Friday, September 22, 2006
L'Shana Tova 5767!
Rosh HaShana - the Jewish New Year - begins at sundown this evening. We are beginning 5767. Tomorrow after the Rosh HaShana service, we will celebrate with apples & honey. L'Shana Tova! ( To a good year!) One of these years, as the shofar is blowing at Rosh HaShana, I expect to be raptured. Maranatha!
Ingrown toenails & groups
My left big toenail has a tendency to become ingrown. I put off clipping that nail about as long as I can, since it is usually a painful procedure. It is nearly time to grit my teeth & get the nail clipper out again. This was at the back of my mind when we Halleluyah Hikers decided to host 27 ladies from Lolo Community Church & elsewhere this past week-end. We chose to become a blessing to others rather than to become ingrown as a group.
We invited these ladies to a "Women's Retreat" at Laura's Lodge on the Flathead. The Hawaiian theme was kept a secret. Our plan to pamper them was kept a secret as well. As the women arrived at the lodge a carload at a time, we greeted them with nonalcoholic pina colodas & leis. A large "Aloha" sign, draped in leis, greeted them in the livingroom area where we gave them a nametag & entered their name in a "drawing basket". Periodically during the retreat, someones name was drawn from the basket & they were allowed to pick a wrapped prize. Almost everyone received one of these prizes. The guests were escorted to their assigned rooms, where chocolate kisses & a scripture verse awaited on their pillows. Veggie snacks were available until everyone had arrived.
The Hallelujah Hikers spent Friday decorating several tables with flowers & seashells, Hawaiian napkins, etc. & preparing a dinner that we had served by two of our junior high girls, dressed in grass skirts. Hawaiian chicken breasts, wild rice with mushrooms, green beans with almonds, & angelfood cake sliced twice horizontally & filled & frosted with a crushed pineapple & real whipped cream filling & strawberries were the main scrumptious components. We had been practicing two hula dances that we performed after the dinner in our swimsuits & grass skirts. All of us were almost doubled over with laughter during the performances... & even more so when we took the grass skirts off & chose guests to learn & perform the hula dances. We had a great time singing a mix of Hawaiian tunes & Christian choruses. A couple of touching testimonies closed the evening.
The next day started with silence until the first of two sessions by the guest speaker. Coffee, tea, fruit & sweetbreads were laid out to tide folks over until the brunch between the two sessions on "Leaving our Past Behind". I could go on & on about this retreat, but suffice it to say that everyone had a blast. We were refreshed. Our newly arrived youth leader's wife was able to meet a good number of the women in the church. We left the lodge with sparkling eyes, lifted spirits & wondering how we would ever be able to top this retreat!
We invited these ladies to a "Women's Retreat" at Laura's Lodge on the Flathead. The Hawaiian theme was kept a secret. Our plan to pamper them was kept a secret as well. As the women arrived at the lodge a carload at a time, we greeted them with nonalcoholic pina colodas & leis. A large "Aloha" sign, draped in leis, greeted them in the livingroom area where we gave them a nametag & entered their name in a "drawing basket". Periodically during the retreat, someones name was drawn from the basket & they were allowed to pick a wrapped prize. Almost everyone received one of these prizes. The guests were escorted to their assigned rooms, where chocolate kisses & a scripture verse awaited on their pillows. Veggie snacks were available until everyone had arrived.
The Hallelujah Hikers spent Friday decorating several tables with flowers & seashells, Hawaiian napkins, etc. & preparing a dinner that we had served by two of our junior high girls, dressed in grass skirts. Hawaiian chicken breasts, wild rice with mushrooms, green beans with almonds, & angelfood cake sliced twice horizontally & filled & frosted with a crushed pineapple & real whipped cream filling & strawberries were the main scrumptious components. We had been practicing two hula dances that we performed after the dinner in our swimsuits & grass skirts. All of us were almost doubled over with laughter during the performances... & even more so when we took the grass skirts off & chose guests to learn & perform the hula dances. We had a great time singing a mix of Hawaiian tunes & Christian choruses. A couple of touching testimonies closed the evening.
The next day started with silence until the first of two sessions by the guest speaker. Coffee, tea, fruit & sweetbreads were laid out to tide folks over until the brunch between the two sessions on "Leaving our Past Behind". I could go on & on about this retreat, but suffice it to say that everyone had a blast. We were refreshed. Our newly arrived youth leader's wife was able to meet a good number of the women in the church. We left the lodge with sparkling eyes, lifted spirits & wondering how we would ever be able to top this retreat!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Stonecroft Speaker Consultant
The Stonecroft Ministries sent a speaker consultant to Missoula. One of my Hallelujah hiker buddies hosted her today so several of us could learn how to write out & later present our testimonies in a way that better connects with other women, especially non-Christian women. Jan started by profiling today's Non-Christian so we could better know our audience.
The basic philosophy of life for the average American adult:
. There is basically no "grand" purpose to this life. We live to achieve comfortable survival. We can define success as the absence of pain & sacrifice & the inclusion of happiness.
. There is essentially no value to focusing on or preparing for the future.
We must live in this moment & for this moment.
. There are no absolutes. All moral & spiritual principles are simply relative to the individual & to the situation.
. There is no omnipotent deity that guides reality. We rely on our own vision, perceptions & competencies to make the most of life.
. There is an entitlement mentality. We deserve every possible good & positive outcome without having to earn them.
This is such a change from the philosophy of life in previous generations! The old methods of sharing the gospel do not connect us with this generation. This generation has the following basic core values: (live for the moment mentality)
. Time is the single most precious commodity. Guard yours carefully & use it wisely. Spend money to protect your schedule.
. Minimize any long-term commitments. Keep your life flexible because things change too fast to justify any permanent commitments. Great opportunities are simply unpredictable.
. It is important to maintain your independence & individuality at all costs. You must be alert & protect yourself against the agendas of anyone who cannot be trusted to serve your personal needs & interests.
. Trust your feelings to guide you. Relying on absolute principles places extremely unrealistic limitations on you. Only you know what's right or best for you.
. Pursue love & acceptance from others with abandon. Without it, you will feel emotionally empty & all areas of your life will be undermined.
. Don't waste time doing things that don't produce immediate gratification.
. Set goals & achieve them. Achievement is what helps us to develop character, reputation, a desirable lifestyle & a sense of contribution to the world.
. Have fun! The highest end of life is to enjoy everything that is available to us. Life is too short to devote time & energy to anything that is drudgery.
. Stay in good health.
Jan quickly went on in her presentation, but my mind continued to mull over how the media has especially shaped these values. Read a paper or popular book or what's been shared on many blogs or "My Space" entries, watch a TV show or movie, or listen to secular radio & you will hear all of these values over & over & over. I see them reflected in my daughter's choices & sadly sometimes in my own. Much of what Jan shared today boiled down to how I will have to address the "felt needs" of women to connect with them. The connection is made at an emotional level now, not at an intellectual one with facts. To share the Lord with others, I must share in clear word pictures the contrast of before Christ & after Christ in my life. Sharing my own fears, insecurities, need to control, perfectionistic tendencies, etc. is where the contact is made. I need to consider all of this as I prepare my testimony & as I prepare to lead a neighborhood Bible Study starting next week on "Lord, Where Are You When Bad Things Happen". It is one of the ten-week Precept topical studies based in Habakkuk. Several years ago I took the courses to become a Precepts leader, but never followed through & taught one of their studies. Guess it's about time to put that training to work.
The basic philosophy of life for the average American adult:
. There is basically no "grand" purpose to this life. We live to achieve comfortable survival. We can define success as the absence of pain & sacrifice & the inclusion of happiness.
. There is essentially no value to focusing on or preparing for the future.
We must live in this moment & for this moment.
. There are no absolutes. All moral & spiritual principles are simply relative to the individual & to the situation.
. There is no omnipotent deity that guides reality. We rely on our own vision, perceptions & competencies to make the most of life.
. There is an entitlement mentality. We deserve every possible good & positive outcome without having to earn them.
This is such a change from the philosophy of life in previous generations! The old methods of sharing the gospel do not connect us with this generation. This generation has the following basic core values: (live for the moment mentality)
. Time is the single most precious commodity. Guard yours carefully & use it wisely. Spend money to protect your schedule.
. Minimize any long-term commitments. Keep your life flexible because things change too fast to justify any permanent commitments. Great opportunities are simply unpredictable.
. It is important to maintain your independence & individuality at all costs. You must be alert & protect yourself against the agendas of anyone who cannot be trusted to serve your personal needs & interests.
. Trust your feelings to guide you. Relying on absolute principles places extremely unrealistic limitations on you. Only you know what's right or best for you.
. Pursue love & acceptance from others with abandon. Without it, you will feel emotionally empty & all areas of your life will be undermined.
. Don't waste time doing things that don't produce immediate gratification.
. Set goals & achieve them. Achievement is what helps us to develop character, reputation, a desirable lifestyle & a sense of contribution to the world.
. Have fun! The highest end of life is to enjoy everything that is available to us. Life is too short to devote time & energy to anything that is drudgery.
. Stay in good health.
Jan quickly went on in her presentation, but my mind continued to mull over how the media has especially shaped these values. Read a paper or popular book or what's been shared on many blogs or "My Space" entries, watch a TV show or movie, or listen to secular radio & you will hear all of these values over & over & over. I see them reflected in my daughter's choices & sadly sometimes in my own. Much of what Jan shared today boiled down to how I will have to address the "felt needs" of women to connect with them. The connection is made at an emotional level now, not at an intellectual one with facts. To share the Lord with others, I must share in clear word pictures the contrast of before Christ & after Christ in my life. Sharing my own fears, insecurities, need to control, perfectionistic tendencies, etc. is where the contact is made. I need to consider all of this as I prepare my testimony & as I prepare to lead a neighborhood Bible Study starting next week on "Lord, Where Are You When Bad Things Happen". It is one of the ten-week Precept topical studies based in Habakkuk. Several years ago I took the courses to become a Precepts leader, but never followed through & taught one of their studies. Guess it's about time to put that training to work.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Plant life on the island.
On the 23rd of August most of the plants had dried. We found a few like this one that retained some life & beauty. 
Bighorn Rams - First grouping
Wildhorse Island hosts the largest number of unfenced Bighorn Sheep in the United States. This was the first grouping of rams we encountered as we left the forest & hiked over the first rise in the foothills.
First siting of the 3 wild horses
As we hiked through the pines we sited the 3 wild horses in the distance.
Flathead Lake swim w/e of hike
On a mid-90 degree day, Flathead Lake was very refreshing. The noodles were great fun! Wildhorse Island is in the background of this photo.
Wildhorse Island Hike - August 22-23, 2006
This is Laura's "Moose Lodge" as viewed from her dock on Flathead Lake.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Wildhorse Island (in Flathead Lake) Hike
I stepped into the Millennial Kingdom during my latest hike! The Hallelujah Hikers were invited to Laura's lodge on Flathead Lake for the 22nd & 23rd of August. On the drive up to the lake, we stopped at "the Cove" in Polson for the scrumptious & creamy Wilcoxson's ice cream that I recall from my childhood. I had 1/2 of my favorite "Huckleberry" flavor & 1/2 of "Black Licorice" - a new flavor to me & quite delicious. (A flyer arrived in our mailbox today announcing that "The Pioneer Stop" now opening in Florence will carry Wilcoxson's ice cream - the best ice cream in Montana.) Upon arrival at Laura's "Moose Lodge" we changed into our swimsuits & jumped into the lake from her dock. Another delicious experience on a mid-90 degree day...only to the skin rather than tongue this time. I swam with a pink "noodle" in the lake. Have you watched children play with these? Well I had, but had never tried one for myself. They are great for floating or sitting on. We had wonderful appetites for the Balsamic Chicken Breasts for dinner. Would anyone like the recipie for this dish? It was sooo good! Laying on the warm lodge deck as the waves lapped nearby took us past sunset. We started picking out the various star constellations in the cloudless, dark sky... Cassiopia's Chair, the Big & Little Dippers, Orion, etc....Laura had a book that showed where constellations were in the sky on any month in our area. We double checked ourselves with it. God hugged me when I climbed into bed & started reading the One Year Bible selection for the 23rd. (I often start my devotions at the start of the Jewish day...after sunset. Then my mind can ponder Scripture during the night.) The Old Testament reading for that day included Job 9:8-10.
"He alone stretches out the heavens & treads on the waves of the sea.
He is the Maker of the Bear & Orion, the Pleides & the constellations of the south.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."
God knew we had just been praising Him for all those stars & let me know that He knew! We had also quoted Psalm 147:4-5
"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
His understanding has no limit."
A hot flash & potty break at 5:00 a.m. awakened me enough that I decided to watch the sun rise over Flathead Lake from a couch in the gorgeous high vaulted family room with floor to ceiling windows. All of this was just a prelude to the main event - the hike on Wildhorse Island that began at 8:00 a.m. with the 30 minute boatride to the island.
We walked through a small forest of pine trees, stepping over countless fallen logs, the first third of the hike. After about 20 minutes, we sited the three remaining wild horses on the island. They allowed us to slowly advance toward them until we were about 50 yards away. One was a beautiful paint. We stepped out of the forest shortly after the horses trotted away & began to hike up the steep foothills towards the ridge that ran the length of the island. Dry balsamroot plants crunched under our feet & at times the slopes were of loose shale. There we carefully picked each step & tested it. This was a real challenge because we were so awestruck by the numerous groupings of Bighorn rams with huge curls all around us that we kept looking out instead of down. The sheep let us get within feet of them as they made eye-contact. I almost expected one to say, " Welcome to the island. We are enjoying this fine morning too!" In awhile we came to small flocks of ewes with their 5-6 month old lambs. They also let us get quite close before slowly ambling away. When we looked up at the ridgeline, we could see one curled-horned head after another silhouetted against the sky. Large bucks & their does were also here & there on the slopes. We knew this wasn't the Millenium though when we saw a coyote stalking a lone doe. After enjoying the view of the lake from the ridge, we stepped down into a narrow canyon & a flock of partridges. Later at the boat dock, we ate our lunch & watched families of ducks swim by. What a great experience!
"He alone stretches out the heavens & treads on the waves of the sea.
He is the Maker of the Bear & Orion, the Pleides & the constellations of the south.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."
God knew we had just been praising Him for all those stars & let me know that He knew! We had also quoted Psalm 147:4-5
"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
His understanding has no limit."
A hot flash & potty break at 5:00 a.m. awakened me enough that I decided to watch the sun rise over Flathead Lake from a couch in the gorgeous high vaulted family room with floor to ceiling windows. All of this was just a prelude to the main event - the hike on Wildhorse Island that began at 8:00 a.m. with the 30 minute boatride to the island.
We walked through a small forest of pine trees, stepping over countless fallen logs, the first third of the hike. After about 20 minutes, we sited the three remaining wild horses on the island. They allowed us to slowly advance toward them until we were about 50 yards away. One was a beautiful paint. We stepped out of the forest shortly after the horses trotted away & began to hike up the steep foothills towards the ridge that ran the length of the island. Dry balsamroot plants crunched under our feet & at times the slopes were of loose shale. There we carefully picked each step & tested it. This was a real challenge because we were so awestruck by the numerous groupings of Bighorn rams with huge curls all around us that we kept looking out instead of down. The sheep let us get within feet of them as they made eye-contact. I almost expected one to say, " Welcome to the island. We are enjoying this fine morning too!" In awhile we came to small flocks of ewes with their 5-6 month old lambs. They also let us get quite close before slowly ambling away. When we looked up at the ridgeline, we could see one curled-horned head after another silhouetted against the sky. Large bucks & their does were also here & there on the slopes. We knew this wasn't the Millenium though when we saw a coyote stalking a lone doe. After enjoying the view of the lake from the ridge, we stepped down into a narrow canyon & a flock of partridges. Later at the boat dock, we ate our lunch & watched families of ducks swim by. What a great experience!
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