1975--2nd post

What was going on the year Andy & I got married?

• The Vietnam war ended
• Gerald Ford was president
• Average income was $14,100 a year.  We made $2500 that first year of marriage.
• Patti Hearst was arrested
• Love Will Keep Us Together was sung by Captain & Tennille
• JAWS opened in theatres.  We went to see it in Santa Fe on our honeymoon.
• Trans-Alaska Pipeline was started
• The first disposable razor was created
• Watergate Scandal occurred
• The price of gasoline was 44 cents per gallon
• Saturday Night Live debuted on television
• Tiger Woods was born
• Motorolla got a patent for first mobile phone
• Jimmy Hoffa disappeared
• Operation Babylift--orphans carried out of Vietnam
• Oil went over $13/barrel
• Wheel of Fortune premiered
• Average monthly rent:  $200/month.  Exactly what we paid for our rent that first year!  (Makes you wonder how we made it on that $2500 income!!)
• Have You Never Been Mellow was sung by Olivia Newton-John

35 Years

Andy & I will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this weekend.  We're headed to the hills!

...to these hills.  The "cabin" we'll be staying in is actually in Angel Fire, New Mexico.  And I use the term "cabin" very loosely.  It's actually the HGTV dream home.  (Not really--but it's hard to tell the difference!)

I've heard the leaves have actually started changing.  Thirty-five years ago, we went to the same town for our honeymoon.  Red River, actually.  And the leaves were glorious then.  We were married on Sept. 27, 1975.  And Red River was mostly deserted that weekend.  The town was shutting down for the season.  Everywhere we went, we were some of the only people being served.  And everyone asked us if we were newlyweds.  I wonder how they knew??  (At least that was my thought process 35 years ago!)

Red River is one of our all-time favorite places.  We've spent many family vacations there.  I can hardly wait to get to the mountains and curl up by the fire and read a good book.  Andy can hardly wait to throw a fish hook into the water.  You might think 35 years sounds boring.  I think it sounds...comfortable and warm.



TWO MORE DAYS TIL....

Photo by Lindsey Dietz

Can you guess?

The Last Christian by David Gregory

If Jesus were to tarry his return, what do you imagine would be happening in the year 2088?  David Gregory has a pretty big imagination in The Last Christian and it really made me think!  With the way technology and knowledge is increasing, can you imagine people being able to visit face-to-face anyplace in the world in a virtual reality world?  Can you imagine brain transplants that would enable people to live forever?

That's only part of the story in The Last Christian.  Now imagine a 34-year-old daughter of missionaries coming out of a remote jungle village in Papau New Guinea into this virtual technological world--trying to save her village from a fatal disease.  And Abigail Caldwell is also one of the last Christians in the world.  Her grandfather has left her a virtual message which catapults her into trying to be a witness for Christ in this new world.  Abigail finds 2 men who respond to her kind spirit and gentle ways and who help her navigate this strange new world.

I'm not a big sci-fi fan.  So it was hard for me to get into this book.  I would read awhile, put it down, and then pick it back up.  But towards the last half of the book, I couldn't put it down.  That's when David Gregory began preaching his message through this fiction book.  And it inspired me!  And I do believe it's going to help me live my life differently.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  Maybe if I were a sci-fi fan, it would be 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

The Least Among You

The year is 1965, the place is an all-white seminary, and the main character, Richard Kelly (Cedric Sanders),  is a young black man on probation.  He's sent to seminary for 2 semesters as part of his probation....by his mother's recommendation.  It's a movie inspired by a true story.  And it actually contains all of the angst that happened during that time-frame.  Richard Kelly is angry.  But Samuel Benton (Louis Gossett, Jr), the school's handyman and gardener, guides young Richard to truth.  A professor, Kate Allison (Lauren Holly), at the seminary was a former missionary in The Congo.  The president of the seminary encourages Kate to help Richard deal with a hostile culture since she should have an understanding because of her past experiences.  Each person is dealing with their own pain and understanding of truth through the movie.  The acting is superb and it is a very well-made movie.  I'm not sure if I received an edited version, but it appeared that some language may have been used that was edited out.

I was actually 10-years-old in 1965...but even at that young age (and being white), I knew about racism.  Since that time, I've come to understand why there was so much anger, but this movie brings even more understanding.  And I believe it accurately portrays the feelings on all sides.  There were those who were actively racists...those who wanted to extend love to other races...and those who were persecuted.  But  you just don't expect to find it in a seminary or religious setting.    

I highly recommend this movie.  I give it a 5 out of 5 stars.  

Thank you to Book Sneeze for providing this movie for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

I cleaned out my cabinet

My clean cabinet

Last night, I'd had it!  I went to make some coffee and opened my cabinet door and things fell out.  It's been bad awhile.  I was tired of trying to scoot things around to make the salt and pepper shakers fit in.  But there were things in there that had to go.  Why hadn't I gotten rid of it before?  I didn't want to be wasteful.  Maybe what sent me over the edge was watching Hoarders right before this happened.  A lady on this particular episode wouldn't throw away the cotton in medicine bottles because she didn't want to be wasteful.  Hmmmm....

So I began tossing.  There was a large container of Folger's Coffee---that we don't even drink.  Surprisingly, it all fit into a canister on my counter.  The Chinese tea was tossed.  Loose leaves?  Who willingly chooses to sift leaves through their teeth?  It was a romantic idea while we were in China, but it had to go.  The honey that had fermented went into the trash can.  And a myriad of unmatching coffee cups and salt & pepper shakers went into a sack to be taken to Living Water.  Then I cleaned all the coffee grounds off of my shelf.  I actually have room left over!!  And it's clean.  And you know what?  It brings peace.  I know that sounds crazy, but order brings peace.  (And I keep wanting to go take a peek!!)

I had no idea I was creating a visual aid for our prayer time this morning.  I love when God does that!  My prayer group has been praying for intimacy.  Intimacy with God, with our spouses, with our families.  We realized today that selfishness (the opposite of intimacy) is like my cluttered cabinet.  When we're demanding our own way and pushing our desires, there's no harmony and no intimacy.  We have to let go for order to come in.  Lies create disorder.  Our own agenda makes a mess of things. 

But when we submit to God, wait on His agenda and fit in with His plan, there's peace, harmony and a breeding ground for intimacy.  That soul peace leads to harmony with our spouses and families.  But we have to give up first.  We have to submit and serve.  Intimacy is a good and lovely thing---something worth looking at!

...I think I'll go take a look at that cabinet again and think about tackling a closet.

Cure to Boredom

Do you get bored?  When my kids were growing up, if they ever said that they were bored, Andy would say, "You only get bored if you're boring."  I would say, "Oh you're bored?  Chore time!"  Either way, it kept them from coming to us often with that phrase.

But I have to confess that I do get bored.  I've learned that I love challenges.  But once I conquer that challenge, I'm ready for a new one.  In fact, "that feeling" creeps over me and I start looking for something new.

God has been whispering to my heart about this problem in my life.  And I'm going to tell you what I believe.  (Like you thought I wouldn't!)  I believe it's because I've pursued my goals...and reached them...that I get bored.

Jesus gave us the cure to boredom in John 5:19-20.  "So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in His turn].The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses to (shows) Him everything that He Himself does. And He will disclose to Him (let Him see) greater things yet than these, so that you may marvel and be full of wonder and astonishment."  (God created the first "Take Your Child to Work" program.  heh-heh)

If we're self-seeking, we'll eventually run dry or burn out.  We'll get bored.  But...if we wake up each day and ask the Father, "What is YOUR plan for this day?  I want to do what You're doing!," we'll never be bored.  Why can't I get it?  This life is not about me!!  (A great blog I read about this)  It's about God.  It's His plan.  And He's so creative that He never runs out of new ideas.

I wouldn't tell you something I haven't tried.  I woke up yesterday (yep, got a lot of experience under my belt! ehhhh....) and fixed my focus on God and His plan.  I went to my same ol' job with a new spirit...an expectant spirit.  And I'll do the same today.  I want to see what God wants to do.  And I'll do what He's doing.   I bet I won't be bored.