Thursday, April 30, 2015

One week to go ...

While the mangosteens ripened at home, 

my Dad sent funny pictures of growing up. The piano was in my bedroom.
Note: my reluctant pupil (Norm) and I were too small for the bench 
so we had to sit on a book.

W and I played around with the grandkids at the park

and fed them junk food.

Sunday, we drove across the state to a conference. 
Each morning we walked at 6am, enjoying the beautiful sunrises of Coeur d'Alene. 
Sunsets were amazing, too. (This pic of our resort by Eric Fromm.)

What a great time, cheering on presenters and speakers.

We visited with people devoted to serving Indonesia and other parts of the world,

and hung out with those we've missed over the past year. 
The new network leader encouraged women
to act and not to wait, to do what was at hand or create new things,
and then to watch the doors of service open.

We celebrated Mel's retirement from a long-term job 
with his family and our dearest friends.

Our Jakarta pastor preached the ordination service - 

and among those charged with living out their calling was
our good friend Terry G.

We drove back to Seattle under a glorious sky.

I was so happy to enjoy a Thursday morning coffee at Third Place Commons, 
one more time.

We've begun packing to return home next week. 
The process is never easy or pretty but we are excited to go back.

Read more:
*For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25 ESV

*For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-15 NIV

*May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13  NIV

From C. S. Lewis: The Weight of Glory
There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn: We must play. 

But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists 
between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner—no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian
neighbour, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat—the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Pleasures in many shapes and sizes

Another week is done. It's been filled with ...

Walks in the sun and dandelions

Jamieson Furniture Gallery in Bellevue: 
a visit with a friend's friend,
who has an eye for one-of-a-kind furnishings

Wednesday, it's back to school: 
a classroom of information and passion for soul care

...with beloved faculty and girlfriends

A trip to ToysRUs with my granddaughter
= a princess in a princess bed
My dad starts to catalog old pics. Here I'm 6 or 7 years of age 
and with my three brothers.
Thursday, Asha, who is an artist, visits with me and brings me
a lovely hand-painted card and present
What a warm welcome at Neighborhood Church when
we speak to an Indian gathering on Friday
Sunday, we drive across Washington State to a conference,

stopping in Spokane, where friends show us
their new property - full of wildflowers
The week begins with inspiration and encouragement.

after which we eat pizza, huge cookies, and ice-cream
with a new friend, Mary Kidwell,
and others. (Mary was sharing this treat with 3 other people!)

Read more:
*Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10  NIV

*For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 ESV

*To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:27-28 ESV

*I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, \he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:13-15 NIV

*Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 ESV

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,  now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. 1 Peter 2:1-3  NLT

Prayer: At the end of one day and the beginning of another, you alone, O God, know what we need. Thank you for forgiveness and for loving us despite our failures.

Help us to find our hope and joy in you. We are so grateful for Jesus. Amen

Monday, April 20, 2015

The story in pictures

Too busy to write. Busy enjoying life with friends. Busy following the Call. Busy and happy. Life is good.

How many of these faces do you know?







Random Canadian: mukluks and parka. Yup, it's April.








Agreeing that the stormy 4'-square picture is a no-go in her dark apartment, Kirsten and I modified it with pastels.

Before:

After:

We are enjoying Seattle so much that I haven't written. Doesn't mean we're not thinking about you though...
  • A friend received a special acknowledgement today. Hurrah!
  • We spoke at three venues in April and enjoyed each one.
  • We attended a few workshops.
  • Canada - especially, seeing our parents and siblings - was wonderful.
  • And girlfriends, thank you for making time to get together. My soul is filling up.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Kirsten in Austin

Easter Sunday we speak at TLC - The Living Church. It's an Indonesian gathering in Seattle with Pastor Herry Darmono as the host. I love the ending, a short play on the meaning and value of the cross.

We've made arrangements to eat with family, so we have to leave afterwards - with regrets. It's a wonderful time together.



We fly to Austin TX on Monday. It's our first visit together with Kirsten, our daughter. She makes a special late birthday effort with little pies from a local bakery. We eat at her favorite places, all of them interesting and yummy.


We have lunch with Ron Dugone, the 1970s NU alumni connector. He keeps everyone up-to-date on FB for birthdays, special requests, and other milestones.


Lunch is amazing and the dessert melts in our mouth.


The terrain of Austin is rolling hills. The parking lot stones look like nuts dusted with icing sugar.


And the plants are unusual.


We take pictures by an Austin landmark.


And have supper at a Thai - Southern fusion food stall.


The Sweet Chili Slaw - delicious.


 And the Mac and Cheese nothing short of stellar.


The week flies by - and then it's almost time to return to Seattle.