light<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KClXtH5GFGV5sd7zh06PYZA9N5vT0dW0WPSZsRxCvQJ0C2t9aCxKU9wyn2A7BlTn_0qL9m3UNaANCB2bd4PavOmBA1bT40YP4cRpRkwVC5sgIHInxkLBlIjt4uxB-J9xJm6BgRCrqk0/s1600/Lights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KClXtH5GFGV5sd7zh06PYZA9N5vT0dW0WPSZsRxCvQJ0C2t9aCxKU9wyn2A7BlTn_0qL9m3UNaANCB2bd4PavOmBA1bT40YP4cRpRkwVC5sgIHInxkLBlIjt4uxB-J9xJm6BgRCrqk0/s1600/Lights.JPG" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously -- Just One Among BLOCKS of Beauty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The folks in our neck of the woods are again doing their
part to create a magical spirit for the holidays. Nightly, house after house
lights up –some more imaginative than others – more than a few are dazzling.
Against the sky’s blackness, the lights and lawn displays are wonderful, even
the LED displays that look as cold as ice feels seem enchanted – like a
fairyland. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">During the day, though, the lavish lights are invisible, and
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ginormous</i> inflatable characters
in many yards and balconies deflate – and look like I feel, given current
events. With age, comes the certain awareness that some things just might not
work out – and not just on the account pages of my life’s ledger. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMpkuObh3nH88qrwWwCwnleZ4fuCICCq-G1JeZM40cRMN8_z-Bdk8DwmZotykPPRqHv8yZMWZBSVraquPD5yoCBZRf709J7JiVjQiQeUrdVEchaZ_DWkEA3T2LWLq6wBtjchBmBBlKRs/s1600/DMS's%2BSAnta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMpkuObh3nH88qrwWwCwnleZ4fuCICCq-G1JeZM40cRMN8_z-Bdk8DwmZotykPPRqHv8yZMWZBSVraquPD5yoCBZRf709J7JiVjQiQeUrdVEchaZ_DWkEA3T2LWLq6wBtjchBmBBlKRs/s1600/DMS's%2BSAnta.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I Feel Reading the News</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We don’t have anything like peace on earth – riots,
terrorists, sex trafficking, Ebola, disappointment, and spiraling national and
international debt – and the <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2014/11/forgotten_survivors">forgotten survivors
in Syria</a>. Life is as downright scary and painful today as it was when B.C.
became A.D. The nighttime magic doesn’t lighten the load many of us bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when January comes, and the outdoor
lights are gone – the burdens remain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But for now the lights and their glory in the dark night
remind me of Christ, who is the <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/8-12.htm">Light</a>
shining through darkness – light that doesn’t fade in the sun’s
brightness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/4-24.htm">G</a>od who took on flesh offers to
bear the load. (Mathew 11:29-30)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
His is the very breath of life. God is, and became like thee and me, mortal, so
that you and I might escape what binds us – and live freed, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being</i> useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://biblehub.com/niv/john/1.htm">John 1</a>) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In all the wrappings covering up Christmas, I can become
useless. Being useful can be as easy as doing a little something for somebody
who can’t repay me -- Christ didn’t come to bear my load so I could enjoy all
the season but forget to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
live in a culture that lives in excess. We have so much and we want so much
more. It’s so easy to get sucked in and think everyone lives the way we
do: Everyone spends money decorating their homes, everyone
bakes 8 varieties of holiday cookies, everyone gets the best cyber deals and
everyone has the opportunity to make Christmas magical for their kids.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And it’s easy to forget those who don’t live like “everyone” else.</i></b>
(<a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/2014/12/what-the-poor-really-want-for-christmas/">What
the Poor Really Want for Christmas</a>) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Praying and giving, serving and sharing, just showing up are
year–round opportunities. But I seem to see them more clearly in the light of
this season. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvJbQ02Ml3aKR17fxl_79yavpF1akqCAqzLS27Lo6RRmwzLpN8SlgIK9Zt4ZptEVE9UYrzDBUtls8BWr2iaEjGv4kA6Vp_18tKpGyOCcDEd9JPZj61svd_OeAwW4agIXs4eWCw5YRuGI/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvJbQ02Ml3aKR17fxl_79yavpF1akqCAqzLS27Lo6RRmwzLpN8SlgIK9Zt4ZptEVE9UYrzDBUtls8BWr2iaEjGv4kA6Vp_18tKpGyOCcDEd9JPZj61svd_OeAwW4agIXs4eWCw5YRuGI/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Blooming!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-lightskeeping-blues-away.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas Lights: Keeping the Blues Away</span></a></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-74490000500891876202014-12-07T11:58:00.000-06:002014-12-07T11:58:32.875-06:00The Christmas Spirit 2014<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoonview.asp?catref=jdon524">We Can't Download PEACE</a>*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, I opened some windows and crisp clean air
blew through the house, making me think of a quote that I first liked, and then
realized I wasn’t sure what it meant the more I thought about it:</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For the spirit of
Christmas fulfills</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> the greatest hunger of mankind. </b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">~ Loring A. Schuler,
editor of <i>The Ladies Home Journal</i>, 1928-1935.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s a charming corroboration that the delights of the
holiday season -- gifts, lights, decorations, music, food, and festivities -- make
us feel special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Like the unseen fresh air that filled up the rooms, the
spirit of Christmas is wafting around and about me – stirring me up, even
though I am more like a Grinch than an elf. This spirit urges me to give gifts
worthy of the love I have for all my people – and bids me hope I get gifts
reflecting their love for me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is giving and receiving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>love</u></i>
then what fulfills the greatest hunger we have? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, but . . .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My humble opinion remains that our greatest unfulfilled hunger is
for peace: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>peace -- within
ourselves, with those we love, amongst our fellow man, and with God – the God
who so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son – not to condemn us, but
to save us. (John 3:16-17) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whatever spirit of Christmas is goading us to make or buy
presents, God’s Spirit wants us to listen – amidst this wonderful old world’s
babble sounds -- and hear Him – urging us to accept His gift, then in His love
give the gifts that are incalculably costly – grace, forgiveness and
restoration. In our own strength, none of us has the resources to give these
love gifts. In the strength of Him whose birthday we say we celebrate, though,
we can be lavish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-cards-and-charles-addams.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas
Cards and Charles Addams</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://autumngarden-bwsmith.blogspot.com/2011/12/dealing-with-folks-who-wont-open-their.html">Dealing
With Folks Who Won't Open Their Mail</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Source for Image: <a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoonview.asp?catref=jdon524">Jorodo</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-71164237973107058522014-11-29T15:48:00.001-06:002014-11-29T21:07:03.637-06:00The Last Few Weeks of Autumn<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It looks like this weekend will be a climax of color – and
shortly the splendor of this year’s autumn will wane. The wordless evangelist
across the street and many other oaks and maples on our street are bursting
with colors that make me think of Septembers and Octobers around the
Maryland! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQXsKqcjGw2_aG9OAkrCaiWqrElouP5Yf3j34gRaWkTKp_sw-kQvOdtE4EXI0kKhrvAA6nsj-3MY1kurawdyqBncACL2V7MidOiU7SVwAcshBbjDkOBOCAD8V-ArRLBJFtGY8be7qnEU/s1600/Wordless+Evangelist+A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQXsKqcjGw2_aG9OAkrCaiWqrElouP5Yf3j34gRaWkTKp_sw-kQvOdtE4EXI0kKhrvAA6nsj-3MY1kurawdyqBncACL2V7MidOiU7SVwAcshBbjDkOBOCAD8V-ArRLBJFtGY8be7qnEU/s1600/Wordless+Evangelist+A.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/isaiah/55-12.htm"> Leaves, Clapping their Hands</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The fly in the ointment is that only a few days ago, I had
all the flower beds cleaned and mulched – now they are perfectly prepared to be
covered by all those autumn leaves drifting by my windows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Timing has never been my strong suit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But today is sunny and almost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>eighty</u></i> – and I have the good sense to know this moment
is a gift.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Beside me, a book is making an appeal – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Finish me</u></b>! Atul
Gawande’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Being
Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,</i> is the first book I
ever tackled about the inescapable realities of aging and death. I am uneasily
aware that it might be a kind of treasure map plotting
out what I might expect. Thus far, I commend the book. Being forewarned
many enable a wee bit of forearming.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Gawande includes bittersweet stories of real
people, their families, care-givers and doctors trying “to solve a deceptively
simple puzzle: what makes life worth living when <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>we</u></i></b> are old
and frail and unable to care for ourselves.” (Page 92, emphasis added)
And he has includes his experiences from India and other historical notes
of how we arrived at the current crises of eldercare. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Old age really isn’t for sissies; nobody gets out of this
life without hitting a few rough patches –and many of us face scary lonely
stuff! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I prefer to gaze at the autumn leaves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Won't you come into the garden? I would like my
roses to see you. ~<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Brinsley_Sheridan">Richard Brinsley
Sheridan</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->God understands our prayers even when we can't
find the words to say them. ~Author Unknown </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">. . . He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even youths will become weak and
tired,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">and young men will fall in
exhaustion.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But those who trust in the LORD<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">will find new strength.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">They will soar high on wings like
eagles.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">They will run and not grow weary.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">They will walk and not faint.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/nlt/isaiah/40.htm">Isaiah 40:29-31</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And guess what has blanketed the yard as I wrote?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH24tGf18P4LO_GM_nZE0S6gaSieUSYc8PeSjUWbgDbqmV-OEyupMmIo8THo8Y7CQXAVhm16PlDASsQSTuYmg6aENwLANaoGJGrXkq8l4wxBK3sNR71SzfnCLjoi7ec1BaA9g4thMM9Zk/s1600/Backyard+leaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH24tGf18P4LO_GM_nZE0S6gaSieUSYc8PeSjUWbgDbqmV-OEyupMmIo8THo8Y7CQXAVhm16PlDASsQSTuYmg6aENwLANaoGJGrXkq8l4wxBK3sNR71SzfnCLjoi7ec1BaA9g4thMM9Zk/s1600/Backyard+leaves.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaves . . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-43044290135454037972014-11-27T00:27:00.003-06:002014-11-27T01:19:24.191-06:00The Cost of Our Choices – Clanging Cymbal Alert*<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed four
essential human freedoms in a speech to Congress: freedom of speech and
expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I remember understanding these freedoms
through the sentimental – stirring paintings of </span><a href="http://www.nrm.org/2013/08/norman-rockwells-four-freedoms/" style="font-size: x-large;">Norman
Rockwell</a><span style="font-size: large;">. One of those paintings is all tied up with Thanksgiving – good
food, good times shared with the family and good friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_wSroVRO4QbKQElgSwxvLUb3AAJAIE1ni_1cSDzYxCnv6O7FcVLyFAe2_Dhm5ZYKeV3mpYlE98blwEYDL3pZ7K6TgmlaxaybELmYZnGxbrXh48fh8j-sVOCQ937S7yRSr_ArRLQF8lc/s1600/KLBlog+1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_wSroVRO4QbKQElgSwxvLUb3AAJAIE1ni_1cSDzYxCnv6O7FcVLyFAe2_Dhm5ZYKeV3mpYlE98blwEYDL3pZ7K6TgmlaxaybELmYZnGxbrXh48fh8j-sVOCQ937S7yRSr_ArRLQF8lc/s1600/KLBlog+1024.jpg" height="400" width="284" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But, what’s been going on this November 24, and 25, 2014 in
Ferguson Missouri, </span><span style="font-size: large;">shows we aren’t as free from all those terrors – and some of
us hurt and hunger – we aren’t as whistle clean as a Rockwell character. The
good we could do, we don’t and the stupid mean stuff we should not do . . .
well some of us are doing it! Ferguson isn’t a panorama of our nation’s
troubles – but it is a sharper image of what still needs fixing.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What might the National Guard, </span><span style="font-size: large;">who now protect these American properties from angry crowds, be thinking -- what memories are stirred, remembering maybe their own tours in
Iraq or Afghanistan?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For a couple of hours – it sure seemed like war in Ferguson!
Thanks to ever-ready cable news, we knew something big might come, and they
were right there with the blow by blow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in just a couple of hours, people lost businesses and
property – maybe even their self-confidence and resolve. No reason justifies
the rioting – and no reason excuses mistreating the poor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been forty-six years since Dr. King was assassinated –
over fifty since the first marches stirred many people to examine their
consciences – and others to appalling violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people have fought and won hard battles – and others
have behaved badly – or not at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wish media folk would listen to men and women who can shed
more light than heat on the deep divisions in our nation – and can inspire us
to get off our collective rears and work for reconciliation and healing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you click through on the links
and read the entirety of their wisdom and admonitions: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Martin
Luther King, Jr., wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,
tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all
indirectly.” We are in this together</i>. (<a href="http://blackchristiannews.com/2014/11/dr-tony-evans-gives-reflections-ferguson-says-god-calls-us-unity/">Dr.
Tony Evans on Ferguson Mo</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My
sons have far more to fear from making bad choices than they have to fear from
the police.</i> <b>Voddie Baucham </b>is the pastor of preaching at Grace
Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas. (<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/thoughts-on-ferguson">Thoughts
on Ferguson</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> Happy Thanksgiving.</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*<a href="http://biblehub.com/nlt/1_corinthians/13.htm">1
Corinthians 13:1</a></span> </div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125464224265954477.post-52914103663510417032014-11-26T00:24:00.002-06:002014-11-26T09:40:28.723-06:00First Seasonal Warning – from the Dryer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hang the weather – although it looks grim on the east coast.
On the first trip to the washer/dryer early this morning, I discovered the
small load I hoped to simply switch into the dryer was somewhat soggy – like
the spin cycle decided to go home early. What was OK was the separate bag of
unmentionables that is labeled wash by hand – but I not a hand washer. (I am a
hand wringer!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Figuring perhaps the little sack had unbalanced
the spinner, I removed them and threw in a dry bath towel. Note the verb.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">No . . . the spin cycle drained little water away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The third time was the charm . . . however, this time I took
time, and repositioned the few pieces. Perhaps we have dodged a repair bill – a
ten years old dryer can be like me – some innards are flat out tired of
doing the same old thing, and I may just not do what I need to do as hard as I
need to do it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The dryer may not need a tune up now, but I do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As the flu buggies recede, I can see what needs doing, and a
wave of panic is wearing out my motor as surely as the lopsided load unbalanced
the dryer. I hate that sound -- like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Hulk</i> is trying to break out of the dryer when I’ve crammed too much into
the machine, or too carelessly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">With all the down time, I managed to scour PINTEREST’s
quotes and humor, and realize the past few days of enforced rest hasn’t been
all bad. (I stayed away from projects, presents, and meals) I don’t want to go
out of 2014 like the hulk. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have no warranty on the dryer – but I found a pin I pass
along hoping it keeps me in good working order for a while longer – and I hope
it’s better than a shot of WD-40 for you, dear reader. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-8cb4ZivsIG9pAlxRb37xHqO7sF16LYXjl2yAhig407ieQ51BOXpib3rPsj3yeyrn-kP4sjjiOGSi2FaufXJOjY1gC_bbftMr-RaUpxf11zFs4OPaA99LwDT4qin1fs_W0hQvVYdf8I/s1600/Year+end+Reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-8cb4ZivsIG9pAlxRb37xHqO7sF16LYXjl2yAhig407ieQ51BOXpib3rPsj3yeyrn-kP4sjjiOGSi2FaufXJOjY1gC_bbftMr-RaUpxf11zFs4OPaA99LwDT4qin1fs_W0hQvVYdf8I/s1600/Year+end+Reflections.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or, for the upcoming Holidays. . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
bwsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058981651166143165noreply@blogger.com0