Before you turn against Israel,

fully realize what they are up against. I dare you. Look at the map. Take it in. Think about how you would like to live with that immediate threat. They did not ask for the massacre. The massacre did not fight against the government or the military. It targeted civilians. So many people are calling for the complete annihilation of Israel...and they have been for decades. 

China has removed Israel from its map. 

 https://oct7map.com/

This war is looking a lot like what is described in Psalm 83 which many people think is prophecy. So far, what we are seeing is not nations taking action against Israel (Ezekiel 38). It is fringe/proxy groups (Psalm 83). Will this lead to the Ezekiel 38 war?

Toolboxes Installed

Clint had his toolboxes installed! They look nice and should work out great. He chose the DECKED full-sized sliding drawers for the bed so he did not have to climb in and out of the truck to reach his tools.

so entangled with the world

"Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere. The world is whitewashed just enough to pass inspection by blind men posing as believers.

Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New Testament standard. Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life. Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual. We have lost the art of worship. We are not producing saints. Our models are successful business men, celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities. We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the modern advertiser. Our homes have been turned into theaters. Our literature is shallow and our hymnody borders on sacrilege. And scarcely anyone appears to care.

Much that passes for New Testament Christianity is little more than objective truth sweetened with song and made palatable by religious entertainment. Christ calls men to carry a cross; we call them to have fun in His name. He calls them to forsake the world; we assure them that if they but accept Jesus the world is their oyster. He calls them to suffer; we call them to enjoy all the bourgeois comforts modern civilization affords. He calls them to self-abnegation and death; we call them to spread themselves like green bay trees or perchance even to become stars in a pitiful fifth-rate religious zodiac. He calls them to holiness; we call them to a cheap and tawdry happiness that would have been rejected with scorn by the least of the Stoic philosophers." -A.W. Tozer, Paths To Power

God Gets the Glory

It started as a joke...

then I realized it's a reason to praise the Lord for the strength He gave me.

Combatting lies against Israel

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p_CQN9bGcg&ab_channel=AndyWoods

Site Cleared! Exciting Times!

For those who know, the land has been cleared for our newest project.

We have not decided if we will call it a cabin, cottage, or villa.

We're tossing around names.
Emily is spreading seeds in the picture.

This is where the driveway will be.

We have to get the culvert pipe installed, build a driveway, move a storage shed out there, and hook up electricity. Then we can put in a well and septic.

Israeli-owned gift shop is asking for financial support

 https://qumranshop.com/

This Israeli-owned gift shop is asking for financial support by purchasing one or more of its products. 

"Rita Peleg the manager of the visitor center where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, called me today with a plea to ask for your help. Her Dead Sea products shop was fully stocked and ready for a busy tourist season and now there are no tourists in Israel at all.

Below is her letter and link.

This is not a pleas for donations but rather a plea for help to keep their business afloat.  Please help as you feel led to!

Israel is at war

We are fighting for our legitimate home, we are fighting for the Holy Land

We don't ask for donations but it would be very helpful if you show your support by ordering

From our website , our dead sea cosmetic  products ,Revival & Kedma

Our economy is in danger due to many organizations, such as BDS & Anti-semitic organizations boycotting "Made in Israel" products.

 We need your support especially in this terrible time when our people were murdered and massacred by Hamas-ISIS .

It's can be a win-win situation. You will enjoy our world known Dead Sea cosmetic products, with the many health benefits of Dead Sea minerals, we offer you  a 30% discount. 

we will give a donation from our sells to the survivors communities who over the terrible massacre. 

By standing with us you helping Israel to overcome the financial challenges and the future of the holy land.

Kedma and revival products:

● All products originate in Israel and contain Dead Sea minerals.

● Include face, body, and hair care products.

● Lovely gift sets for Christmas!

● Fast delivery

Thank you very much for your attention and support."

the desire for my true country

“The Christian says, 'Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that country and to help others to do the same.”  C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Nearly 500 Already

Clint has his new Dodge Ram
...and has already put nearly 500 miles on it!

What she did with the mums...

Almost everything is ready for the Third Temple

'Almost everything is ready for the Third Temple,' claims Israeli TV report about red heifers brought to Israel last year

https://allisrael.com/almost-everything-is-ready-for-the-third-temple-claims-israeli-tv-report-on-red-heifers-brought-to-israel-last-year

Still Waiting For It

Clint is still waiting on the final little details before he can take possession of the 2024 Dodge Ram. That will be a fun day! God is good!

Another Big Goal Met!

 Praise the Lord! Yesterday evening, Clint and I reached another long-term goal.

May we always seek the Lord first and keep Him at the forefront.

How to Forgive by Elisabeth Elliot

 Elisabeth offers four things that helped her forgive:

1. Receive grace (Matthew 18:1-35)
2. Acknowledge the wrong. Make sure your judgement is based on the Word. Be straightforward with God.
3. Lay down all rights. Forgiveness is unconditional laying down of the self. this includes the desire for vindication, pleasure at the other person's humiliation, keeping accounts of evil, the right ot an apology, and bringing every though under obedience to Christ.
4. What to do for the one who has wronged you:
   1. If he asks forgiveness, forgive
   2. If he doesn't, forgive with God.
   3. Pray for him.
   4. Ask for grace to treat him as if nothing had ever come between you and stand with Christ for him. (source)

Victory for Joshua!

After Covid, Joshua had no appetite and would feel sick if he forced himself to eat. It was likely due to a chemosensory imbalance (see link above). He became very thin and was tired a lot. I encouraged him to battle through the feelings and retrain his body to accept nourishment. God wants us to be strong-minded and disciplined. I told him not to give up and to keep fighting for it. He took my advice and battled his body to do what was the right thing. He has put on muscle and is feeling great, as you can clearly see. I am very proud of him for working so hard to beat something so tough.

The battles are not over, so please keep praying for him.

Affordable College Options

Many people are so stuck in the system that they can't see their way out of it. They think it is a sign that they are doing well to send their child to an expensive college. Those of us who know, question their financial sense. It is not rational to go into a great amount of debt when you can accomplish the very same goal with the same results for much less. Just because it is the way everyone else is doing it does not mean it is the best way for you to do it. 

Why become a debt slave
when there are alternative and affordable ways
to reach the same goals?

I just went over someone's finances where they are paying off an $88k student loan on a $40k per year job. They are dependent on a disabled relative to make ends meet. The relative is not long for the nursing home due to her disability which puts the first person in an insecure position. 

Asked on social media: What college is only $9K!?! Lol

Wendy Asbell

Online colleges offer accredited degrees for much, much less. We called around and asked the Human Resource Departments of major employers in our area what they looked for, and if they were OK with the online colleges we were looking at. They all told us that as long as it is accredited, they will accept it. We did not pay more than $6k for any of our 5 adult children's college degrees. All of them have good-paying jobs and most are in leadership positions. Two purchased homes at 23 years old, one moved out and completely supported herself at 19 (she graduated high school at 14 and college at 17), and our 22-year-old is currently looking for a house. We still have two to go through college but they want to do it together. One of those two graduated high school at 15 and the other will graduate at 14. Alternative education is more affordable and has the same or better results.

An extra note: I expect Emily and Hannah will both graduate college before 18 years old.

Does God want us to use common sense or rely solely on faith?

https://www.openbible.info/topics/discretion

A synonym of discretion is common sense. 

I think the Bible makes it very clear common sense comes from the Lord and that He wants us to use it in conjunction with faith. AND, faith is not a feeling. Feelings are fickle. Faith is believing without seeing. 

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

My love to all!

Amanda's Aiptasia Elimination

https://youtube.com/shorts/O3hSIGcg8Vw?si=oBrOjasynONXoUic

Aiptasia is an invasive form of anenomes. It spreads very rapidly and will sting coral until the coral dies. My oldest daughter, Amanda, battles them in her reef tank. She made this video to show Clint and me how she battles them. She uses a syringe filled with vinegar to inject them. They immediately curl up and die.

How to Help a Grieving Friend

Repost from 10/15/2018: This post has helped a lot of people on both sides of the coin and has been printed as a handout.

Believe me, it's no time for words when the wounds are fresh and bleeding; no time for homilies when the lightning's shaft has smitten, and the man lies stunned and stricken. Then let the comforter be silent; let him sustain by his presence, not by his preaching; by his sympathetic silence, not by his speech. -George C. Lorimer

October 15 is the national day of remembrance for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. I've lost nine precious babies to stillbirth and miscarriage. Much of what you read here can be applied more broadly to include other types of loss and pain.

Here is a video from Megan Devine, which a friend recently shared, that shares about what works for those grieving and why other things like "cheering them up" do not. It will better equip you to help the hurting in your life.

When I lost one of my miscarried and stillborn babies, one of the things that helped me the most was someone telling me, "This sucks!!" I knew by their succinct words that they understood my pain. You don't need eloquence to show compassion. Your job isn't to move them to where you want them to be; it's to meet them where they are.

One of the most hurtful things ever said to me, for example, was by a Christian in law who claimed to be pro-life who told me less than 24 hours after the loss of my baby that crying was "feeling sorry for myself." Their words created a lot of pain in my heart. They did not care what I was going through, and their words showed it. Their words suggested I was doing something wrong by mourning my baby. I share this with the goal that others won't say such hurtful things in a woman's time of great pain. It is not helpful, but it is very hurtful. 

Crying is a normal, natural response to loss. Jesus cried in grief too. Would you have said, "It's self pity for you to cry since you are going to raise Lazarus anyway?" Or, would you have shown Him understanding and compassion? Think before you speak. Words hurt and can't be taken back, but they can be forgiven. Be gentle and kind with each other even when you do not understand what the other person is going through.

Please don't add your misplaced expectations to someone else's struggle. You will only burden them further. Acknowledge a person's right to feel as they do. 

If you have had a pregnancy loss, I am praying for you today and offer my friendship. My email is in the header. 

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, 
but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.
-A.W. Tozer

I had a friend comment:

That person that said that to you COULD NOT be a Christian! They may be a self proclaimed Christian, but if they really had Christ in their heart they could have never said something so cruel and cold! 

My reply: Christians aren't perfect, and we fail each other often. We have to bear with each other in love to keep unity in the church. I have forgiven them completely and have love for them. Grudges lead to bitterness and that's a weed I don't want growing in my life. It's too destructive! I pray for their well being and success of their business daily. Doing that honors Jesus and gives me peace and keeps me growing in Christ. Their words are a good example to show others what not to say to someone because it does not in any way help. It creates another burden on the person. If we claim to be pro-life, but deny a mother the freedom to mourn a pregnancy loss, we really aren't very pro-life. We have to come beside people and meet them where they are in whatever circumstance life throws at them...not drag them along to where we want them to be. I fail people too and am thankful when they forgive me and bear with me in love.

Prophecy Postulating and Prayer Request

Hamas are calling for all Muslims to storm to the Temple Mount. - Keegan Fernandes

So, we know the Jewish temple has to be rebuilt to fulfill prophecy. Will we soon see the Temple Mount destroyed to make way for that? 

*****

Are you aware of how many earthquakes have been happening lately? Since 2017, I have received notifications from the USGS to my email. Earthquakes have definitely increased in both frequency and strength.

*****

Please join our family in praying for our daughter, Bethany. There are a lot of centers for both sides of this conflict all around where she lives. Thank you!

*****

approximately an hour after I posted my concern for Bethany:

In case it is blacked out, it says "Chicago. Not released yet. Palestinian walked into Jewish center dn shot receptionist." Amir Tsarfati

Mums from Mom

I saw these half off on the clearance rack at Lowes and immediately thought of Amanda. She has inherited my green thumb and has a beautiful home with scores of plants inside and out. I just gave her one of the Meyer's Lemon trees from Clint's former office.

Heroes

Rachel Adari, who met Hamas terrorists who held her hostage 
with hospitality and cookies, is among the stories of creative 
Israeli survivors of Hamas' massacre.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-767664

Further down is the story of a father/grandfather who rescued his son and son's family with soldiers he picked up on the way to his son's home. 

Bethany and Jeremy

Clint's Loaner Truck

The dealer loaned Clint a brand-new truck while they wait for his 2024 Dodge Ram to be delivered. Clint should get the new one by the end of October, we believe.
He is going to be spoiled! God is good!

all the nations on earth

“The last section of the latter part of Zechariah’s prophecy deals with events in the distant future…As a portion of the prophetic Scriptures it is second to none in importance in this book or any other Old Testament book. It is indispensable to an understanding of the events of the last days for Israel‒the time of the Great Tribulation and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth…In the time of our passage all the nations of earth will be bitten by the virus of anti-Semitism.”  Charles L. Feinberg – God Remembers: A Study of Zechariah (Wheaton: Van Kampen, 1950, p. 218, 222.

Sources

I was asked for sources for news coming from Israel. These Telegram channels tend to do a good job of compiling the news coming out of Israel. I find I miss very little if anything between them. I also read news from opposing viewpoints, but I won't be sharing those sources for a few reasons. A few of those aren't as good, but I did not want to have to list them individually and link their urls. This way is more efficient. 

Some are asking if this is the Ezekiel 38-39 war. No. Read the passage. Spot the stark differences. A big one is that nearly the whole world is supporting Israel. However, this war could very well lead to the Ezekiel 38-39 war. In fact, Russia's stand with the Palestinians points us right to that war.

Mustache Paul, I think of you when I think of Telegram. I hope you and all of yours are doing well. You might choose not to believe it, but we love you.

Dear Reader, Even more suddenly than the attack on Israel began, the Rapture will occur. If you do not escape in the Rapture, you will have to endure realities much, much worse than what has happened to the Israeli people. The Bible says the Tribulation will be a time period of unprecedented trouble never before seen on earth. It will make every war and atrocity on earth seem like a cakewalk in comparison. Please make sure you are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. 

#ThereIsHOPE #Romans6v23 #Romans5v8 #Romans10v9to10 #Romans10v13 #John3v16to17 #Romans5v1to2 #Romans8v1 #ChooseYouThisDayWhomYouWillServe

Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway

There are some signs marking the trail but not many.

When we paid the $5 day use fee, we were given a map which was helpful.

https://www.ridethedbbb.org/about <---for why the road looks like this.

All of us enjoyed exploring the caves.
We found someone's stashed sports drinks in one of them.

Oil rigs are throughout the area. Some are monitored by cameras.
They turn on automatically, so stay off of them.

Watch for cows. We saw several that had escaped their pasture.

The DBBB was a fun scenic drive.
I really enjoyed the rock faces, caves, and cliffs.

Am I Wronged Or Am I Wrong

https://calvarychapelkaneohe.subspla.sh/49xkn9d

1 John 5:16

Am I Wronged Or Am I Wrong

October 8, 2023 • J.D. Farag

Pastor JD talks about a problem we all deal with concerning the matter of whether I’m the one who has been wronged, or if I’m the one who has been wrong.

Boat Ride

You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. Psalm 89:9

The Way, The Truth, The Life

 Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

a deeper spirit of love, grace, and humility.

 Our practice of reading Scripture should never lead us to arrogance, superiority, or judgment, but rather to a deeper spirit of love, grace, and humility.

If reading the Bible does not lead us to look more like Jesus, who is the very Word of God, then we have missed the point.

Douglas Van Nest

God's Chosen Nation

Please pray for the nation of Israel.

They are at war. They were attacked by Hamas. They are going into private homes and capturing citizens. They are taking them Gaza and are terrorizing them and parading them through the streets. The videos I have seen are very disturbing. My heart is anguished for the people of Israel. Please join me in praying continuously for them.

Amir Tsarfati is doing a good job of keeping up with the news. 

Other sources:

https://t.me/Bro_Keegs

Watchman River on YouTube

*********

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT_hqhZmvpE&ab_channel=JamesKaddis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UODjHOArTDw&ab_channel=DaviDTaL gives good overview of what is happening and how it was carried out by IDF Major tank commander and Christian David Tal.

"This is the first time in history where Israelis were killed in their living rooms." -David Tal

Clint's New Job

Clint's departure from Printpack was sad for us because we were close to many of the people who worked there. Clint was given a $4k bonus before leaving which was nice.

He has enjoyed his first two weeks at his new job and is making another $28k on top of what he was making at Printpack. The schedule has been different, and we are working to adjust our lives to it. The perks at this new job are very nice too. Clint really enjoys visiting the many different industrial settings where he is doing inspections. Our whole family is learning a lot through what he is seeing and learning. Clint is also going to facilities where Brandon, who is in a completely different role with a different company, often goes. It's interesting to hear them share their observations.

There is a lot going on in our lives during what is clearly a transition phase. Clint changed jobs. Caleb has placed an offer on a house and stands a good chance of getting it. Caleb is also looking for another job. I have just purchased new furniture and am focusing on reorganizing and updating our home. Eventually, I will catch up on the yard work that fell behind. I have plans to start selling online again..maybe. Emily has graduated high school, and Hannah is very close to graduating high school at 14. Clint and I have finished the projects we made as goals several years ago, so our spare time is looking different also. We have a new venture we had initiated the beginning stages of but his job change has slowed that down a bit. 

Please contact us and let us know how you and yours are doing. Please share any prayer requests. My love to all!

no comfort whatsoever

The Bible has no comfort whatsoever to give people who are not Christians

-none at all

... except to warn them to flee from the wrath to come. 

-D. Martin Lloyd Jones

Jerusalem Artichokes aka Sunchokes

Creation Museum: The Dinosaurs

Will you build or tear down?

Years ago, a person made me feel unloved, unwanted, and outright rejected. They had just met me and looked me up and down with pure rejection.

Over the next several years, I watched them tear down their own house with their own hands. As the years passed, I saw what they reaped. I saw what the great treasure they had thrown away. It pained me for their sake. I kept praying things would change, but some hearts never soften. Seeing what they reaped scared me because I realized how easily it can happen if we are not careful how we treat others.

I asked the Lord to keep me from doing the same. I did not want to be responsible for making anyone feel the horrible way the rejection had made me feel.

On the 19th of September, I was thanked in person for being so welcoming and loving. They said I have made them feel so loved and no one in my position had done that for them. The others had not even come close.

I praise the Lord for the rejection and hostility I received so many years ago and the lessons I learned from it. I learned how not to be. That moment took a weight off my shoulders. I can do better than what was done to me.

I don't want to tear down. That emulates the thief in John 10:10.

I want to BUILD. I want to represent Christ. I want to give a testimony for Him for His glory.

To God be the glory for the lessons He has taught me from the "less than nice" people. It really stinks to be treated as if you are unwelcomed, unworthy, and unwanted. By the grace of God, each of us can learn from those experiences and strive to do better. We can BUILD for His glory and our own benefit. Thank you, Jesus, for the work you have done in my life.

God is good!

OBX

Last month, Clint and I enjoyed our trip to the OBX to spot the flamingos.

We saw the silhouette of them but that was about all even with binoculars.

They were on the north end of the Inlet Bridge about 1/4 a mile out from the dunes. It was easy to spot their location due to the photographers that were set up on the dunes. 

Flamingos are big birds! Seeing some of the same behavior as I do in geese, I would not want to "tango" with one of them. I wonder if they will bond like geese do and favor the people they see as part of their flock.

For about 15 years, we went to the OBX every year and sometimes twice a year but always during the off-season. We don't do touristy, trafficky, or crowds well. Four different friends who live there warned us about the drug and gang issues in the OBX, so we stayed away for several years. We were surprised at how much it has grown since our last visit. It's so sad to see what is happening to what used to be a very special place.

We have a natural beach much closer to home, and that is where we get our beach fix now. There is no development near it, so it is a pretty and serene place to unwind. It is very rare there is ever anyone else there. We are thankful a large family/homeschooling-friendly local shared insider knowledge with us when we were still relatively new to the area. The few who know about it do not talk about it hoping it spares the beautiful natural beach from being damaged. It is a great place to get away to relax and recharge.

When in the OBX, we always go to Austin Fish Company for crabs or crab cakes.
We also visit Sam and Omies for breakfast.
We were a little late for Austin's this time but we stopped in to say hello. Then we headed to Sam and Omie's for a crab cake dinner.

Caleb and Elora

Make every effort

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,

binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:3

Scenes from Genesis in the Creation Museum