Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Assigning of the Call

Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church . . ."

—Colossians 1:24

We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him He brushes all this aside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment we see His purpose, and we say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, “If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!” But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.

I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.

A View From Alaska

"The last 45 of my 66 years I've spent in a commercial fishing town in Alaska. I understand Alaska politics but never understood national politics well until this last year. Here's the breaking point: Neither side of the Palin controversy gets It's not about persona, style, rhetoric, its about doing things. Even Palin supporters never mention the things that I'm about to mention here.


1- Democrats forget when Palin was the Darling of the Democrats, because as soon as Palin took the Governors office away from a fellow Republican and tough SOB, Frank Murkowski, she tore into the Republicans Corrupt Bastards Club (CBC) and sent them packing. Many of them are now residing in State housing and wearing orange jump suits. The Democrats reacted by skipping around the yard, throwing confetti and singing la la la la (well, you know how they are). Name another governor in this country that has ever done anything similar. But while you're thinking, I'll continue.


2- Now with the CBC gone, there were fewer Alaskan politicians to protect the huge, giant oil companies here. So, she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called ACES. Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them don't let the door hit you in the stern on your way out. They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich. Of course the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar.


3- The other thing she did when she walked into the governors office is she got the list of State requests for federal funding for projects, known as pork. She went through the list, took 85% of them and placed them in the when-hell-freezes-over stack. She let locals know that if we need something built, well pay for it ourselves. Maybe she figured she could use the money she got from selling the previous governors jet because it was extravagant. Maybe she could use the money she saved by dismissing the governor's cook (remarking that she could cook for her own family), giving back the State vehicle issued to her, maintaining that she already had a car, and dismissing her State provided security force (never mentioning, I imagine, that she's packing heat herself). I'm still waiting to hear the names of those other governors.


4- Now, even with her much-ridiculed gosh and golly mannerism, she also managed to put together a totally new approach to getting a natural gas pipeline built which will be the biggest private construction project in the history of North America. No one else could do it although they tried. If that doesn't impress you, then you're trying too hard to be unimpressed while watching her do things like this while baking up a batch of brownies with her other hand.


5- For 30 years, Exxon held a lease to do exploratory drilling at a place called Point Thompson. They made excuses the entire time why they couldn't start drilling. In truth they were holding it like an investment. No governor for 30 years could make them get started. This summer, she told them she was revoking their lease and kicking them out. They protested and threatened court action. She shrugged and reminded them that she knew the way to the court house. Alaska won again.


6- President Obama wants the nation to be on 25% renewable resources for electricity by 2025. Sarah went to the legislature and submitted her plan for Alaska to be at 50% renewables by 2025. We are already at 25%. I can give you more specifics about things done, as opposed to style and persona . Everybody wants to be cool, sound cool, look cool. But that’s just a cover-up. I'm still waiting to hear from liberals the names of other governors who can match what mine has done in two and a half years. I won’t be holding my breath.


By the way, she was content to return to AK after the national election and go to work, but the haters wouldn't let her. Now these adolescent screechers are obviously not scuba divers. And no one ever told them what happens when you continually jab and pester a barracuda. Without warning, it will spin around and tear your face off. Shoulda known better.


Dewey Whetsell

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Chocolate

I think chocolate is heaven on earth.  I guess Henry does too.

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P9291117This was my view from the driver’s seat after I gave Henry a piece of chocolate.  He instantly cried for more.  I had to run into the house to get my camera before I cleaned him off.

P9291115 This might explain his screaming for over an hour.  I am thinking it gave him a stomach ache.  Poor little guy.  Mean mommy.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Shanie and Sylvia today and Stacey tomorrow.  Hmmm.  All begin with s.

Henry’s EXTREMELY overtired.  We had a full day.  He played with a friend’s 9 year old twins for hours.  During that time he chipped his front tooth.  I didn’t realize until we got home.  When he bumped his face, I thought he only got a bloody lip.  Sad to say that isn’t the case.  It is upsetting to me because he is only 18 months old and his tooth is broken.  Makes me sad.  I AM glad it was his tooth and not his head or eye or something more fragile or more permanent. 

He didn’t take a nap today or yesterday.  By the time we got home it was time for dinner and then I was planning on putting him to bed early.  During dinner he started uncontrollably bawling.  Bad.  Nothing would console him.  I hate times like that.  It’s so disturbing because he’s too young to communicate.  I always wonder if he’s really sick, in severe pain, or what is going on.

He just fell asleep on top of me in bed.  So much for after Henry’s bedtime chores.  They’ll have to wait.  I just remind myself that in a few years he’ll be too big to sleep on mommy.  These times are precious.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Ukrainian Orphans

Orphans in Ukraine are in my thoughts quite frequently.  An overwhelming problem that I should continue to pray for each day.  I hope to be a parent of one of these orphans one day and, the good Lord willing, maybe Dave and I will work to teach more of them about God’s infinite and healing love.  Thank God for the redeeming message of the cross – gives power and hope to the helpless and hopeless. 

More information on Ukrainian Orphans.

Sum-mo-wah (Some more) Henry

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Church – testing out some settings on my camera.

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Entertaining himself.

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bummer this picture didn’t come out.  here he is working for a living or maybe just for his room & board.  He got very upset when I tried to do the vacuuming myself.  I’ll use this as evidence in a few years that he really did beg to help clean.

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I’m afraid the shoe area will never remain clean for more than 30 seconds.  This is where Henry lingers/ loiters to try on our shoes and chuck his toys.

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Color Time – I think that’s the name of a rent to own store.  Kind a funny.

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Evening coloring with Daddy.  Sitting in the chair like a big boy.

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Coloring this morning.

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

A Little More Cuteness Mixed with Grumpiness

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Just woke up from his nap.  NOT happy.

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Daddy swinging on the new to us play set.

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Rubber boots complicate shortcuts.

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We ditched the boots.

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Quite the climber.

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A Little Henry

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I don’t need a little Henry, I need a lot.  This kid is so cute.  Here he is burying himself in pillows at Annie’s mother’s rental the day before the wedding.

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Annie and grandmother working on last minute details.

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flower girl.

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Mr. Showoff

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the treacherous descent to the water

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we made it!

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I brought some of Henry’s clothes to a consignment shop months ago.  After we went to his 18 month check up yesterday, we stopped in and had a credit.  We were able to get these boots and a few winter shirts.  How stinkin’ cute!

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In action.

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Apparently Dave thought them just as cute because I found this photo on the camera today.

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Henry walking around with Daddy’s shoe.  His new thing.  He tries to walk around with one or two of our shoes on.  He gets so frustrated when the don’t cooperate with him or fall off his feet. 

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This photo was taken this morning.  Yesterday we found out he grew over two inches – maybe even close to three in a little over two months.  He hasn’t gained that much weight though.  Just growing and thinning out.  He was able to point out his eyes, ears, nose, mouth and tummy for the doctor when she asked.  She said he is doing extremely well and is really smart.   We already knew this but it’s great to hear it from the professionals.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

sleepy

I am having a tired day today.  but good.  my grandmother found two letters that Vinny and I wrote to Molly when she was in college.  I was very impressed with our writing abilities for our ages, our thoughtfulness and love for our aunt.  So cute that it made me cry.  I am going to scan them and post them as soon as I can figure it out.

Henry is now saying, “I’m going to get you”.  So cute! 

My father set up a wooden playground that my friend Cathy Ansart gave Henry.  We have had it in our backyard for quite some time and now it’s finally almost finished.  There is a steep ramp that leads to a tower and the other side of the tower has a slide (there is also a swing set, ladder and rope ladder attached).  Henry is so strong.  He climbs the ramp like a ladder and then slides down the slide.  I am very impressed because it is really designed for a much older child and he is doing so well. 

We (Henry and I) took a quick kayak trip on Hobb’s Pond today.  Very quick because Henry was screaming bloody murder.  He was a little scared. 

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sweet Nevaeh

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Other than my 17 double chins from looking down, I like this picture.  Mostly because of the sweet girl who wanted me to pick her up during the wedding.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The MOST Beautiful Bride

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Thank You, God, for my child – Congrats to Annie Gray!

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Countless times a day I look at my beautiful child and thank God for the gift He gave me.  Thank You.

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He passed out on my bed as I read him the Bible (our nightly routine).  I didn’t bring him to his room because I enjoy just looking at him.  Precious. 

He was so tired today because he had so much fun at his cousin’s rehearsal and wedding the past few days.  Annie was the most beautiful bride with the most gorgeous wedding venue anywhere.  Congratulations Annie and Peter!  We love you guys and are praying for your life together and your big move to London!

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Happy 1&1/2 Birthday to My Little Super Star!

P9111020Puppy Love!

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Notice the blanket on the back of the couch and no cushions?  Our little puppy turns out to be a major house wrecker.  We knew she could destroy but she has gone above and beyond lately.  All in the name of keeping us safe.  The pillows, back of the couch and window sills take Maggie’s fury toward the old women walking by, neighbor’s exiting and mailmen delivering mail.  How dare they?  She would teach them a lesson but instead our house takes a toll.

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My sweet boy.