Some Visual Hilarity!

Mom's e-mail hits a high note once again! As I am not a photographer extraordinaire like some I know, I must resort to pirating others. Still enjoyable nonetheless!

Bottoms Up takes on a whole new meaning!

Are they advertising pain medication or the value of punctuality?

I am sure someone doesn't think this is funny. I think it's hysterical...
which I might be if I saw it in person, who knows!

This one is definitely for pain medication... or hair gel!

No comment!

Does just carrying the bag have the same effect as actually doing the exercise?
I want one!

My poor Olivia really didn't like this one!

Awwwww...

This cracks me up!

Thanks Mom!

God vs. Evil

I'm reading Esther these past few days, and today I was at the part where the king asks to be read a bed time story because he couldn't sleep- (yes, the veggie tale version wars in my brain, and surprisingly reconciles with the actual Scripture!) - any how!

Right at the time where King Ahaz. asks if he properly rewarded Mordecai, wouldn't you know Haman just happens to be in the outer court? Just in time to be asked, what should be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? (Of course he is waiting to ask permission to kill Mordecai...)

Sure enough, prideful Haman tells the king exactly what he wants, figuring he will be the recipient of the honor- only to be absolutely HUMILIATED to be told- ordered by the king!- to give it all to his hated adversary!

Now the day before, his wife and buddies advised him to make these gallows-fully intending their sole victim to be Mordecai. This day- after the exalting of Mordecai, they all back pedal and say "so sorry, I guess you aren't gonna fare so well!" And at this moment his he is summoned to the banquet where his fate is sealed! Esther reveals to the king Haman's plans, and the king sentences him to the death that he had planned for Mordecai on the island of perpetual tickling gallows!

Did you ever think about the fact that those gallows were 50 cubits high? And all made in ONE DAY? That is about 75 feet tall! Like as high as a 3 story building!! Haman really wanted all to see Mordecai hanged and humiliated, an example for all to see!

First of all, there must have been some kind of crew available to build a structure that quickly. But secondly, it was his wife and all his friends that were the divisors of the plan! "Show me your friends, and I will show you your future"... a true statement to be sure!

I just LOVE the way God tells this story. Mordecai knows of his "fate" if the Lord didn't intervene, and he prays and fasts, and lets the Lord take care of the details. What an example for us to follow.

Don't you love the vengeance of the Lord?

Action cures Regret!

Last night at church was an amazing night! The Summit Youth Ministry Teens took over the adult service, and they thoroughly ministered and edified the whole church. There were tears, cheers and many moments of reflection and decision. The "air" was refreshing in the service, as one could feel the washing of the Holy Spirit had swept through the place. It was a GREAT night! (If you would like to see it, I would encourage you to order the service on DVD or view it on the FBBC Website.)

But, the title of this post is prompted because of something that happened after the service. I was talking with friends and another couple that the others knew but I hadn't met before came up and they joined in the conversation. After a few moments, I realized the husband was so familiar, but I couldn't place him. I finally asked him if I met him before, and after a second, we both realized we had gone to high school together. Both Junior and Senior high school! Six Years!! We were both in band, classes, and class trips. And not one time did I ever witness to him. As a matter of fact I was really a terrible witness for Christ in high school. I wasn't a bad kid, and people knew I was "different", they just thought I was shy or weird.

What really hit me was something he said. He said he wasn't saved until 2000, and he wished I had told him about Jesus in High School. Now, who knows if he would have listened, but the fact is still the same... he is right and I should have told him! I have often thought of people I went to my public school with. How many of them may never hear the Gospel? How many of them might have listened when they were 16, but won't now because of all that happened since then? I am not questioning the sovereignty of God, only my lack of service to Him in my younger years.

So... what am I going to do about it?

In talking to John last night, I knew I had left "the dropped ball" sit for too too long. While I may never see most of them ever again, I can pray that they will hear the Gospel some how, from someone. I can get out my old yearbook, and with purpose call out their name before the throne of God and pray for them. For Sandy, Johnny, Zena, Lisa, Tom, Tracy, ...and the other 367 people that I graduated with.

Lord, help me to make this a priority. Help me when I think it couldn't possibly make a difference what I do now... that I am 23 years too late. Help me when I let regret overshadow action.

MM - NYC Here we come!!!

30 Teens...

"Orange Girl" redeeming the time and giving a tract to a fellow passenger

8 Adult Chaperons... hopefully!
(Both the "number" and "Adult" quality are in question here!)

Olivia and Elizabeth teaching some children the "wordless bracelet".

Six days in the Big Apple!!

We are taking the FBBC Summit Ministry Missions trip in June, and Dan and I are so excited to both be able to go with them! I cannot wait to go!

In the city we will meet up with a team from Word of Life Bible Institute, and daily we will be doing street ministry with preaching and painting boards to attract a crowd, as well as children's ministry- some in a few of the roughest parts of the Bronx. We will bring thousands of tracts to sow the seed of the Gospel, and pray the Lord of the Harvest brings in a great yield of souls! Daily there will be miles of city streets that will be covered on foot, as well as sardine-like rides on the subway.

All Aboard!!

All in all it will be a great time! Olivia will be the veteran missionary on this trip, as this is her third time on the team. Dan was able to go last year, so I am affectionately called the rookie of the three. I will do my best to represent well, and will follow up with many pictures and testimonies of the greatness of our God!

I AM ...

When Brother Tag was preaching in our missions conference, he brought out a great point from the book of Exodus when Moses was arguing conversing with God.

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

This statement is in response to Moses' question..."Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?"

The point was made that the first part of the answer was not for the Israelites, it was for Moses! In his even asking the question in the first place he was declaring that he didn't really know who God was! And if he did know who He was... even more amazing is that he had the nerve, the boldness... even the audacity to still ask "So who are you again? Just remind me..."!

Wow! That really made me stop and think...

What in my life am I essentially asking God, "So who are you again? Just remind me!"

Are there times I doubt the word of God? Do I live like I have victory over sin? Am I obeying God's commands? Am I purposefully seeking and meditating on God?

Talk about perspective, and how those Old Testament stories are more than applicable in this day and age.

From my Momma...

My mom is a great lady, and always the first to forward an email to all her beloved family/friends/anyone who will open her e-mails... BUT as with anything... I endure them all for the once in a while nugget. Here it that nugget... edited for length lest I be lumped in with other bloggers. We won't mention any names.

"Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over."

I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children.. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."

"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.

"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."

"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around."

"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden " We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.



"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration


That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.


I really enjoyed this- and though it is a little long for some of my more challenged readers, it is good none the less! The only thing I would change is..."START TODAY!!!"

Jalowiec Party of 2...

Well, the plane tickets are purchased (at least by someone) and Levi has his passport, so it looks like the trip is a GO!

Dan and Levi are planning a journey to Zambia via Jo'Burg in September for 18 days. Levi is going to be 13 by then, and he is so excited to be able to experience the mission field before we will actually "live" there! He is our only child that likes to be "home"- as well he really feels most at peace when he "knows" what is in front of him! He has learned and adapted to accept the unknowns of life, as we are not the most planned and predictable kind of people, but we try to be sensitive to each child, and know this trip will do a life-long amount of good for him!

As for what they hope to do while they are there... think fish, chickens and bio diesel. If you want to know more, you gotta talk to the man! I know my days are numbered on remaining ignorant with regard to these "visionary ventures" a certain veteran missionary (think KP!) and my hubby concoct, but I will be compliant when the time comes. I will learn and participate as needed. I might even like it. (I have been instructed by my therapist to repeat those two sentences 10 times a day. It may become truth...!) HA! I am being shown over and over again the blessing of having sons, and I cannot help but believe this is yet another place they will be a great asset! (dirt, food and engines... always a great combo for men, Right Vicki?!) Another bonus- the outbound trip requires a one night stay in JoBurg, and they will be overnight guests of JulieMom!

They also have plans to visit and preach in a few churches, and play Farkle into the wee hours of the night.

I am sure I will have some plans of my own! I have been desperately trying to make a road trip to MD to visit my bestest friend of all time-whom I am never able to spend much time with- and thought this would be the perfect opportunity! She and her family live very close to Washington, DC, and what a great time for a field trip! Only 5 in the car would be an added blessing... (please don't read into that and think we would rather go without them! They would agree, as would any large family that has traveled in a mini van for any length of time!!!)

Now for some further observation...

If one pursuing missions work waits for the money to "be there" before endeavoring to do something, it may well never happen! More and more we feel like the priests who were to cross the Jordan in front of the children of Israel. They had to have their feet up to the brim of the water before it parted. By faith they obeyed, and the Lord miraculously provided-water stood up in a heap, being stopped from its source! We feel this next trip in September is in obedience to the Lord, and we trust for His miraculous provision! If He can make a billion gallons of water stop up from its source, a few paltry dollars are surely no problem!

Let me persuade you...

I have heard testimony of unsaved people pouring out blessings on believers.

A missionary friend of mine told us of an amazing "gift" of renting a store front at an unbelievable rate for one of their out reach ventures. The landlord was an unsaved person.

I have been told about another believer going out to a restaurant, and for no good reason the sales clerk gave him the order for no charge. Now he couldn't be sure, but when he gave the clerk a gospel tract in "thanks", he responded as an unbeliever.

As a personal testimony, our unsaved dental staff gifted us with over $60.00 in dental work on my children's teeth right before our trip to Zambia in '06. They just wanted to "help out", and that was what they could do.

You ask anyone in ministry, and most if not all will be able to tell you of times or events where they were physically, situationally, or financially blessed by an unbeliever.

Realize that God has and will use any resource available to him (and you know that is anything he chooses!) to tangibly get to his people what they need. Homes, food, clothing, protection, supplies, and transportation are just a few of the limitless things even unbelievers have been "moved by God" to give into the bosoms of his faithful followers.

Now the real point I would like to make. Ask those same people if they were ever brought before the throne of God by an unbeliever.

I am challenging you to do what no one but fellow saints will do. To do what only the righteous through Christ's blood can do.

Pray. Intercede. Learn of the needs of God's people, and lay those needs and burdens at the cross, at the foot of the throne of the Holy and Eternal God and Creator of all that is.

When a missionary comes to your church or home making the simple plea for you to pray, take them seriously. They know you, the fellow believers, are the only ones that can do what is most needed. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Partner with those on the front lines in the most effective and productive way you as a fellow servant can.

PRAY!

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course,
and be glorified, even as it is with you:
And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
2Thessalonians 3:1-3

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Corinthians 10:3-5

Three minutes of your time...

This is a video we made to present at a home Bible study. We hope to make a 10 minute video to present at churches while on deputation... let this be a little teaser preview! Comments welcome, as well as suggestions!

Mission Monday

After last nights message from Pastor Tumia, I think it fitting to put out a plea...

Looking for rope holders!

If you weren't there, let me explain!

You know the phrase behind every great man is a great woman. The same applies to a successful missionary.

We recognize that the Lord will stir the hearts of others who will come "with" us on our mission.

They will be prayer warriors on our behalf.

They will be people who give of their treasure.

They will be friends that encourage us and keep us accountable.

They will be voices in our home and supporting churches that make others aware of who we are and what we are doing so that though we are gone, we won't be also forgotten.

They will be those that e-mail my kids that are on the field, and in my absence love the ones in the states with a mother-like love.

They will be the ones holding the ropes of our mission.

"They" might be you.

We are wanting to go to the mission field, and realize that a boat can only float if there is water under neath it. We are wanting to be fishers of men in a foreign land, and are unable to outfit the boat on our own. Hence the plea.

Would you pray if God would have you be part of our mission? A member of "Team Jalowiec"?

As Dan nears the end another semester if institute (seven down, one to go!) we are excited to be making hard and tangible plans for the mission field. Planning our "packet" (you know the one that makes you look great and tells about your testimony, vision, mission, etc...) has become a major focus of all of our free time. (All, HA!) Dan is waiting with bated breath the assignments his summer school instructor will give him! (... um, yeah, that would be me!) We need to be focused on the preparation steps so that come graduation in May '09, we can begin deputation on the road. I am actually looking forward to deputation! The testimony of the Tsoukalas' and the Barones have been such an encouragement to me! I cannot wait to see my husband every day for more than a few minutes, and to be busy actively living out our call and purpose.

Mike Ireland recently told us "don't forget preparation IS service to the Lord!" That was exactly what we needed to hear, but it still doesn't make us any less excited to get on with it!

Jesus- my example in all things

Before I had my first child, I was given one of the best pieces of parenting advice I've ever received. The dispenser of such amazing wisdom was pregnant with twins-her 8th and 9th child- at the same time I was expecting my first. Needless to say she had been around the block a few times, and I had yet to even walk out of the house! What was the morsel of wisdom that altered my not-even yet-budded parenting style?

If you say no, be willing to die for it!

At the time it sounded very harsh.

After I thought about it it began to sound like advice I could take or leave. The poor woman was obviously more experienced than I with all of her children, and with that comes great wisdom- but also a touch of insanity and not just a little bit of paranoia. (I can now say this with first hand been-there-done-that experience!)

But... as with anything good, there comes a moment of true reckoning. As I became the mother of older and still older children (notice I am not the one aging here- only getting wiser!) the more this golden nugget of knowledge has become a bold thread in the fabric of my life. I weigh out my answers much more than I used to. They (the.children.) know better than to ask me something in a harried, chaotic or emotional moment. It is at those moments someone might die... and more than likely it wouldn't be me! :) (Really, I am kidding here!)
My yes's are not given lightly, but even more weighed out are the no's.

Why? Because it is so important to be consistent, and if I am going to cave, I don't want it to be over something that could have been allowed if I hadn't been so hasty. My kids are very social, active and in general trustworthy. If I can say yes to their requests I will, and they, like any selfish, "I" oriented creature, will like me more. Which if any parent will be honest is a good thing! (though I admit it is not the ultimate goal, just a nice little side benefit!)

So why weigh out the no's so heavily? Because...

1. They will push back. At least the first 78 or so times. Eventually they will learn you are not kidding !
2. If I cave once after 10 minutes of pushing, it encourages them to do it harder next time in order to shorten the time frame of their gratification delay.
3. If I don't cave, it teaches them integrity, consistency, and love in the face of adversity.
4. Because it is the example of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

While I don't have to literally die for my "no", he did. God said there shall be no sin in Heaven no matter what, and there is no one righteous enough to earn it. The Bible clearly states, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: and For the wages of sin is death; and For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

God said "no" to us wicked and vile creatures because of our nature of sin, but he was willing to die for that no- literally- to make a way to say "yes". He paid a price I could not pay.

One more reason for me that Jesus is my example in all things.

"Cletus"...

Just a light and funny day. Thought you would get a laugh Here. They are all funny, but the one in the fishing boat cracked me up!

Just so you know... I don't endorse all of them!

Let God be True!

Many would agree that the modern day Chinese culture is perhaps one of the most ungodly of all modern day peoples. Their new age and mystical beliefs, ancient medicine and pagan gods seem to have absolutely no foundation in anything resembling Christianity or the Bible. But let God be true and every man a liar is still in the Book, and believe it or not, some of the very handwriting of Chinese people testify to this fact!

As I continue in my own learning while home schooling my children, this information fell into my hands and it was so exciting to me.

Ancient Emperor Huang Di (2697 - 2597 B.C.) ordered his historian Can Ji to establish a writing system for China. Can Ji invented a system of Chinese characters based on pictographs, representing each word by the physical appearance of the object.

A few of the pictographs or ideograms invented by Can Ji are to the right in the blue table. They are in order top to bottom: moon, sun, mountain, water, horse, bird, man, and mouth. The three columns are left to right: from ancient pictograph, to ancient character, to present day character. Note how the characters changed with time to the present characters, but are still close enough to be recognized by contemporary Chinese.




While beautiful, the writing in China is also a testimony to God, creation, and the truth of Genesis! Their words break down into stories right out of Genesis! A few examples...



Their symbol for boat tells of Noah and his family on the ark. Eight people in a vessel combines to mean boat!

dust + (breath of) life + (from God's) mouth + motion = Creation

Without reading the verse from Genesis 2:7, it's difficult to understand how Can Ji could come up with this character. Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Also of note, the symbol for motion is as a man walking upright. No evolution here!

tree (of knowledge) + tree (of life) + command (from God) = Forbidden

Again, the components of the word become meaningful after reading the Bible. Genesis 2:16,17 - And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And then of course they disobeyed...
Genesis 3:24-So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Lamb + (above) me = Righteousness

Jesus is the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world. His blood is a banner over us, our covering, our Righteousness!

I love when the truth of the Bible is confirmed through history. Would that we ALWAYS live our lives saying first the Bible is true regardless, and if their is proof to back it up all the better. These things that modern man discovers along the way about ancient forefathers are so exciting. It gives undeniable proof thatman's history backs up the Genesis account. It was as the Lord said and preserved for us to read. There are many people out there who will not rely on Scripture for any basis of truth saying there is no proof or evidence for it. I love it when the proofs are so tangible, it makes their "science" look more like unfounded faith that they claim mine is!

For more information, please refer to the book "The Discovery of Genesis - How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language", by C.H. Kang and Ether R. Nelson, Concordia Press, 1979.