A Word to the Wise...

...or should I say to the foolish? If you read my previous blog you would know that I was going to try out my new whirlpool tub, well, I did and it was wonderful except for one small problem...did I say I was going to have lots of bubbles? OK, that was an understatement. I really thought I was being conservative with the bubble bath but I guess maybe one doesn't need any at all. As you have figured out by now the tub was literally overflowing with bubbles. I had to stop the water and the whirlpool or really the whole bathroom floor would have been covered with bubbles. I did enjoy a good laugh and played in the bubbles and had fun anyway. Maybe just a drop of bubble bath next time.

Done at last!

Well, the bathroom and the bookcase in the office are finally completed. I am going to try the new whirlpool tub out tonight! I'm going to have lots of bubbles. Here are a few pictures that Curt took of our new additions. Come home soon and see the real deal!

Are we being deceived?

In my Sunday morning chat with my daughter, Amy, we were discussing what Easter really meant. I know most of us associate it with Christ's death and resurrection, but then why don't we celebrate it at Passover every year instead of Easter, which is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. So it got me to thinking and I did a Google search on the origin of Easter and found some very interesting facts. I grew up hearing that bunnies and eggs were to commemorate some pagen fertility god or somethng and never really gave it much thought other than that it was a fun tradition, dying eggs and hunting for Easter baskets. But in doing this could we in some way be honoring Baal the sun god of old? (when you so your search you will understand) I know the devil is clever and does whatever he can to make us be deluded into thinking it's ok because we are connecting a Christian holiday along with it. But it's not! Christmas is the same way. I always thought the denominations that didn't celebrate holidays were kind of weird but now I am realizing that they had the right idea all along. Maybe the Bible never gave us an exact date of Christ's birth because we were never meant to celebrate it. But we do have the time of his death, during Passover. And that should be something to rejoice about. I really think that Christians have been accepting these things blindly, just as I have all these years, and not questioning anything. And we are all "wandering after the beast". Satan is probably sitting back and saying "Look at these so called Christians commiting idolatry and not even realizing it".
I know I am sounding like some of those fanatics that send out those newsletters that I throw in the trash. But I really believe it is important to think about what it is we are celebrating and if it brings honor to Christ. I'll be the first to admit I just accept things and don't question but it's the not the best way to be. It's just like I can't understand why people can't see that the 7th day is the day to worship. I mean it's plain as black and white in the 10 commandments. But I bet if I hadn't been raised an Adventist I would be like all the other Sunday keepers and believe what my pastor told me without questioning.
I quess I've been on my soapbox long enough. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

Blackout

Last night I was sitting downstairs watching the movie "Narnia" when all of a sudden the electricity went off. And there I was eating my popcorn in complete blackness. And I mean blackness! It was like when you're in a cave and you can't see your hand in front of your face. So I carefully navigated my way upstairs where I found that the apartments across the street still had their lights on so it was not so dark as before. It was actually quite fun roaming around in candlelight but I found there is not much to do when there is no electricity. (Whoa, my computer suddenly went crazy and when I hit the "y" key suddenly the "y" just kept going after I took my finger off the key and I had to hit the backspace key before it would quit!) So I went to bed and had a wonderful night's sleep. The total blackness really made me appreciate my eyesight. As I sat in the dark I thought "This is what it would be like to be blind". I can't imagine not having eyesight, but I quess one doesn't have to be physically blind to live in total darkness spiritually. And I think there are many out there that are living like that. That's why we need to be that candle shining in the darkness.

A Call to India

On Sabbath, Cheryl Erickson had the sermon and told of her experience in India in February. She said that after being there and the amazing things that happened she would never be the same. In the two weeks she was there, there were 22,000 people baptized during the evangelistic meetings they held. I just can't imagine what it would be like to be a part of something like that. I can't imagine what it would be like to go to India! But she said they wanted to put another group together and go again next Feb. And she said that if anyone had ever had a desire to go and do mission work that they should consider going. Well, for a very long time I have wanted to go on a mission trip, a maranatha trip and help build a church or something. But there was always something that got in the way, raising kids, then putting them through school but now I have no excuse except raising the money to go. When I was on my walk Sabbath afternoon I had a thought about how to raise the money...as many of you know I have been wanting to lose weight for quite some time but all diets and exercise plans have been to no avail and I usuallly can't stick with anything longer than two weeks. But if I am doing it for the Lord perhaps I would be successful. So I thought maybe I could get people to sponsor me for so much a pound. My goal would be 50#'s. I know that seems pretty impossible for me, since I have been trying to lose that for 3 years now and I'm not any closer now than I was 3 years ago. But with God all things are possible. It's kind of scary putting this in print because then I will have to follow through with it. But I do think that going to India and being part of an evangelistic effort would be so amazing! If it is God's will everything will work out.