Confirmation

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." John 6:39 [KJV]

In seventh and eighth grade (1967-1969) church catechism class was conducted by Pastor Keith. This class prepared us for the "Rite of Confirmation" when we renewed our baptismal vows spoken for us by our parents and godparents when we were infants.

Catechism was not as expected. A Catechism book was used in our study. We memorized printed answers to printed questions and the Bible seemed to take second place. Being in the last row, where I could not see, did not help my concentration, but "we must sit alphabetically."

Thumbing through the Bible I read a text that was so impressive that I wrote it in large letters in my catechism book, "We ought to obey God rather than man," Acts 5:29.

We were required to memorize the catechism's version of the Ten Commandments.

One day in Catechism we were studying the Sabbath commandment, third in the Catechism, fourth in the Bible, when Kurt asked, "Why are the catechism's Ten Commandments different from the Bible's?"

Pastor Keith asked if anyone had mentioned this to him. Kurt said his grandmother had.

 The pastor said the Bible and Catechism agree on everything, then changed the subject.

Kurt persisted and the class urged him on. As he read the Sabbath commandment from the Bible and then from the Catechism we were amazed they did not agree. Kurt pointed out that the Bible specified the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, not Sunday the first day as the pastor taught.

Pastor Keith angrily snapped, "Do not mention this subject again! You are too young to understand, you do not know anything! You have not even been confirmed! You are to take my word for what the Bible says and accept it!"

He dismissed us early under a veil of fear and confusion.

. Questions were raised such as, “Why does the Bible say one thing and the catechism another? Why does the pastor get upset if we ask Bible questions?”

On Confirmation Sunday the pastor gave each confirmand a personal Bible text. Mine was, "lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world," Matthew 28:20. I had never heard this text before, and it filled me with questions and awe; "the end of the world?"

Needless Anxiety

Needless anxiety is a foolish thing; and it hinders us from standing in a true position before God.

When the Holy Spirit comes into the soul, there will be no desire to complain and murmur because we do not have everything we want. Rather, we will thank God from a full heart for the blessings that we have.

…let us study the word of God that we may know how to take hold of His promises, and claim them as our own. Then we shall be happy. The enemy will be unable to destroy our peace.

Appeal for Unity, E G White

Needless Worry

There is much needless worrying, much trouble of mind, over things that cannot be helped. The Lord would have His children put their trust fully in Him.

Our Lord is a just and righteous God; His children should acknowledge His goodness and His justice in the large and small things of life.

Those who cherish the spirit of worry and complaint are refusing to recognize God's guiding hand.

Appeal for Unity, E G White

The Kingdom

We need to be more diligent in the study of the Scriptures. They must be to us, not a make believe story, but the truth of the living God, the foundation of our faith, the assurance on which we build our hope of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

Appeal for Unity, E G White

WORLDLY MATTERS

The minds of many are occupied with the consideration of worldly matters, often to the exclusion of the religion of God’s word.

The thoughts are more often upon the matter of eating and drinking and dressing (clothing/fashion) than upon the great and important duty of serving God with humility and prayer.

...in many families decided changes must be brought about; they need to know what they must do to be saved.

If they will inquire diligently the way of life, God will impart to them an understanding of His word, and teach them to value - at their true worth - the things of eternity. Then the heart will no longer reach out covetously for worldly benefits and the pleasures of this life.

E G White, Appeal for Unity

Moon Landing 1969

Summer School is a good thing!

In 1969 I participated in voluntary Middle School summer school activities. Those being meteorology and astronomy.

In astronomy the class drove 70 miles to the University Planetarium and then out to lunch. One evening the class congregated at our teacher's house where his wife served us a light supper, including raspberry lemonade, and then we viewed the moon through the teacher's telescope. We also talked about the upcoming Moon landing and our excitement was at a fever pitch.

I remember the Moon walk of Neil Armstrong. It happened July 20, 1969. My family watched from our television. When Neil Armstrong took that first step and uttered those immortal words, "One small step for man, one giant step for mankind," Mom and I cried. It was too awesome to comprehend. My friend Diane called and cried, "Did you see it?! Did you see it?!" Diane was in my astronomy class too. The entire class was super-excited and almost stunned that such things were happening in our world, in our lifetime.

What God Has Done

The plan of salvation originated with God.
Salvation was purchased through the death of Jesus.
Forgiveness is secured through the blood of Jesus.
Power for holy living is granted through the Holy Spirit.

In other words, everything concerning the plan of salvation is provided for us.
Those who accept what God has done and follow His leading will be led to freedom.

by John Bradshaw - It Is Written

itiswritten.com

We are Never Abandoned

Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died. We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life.

Prophets & Kings 176 E G White

God's People are Safe

God who slumbers not, who in every crisis has been the strength and dependence of His people, will carry out His eternal purpose.

   He will thwart the designs of wicked men, and will bring to confusion the counsels of those who plot mischief against His people.

He who is the King, the Lord of hosts…amidst the strife and tumult of nations guards His children still.

 When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown, when the arrows of wrath shall strike through the hearts of His enemies, God's people will be safe in His hands.

E G WHITE

A PRAYER

Lord, take my heart, For I cannot give it. It is Thy property.
Keep it pure, For I cannot keep it for Thee.
Save me in spite of my weak, unchristlike self.
Mold me, fashion me,
Raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere,
Where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul.

Christ’s Object Lessons 159, E G WHITE

VBS - Vacation Bible School

In the 1960's - during two weeks in June - from nine a.m. until noon - mornings were spent at Missouri Synod Lutheran Vacation Bible School.

 All the children would enter the sanctuary by two's singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” while following the Christian and American flags.

In the sanctuary we would sing, pray and listen to a sermonette and a mission story. Then in our classrooms we would work on crafts and listen to Bible stories.

 It was so wonderful to be there! And so wonderful to be a part of it all!

Always Room for One More

God never downsizes His kingdom. There is always room for one more.

Benign tumors

Four weeks ago Andy's doctor (ENT) found two tumors on Andy's neck, one was quite large. A biopsy was performed - both were benign! The ENT urged to have them removed ASAP - so the following week they were removed in a 3 hour surgery. Andy's incision goes from around the ear down almost to the adam's apple. Praise the Lord that none of the facial nerves were cut/damaged!

The day after Andy's surgery I noticed a large, painful purple/red lump on my left breast. My doctor saw me the next day and it was removed. It was benign!

We are both in pain still, but healing.

Praise God the tumors were benign and removed promptly!

Feel the pain - Cry if you want

Go ahead, feel the pain - Cry if you want. Acknowledge something has died even if it is just a dream of how your life was supposed to go. Tears have a way of cleansing the soul and refreshing the spirit. As you release all that is bottled up inside, God collects those precious tears in a bottle, and does not disregard them. See Psalm 56:8.

Unveiling the Diva Mystique p 82, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Harvest House Publishers, 2005

Lay All Your Plans Before God

Lay all your plans before God, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate.

Accept His plans instead of your own, even though their acceptance requires the abandonment of cherished projects.

Testimonies for the Church, Volume 7, page 44, E G White

Not by Feeling, but by Faith

Whether we feel God’s love towards us or not – God does love us – God loves you. Believe that He does.

  Go not by feeling but by faith!


When something is wrong in your life you must make the change to line up with what God says in Holy Scripture. God cannot truly bless unless our lives are right with Him.

 God bless you.

No Mimic Battle

We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every [person] good and evil angels strive. This is no make-believe conflict.

It is no mimic battle in which we are engaged. We have to meet most powerful adversaries, and it rests with us to determine which shall win. We are to find our Strength where the early disciples found theirs.

Signs of the Times, Feb. 17, 1914, E G White

See Blog January 12, 2015 - Stupendous Crisis

Before our eyes...

Today men and nations are being tested by the plummet in the hand of Him who makes no mistake...

. Today the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. 

Everything in our world is in agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling the Savior's prophecy of the events to precede His coming.

Prophets & Kings, pp 536-537, E G White

See blog Jan 12, 2015 - Stupendous Crisis

The remainder of our life...

Let us look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the Lord has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer.

Let us keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God has shown us:
the tears He has wiped away,
the pains He has soothed,
the anxieties removed,
the fears dispelled,
the wants supplied,
the blessings bestowed -
thus strengthening ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our [life]...

Steps to Christ 89, E G White

I Love You...Says God

God says, "I love you with eternal love, pursuing after you with loving kindness. Whoever believes in Me and keeps My Commandments loves Me, and My Father will love them who love Me and I will love them and manifest Myself to them. For God so loved the human race that He gave His only Son, that anyone who believes in Him will not suffer eternal death but will have eternal life."

This is love: not that we love God, but that He loves us, and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. No one has a greater love than the One who lays down His life for His friends.

Dear Friend, since God loves us this much, we should love each other. We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates another, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for others."

Dear Friend, I close my letter with these last words. Be a mature Christian, pay attention to what I have written, be in unity, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you always. And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses all understanding….

 Now to God who is able to do all things super-abundantly beyond what we think or ask...to Him be the glory... throughout all generations, forever. Amen!


The above quotes come from these Bible texts (variety of versions): Jeremiah 31:3/ 1 John 14:21/ John 3:16/ 1 John 4:9-10/ John 15:13/ 1 John 4:11,19-20/ John 13:35/ 2 Corinthians 13:11/ Ephesians 3:19-21