"The Word of the Lord"

"The Word of the Lord"

"Thanks be to God"

This call and response is so common. We say it every Sunday in Worship. We repeat it after the head of the house reads during Devotions. We so easily fall into the trap of repetition and forget what we say. This morning I stumbled across this Credenda/Agenda article from Pastor Liethart (C/A Vol 14. Issue 3) and re-awoke to what my own mouth was saying.

"Every seven years, Israel was to gather at the central sanctuary for the reading of the law, "that they may hear and learn and fear Yahweh your God." In this way, the children who did not hear Moses preach Deuteronomy will "hear and learn to fear" (Deut. 31:9_13). At the rededication of the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah assembled "men, women, and all who could listen with understanding" (Neh. 8:2), so that the law could be read in their presence (8:3_8). At the original assembly at Sinai, Yahweh was heard but not seen, a point that Moses emphasized when he reminded Israel of the event: "you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—only a voice" (Deut. 4:12)."

I have often fallen into the mistake of feeling sorry for us modern Christians who have never seen God. We have our Bibles, sure, but we have never seen God. How lucky were the Apostles and Disciples who walked and talked with Christ! But, then after reading these passages that Dr. Liethart quotes I was reminded that the Israelites themselves never saw the Lord either. "you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form-only a voice." Deut. 4:12

What is it that is happening when we sit in church and listen to our pastor (or elder or deacon) or when we sit in our living room and hear the HOH read to us from scripture? It's the Word of the Lord. It's the "sound of words" without seeing the form of God; "only a voice." As we worship each Sunday we are lifted up into the Heavens and we worship with our people; faithful Israelites, faithful Gentiles, saints both quick and dead. Thus even as the Israelites did not see God, but were commanded to follow His law through the hearing of the Word so are we the new Jerusalem not able to see God, but we have been given His law and are likewise commanded to obey our Lord. We are blessed to be able to hear Law and read it through Grace. Our response is a thanksgiving and rightly so.

So, on Sunday close your Bibles and hear the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

Meet Me In St. Louis

Katie the Maid: Why must we have dinner an hour early?
Esther Smith: Because Rose is expecting...
Katie the Maid: Now don't go blaming your sister.
Esther Smith: Blaming her? Why, we're doing this for her. You know Rose's problem. Warren Sheffield has been writing to her for six months without one word that even smells like a proposal.
Katie the Maid: What's that got to do with having dinner an hour early?
Esther Smith: Warren is telephoning Rose long-distance from New York at half-past six.
Katie the Maid: Long-distance?
Esther Smith: Yes, and if the whole family is sitting here drinking in every word, she may be loathe to say the things a girl's compelled to say to get a proposal out of a man. If that man, unfortunately, is Warren Sheffield.
Katie the Maid: Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who proposed to me over an invention.

To all you gents out there: Don't propose over an invention! She won't even have the satisfaction of smacking you!

Telegram

A General Announcement to the General Public:

CHRISTMAS IS IN 6 WEEKS STOP TIME TO PANIC STOP UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR TOWEL STOP

Good News!

As my dearest fiance' puts it, "I have good news". :-) I've mentioned elsewhere that when I get married I'll become an aunt. My love's oldest brother and wife have two darling kids, River and Felicity.

About a month back we were told that they are expecting again! Thrills ran through the Sumpter family and I was includded with a call from River to tell me that he is getting a brother (the "brother" is his wish and if he could have his way, he would name his "brother" too :).

Today my fiance' said "I have good new. Toby and Jenny are getting double the fun. Jenny is going to have twins!!" I think he should have told me when he *wasn't* driving because I clutched his arm in girlish glee and said, "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!!" Needless to say, he managed to stay on the road.

May God's blessings and rich kindess rest on you, my dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law to be!

New things

As I prepare for marriage and a radical change in my life, I realise what I've been given and where I have been for the last 22 years.

*I have been set down in a godly family. My dad has been the most wonderful dad that I could have ever imagined. Even better than that. He has led me through many tricky spots, he has corrected me and chastened me, and he has loved me continually. My mom has always given us girls the best. Best training, in fact. She home schooled us through many grades, subjects, and family interruptions. She taught me how to sew, to cook, to clean, and to do all with a cheerful attitude.

*I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. How many girls can say that? I have joyous memories of sharing a room with each of my sisters (and actually the boys too! lol Robert must have been 4 and George was a new born when there were four kids in one room that year).

*I have known city life, town life, and country life. My dad took a position teaching at Veritas Academy in PA and we lived right in the heart of Amish country. What an experience!

*I have enjoyed being close to, and living near my grandparents all my life. My grandparents are most wise and I am grateful for their presence in my life. They've been to every birthday celebration (minus two, I think) and many choir performances and piano recitals. They have given me great gifts of time with them, walks, trips to Lewiston to feed the ducks, dinner out, shopping trips together, Easter egg coloring, "Grandma day", and the amazingly special memories of welcoming Grandad home from work on his lunch break.
When we heard the garage door open, we all would shout "GRANDAD!". And his response would vary. Sometimes he said "Woof! Woof!" Sometimes he said "Quack! Quack!" :-) But he always smiled really big and I knew that we made him happy.

Times are changing. I'm thankful that my fiance' isn't moving me across the country, or far, far away. I'll be happy to handle the new change of "wife" without the added difference of a strange environment. But, of course, if he decides to move I'll go with him, cheerfully and willingly. And he knows it.

All I did was sort through childhood photos and this is the post I wrote! :-)

God is good.

And so it goes...

85 days! Yippee!

Carbon Leaf

"What About Everything?"

Holiday quiet on these streets, except for some stubborn leaves
That didn't fall with the fall, and now they clatter in vain
Holiday sky, midnight clear
Wind is high, hard to steer
Old muffler rumbles like an old fighter plane
In search of some rest, in search of a break
From a life of tests where something's always at stake
Where something's always so far
What about my broken car?
What about my life so far?
What about my dream?
What about.....

What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
I am not in need

Get away and come with me
Come away with me and we'll see
If I was right on that night, that a future was made
Before time takes each year, like a knife cuts it clear
It's school, then work and then life that just sharpens the blade
I think about time for fun
I think about time for play
Then I think about being done, with no resume
With no one left to blame
What about fortune and fame?
What about your love to obtain?
What about the ring?
What about....

What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
I am not in need

Holiday quiet on these streets, except for some reason me
The hometown harbor lights bright, the sailboats clatter in vain
Holiday sky, midnight clear
Wind is high on this pier
I find it hard to complain when compared with what about...

What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
What about...
What about aliens? What about you and me and...
What about gold beneath the sea?
What about...
What about when buildings fall?
What about that midnight phone call...
The one that wakes you from your peace?
Well, I am not, I am not, I am not in need

Not only counting days...

But did you know that it's:

2 weeks til a vacation -

8 weeks til Thanksgiving Break -

12 weeks til Christmas -

And 13 weeks til a certain double wedding!!

Ho boy! Time's fun when you're having flies! .... Uh... wait

"Strike that. Reverse it." ~Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

update

I was handed a note tonight. My sister was the means of transporting said note. Robert reviewed the whole senario and, of course, commented.

Robert: "Hand written?"
Me: "Of course!"
Robert: "Hmm. Well, he knows how to please his woman."

I'm someone's woman??

Maybe... not yet. Soon!! 100 days!!

Rime and Reason

Rime and Reason is a group of (on average) 14 college aged folks who read books which they assign themselves and meet once a month to discuss what they read.

We've read so many titles over the past 2 years includding, but not limited to Comas, Til We Have Faces, The Song of Roland, Mansfield Park, Twelfth Night, Descent into Hell, and more!

It's been a great group to be involved in. Well, for one I got to know Jesse through this group. Two, it's been encouraging to be involved with these peoples lives. We've encouraged each other in our work, studies, relationships, etc. One family went through an adoption process while our crazy group met in their home. They are a gracious family and a blessing to us all. I don't know how we can ever repay them for their kindness and goodness to us poor college students. Other students have plunged through papers, overwhelming work loads, a legendary sophmoric year, and more. My sister, cousin, roomate and I have grown closer through being involved with this group.

Check out my other blog, Four Things, for a poem that I read at our first meeting of this year. We read a Chesteron poem from an ancient book that the group owns as a whole at each meeting. I was asked to read the poetry this time - it was an honor. And I hadn't been asked before.

More "Queen's Friends" photos

Jesse and I.

Cast.

Go to Backstage Musings for some good photos.

Sneak peek

Before each show these two could be seen sneaking a look at the audience. We would ask, "How does it look?" Meaning, how full is the house. This shot captures them to a 'T'.

The Queen's Friend

An original play

Written, produced, and directed at the World's Premiere

By Doug Jones

Doug and Paula Jones.

Director and director's assistant. Good team work pulled this play together, from costumes and sets to character development and technical work.

The royal court.

From left, Queen Catherine Parr played by Nellie Dimelar, Princess Elizabeth played by Anne Harrell, and Henry VIII played by Ed Iverson.

The church folk.

Bishop Gardiner played by Joe Williams, Anne Askew (martyr and heroine of the story) played by Cat Sentz, Margarate, maid to Anne, played by Chealsea Jones, and Chanselor Writhsley played by Marty Becktell.

Ladies of the court.

Clockwise from left: Lady Champernowne played by Kate Hendrickson, Lady Herbert played by Alison Bradley, Lady Tyrwitt played by Cynthia King, and Lady Jane Grey played by Erin McIntosh.

The same ladies after a costume change.

Laura Blakey, our fearless makeup artist, and Marty Becktell.

John Marbeck played by Jesse Sumpter and the servant played by moi.

Cute picture, huh? My mom can snap some good shots! This is a good image of Aaron and Emily and Jesse and I. This depicts the coupling very well.

Ah, and yes.

A double wedding is being planned for December 28th, 2007.

I am so happy.

To quote Miss Jane Bennet, after her own engagement: "Oh, Lizzie, I wish that everyone could be as happy as I am right now."

Much Ado About Nothing

Mom took me and my two younger sisters to see the IRT perform 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Excellent show.

The set was minimal; gauzing curtains, a chapel door frame, 4 chandelabras, and 4 benches that were moved in and out for the different scenes. The scene changes were done with acting in the background - no lag time! That's a plus for the audience.

All the actors were very animated and vivacious. Everyone exerted such energy. It was needed because the performance was outdoors (no mics), and the evening was warm. The audience needed to be captivated. All the costumes were simple white gowns for the ladies and the men wore black suits with red scarves around their waists. The play was set in 1812 Mexico after the war for independance from Spain.

I took some pictures and I'll upload them latter. Perhaps Sunday evening...

Favorites quotes:

"I wonder you are still talking, Signor Benedict. No one marks you." ~ Beatrice

"May God condemn you to everlasting redemption." ~ Dogberry

Ladybird, Ladybird

I'm Home! Finally.

After working for a weekend in the kitchen to feed 29 students and a full week of intensive greek study, I was ready to be home. I missed my familiar surroundings.

Pictures will be here shortly - perhaps a couple of days, actually, but they'll get here.

Skink

In case anyone wants to know.....

Leeks
Europe's classic fall favorite is being enjoyed more and more in America. Remarkable earliness and length. Beautiful, full-sized leeks. In favorable soil and culture, the white stems are over a foot long to the 1st leaf. Not hardy for over-wintering, but hardy to 30 degrees F - 20 degrees F befor losing healthy appearance.

Shallots
Considering their elegant European lineage, shallots are remarkably easy to grow. Essential in French cooking, with a flavor described by some as in between onions and garlic. For soups, salad dressings, vegetable dishes, and casseroles. Bright copper skins with pale yellow interior. Suitable for very long storage, through Spring.

Table Ace Acorn
Cucurbita pepo
85 days
This winter squash is dark black-green colored. The taste is fairy good, nutty and moderately sweet if allowed to fully mature. The fruits are medium-small sized, 2 1/2 lbs; each plant will produce 5 - 7 fruits.

Delicata
Cucurbita pepo
100 days
Unique, cream colored winter squash with green longitudinal stripes. Small fruits, 7" - 9" long x 3 " wide, about 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. Taste is very sweet, excellent for stuffing and baking even right after harvest requires no curring. Yield 5 - 7 fruits per plant.

Rouge vif D'Etampes
Cucurbita maxima
115 days
The bright scarlet French pumpkin."Rouge vif" means "vivid red." This is an attractive French variety, actually a squash, for fall display. Shaped flat, looking like a red cheese wheel, the fruits average in the 10-15 lb. range. The moderately sweet, orange flesh is suited for pumpkin or squash pie. Also known as Cinderella. Avg. yield: 2 fruits/plant.

Don't rain on my parade

I mentioned in a previous post that the clown car and I would be in the summer parade. Sadness... I shall be gone that weekend.

But, there is always the Christmas Lighted parade!