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A wife of noble character is her husband's crown. King Solomon (Proverbs 12:4 NIV)
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. King Solomon, (Proverbs
19:14)
Look around me
I can see my life before me
Running rings around the way it used to be
I am older now
I have more than what I wanted
But I wish that I had started long before I did
And there's so much time to make up everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
Oh, when you were young
Did you question all the answers
Did you envy all the dancers who had all the nerve
Look around you know
You must go for what you wanted
Look at all my friends who did and got what they deserved
So much time to make up everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
So much love to make up everywhere you turn
Love we have wasted on the way
So much water moving underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
"Wasted on the way," Crosby, Stills & Nash
lyrics by Graham Nash
I
grew up and graduated from Montezuma High School (South Central Iowa)
in 1967. After high school, I attended and received a BA
degree from the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa) in
1971. I went to college during the turbulent 60s & 70s.
Since I lived in Iowa, the 60s really didn't impact upon us until the
late 60s. Those times had a strong influence on my devolpment and
upon my country. There was much that was good in America that was
destroyed during that time period. All of us that lived it and
participated in it have a responsibility to work to correct the damage
we did to fundamental institutions such as the family. This web
site is a part of my apology for the life I lived then.
Since
high school, I have lived in Marshalltown, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Cedar
Rapids, Ottumwa and, for the past 16 years, in Decorah. I attend
Decorah Lutheran Church. Please come and join us there in
fellowship and to worship God. You will find a link on my link
page.
I read the Purpose Driven Life,
by Rick Warren (see recommended books) several years ago.. The
book is a 40 day study basically to help the reader find God's pupose
for their life. It was thought provoking, and well worth the time
and money spent, but didn't immediately bring me to the point where I
thought I really understood God's purpose in creating me. After
much reflection, I discoved the simple truth. My life is not
about me. And that we are all here for a
purpose. And that this gift, that is life, unfolds daily with new
tasks and duties and responsibilities. And new joys and
trials. I am very temporary but God is forever. He is
the same today and forever.
For
whoever has taken the time to visit this site, my prayer is you will
develop a close and lasting relationship with God the Father through
his Son. And that He will bless you and yours and that you will
walk in His nudist camp will.
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a
refuge. King Solomon, (Proverbs 14-26 NIV)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor
your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a
promise—“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life
on the earth.” The ApostlePaul (Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV)
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Pray for President Bush, our other
nude beach girls leaders, our soldiers and their
families.
I
urge . . . prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for
everyone--For Kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness. This is
good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to
come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:1-3.
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What a life!
I am so thankful I live in the United States of America where we enjoy freedom, opportunity and live in abundance.
"Character
is always the most important issue in determining the outcome of human
events, and character is revealed in what we do, not merely what we say
or believe." Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eageles. Isaiah 40:31
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Recommended Family Movies
1. "Joshua," Based
on the best-selling novel by Joseph Gizone. Well acted, directed
and produced. Works for ages young to adult. Imagine Jesus
coming to Earth, not the first or final coming, but just for a visit to
a town near you.
2. "Daddy Daycare,"
with Eddie Murphy. Didn't think I'd be recommending an Eddie
Murphy movie for families. It's Eddie Murphy without the potty
mouth but keeping all his abilities at comedy. Works for all
ages.
3. "The Passion of the Christ," Directed by Mel Gibson. It's been here and is gone. Buy the video or DVD. John Paul II provided a 5 word review: "It is as it was."
Rev. Billy Graham. said the film "is faithful to the Bible's teaching that we are all responsible for Jesus' death, because we all have
sinned." He said "it is our sins" that caused Jesus' death, "not any particular group."
1. Little Big League,
What if you're 12 years old, your Grandfather dies, you inherit the
Minnesota Twins, and then have to manage them? And to top it off,
your mom grounds you. A great movie for all ages.
2. The Sandlot,
There's a new kid in town, he wants to join this baseball team and
everybody thinks he's terrible at baseball. And he his. But
there's this one guy that sticks up for him. And then they lose
step-dad's baseball, signed by Babe Ruth, to a next-door giant
dog. And have to get the ball back without getting eaten.
Great for the whole family.
3. Ice Age
Nudist Family DVD Website...,
There is a little animal and he wakes up and everyone has
abandoned him. Then he meets a big elephant and rhinos
attack. And there's nothing to eat anywhere because of the ice
age and they are all starving. And a little human baby is adopted
by them and they have to get the baby back to dad. The picture
and sound effects are great.
4.
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Jimmy was wishing to go to an
amusement park but mom and dad said no because it's a school
night. So he sneaks out and aliens come and steal all the
parents. No parents, it's great. But then they start to
miss their parents and Jimmy, boy genius, has to figure out how to get
them back. He makes rocket ships, they go to space and save the
parents. This movie is clever and funny (just read the
cover). No, it really is.
Definitely Not Recommended
Anything from the Harry Potter series: books, movies, games, posters or toys.
Written
by an author who studied real witchcraft and incorporated the findings
into books and movies. They get progressively darker and even
less apropriate as they go. Just say NO and keep this stuff away
from your children.
Read more about Harry Potter's World. Is it good for your kids? A Christian perspective. Click here.
Literary Links
C.S. Lewis Foundation
J.R.R. Tokien
Tolkien
wrote some of my absolute most favorite books in his trilogy series
"Lord of the Rings." I first read them in 1971, and have read
them over and over again as the years went by. I recommend them
and the movie series without reservation. Tokien and Lewis became
life long friends in 1926. Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic
who spoke with C.S. Lewis about Christianity in September, 1931.
Lewis had not been a Christian prior to this discussion. Lewis
later wrote, "Mere Christianity" and other Christian works and the rest
is, as they say, history. "Mere Christianity" is one of my
recommended books. See book review in column to the right.
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| Our Son's Web Page on Sports |
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David
told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to
sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and
cymbals.
1 Chronicles 15:16
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Speak
to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make
music in your heart to the Lord, always
giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, (Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV)
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Christian Music & Artists we enjoy!
Brian Doerksen just put out the video of a live performance entitled: Today.
I cannot speak too highly of it. One song after another is
awesome. It is well produced. Get a copy for your
family. The music is also available on CD. Look below for
information on the CD.
Christian Music-
Here's a list of some of my favorite Christian music:
Some
churches do not believe in making music a part of their worship.
I believe this is a mistake. Good Christian music moves you
closer to God and gives you awareness of His presence. The enemy
hates Christian music.
My current
favorite Christian CD is Brian Doerksen's "Today."
This CD just moves you closer to God. My personal favorite,
although I love all the songs, is "Refiner's fire."It is highly
recommended.
I also really enjoy MercyMe. They have three CDs out, all excellent. Their second, Almost
There, has the hit song "I can only imagine." The first CD MercyMe has out is Spoken For.
I am justing starting to listen to their newest CD. Another of my
all time favorites is Amy Grant's Legacy.
Deb highly recommends Brian Doerksen's You Shine. Michael W Smith is another favorite. Click
on the links below.
Links to Artists
MercyMe
Brian Doerksen
Michael W Smith
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| Link to Ransomed Heart Ministries |
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| John Eldredge |
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| Stormie's webpage |
I
start with two books by Stormie Omartian. The books are "The
power of a praying husband" and "The power of a praying wife." If
you are a husband it is your duty to pray for your wife. It is
also God's command you love your wife. Loving your wife
begins with your regular, daily prayers for her and your
children. Prayer, and reading the Word, is how to get into the
will of God for your family. Do you have marriage problems and
the same fights over and over again without resolution. Then read
this book and pray for your wife and involve God in your
marriage. Marriage was, after all, God's idea in the first
place and He wants to help. It will even be better if you get
your wife to read "The power of a praying wife" and pray for you.
These two books, each read by a spouse, or both, will change your
marriage and family through the power of prayer. At some point, I
suggest you make it a habit to pray daily with your spouse. For
your marriage, family, friends, those in need of prayer, and your
country. For more, go to Stormie's site. Click on button
above.
Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001. It's a book for men about
how to restore the heart God wants you to have. John has a new book, "Waking the Dead"
I am in the process of reading. I can already recommend
both. I gave a copy of "Wild at Heart" to both my adult
sons. See button at top of book reviews for a direct
link. Highly recommended.
He Chose the Nails, by Max Lucado. Short stories with a powerful message for living today. Just excellent.
Here's his link: http://www.maxlucado.com/
Mere Christianity, By C.S. Lewis. Written in 1942, this work does not show it's age and is still
relevent today. Although completely different from The Purpose Driven Life (see below), they complement one another
in remarkable ways.
The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. Widely available and a best seller. A 40 day course
on the pupose of your life.
The Absolutes: Freedom's Only Hope, by James Robison. Widely available. Why secular humanism
won't work.
Anything by British Historian Paul Johnson who has written on a wide range of subjects. He had a recent best seller,
a tough thing for a history book, entitled A History of the American People.
Left Behind: A novel of the Earth's Last Days,
By Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins. Start with book one and
read the series. All 12 of the books are written and ready to be
read. Who would think you could put the book of Revelation into a
novel. The authors did. I won't ruin the ending but Jesus
comes back and is victorious.
Seduction of the Heart, By Tim LaHaye & Ed Hindson. How to guard your heart and open yourself
to the Holy Spirit. Excellent.
Knowing the Secrets of God: Understanding your place in his plan,
By Dr. John Hagee. Pictures God wants modern man to see and
understand from the Book of Genesis. Outstanding. Maybe
difficult to find.
God Calling,
edited by A.J.Russell but written by two anonymous women who call
themselves the "Two Listeners." Widely available.
Although they elect to remain anonymous, their claim is astonishing;
that the words written were inspired by the Living Christ as the two
prayed together and he spoke to them daily. Having read the book,
I believe them. Divided into 365 daily messages.
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