I have never had much patience with pacifism and their fuzzy thinking. They are always asking 'can you picture Jesus shooting someone with a guy?' I just realized that there is a perfectly good answer - 'yes' if you can picture Him putting a millstone (millstones weigh about 200 pounds) around a persons neck and throwing them into the sea. This is exactly what he suggested and it is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. (So what would He say about abortionist?) Jesus said that 'they' (the person with the millstone) would be better off - presumably because it would stop them from doing further harm to their own souls.
No news here. Our book club book this month is "The Cellist of Sarajevo" - The story of how three different people coped with life under bombardment and snipers. I do suggest for your reading.
My friend John Granger's new book "Harry Potter bookshelf" came out last week and is doing well. After Barb read it she is back reading the Potter books again.
How to post more frequently.
Don
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hi
Still here. The pain in my chest which has been with me ever since in got home seems to be letting up. It that continues, I will be a very happy camper.
Days are pretty much the same. Friends come over to visit. The grand kids stop by often after Suzanne recuperated from her operation. All appears to be will with her.
John Granger, My friend who writes books about Harry Potter was here for a day and it was great to see him. He acknowledges being THE authority on the Harry Potter books.
Am reading his book "The Harry Potter bookshelf". Over my head but good reading anyway. Also reading a bio of Henry Jackson who was President before Lincoln and another book for book club.
Tim gets off the boat for 6 straight weeks before going back to his two weeks on, two weeks off schedule.
Christy and Greg are in Hawaii for two weeks.
Drop me a note at "Holmesdb@gmail.com" if you wish.
He sustains us,
Don
Days are pretty much the same. Friends come over to visit. The grand kids stop by often after Suzanne recuperated from her operation. All appears to be will with her.
John Granger, My friend who writes books about Harry Potter was here for a day and it was great to see him. He acknowledges being THE authority on the Harry Potter books.
Am reading his book "The Harry Potter bookshelf". Over my head but good reading anyway. Also reading a bio of Henry Jackson who was President before Lincoln and another book for book club.
Tim gets off the boat for 6 straight weeks before going back to his two weeks on, two weeks off schedule.
Christy and Greg are in Hawaii for two weeks.
Drop me a note at "Holmesdb@gmail.com" if you wish.
He sustains us,
Don
Friday, June 19, 2009
suggestion
Go to 'samekindofdifferentasme.com' and look at the video and read about the book.
It was our book club discussion book today.
We are o.k.
Don
It was our book club discussion book today.
We are o.k.
Don
Saturday, June 6, 2009
a prayer
O Dear Lord, come quickly
To heal the millions of folks who have lost their minds and spend every day staring into space;
To heal the millions of friendless folks who live in rest homes who have no future to look forward to;
To rescue the millions of women in forced prostitution around the world;
To rescue the millions ow women who are stuck with men who abuse them;
To rescue the millions of men, women and kids who are hungry and dying;
To relive the millions of folks who live with daily pain;
To rescue the millions who live in fear of the daily violence of war:
To rescue those who are bewilder by the pain and suffering in the world;
To heal the minds of the millions in prisons and jails all over the world;
To heal the millions of folks blinded by their own sin and can not see the beauty of God's goodness.
O Dear Lord please come quickly to heal us all.
To heal the millions of folks who have lost their minds and spend every day staring into space;
To heal the millions of friendless folks who live in rest homes who have no future to look forward to;
To rescue the millions of women in forced prostitution around the world;
To rescue the millions ow women who are stuck with men who abuse them;
To rescue the millions of men, women and kids who are hungry and dying;
To relive the millions of folks who live with daily pain;
To rescue the millions who live in fear of the daily violence of war:
To rescue those who are bewilder by the pain and suffering in the world;
To heal the minds of the millions in prisons and jails all over the world;
To heal the millions of folks blinded by their own sin and can not see the beauty of God's goodness.
O Dear Lord please come quickly to heal us all.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
hi
It is a beautiful day in Bellingham. Barb is delighted to sit on the patio and read after doing her gardening. She has a beautiful flower garden to enjoy when the sun is out.
Life continues to get better for us. A year ago I could not have imagined it ever being this good again. Not driving yet. It is hard to practice as we have to take the driver seat out, etc. Reading lots and doing stuff - church, lecture at the college, little league softball (Dull, as no one can throw strikes) but the whole family is there so we visit. Also enjoy sitting in the sun - I sometime feel like a 95 years old man just enjoying the sun.
Just found a new renter for the barn I had almost finished remodeling when I got sidelined. He is a 49 year old parts manager for the local Ford Dealer. Just moving to Bellingham from a nearby town. I think we will be friends. He goes on mission trips every year so will be a Christian friend for us.
Trying to do some writing but not very successful at it. It is hard.
Suzanne is going to have an operation on the 28 of May so Barb will be busy either at the hospital or with the kids for several days or more.
Christy and Greg are out sailing today and Tim gets back on his boat for another two week stint starting tomorrow.
We look forward to our netflix fix every week. Saw the the "Illusionist" last night. A complicated mystery. Enjoyed it but do not give it a high recommendation.
Barb is reading Ann Rice's books. She is a VERY famous secular writer that has become a Christian and is now writing 'for Christ' as she puts it. I have never heard of her but my literary friends says she has a huge following. You can look her up on the web -'Annrice.com"
Hope all is well with you,
Blessing
don
Life continues to get better for us. A year ago I could not have imagined it ever being this good again. Not driving yet. It is hard to practice as we have to take the driver seat out, etc. Reading lots and doing stuff - church, lecture at the college, little league softball (Dull, as no one can throw strikes) but the whole family is there so we visit. Also enjoy sitting in the sun - I sometime feel like a 95 years old man just enjoying the sun.
Just found a new renter for the barn I had almost finished remodeling when I got sidelined. He is a 49 year old parts manager for the local Ford Dealer. Just moving to Bellingham from a nearby town. I think we will be friends. He goes on mission trips every year so will be a Christian friend for us.
Trying to do some writing but not very successful at it. It is hard.
Suzanne is going to have an operation on the 28 of May so Barb will be busy either at the hospital or with the kids for several days or more.
Christy and Greg are out sailing today and Tim gets back on his boat for another two week stint starting tomorrow.
We look forward to our netflix fix every week. Saw the the "Illusionist" last night. A complicated mystery. Enjoyed it but do not give it a high recommendation.
Barb is reading Ann Rice's books. She is a VERY famous secular writer that has become a Christian and is now writing 'for Christ' as she puts it. I have never heard of her but my literary friends says she has a huge following. You can look her up on the web -'Annrice.com"
Hope all is well with you,
Blessing
don
Monday, May 18, 2009
thought for the day
It is a great relief and benefit to be caught in our sins. It, at least temporarily, frees us from the illusion of our own righteousness and forces us to fall humbly at the feet of Christ. B. R. Pembly
Saturday, May 16, 2009
book
Finding Calcatta by Mary Poplin - go get at the Library
Bookfinder.com new for about $12.00
Can read reviews at Amazon.com
Happy to be alive.
Don
Bookfinder.com new for about $12.00
Can read reviews at Amazon.com
Happy to be alive.
Don
Sunday, May 10, 2009
hi
Heard jo ann poplin speak at the college last week - She teaches PHD students at Clairmont in California - a very heady school.
She has spend her live in a religious quest before spending 6 weeks with Mother Teresa and was completely converted to Christ. She spoke very openly to about 200 students at the college.
A girl asked "why can't I be good without God". I went away thinking she was answered:
"You may be able, relatively to others, to be a good person but God will make you a better person than you could be without Him." i.e. If you are interested in being a good person, why not be the best you can be and you will need God to do that. If you are only interested in moderately good compared to other people then you can probably to that on your own. An specific individual Christian may not be as good as a specific non Christian but they would be a better Christian with God than without God.
I thought this was a great answer. Hitler might not have been a very good person even with God but he would have been better than he was. Mother Teresa might have been a pretty good person without God but was even a better person with Him.
Does everyone know about netflix? We have been in it for two years. WE have recently teamed up with another couple that we see ofter so for $5.00 a month per couple we can get new movies as fast as we send them in. Two a week if we watch the day we get them. Net flix pays the postage both ways. No trip to the video store and no $8.00 movie tickets and no late fees. Go to netflix.com for full info. WE watch histories, documentaries but mostly dramas. They have thousands of great dramas. You can click on a title and get a synopsis, the industry rating, the average viewer rating (1-5 stars)
Just saw Rebecca - one of the best mysteries we have ever seen. Master Piece Theater. We will watch it again some time.
Great to have summer here again. Love to sit in the Sun and read and watch the dot.
Would be open to good book or Video suggestions.
Don (watching the obituaries)
She has spend her live in a religious quest before spending 6 weeks with Mother Teresa and was completely converted to Christ. She spoke very openly to about 200 students at the college.
A girl asked "why can't I be good without God". I went away thinking she was answered:
"You may be able, relatively to others, to be a good person but God will make you a better person than you could be without Him." i.e. If you are interested in being a good person, why not be the best you can be and you will need God to do that. If you are only interested in moderately good compared to other people then you can probably to that on your own. An specific individual Christian may not be as good as a specific non Christian but they would be a better Christian with God than without God.
I thought this was a great answer. Hitler might not have been a very good person even with God but he would have been better than he was. Mother Teresa might have been a pretty good person without God but was even a better person with Him.
Does everyone know about netflix? We have been in it for two years. WE have recently teamed up with another couple that we see ofter so for $5.00 a month per couple we can get new movies as fast as we send them in. Two a week if we watch the day we get them. Net flix pays the postage both ways. No trip to the video store and no $8.00 movie tickets and no late fees. Go to netflix.com for full info. WE watch histories, documentaries but mostly dramas. They have thousands of great dramas. You can click on a title and get a synopsis, the industry rating, the average viewer rating (1-5 stars)
Just saw Rebecca - one of the best mysteries we have ever seen. Master Piece Theater. We will watch it again some time.
Great to have summer here again. Love to sit in the Sun and read and watch the dot.
Would be open to good book or Video suggestions.
Don (watching the obituaries)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
hi
No new news -
Must see Video - Woman named Golda - Great documentary on the 3rd prime minister of Israel and a great survey of what has been going on in the middle east.
Barbara just got back from Hawaii where she and Tim (our youngest) spent a week on Lawai. It is wonderful for her to get away once and a while from her ball and chain (me)
I was well looked after in her absence by a friend who moved in with us for a week.
All is well.
Don
Must see Video - Woman named Golda - Great documentary on the 3rd prime minister of Israel and a great survey of what has been going on in the middle east.
Barbara just got back from Hawaii where she and Tim (our youngest) spent a week on Lawai. It is wonderful for her to get away once and a while from her ball and chain (me)
I was well looked after in her absence by a friend who moved in with us for a week.
All is well.
Don
Monday, March 30, 2009
note
Did you hear about the atheist tht was complaining about Christian holidays and was told to relax because there was also a day to honor his beliefs - April 1st -
The fool has said in his heart 'there is no God'
The fool has said in his heart 'there is no God'
another early morning thought
Does prayer work?
Of course it does EVERY time.
The only problem is that we don't know HOW it works.
It is perfectly obvious that prayer APPEARS to be an unreasonable activity:
God does not need our advice or information or even our praise.
We pray: 1) because we can't help but do it some times and 2) because
we are commanded to pray by a very good Authority.
When something happens that we pray to happen, we can never know for sure if our prayers had anything to do with it or not. It might have happened even if we had not prayed. The command still stands and we should not get attached to the results.
Thy will be done - - .
So there!!!!!
Of course it does EVERY time.
The only problem is that we don't know HOW it works.
It is perfectly obvious that prayer APPEARS to be an unreasonable activity:
God does not need our advice or information or even our praise.
We pray: 1) because we can't help but do it some times and 2) because
we are commanded to pray by a very good Authority.
When something happens that we pray to happen, we can never know for sure if our prayers had anything to do with it or not. It might have happened even if we had not prayed. The command still stands and we should not get attached to the results.
Thy will be done - - .
So there!!!!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
driving !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drove the Van Yesterday - first time driving for 2 1/2 - Our son Tim went with me to the parking lot of a Park near here. Harder than I thought. Lack of trunk control of my body made it hard to turn. The gas and brake are fine, just turning is a challenge.
I will probably have to practice a lot before taking the driving test.
Finished the book Amish Grace. Rather tedious and too much praise for the Amish tradition. I have no respect for the Pacifist tradition. To refuse to fight to protect the weak is not a Christian idea.
Don
I will probably have to practice a lot before taking the driving test.
Finished the book Amish Grace. Rather tedious and too much praise for the Amish tradition. I have no respect for the Pacifist tradition. To refuse to fight to protect the weak is not a Christian idea.
Don
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
wake up early
I wake up early and lay in bed thinking - my thought today was:
Most Christians believe that God is always present with them.
Some Christians feel this presence at some time or another, which means that at other times they don't feel his presence at least not in the same way.
One could therefore conclude that when His presence is felt, the feelings correspond to reality and that when we don't feel his presence then our feelings do not correspond to reality. He is obviously present even if we don't feel it.
One ought to conclude from this that we should pay no attention to our feelings because they are not a reliable guide to reality. We should consult what we know from what HE said about His presence - I will Never leave you or forsake you.
Feelings are not a good guide as to what we ought to believe or what we ought to do. Our conscience is related to our minds more than to our feelings. The word conscience broken down is 'con' and 'science' (with knowledge)
Now you can go to sleep.
Have not tried to drive yet even though my hand controls in the van are ready to go.
Don
Most Christians believe that God is always present with them.
Some Christians feel this presence at some time or another, which means that at other times they don't feel his presence at least not in the same way.
One could therefore conclude that when His presence is felt, the feelings correspond to reality and that when we don't feel his presence then our feelings do not correspond to reality. He is obviously present even if we don't feel it.
One ought to conclude from this that we should pay no attention to our feelings because they are not a reliable guide to reality. We should consult what we know from what HE said about His presence - I will Never leave you or forsake you.
Feelings are not a good guide as to what we ought to believe or what we ought to do. Our conscience is related to our minds more than to our feelings. The word conscience broken down is 'con' and 'science' (with knowledge)
Now you can go to sleep.
Have not tried to drive yet even though my hand controls in the van are ready to go.
Don
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
great day
The on going pain in my chest was the best it has been since I got home. A GREAT JOY!!!
Hand controls have been put on my car and I should get it back tomorrow. FINALLY.
Finished the book Voyage for Madmen - 8 men set out alone in different boats in the 60ties to sail around the world without ever touching land and getting not help of any kind from any one. 1 Made it, six quit and one committed suicide. One Frenchman who was ahead in the race decided not to go back to England after getting around the world, and headed for a second trip. Quite a story.
Starting Amish Grace - our book club book this month about how the Amish community dealt the the murder of a group of their school children by a man who was mad at God for some losses in his life.
God bless you all,
Don
Hand controls have been put on my car and I should get it back tomorrow. FINALLY.
Finished the book Voyage for Madmen - 8 men set out alone in different boats in the 60ties to sail around the world without ever touching land and getting not help of any kind from any one. 1 Made it, six quit and one committed suicide. One Frenchman who was ahead in the race decided not to go back to England after getting around the world, and headed for a second trip. Quite a story.
Starting Amish Grace - our book club book this month about how the Amish community dealt the the murder of a group of their school children by a man who was mad at God for some losses in his life.
God bless you all,
Don
Monday, March 16, 2009
correction
The movie I recommended last blog was not 'hidden children' but "Secret Lives" Sorry
My van went to the shop today to get the hand controls put on - FINALLY.
Don
My van went to the shop today to get the hand controls put on - FINALLY.
Don
Friday, March 13, 2009
movie must
GO rent Hidden Children - a tragic and inspiring documentary about the people who hid Jewish children at the risk of their lives and the lives of their children all over Europe during WW II.
Active day - Bank, Trader Joes and Costco (great piece of peperoni pizza)
We do not witness to what we have seen and touched but to what they (the disciples) have seen and touched. We pervert the Gospel if we think we have to add our experience to their witness. D. Bonoeffer.
Bed time.
Don
Active day - Bank, Trader Joes and Costco (great piece of peperoni pizza)
We do not witness to what we have seen and touched but to what they (the disciples) have seen and touched. We pervert the Gospel if we think we have to add our experience to their witness. D. Bonoeffer.
Bed time.
Don
day
Beautify sunny day -
Life is Good
Our caretaker who is usually here every day for 3 hours is sick so my friends have been filling in. Miss the caretaker - a 26 year old pre-nursing student who is wonderful but I can't praise him too much or he might read this blog and want a raise.
Stock market up lately - great.
Don
Life is Good
Our caretaker who is usually here every day for 3 hours is sick so my friends have been filling in. Miss the caretaker - a 26 year old pre-nursing student who is wonderful but I can't praise him too much or he might read this blog and want a raise.
Stock market up lately - great.
Don
Thursday, March 12, 2009
convinced
"I am convinced that the suffering of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be in us."
"Casting all your cares upon Him for he cares for you"
"Casting all your cares upon Him for he cares for you"
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