Tag: #Faith

Rose Query & Family

Rose Query & Family

My grandmother, Rose Query passed away in 1930 when my dad was only 9 years old. My dad’s older sisters, Violet and Mildred helped to raise him after their mom passed away. Dad didn’t speak of his mom often but when he did, tears would flood his eyes.

Dad kept a large framed picture of his mom in a small workshop storage area of our basement on McFarland Road in Indianapolis. I was intrigued by her picture from very the first day I saw it. One day, in the mid 1970’s, I saw him sitting near it and asked him if could have it one day. I told him that I’d take care of it and hang up on a wall. He initially hesitated and didn’t reply for a while. I wondered if I hurt his feelings by asking to have it. I think it was one of only a few things that he had to remember his mom by. A few moments later he looked at me and told me I could have it “one day.” His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying.

“One day” came a few years later in 1978. After suffering from the effects of polio half of his adult life, he succumbed to metastasized lung cancer at age 58. As hard as it was to see my dad suffer with cancer, it was even harder when he actually passed away. And while mementos are just tangible objects, there’s a particular comfort in having mementos of our loved ones that are no longer with us. In addition to the picture of his mom, I have one of my dad’s Bibles, some vintage White Castle coffee cups, some video cassette tapes of guitar sessions with his friends, a 45 RPM record in which he played guitar, titled, “Feets too Big,” photos, and a handwritten notebook of their 1926 family train vacation from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

The notebook diary is really pretty cool. Written entirely by hand, my grandmother, Rose wrote 27 pages of their most memorable moments from their 1926 vacation to Los Angeles and back. It gives me a glimpse of a piece of time in my family heritage. I imagine it was a well planned and much anticipated family vacation. The family trip included my dad, his sister Mildred, his brother Chester, and their parents, Fred and Rose. My dad’s oldest sister, Beulah, passed away in 1925 at age 20. My dad’s sister, Violet did not go with them on this trip as she married in 1925.

Their trip started on the morning of July 6, 1926, by car from Quincy, Indiana to Green Castle, Indiana where they boarded the train. As they crossed over the Wabash River, my dad, who was 5 years old said, “Is that the ocean?”

The train made several stops on the way up to Chicago where they stopped and ate supper on the banks of Lake Michigan facing the famous Stevens Hotel. It was still under construction but was already famous as it was to become the largest hotel in the world with 3000 hotel rooms. What a sight to see for a young family from Quincy, Indiana!

Rose often mentioned the corn and wheat fields, thrashing machines, the weather, and the terrain they saw throughout their train trip. They slept in berths; my dad got an upper most berth. When they crossed over the Missouri River on Wednesday, July 7 at 9:30 a.m. Rose noted how muddy the ground was and and how swampy the river seemed.

Continuing on, they stopped at Kansas City and she noted seeing several large companies such as Montgomery Ward and Sears and Roebuck, and mentioned how hot it was there.

On Thursday morning, July 8, the train passed by Canyon, TX where she noted that the land was flat, however noting it was “the prettiest scenery so far.” After passing by two more Texas cities they arrived in Clovis, NM.

During a stop at Vaughn, NM, my dad saw a Ford “Roadster” and said, “I’ll bet that’s Opal and Edd” which I’m not quite sure what he meant by saying this. Perhaps they were character’s associated with Roadster’s in some way. When he saw the mountains from afar he told his mom that the mountains were “blue.”

They arrived in Gallup, NM on Thursday evening, July 8 at 8:40 p.m. and she noted that it was difficult to breathe as it was near 10,000 ft altitude.

On Friday, July 9, they crossed the Colorado River at 6:45 a.m. and then crossed the state line into Needles, CA at 7:00 a.m. and noted the weather was very warm.

They arrived in Los Angeles at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 9 and took a taxi to their friend’s home at 1826 Marne Avenue. The taxi ride cost $3.70.

They rested on Saturday and then went to the beach on Sunday, July 11. After a swim in the Pacific Ocean they ate lunch and then took a sightseeing drive through Hollywood.

On Monday, July 12 they went to Venice Beach where they saw a replica of Noah’s Ark and a huge road sign of a whale swallowing Jonah, as we know of from the Bible. They enjoyed the Fun House, a 40’ steep stair walk, a barrel ride, and the roller coaster!

July 13-23 included shopping, sightseeing, visiting some friends, and several beach visits which resulted in my dad getting “sunburnt.” The sunburn put a halt to their activities for a few days.

July 24-25 they visited Long Beach, Naples, Seal Beach, Anaheim Landing, and Wilmington Boat Landing. They also rode a ferry boat to San Pedro Bay and visited Fort MacArthur. The fort is named after Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur. His son, was Douglas MacArthur, who later became the commander of our American forces in the Pacific during World War II. Their return trip on the ferry included the transportation of 11 automobiles and a spectacular up close view of two large steamboats going in opposite directions.

July 27-29 they visited a theatre, Exposition Park and Lincoln Park where they enjoyed seeing a variety of animals, plants, and trees. They took the opportunity to weigh themselves on a scale at the zoo: Fred 183 lbs, Rose 146 lbs, Chester 86 lbs, Mildred 88 lbs, and my dad, Herman weighed in at a whopping 50 lbs.

On August 1, 1926 they departed Los Angeles at 8:42 a.m. by train. Their return route was the reverse of the route they took coming out: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana. They arrived safely back home to Quincy, IN on August 5, 1926, thanking God and remarking, “no tongue can express our gratitude for this grand trip and of the many things that made the trip an enjoyable one.” Signed: Rose & Fred, Mildred, Chester & Herman

My grandmother, Rose Matilda Hunsicker Query, passed away approximately 3 years later after having complications from a goiter (thyroid gland) surgery. Her memorial mentions that her family was with her at the time of her passing and that “Her Savior called her to come up higher.” She passed peacefully away at age 46 at 12 o’clock on Sunday, March 2, 1930 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Fred passed away in 1947.

Violet passed away in 1986.

Mildred passed away in 2000.

Chester passed away in 1985.

Herman passed away in 1978.

And,

Beulah, who was the firstborn and also the first one in their immediate family to pass away. I don’t know what illness took her life but understand she had a long history of ill health. Her memorial speaks of a gracious young girl with a host of friends. Upon realization of her impending death she began making her own funeral plans. She selected the songs, pallbearers, and the minister who was her pastor when she first trusted in Christ at age 14 and who also officiated at her marriage just 7 months earlier. She passed away in 1924 at the young age of 20, but understood “the beauties of Heaven” and that “Heaven is made up of all ages.”

Rose sometime before 1930. Fred in the 1940’s. Chester, Mildred, Violet, & my dad in the 1970’s. Rose’s 1926 vacation notebook. And Rose’s picture in its original frame hanging up in my home, as I promised my dad many years ago.

Christmas

Christmas

Walking through our local big box retail store in late November I was intrigued by the array of “Christmas” T-shirt’s on display. Every single one of them was either making some sort of fun or folly of Christmas. Now I enjoy having fun just as much as anybody, but there’s a big difference between having fun and making fun of something. I found these shirts in particular poor taste:

I wondered how did we get here?

A quick search on the internet about “Christmas” returns a lot of interesting information. For one, “Christmas literally means “Christ’s mass,” which originated from the Old English term, “Cristes Maesse.” It was sometime during the 4th century that a decision was made by the early church to celebrate the birth of Christ annually. They chose the date of December 25, which also happened to coincide with the Roman Saturnalia festival, a traditional pagan festival. Why the 4th century church chose to combine the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world with a pagan festival is perhaps a discussion for another day, but suffice it to say that this is, in fact, what history has recorded.

Fast forward to today, it seems that while Christmas has long been a beloved holiday to most everyone, it holds different meanings to different people.

For the believer in Christ, it’s all about Christ.

For the unbeliever, it has nothing at all to do with Christ.

For the child or the young at heart, it’s a time of wonder, expectation, and excitement. It’s sweet in terms of giving gifts to our loved ones and the joy we have in watching their excitement however, their excitement is quite likely centered around the gifts. Have you first shared or read the Christmas story from the Bible? Do your children and family know why we exchange gifts at Christmastime? What about those who can’t afford to buy gifts? Or, is there possibly too much emphasis on the giving of expensive gifts in your family?

For the retail business owners, big box stores, and online retail giants, it’s a time of huge sales profits as the public spends billions of dollars buying gifts for their loved ones, many of which who go into debt buying those gifts. Bottom line, the buying and selling of gifts has morphed into a multi-billion dollar secular commercialization of Christmas.

Somewhere along the line, it seems that the importance of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has been edged out by the the fun and the folly, and the buying and the selling.

Maybe we could place the blame on the advertising industry that is constantly in the business of promoting bigger and better products.

Maybe we could blame our government agencies who removed Nativity scenes from government properties.

Maybe we could blame the school boards who removed Bibles from schools and banned teachers from talking about the Christian faith and Jesus Christ.

Maybe we could blame the big corporations who promote whatever the latest woke ideology is, but never ever mention anything about Jesus Christ.

Maybe we could blame the progressive liberal churches, apostate churches, and the prosperity churches; all of which preach a false gospel.

Maybe we could blame the parents who fail to raise their children in a Christian environment or even tell them why Jesus was born or what He did on the cross on our behalf.

But the truth is,

Satan is the god of this world and is the major influence on the opinions and actions of the unbelievers all around the world today. Satan is hell bent on keeping people from coming into a saving relationship with Christ.

And,

As it is written:

There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Romans 3:10-12

And because of this,

Until one becomes born again through the gift of faith, the repentance of sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone, Christmas will remain in their eyes, to be all about the fun and the folly, and the buying and the selling.

So while Christians celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmastime, nonbelievers celebrate everything but Christ.

All the more reason that Christians need to pray for those who do not yet know Christ, and to speak up, not just at Christmastime but anytime the Spirit leads.

We need to tell everyone that,

Christmas is all about Christ. It’s the integral part of God’s perfect plan of salvation through Jesus’ incarnate birth.

That’s why we give gifts at Christmastime, in honor of the gifts given to the Christ-child by the Magi.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Jesus was the greatest gift ever given; His birth is worthy of celebration!

Amen and Merry Christmas

Love Letters

Love Letters

I remember years ago my mom told me that my grandpa used to write notes, aka love letters, to my grandma when they first started courting. He was two years older than her and was a school teacher in Wright Township, Greene County, Indiana from 1913 to 1920. Although she didn’t attend school during this time as she only completed an 8th grade education, which was very common in the early 1900’s.

To the best of my recollection my mom told me that grandma told her that grandpa would send handwritten notes home to her via one of his students who was also her neighbor, and she’d reply back to him the same way.

Those notes must have been very sweet, as they fell in love and got married in 1915.

My grandma was 19 years old and my grandpa was 21 at the time of their marriage. They were blessed with four children, David, Sarah, Naomi, and Ralph. My mom, who later changed her name to Sara, was their second child.

Circa late 1920’s, my grandpa, my mom Sarah, her siblings David and Naomi, and my grandma holding baby Ralph.

My grandparents were married just short of 54 years when my grandpa passed away in November 1969. My grandma survived him by 16 years, passing away in November 1985. They were both strong Christians and left a big impression in my life by the way they lived their life, and by the way they loved with the love of Christ.

A sweet memory from a January 1966 hometown newspaper clipping about my grandparents’ December 1965 50th wedding anniversary.

I recently saw an article that centered around a box of old love letters, and it sparked this old memory about my grandparents.

I thought, how sweet it would be to have some of their old love letters.

So I asked my siblings and a couple of my cousins if they happened to recall or actually have any of those letters, and unfortunately they do not, so my faint memories will have to suffice.

I actually have a box of some old letters, post cards, and memorabilia from my early junior high days. Most of the letters were from my 7th grade best friend Donita, who moved to Georgia during our junior high school years.

It’s pretty safe to say, hand written notes and love letters are now a thing of the past. Technology has definitely brought us some great advances and conveniences but has also forever changed the landscape of how we express our feelings, and how we communicate with each other.

Nowadays, texting, social media posts, and messaging have likely become the most preferred form of communication. The pros include convenience and time efficiency, but I believe the cons outweigh the pros. Some of the cons include being misunderstood, texting the wrong person by mistake, autocorrect mumble jumble, and the missing out of the joy of hearing and seeing people in person.

And,

I regret not having found any of those old notes and love letters between my grandpa and grandma,

But,

I do have several Bibles, which Billy Graham lovingly referred to as God’s “love letters” to us:

“The Bible is God’s love letters to us. It is there He tells us not only that He loves us, but shows us what He has done to demonstrate His love. It also tells us how we should live, because God knows what is best for us and He wants us to experience it. Never forget: The Bible is God’s Word, given to us so we can know and follow Him.” #BillyGraham

However,

According to a quick internet search, the Baptist Press for example, states that “while the average home in America has three or four bibles in it, more than half of Americas read little or none of the Bible. Less than a quarter of those who have ever read a Bible have a systematic plan for reading Scripture each day. And a third of Americans never pick it up on their own.”

As for me, since becoming a Christian, I’ve read through the Bible three times, studied the gospels several times, done various Bible studies, either in a group setting or on my own. In December 2022, I started a new Bible chapter-by-chapter Bible study by listening to an audio Bible app on my phone, reading the corresponding chapter in my Bible, and then studying the Bible notes. My goal has been to do this daily. I haven’t always met my goal but I do most days and while it’s going to be a long while before I finish this Bible study, it’s been such a blessing to me.

Truth be told, I haven’t always studied my Bible. There’s been more times than I care to remember when I haven’t been actively studying my Bible. Thankfully, I was convicted a while back, by the grace of God, that there’s no good reason why a Christian should not be actively involved in some type of daily Bible study.

So,

The point I want to emphasize is that studying the Bible goes hand in hand with being a Christian. It’s one of the best ways for us to know Him more and to know His will in our lives. It’s rich in meaning, instructions, and warnings. It also helps us make sense of some of the things we see going on in the world today. No matter how dark the days may seem, His word assures us that we, who are called by His name, have a hope and a future in Him.

I do believe that the Bible really is like a collection of “love letters.” It’s about,

the amazing love of God,

the promises of God,

the miracles of Jesus,

the sinfulness of man,

God’s plan of salvation,

blessings for those who obey Him,

and,

curses for those who do not.

The Bible also helps us to know that,

God is sovereign,

God is good,

God is always to be trusted,

and so much more.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

So, if you’re a Christian and you’re not actively involved in some type of Bible study, maybe it’s time to ask yourself why not. Or better still, pray about it.

Or,

If you’re not a Christian, why not carve out some time to read the Bible for a few minutes each day? It’s God’s love letters to you.

Our 2023 Journeys Cruise

Our 2023 Journeys Cruise

In October of 2023 Harold and I embarked on a 14 Night Carnival “Journeys” cruise to the Eastern Caribbean out of Galveston, Texas. I booked this cruise the year before when I saw the itinerary went to most all the ports (plus a few more) that we were supposed to go on in March of 2020 to celebrate our 40th anniversary. That 2020 10 Night cruise was cancelled due to Covid-19 hysteria. So, 3 1/2 years later we finally got to go on our eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Dream.

Our Itinerary:

Day 1 Galveston (Embark)

Day 2 Sea Day

Day 3 Key West

Day 4 Sea Day

Day 5 Grand Turk (XXLD due to WX)

Day 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Day 7 St Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Day 8 St Kitts, Basseterre

Day 9 St Maarten,Netherland Antilles

Day 10 St Croix, US Virgin Islands

Day 11 Sea Day

Day 12 Falmouth

Day 13 Sea Day

Day 14 Sea Day

Day 15 Galveston (Disembark)

Days 1 and 2, were Sea Days and were mostly spent exploring the ship, enjoying the music, entertainment, food, and the people.

Day 3 brought us to Key West, Florida for the afternoon. We walked down to The Southernmost Point, and enjoyed several of the sights along the way: The Kapok Tree, the Key West U.S. NAS, and back to town to do a little shopping. We visited here in 2017 but missed seeing most of the things we saw on this day so this was a great stop.

Days 4 and 5 were both Sea Days as Hurricane Tammy made it impossible for the ship to dock at Turks and Caicos. We already visited Grand Turk in 2019, so we were much more thankful to be safe rather than sorry. We filled the extra time relaxing and enjoying the ship activities.

Day 6 was spent in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We took a local tour to see the old town, forts, new town, the capital building, and the beautiful colorful homes of San Juan.

On Day 7 we slept in a bit after being up late the night before at the Silent White Disco Party. Harold sat and watched while I danced with a bunch of ladies to old disco songs with headphones on! Ha! We wore all white but not everyone got the memo. In St Thomas we shopped a little and then went on the sky ride and saw some amazing views! It’s a beautiful island.

Day 8 at St Kitts Basseterre, I got up early this morning and snuck around hiding’s 7 rubber ducks with 7 Bible versed post cards. We ate made-to-order omelettes for breakfast and climbed back into bed as it was raining when we docked. We went ashore around noon just as the rain subsided and enjoyed some shopping and the colorful sights at St Kitts.

On day 9 we docked on the Dutch side of St Maarten, Netherland Antilles and took a tour of the island which included the French side as well. Interestingly it’s a long distance call from the Dutch side to the French side. They also have completely two different governments and rules. My favorite stop was at SXM airport where the beach runs right up to the landing strip. The signs along the fence warn about death and serious injury if you stand there! We ate lunch at the Sunset Beach SXM restaurant while airplanes were landing and taking off. I walked over to the beach and got a video of one flying right over me as it was landing. I remember wanting to visit SXM years ago when I worked for Delta, so I was really excited to finally get to visit here.

We spent Day 10 in St Croix, US Virgin Islands shopping and enjoying the colorful sights and sounds. Back on ship we enjoyed our nightly dinner with our dinner companions and the nightly entertainment du jour!

Our nightly dinner companions, Ralph & Pat from the Houston area, and Clovis & Donna who are full-time RV’ers.

Day 11 was a Sea Day and Halloween. We found (actually Harold found) a rubber duck this morning on our way to breakfast! That was fun, and was our first and only rubber duck to find on this cruise! The day was full of Halloween activities including a costume contest. Harold wore his Colts Manning #18 jersey and I dressed as a Colts cheerleader! We watched the Rangers play in the World Series on the Lido deck and went to bed exhausted after a full and fun day on the ship.

Day 12: We visited Falmouth, Jamaica and enjoyed some shopping at the port. The port is cone shaped which lets two cruise ships dock around it at the same time. Jamaica is full of colors, music, and a lot of humidity.

Days 13-15 Sea Days went by super fast on our way back to Galveston Port. We bought a photo package and picked out our favorite pics, enjoyed the entertainment, the amenities, the people, the crew, dinner, and especially the yummy deserts.

Some Dr Seuss fun with Sam I Am, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and The Cat in the Hat!
Formal Night #1
Formal Night #2
Casual, formal, and our Halloween costumes!
Casual nights

Overall we had such a wonderful time on this cruise and were so thankful to be able to go on a cruise like this one.

But I have to say, I came away feeling sorry for many of the cruisers. Apparently this type of cruise, a Journeys Cruise, is a favorite among the Platinum level cruisers. Platinum cruisers have cruised a minimum of 75 nights on Carnival Cruise Lines. The buzz around the ship was that this cruise had over 60% of Platinum cruisers on it and that they were hard to please. Now our nightly dinner table included Platinum cruisers and they were all very nice people but it seemed that many of the Platinum cruisers were not so nice and not so happy. Many were full of complaints and seemed unimpressed and unappreciative. We talked to several of them over the two weeks we spent on this ship. Many bragged about constant cruising and/or back-to-back cruising, and practically in the same breath would complain about this or that. Several of these same people also complained about their children and grandchildren. It made me sad for them and got me thinking about the swinging tides of happiness in some people’s lives, like a pendulum.

According to Britannica a pendulum is a “body suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing back and forth under the influence of gravity.”

My theory here is that people who have been blessed with so much but somehow always find something to complain or be unhappy about are like a pendulum going back and forth, pulled by gravity. Except in this case instead of gravity, they’re being swayed every “which way but loose” by their own choices and self-centered emotions. Not a good formula for life.

Whereas the opposite is generally true for Christians. Jesus is our Lord and it is He who is our unshakable, firm, steady, and reliable anchor in life. He is our rock, our solid foundation.

Happiness is not found in endless cruising. Happiness is not found in having a multitude of possessions. Happiness is not found in getting everything and anything you want. No!

True happiness is found in relationship with Christ 🙌🏻 and until one comes to the realization about the truth of the gospel and their desperate need for a Savior, no amount of cruising (or whatever a person is doing trying to obtain happiness) will ever fill the need in your life that can only be accomplished by turning to Christ in repentance and faith.

Cruises will eventually fail your expectations. Possessions will break, go out of style, or get stolen. Some people and some relationships will invariably disappoint you, hurt you, or even leave you.

But God,

Will never leave or forsake you. Period.

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15

True happiness is also a byproduct of being thankful for all of God’s blessings, both great and small.

Small like finding a rubber duck! Ha!

Great like having a relationship with Christ, a loving family, and a place to call home.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Joy!

Joy!

Way back when I was in junior high, circa 1967-1969, the journalism class put out a monthly publication with all the current school happenings and the occasional commentary. I remember one of the editions included a section that published comments from several students that had completed the following statement:

“Happiness is…..”

I wish I had saved a copy of it!

What I remember most about it was that many of the comments were funny, some were trying to be funny but were not, and a few were sincere. It was interesting to read and it also gave me a glimpse into the various personalities of some my classmates.

So, what makes you happy?

Let me first say, that’s a loaded question. I know some might have trouble putting a list together right now. Others would have no problem at all. So, why do you think that is?

It’s because happiness is circumstantial and is, by and large, likely determined by what is currently happening in your life. It can be very difficult to be happy when life isn’t going very well; when life is difficult; on the sad days, when tears are many.

But, I believe there is a joy that transcends our circumstances, and it’s a joy that remains in and though the difficult times in life. It’s a godly joy. It comes from the Lord as we look to Him in all of life’s circumstances. Be they good or bad.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

The joy of the Lord is actually more than a belief. It’s my experience. Joy just knowing the Lord. Joy in the good times. Joy in the bad times. There have been several times in my life where God has given me peace in the middle of the storm, and joy in spite of my circumstances. Trusting Him no matter what. Rejoicing in Him no matter what.

Because,

The Bible tells us regardless of our present circumstances, that we are to “rejoice in the Lord.” When we look to and praise God in worship our hearts are filled with joy.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4

Even when life is difficult.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Roman 15:13

So here’s the first two verses and the chorus to a sweet old children’s song about the joy of the Lord. May it bless you with His joy!

I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy!

Verse 1

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay

Chorus

And I’m so happy, so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart.
And I’m so happy, so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

Verse 2

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart to stay.

Chorus

And I’m so happy, so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart.
And I’m so happy, so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

#ComposerUnknown.

Male and Female He Created Them

Male and Female He Created Them

God’s word explains,

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

And God’s word is clear,

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

There are only two sexes,

He (Jesus) answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female” Matthew 19:4

Yet,

In 2023 we find ourselves living in a world where:

– Gender ideology defies God and attempts to redefine God’s creation of man and woman and their God-given roles.

⁃ Men who “identify as a woman” are allowed to use women’s public restrooms and dressing rooms.

⁃ Public school teachers are allowed to actively proselytize young children about changing their “gender,” while they teach today’s world view version of sexuality.

⁃ Young children are being given puberty blockers and hormones in attempt to change their “gender,” and in some cases against the will of one of their parents.

⁃ Public libraries are hosting drag queen story hours for young children, where men mockingly dress up as sexually provocative women.

⁃ Men who “identify as a woman” are allowed to compete in women’s sports; they’re winning and literally stealing trophies away from rightfully deserving woman athletes.

⁃ Men and women are voluntarily having irreversible, painful, and numerous surgeries, and voluntarily taking hormones in a futile attempt to change their “gender.”

– Public school teachers throughout the USA (except Florida) are teaching K-12 students about the LGBTQ lifestyle and agenda issues.

And the above is just a partial list of some of the more recent societal changes considering sexuality.

How did we get here?!

Some might say we could blame it on Gloria Steinem of the 1970’s “Woman’s Liberation” movement who defied God by convincing millions of women that they had the “right” to change traditional women’s roles.

Some might say we could blame it on the government for enacting various laws such as same-sex marriages laws.

Some might say we could blame it on woke Big Corp who’ve hired DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) managers to insure their company meets certain expectations to keep their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Government) scores high.

Some might say we could blame it on all the men who fail in their God-given roles as spiritual leaders in their home and head of the household.

Some might say we could blame it on all the women who try to “run the show” in their marriage by usurping their husband’s God-given role as head of the household.

Some might say we could blame it on churches who allow Beth Moore and other so called “women pastors” like her who dare to defy God and His word (1 Timothy 2) each time they stand at a pulpit and preach to men.

While I believe all of these things have certainly played a part, they’re not the root cause.

We find the root cause in the Bible.

In the book of Genesis in the Garden of Eden, where Eve believed the serpent and chose to disobey God. As Eve was tempted by the devil, Adam was tempted by Eve, and sin entered the world through Adam.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:1-6

And,

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12

The Bible clearly explains our root problem is sin.

We’re all sinners, deserving of punishment and eternity separated from God.

And,

Sexual sin is not only against God, it is against one’s own body,

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

And,

Sexual sin is directly opposed to God’s will to sanctify us (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

But the good news is that,

God made a way,

By sending His Son to take the penalty for our sin, for all who’ll come to Christ in repentance and faith.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

However,

Unrepentant sinners, by nature, don’t want to repent. Unrepentant sinners, by nature, don’t want to obey God or His word. Unrepentant sinners want to be their own gods, choose their own idols, and live their own lives irrespective of God. Unrepentant sinners love the dark.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3:19

And,

Unrepentant sinners pridefully reject God: “the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul” and rejects God in pride (Psalm 10:3-4). Humility is where the knowledge of God begins; therefore, those who reject God reject humility too.

But it doesn’t have to be so.

The distance between an unrepentant sinner and God is not far.

If you find yourself described here, and feel God convicting you to make a change in your life,

Just turn around.

Turn toward Christ and away from sin.

And it’s not too late.

For Jew or Greek, male or female, LGBTQ or heterosexual, rich or poor, etc.

Acknowledge the sin in your life today and repent of it. Put your faith and trust in God, the maker of heaven and earth. Cry out to Him and humbly ask for His forgiveness. Trust in Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross. Read and study the Bible. Find a biblical church. Honor God in your life and in your home. No one knows you better or loves you more than God, the author and creator of your life.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. Ephesians 5:8-13

So then,

Trust in God,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

And,

If you’re male, trust in God’s plans and God-given roles for men. If you’re female, trust in Gods plans and God-given roles for women.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Interestingly, I remember when I was a child, I used to dress up in my brother’s army outfit and crawl around in the back yard playing “Army guy” with a toy machine gun strapped to my back and a rubber knife in my mouth. I was a “Tom-Boy.” Vic Marrow of the TV show, Combat, was my inspiration. But, I grew out of it. How glad I am that no one tried to give me puberty blockers or tried to convince me I needed try to change my sex back then. I love being a woman. Actually, I love all the roles that God has chosen for me in life, and I especially love being a mom.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Mother’s Day 2023 💐

Mother’s Day 2023 💐

As I’ve grown older, Mother’s Day has become one of my favorite holidays. My perfect Mother’s Day includes food, fun, family, flowers, and a Mother’s Day card.

So in the days leading up to Mother’s Day, I always think of my sweet mom who passed away in 1998. I was blessed to have my mom for the first 44 years of my life. She was a great role model in so many ways; as a woman, a wife, a mom, a Christian, etc. I will forever remember her praying on her knees by her bedside at night and studying her Bible in the early mornings when I was a child.

Me and my mom in Indianapolis back in the late 1970’s:

My mom passed away at the age of 77 after suffering for several years from Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28

My grandma was a godly woman too. When I was a child I loved going to her house just to be near her. When I was a teenager and again as a young adult, she would pull me off to the side and tell me that she was praying for me. I knew she loved me and she knew I needed prayer.

Here’s a photo of my grandma in our kitchen nook in Indianapolis back in the early 1970’s. I think she was cutting the meat off a turkey to make us some of her delicious homemade turkey noodle soup!

“Older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine. They should teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:3-5

My grandma was recognized and honored in her community as Mother of The Year” back the 1960’s.

And below is a photo of my great-grandma Stockrahm, I think this was taken in the early 1950’s. She lived with my grandma in Frankfort, Indiana when she was elderly and where my grandma took care of her until she passed away. I was very young back then when she lived with my grandma but I do remember she was very quiet, and my grandma was very protective of her. I remember feeling sorry for my great grandma because she couldn’t get up out of bed. I really didn’t get to know her well because I was so young, but I knew that my grandma loved her, and I loved my grandma, so I remember trying to be respectful and quiet around her.

My great grandma Stockrahm.

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4

I’m so thankful for my mom, my grandma, and great-grandma. They were wonderful and godly mothers! Having them in my life made an eternal impact in my life.

I want to encourage Christian mothers and grandmothers everywhere; to never give up, to continue in prayer for each one of your loved ones, to continue modeling Christ to your family, and to take opportunities as often as you can to share Christ with your children and grandchildren. Your godly influence has an eternal impact on the lives and futures of your children, grandchildren, and so on.

I also realize that not all woman become mothers and am so thankful that being a mother was in God’s plan for me. I thank Him 🙌🏻 for our three daughters, each of whom are mothers now as well, but more importantly, Christian mothers.

From left to right standing, Michelle and me.
From left to right seated, Mackenzie (pregnant with Tate) and Megan.

God has blessed us with six grandchildren, with one more grandchild (Tate) due in July 2023.

Christmas 2021

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

Lastly,

My Mother’s Day story would not be complete without mentioning my two step children and four step grandchildren (plus one deceased) from my husband’s first marriage. They used to be a part of our lives, each in differing ways and at various times over the years. I love and and miss them, and am sorry we’re estranged. And while it may not be my story to tell, I believe it’s both my privilege and my place as a step-mother to continue to pray for them and their families. ❤️‍🩹🙏🏻

Called By Name

Called By Name

“Elaine Crandell! Come on down! You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right!”

I first remember watching “The Price is Right” sometime after I graduated from high school in 1972. I continued watching it on and off over the years, basically whenever I just happened to be at home during the day. I never thought I could ever be a contestant on the show until sometime after 1989, when I started working for Delta Air Lines. My travel benefits at Delta opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me and my family.

So in January 2005, my daughter Megan and I flew to Los Angeles for three days of sightseeing and shows.

Now instead of going to bed the night before the show, like any normal person might do, we left the comfort of our warm hotel room and spent the night standing (in my daughter’s case, sitting in her wheelchair) in the cold, in the dark, in downtown Los Angeles, on the sidewalk just outside of CBS Television City studios.

We arrived outside the studio really early, around midnight actually, which made us the third group in line, and pretty much assured us we’d be able to exchange our tickets for a studio admission number at 6:00 a.m. We spent the night trying to keep warm, eating bagels, and talking with everyone around us in line. It was fun but in the middle of the night I started feeling sick and went back to the rental car to lay down. I couldn’t sleep so I got up and got back in line. By the time 6:00 a.m. rolled around, the line had grown around the block and out of sight, and I had a soar throat, but, we got our studio admission numbers!

We left to go back to the hotel with strict instructions to be back within three hours to get back in another line. We freshened up but were afraid to lay down thinking we might oversleep.

About three hours later, with our admission numbers in hand, we got back in line at CBS Television City. This was about a three hour process and although we were exhausted, it turned out to be a nice experience. It was here I met a young man who was a previous showcase winner a few years before. He was now working as a student advisor at a college and was back in line on this day with a group of students from his college. We talked for a while about a lot of different things, including my faith in Christ.

Continuing our way through the admission line, we encountered the show producers who were conducting interviews with each one of us, one by one. I noticed they were very personable and were taking notes as they did their interviews. The producer who interviewed me asked me what I did for a living. I smiled and told him, “I make mad people happy!” He laughed and then asked me what I really did. I explained that I was a customer service agent for Delta Air Lines and that I help passengers and agents resolve various problems and issues.

He must have liked my answer.

Within a couple of hours, I heard my name:

“Elaine Crandell! Come on down! You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right!”

I jumped up, screaming, and ran up to the podium. Within a few minutes I got the winning bid on a metal detector and ran up on stage. At this point my heart was pumping and my mind was racing with so many thoughts: “Mercy, those lights are so bright! Do I look sick? Do I need more make up? Do I look like I’ve been up all night?!” Suddenly I found myself talking with Bob Barker and playing The Range Game. I looked back to find my daughter in the crowd and all I saw was what seemed to be everyone telling me to stop. I hit the stop button but it was a tad bit too soon.

They cut to a commercial break and whisked me off stage to sign a bunch of legal papers: one giving my consent to be a contestant on a CBS game show, another explaining that I understood that I’d be responsible for any and all tax implications of my prize winnings, and yet another paper that gave me an option to decline any or all of my gifts.

By the time I finished signing all the papers it was time to go back on stage to spin the Big Wheel in the Showcase Showdown. My 95, in one spin, won me the chance to bid on a showcase!

During one of the next commercial breaks, a stage manager came up to talk with me. He was so kind. Talking with him really helped calm my nerves. My only regret at this point was that I realized then that I forgot to say, “Hello!” to my family while waiting for the Big Wheel to stop.

So then came the chance to win the showcase. Mine was a set of video phones, a Colorado Hot Air Balloon trip, a Colorado ski vacation, and a ski boat. I had no idea how much that ski boat was worth but decided to bid low as I didn’t want to overbid. My mind raced back to a few weeks before when my husband and I were invited to go on a ski boat but we declined because neither of us skied. I suddenly wished we’d gone as maybe the price of it would have came up in our conversations. Oh well, too late now.

As it turned out, the ski boat was worth a lot more money that I thought. I underbid my showcase by over $25K and lost to my opponent who also underbid her showcase, but by less.

What a day! All 24 hours of it! We went back to our hotel and as soon as the excitement wore down we both fell asleep in exhaustion.

A few weeks later I made a T-shirt to remember the experience. I used the photo of my expression when I realized I’d lost the showcase and titled it “The Price was Wrong!” Ha!

In retrospect, so much of what happened was right. I enjoyed and shared a great experience with my daughter. I won a metal detector worth $1100, which I still have. I got to be a contestant on one of the longest running game shows in television history. I got to meet Bob Barker, and I got to share my faith with a stranger.

In the big picture of life, “The Price is Right” is just a TV game show. My name was called and I won a gift.

Oh so much more importantly, Jesus knows my name! By faith, I’ve received the gift of eternal life; life here and now, and life in the ever after.

Not because I’m a “good person.” Not because I was baptized or a member of a church.

But because I trusted in Jesus and His plan of salvation one night many years ago, when God lovingly convicted me that I was a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. I responded and called out to Him in repentance and faith, and placed my trust in Jesus alone.

It was Jesus who took the penalty for my sins on the cross; He paid the price in full on my behalf. God, the Creator, Sustainer, and Author of Life, made a way for a sinner like me to be redeemed.

The Price Jesus Paid is Right, and it was according to His perfect plan and unfathomable love; it’s for all He calls to come and follow Him, for all who will respond in repentance and faith.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Jesus Revolution Movie

Jesus Revolution Movie

For several years, beginning back in the early 2000’s, I followed Greg Laurie’s daily radio ministry, A New Beginning. I also followed his podcasts when they became available a few years later. I found him to be a very likable and effective evangelist. I have several of his books, The Great Compromise, Worldview, Run to Win, and Lost Boy, with my favorite being The Great Compromise.

On a January 2006 visit to California, I visited his church in Riverside, with two of my daughters for a Sunday morning service.

Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California in January 2006, with my two oldest daughters, Michelle and Megan (in the wheelchair) and back when we all had the same hair color. Actually mine was gray even back then but my dark hair came out of a bottle!

In 2009, my oldest daughter and I went to hear him preach at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, where my step-grandson, Ethan, went forward to profess faith in Christ that evening.

Greg Laurie and Ethan at Prestonwood Baptist Church, February, 2009

A few years later I went to his 2016 Harvest Crusade in Dallas, also with my oldest daughter, and then again to his 2018 Harvest Dallas Crusade, where I sang in the choir for the crusade.

So, it’s fair to say I’m very familiar with Greg Laurie’s ministry, although I have to say I’ve not been as active of a listener of late. For the past several years I have shifted more toward reformed Bible teachers, such as Alistair Begg, Steve Lawson, John MacArthur, etc. I’ve also developed a dislike of popular contemporary music being played at church, but that perhaps is a story for another day.

So, when I heard late in 2022 that Greg Laurie was involved in a new movie, Jesus Revolution, and that it was going to be released in February 2023 on a limited basis I was hopeful that it would be shown nearby. I’m old enough to remember the Jesus Revolution TIME magazine cover from June, 1971, and recall hearing people talk about it as the Jesus Movement. I was 16 years old at the time.

Come February 24th, 2023, I was very happy to find out that Jesus Revolution was being shown in a theater within walking distance of our home! I bought tickets for the 6:10 p.m. showing, which actually was the first time in a long while that I’ve bought movie tickets. The stuff that Hollywood has been cranking out the past few years is mostly junk, so we rarely go to the movie theater anymore, also perhaps another story for another day.

So I was very hopeful and excited to go to this movie. I liked it but I have to admit it was a little different than what I was expecting. As I watched it and since watching it, several questions and concerns popped up in my mind. Thus, it’s the topic of this writing.

– First, I was a little surprised the movie didn’t clearly present the gospel. Or, did I miss it?

– The words spoken at Greg’s baptism were so vague. It was like he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing there. Like he was caught up with the crowd?

– And the under water portion of the baptism scene seemed overly dramatic. Why so much emphasis on the water? Baptism is a first step in obedience; an outward sign of an inward change. Why over dramatize the water?

– I also don’t recall hearing much about repentance in the movie. Did I miss that too?

Now, I know Greg Laurie’s ministry. I’ve heard him clearly present the gospel many times. I even checked his current statement of faith on his church website in case something had changed, which it did not. It’s biblical. So I decided to look a little more into the making of this movie.

After just a little research I learned that while the story is based upon Greg’s autobiography, the co-directors and screenwriter, together with the producer, production company, etc., had artistic license to present the movie as written by the screenwriter. The “artistic license” allows deviation from the original story as written in the autobiography. So, The Jesus Revolution movie is not a autobiography or even a documentary, nor is this the first time we find a movie is actually different from the book.

Ultimately I believe there’s an inherent risk whenever entertainment is combined with the gospel message. The gospel is Holy and is God’s perfect plan for sinful man. Movies are entertainment, created by man. Movies are not Holy and are not “church” or a church service. Pointedly, repentance of sin has never been a popular subject with man. In our natural depraved state, we love our sins and do not want to part with them. Faith and repentance are gifts of God, and it’s only by the grace of God that we become convicted of our sin, turn from it and turn toward Christ.

Which brings me to two concerns this movie raised, both of which center around Lonnie Frisbee.

1. The actor who played Lonnie Frisbee, Jonathan Roumie, was involved in a practice called “grave soaking” in preparation for this movie. He visited Lonnie Frisbee’s gravesite and laid down next to his grave in an effort to “connect in some way with Lonnie” and “to pray with him.” That’s plain creepy and in no way Biblical. Period. In my opinion, Jonathan Roumie, regardless of his acting skills, was a poor choice as a lead actor in this movie.

2. And, what happened to Lonnie Frisbee?

While Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie went on to have successful Christian ministries, Lonnie Frisbee, I’m sorry to say, did not. Toward the end of his approximate one and a half year involvement with The Jesus Movement at Calvary Chapel, Lonnie grew increasingly erratic, self-centered, and overly focused on “faith healing.” After he left Calvary Chapel, Lonnie got involved with several questionable ministries, referred to himself as a “seeing prophet,” reportedly struggled with drugs and homosexuality, and died at age 43. I found several disparaging articles, comments, and videos on the internet about Lonnie Frisbee. Not a great legacy I’m also sorry to say.

Greg Laurie, in a recent interview, explained briefly that although he was not in contact with Lonnie Frisbee after Lonnie left Calvary Chapel, he did visit him just prior to his death in 1993. Greg stated that Lonnie Frisbee was in fact repentant of his sins. Greg then eloquently reminded us that we’re all flawed in one way or another, and that God often uses flawed people to accomplish His purposes.

To be clear, salvation grants us forgiveness for our sins and gives us a renewed life in Christ, but Christians still struggle against the flesh and the negative influence of our former sin nature. Ideally we sin less as we grow in Christ. It’s the process of sanctification. Why some stop growing or regress excessively I do not know. God knows. But I do believe that Lonnie Frisbee was used by God for a specific time period for a specific purpose. That specific time period and specific purpose was portrayed in this movie.

With all that said, my gut reaction is that if Greg Laurie was the screenwriter as well as the author perhaps the movie would not have raised so many questions.

Regardless, I think the movie is still inspirational, despite all of my questions and concerns. In fact, it’s probably one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. While it may have some flaws, the message is still inspirational. Moreover, I think the overall theme of this movie is that Jesus still seeks and saves the lost, and still sets the captives free. In addition, both Greg Laurie and this movie reminds us that God can and does use flawed people to accomplish His purposes.

Query Family Christmases

Query Family Christmases

My childhood Christmas memories were some of my fondest childhood memories. We were not well off financially but we always had a wonderful Christmastime. Our Christmas celebration was fairly traditional all except for one thing: we had it in the middle of the night! It was not until several years later that I realized that most people don’t have Christmas at 3:00 a.m.!

Christmas 1956
Christmas 1956
Our family Christmas card Circa 1961 or 1962. I’m sitting on my dad’s lap, Dennis standing next to me, and Doug on my mom’s lap. Standing in the back is Eldon, Joyce, and Ronnie.

Actually, my dad worked a second job as a musician. He played guitar 🎸 and got home around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. So instead of him going straight to bed and having to wake up in a couple of hours, we’d all get up when he got home. By the time we were done opening presents, my mom would fix us a big breakfast and then she’d lay back down for a morning nap while we played with our new toys. Then it was off to my grandma’s for a visit and dinner. She would give each of her grandchildren a small gift or maybe just a dollar bill for Christmas, but the size of the gift didn’t matter to me. I loved my grandma and grandpa so much! After a day of food and fun playing with my cousins and siblings, we’d pile back into the car and fall asleep on the ride back home.

On my grandma’s stairway with my cousin Connie, and my brothers Dennis, Ronnie, and Doug, Circa late 1950’s or early 1960’s.

When I was old enough to shop for presents on my own, I remember going to K-Mart or Ayr-Way (later bought by Target) and getting all my Christmas shopping done in one day. I loved being able to do this, and really enjoyed buying my family handpicked gifts. It didn’t matter that they were from a discount store. I thought they were perfect gifts and I felt joy in giving gifts that I had bought on my own. In retrospect I believe this is when I first experienced the blessing of giving gifts.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

Now many years later, with grown children and ever growing grandchildren, I still enjoy giving gifts at Christmastime, but it’s more about being together as a family and making memories that I cherish the most. Our Christmas gatherings have taken on a deeper meaning to this aging wife, mom, and grandmother. Lord willing, I’ll have many more Christmases and many more years here on earth but I know my days are numbered.

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14

As for man, his days are like grass: he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone … But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him. Psalm 103:15-17

One day God will take me home and in turn, I’ll be but a memory to my loved ones, and awaiting to see them again in heaven. In the meantime it’s my hope and prayer that each one of my loved ones will have personally received the most perfect gift ever:

The LORD Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15