His Government.

  I was driving to Sioux Falls, and the speed limit was 75 mph.  So because I know that the Hi-way Patrol will allow me 5 or 6 mph over the posted limit, I chose  to drive 79 mph.  I didn't receive a ticket, but I was breaking the law, a  state rule of our government.  This brings up the next question.  What is this Government that is upon His Shoulder?
  For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given:  and the Government shall be upon His Shoulder:  and His name shall be called Wonderful, Councilor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of The Lord of Hosts will perform this Isaiah 9:6-7(KJV).
  I've been reading about Moses.  When The Lord gave him the instructions for the Passover, He told them  to eat only unleavened  bread for seven days.  As I was receiving this blog, I asked why un leaven bread?  This is is the answer His Spirit gave to me.  The food value is the same, but there is fluff in leaven bread.  In My Government there is no fluff.  If people would follow My Government, they wouldn't have to depend on the national government, to legislate morality.  You (meaning me Del) are responsible to police, My Government in your life, and because I have chosen you to be a minister of The Word,  you can't share fluff, because fluff will destroy the truth!  A little leaven (corruption) leavens (corrupts) the whole lump.Galatians 5:9 (KJV).  The introduction of a small amount of false doctrine will ultimately consume the entirety of the truth, there is no half truth, it becomes a lie!
  The Scripture that I used tells of two times when Jesus will appear on earth, the first has already happened, His birth, the second is still to come.
  When He was born, He came to be the sacrifice that would save His subjects, and they are Sanctified by the same sacrifice, and will be Glorified.  When He comes the second time He will establish His Kingdom.  When His Kingdom is established there will be no questions about His Government!  Things that the church is condoning, that are leaven, Will not be!  He will be the only One that will be worshiped, and the government that thinks it can pass laws that override His Government will not exist!  You can't legislate Righteousness.  And the church, can't ignore the Government of The Lord !

Reflecting on 2012.

      The year 2012: was it just another year?  It was one of 65 years for me, not quite so many for Pat.  Was it a year of prosperity?  Was it a year of success?
      I was watching a news program last night, and the subject matter was  "Why is the church diminishing?"
      The denomination that they were discussing decreased by 18 % over the last year. The last time that I talked to my friend Mike, he said that only about 30% of the people in the U.S. attend  church. "I wonder if only 30% celebrated Christmas!"
    Some years back, there was a young man who came to our church, and his ministry was giving prophetic word to people.  "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men." I Samuel 2:26(KJV).  This word was given to me, and the note attached read, "Prosperity and Success."  Finally a word from The Lord , and right up my alley!        
    In those days my idea of prosperity and success, was money, and more money!  The only problem,  is that it isn't  Gods idea.  He knew that money would have been my total failure, and it still would be even today.  As I have stated before, if the sermon doesn't preach to the preacher, it isn't of God.
    Money how we lust after it, and if you are honest with yourself, you probably lust after it also.  The true meaning of success should have nothing to do with our financial status.   The world will judge how successful one is by how much wealth they have accumulated, and too often we judge ourselves by how much we have accumulated.  We should be judging ourselves by how well do we follow the government of The Lord.  "Now the preacher is meddling, with the Preacher!" Stewardship is what the Word teaches. "Spend what He has given correctly!"  As The Lord is revealing this to me, it isn't easy to hear.  But it is in my best interest to adhere to His revelation.
    Our Christian walk is always the same: line, upon line, precept, upon precept, here a little, there a little.  If it were any other way we couldn't handle it!
    2012 was a prosperous, and successful year.  Through study of the Word, and prayer, and sharing our blog,  many are growing in The Lord , especially the Preacher!!

  Back to the question of why the church is diminishing.  The three people that were discussing this were  two lay persons, and a pastor.  The laity asked the pastor, what should the church do to grow?  His answer was to make it more attractive.  The laity were not in agreement, they thought it needed to stay more mainline and I agree with the laity.  The church is the place that we go for instruction.  Wal-Mart is where we go for a bargain.  Sometimes we need to hear something that challenges us, and understand that The Lord loves us and knows that we need correction.  We desperately need to know we are loved, and love from The Lord  often comes in the form of correction.  It's called  tough love, and the government of God is what we need.               

                 
  Emma bagged her first pheasant's!!! 

How Much Christmas is there???

  I came from a family of school teachers, and that made for a lots of Christmas!  There were many years when a sigh of relief was breathed by all.  Too much Christmas??
  I was blessed with two teachers in my family: Aunt Rosa, and Mom (Mabel).  As I stated in my previous blog, we had school Christmas programs, with lunch (I liked the lunch!!)  Aunt Rosa taught school for 35 years, and Mom taught school for 27 years, so I know that I must have gone to 42 or 43 school programs.  Being the Don Juan that I was, there were many girls that I thought were cute back then, but they were always more interested in Darryl, because he had that Elvis hair, if you know what I mean!!  It was frustrating for me, because I liked lunch (and was a little chubby), and he combed his hair into a perfect D A.   But I still loved him.  We had a lots of fun.  As a result of one of these programs,  We had one double date:  the Gossen girls.  Darryl was with the one he wanted to be with, and I was with the one I wanted to be with.  As I am writing this, I wonder what ever happened to them, I am sure God has blessed them.  They were fine Christian young ladies.
     But, back to the question, "Too Much Christmas?" It's impossible!  Every day should be Christmas Day for us who believe in the birth of Jesus,  that He came to die for us, and  that He was raised from the dead.  It's what Christmas is, everything that He came to do for us, and His total reason for the season. If He wasn't born,  there would be no Crucifixion, and no Resurrection, and therefore, no hope.  He is our Great Hope!
  We may get too involved in the feel good part of the season, but Jesus, the real reason for the season,  never considered the question.  Could the celebration of My Birth be too much?

"For unto us is born this day a savior!"

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, my Family Way!

  By the time Christmas came around, much time had gone into the preparation of the season, and the children put in most of the time.  The children?
  When I was growing up in east central So. Dak., "Christmas was a labor of love"!  We always had line's to remember, song's to memorize, and special parts in Christmas plays.
  Our first big task of the season, was the school Christmas program.  It was a rural school with nine boy's, and one girl, it was never a question who would be Mary.  I went back into Hoffman #55 years after it closed, and the two hooks that held the wire for the curtain were still in the walls.  After the program was over, there was lunch in the basement, taverns, potato chips, home made pie, and ice cream.  The mothers made the food, and charged a small fee for it.   Then the money that was made we enjoyed in the spring going on a school picnic, which usually corresponded with going to the circus in Yankton.  So we were paid well for our performance!
  The second big task of the season was the church program.  At the school program, the teacher was the producer, but at "The Church Program", Marcella was the producer!! Marcella had a eye for talent, like no other person in the congregation.  Her children were taking music lessons at the age of three,  so who could argue with her eye for talent.  After the "Greatest Christmas Programs ever"( I did them from K-8), as we were leaving the church, we would receive a sack of Christmas goodies.  The Christmas program, was always on Christmas Eve, and after the program, the childhood fun began.
  Over the hill, (there was only one) and through the snow, to Grandmother's house we'd go.  We would gather at the Grandpa Tschetters, all the local family, and we ( the children) wanted to do what kids like to do, open presents!  But Grandpa was a preacher, and he wanted to make sure that we understood that Christmas was about the birth of Christ.  He would read both accounts (Old and New Testament), but we wanted to open presents!  Today I am thankful for his diligence.  As a  child I was never taught that there was a santa, but I was taught there is a Christ Child.   All the gifts were given to us by people. "Could we please get to opening some?"!!!!
  Opening gifts had a ritual!  After the gifts were passed out, the opening order started, first the youngest would open one gift, then the next youngest, all the way to the oldest.  You were selective as to which you opened first:  if it was a boxed gift, it would be first, hoping it might be a game.  But ours was a simple family, so there were few games, much clothing, but always treasured memories.  Then it was time for neckoless (one of those words nobody knows how to spell).  All the sacks we received at church were separated into a bowls of  fruit, nuts, peanuts, and candy (some of the weirdest in the world).  We would all  gather around the oak table and the festivities would begin.  We would be up late and,  by the time we went home (over the hill), we were ready for bed. The next phase of Christmas. How many did you have???
    Christmas Day always started with a Christmas service.  If it was a alternating year we would go over the hill's (there were nine miles of) and through the snow (there were nine feet of) to the Bertsch gathering.  It was a repeat of Thanksgiving, there were so many we never exchanged gifts, but we sure had fun with all of the cousins, sledding down those long hills.  Mid afternoon we would go back home, and do chores, have a simple meal, and open presents from mom and dad.
  When I turned nine, the question was asked: "What would you like for Christmas"? "The golden opportunity"!! "I want a Daisy BB gun"!!!!  Mom and Dad knew, but they wanted to see the expression on their son's face:  the Daisy probably had been bought already.  Christmas Day, and time to open presents again.  There were two long gifts under the tree, and we could hardly wait.  Could they be our BB guns?
  The moment of truth had arrived, and we both (Darryl and Delmar) got BB guns.  Now for the big moment: Dad was going to show us how to use them??   When we received our gun's : "The first commandment don't shoot out any window's"!!  We understood the value of that, but you never take the first shot, with someone else's new gun, the second commandment!!!  "Boy's get that empty cereal box and put it on the table"!  "Really"?  What happened next we couldn't believe:  he loaded the gun, and pointed it at the cereal box, and pulled the trigger.  Through the box, and off of the table, and through the window the BB did go.( sang to the melody of over the hills to grandmother's house we go).  I couldn't resist, Dad.  All fond memories to a older man, and all the love that was shared with me as a child.  May this season bring you all, peace, and joy.                    

Little Blessings

     It seems like lately everything has been going wrong.  It isn't just one major thing, but it has been lots of things, some minor, and some not-so-minor.  I have been feeling sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, exhausted, worried and scared.  Some would think that a person who claims to be a Bible-believing, born again Christian would not be going through something like this.  Well, yes.  Actually they do.  And I can imagine that most of you know exactly what I am talking about.

      During this time of testing, we have been contending in prayer, and have seems some things begin to change.  However, what I want to talk about today is the many small blessings from God that I might have overlooked, had I not been feeling a little desperate to see God in my life.

     Yesterday I had to go up to the clinic before work to do labs.  As I went outside into the dark, cold morning,  I glanced up at the black velvet winter sky and noticed how brightly the stars were shining. I paused for a brief moment and allowed The Lord to show off  his heavens for me.  

     I arrived at the clinic right at 7, but there were still several people ahead of me.  I had to be at work at 7:30, and I hate to be late.  But before I even had time to get annoyed about having to wait, a gentleman said to me, "You can go ahead of me if you want.  I'm not in any hurry."  Another small blessing, and this time The Lord used another person to show his love.

     My doctor walked into the examining room dressed in his red Santa Claus sweater with the flashing lights.  Cheered me right up!  Yet another small blessing.

     Backtrack to the day before.  I have been overwhelmed by all I have yet to do for Christmas.  I had to go to Hy-Vee on my lunch break.  As soon as I got through the front door, there was the WHS chorus, singing "Joy to the World!"  Suddenly, I was overwhelmed BY Christmas.  Tears filled my eyes, and this time they were the happy kind.

     So, I am sure that you understand what I am trying to say here.   Our God loves you and me, and he cares enough to take us through our difficult times.   In those times when you are struggling and feel alone, pay attention!  Otherwise you might miss the small blessings he has in store for you!  

A Sioux Falls Christmas.

       Was there ever something that you just could hardly wait for?   One of those big events when I was a  child was going to Uncle Bennie's at Christmas time.  Was it the food? Was it the Lionel train set?  Was it the ride in the Oldsmobile?
      As a child one of the highlights of the year was our Christmas trip to Sioux Falls.  Uncle Bennie, Aunt Frieda, and the kids, Dennis, Sharon, and David.  It was a time for the sisters, my mom, Mabel and Aunt Rosa,  and their brother ( Benjamin Franklin Tschetter) aka Uncle Bennie, would get together, and celebrate Christmas.
      It was always fun for a couple of farm boys to have a taste of ,"The BigCity Life"!!  There was the Lionel train set, a whole town, and country setting on a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood.  With instructions from the engineer (Dennis): don't turn the regulator too far, or the train will go too fast, and derail.  We always liked when he (Dennis) would put a smoke capsule into the train and smoke would come out of the smoke stack!
    The food was always good because Aunt Frieda was a excellent cook, and because she was not  of the Hutterite background, we tasted different kinds of Holiday foods, and they were really a treat for us boys!
    The present opening would be next. We always drew names the year before, and exchanged gifts that night.  Now some of us understood the rules, but not Aunt Frieda!  As the gifts were passed out, there  were always, one, or two more under the tree. She would say, "They aren't much, but there's something extra for you boys!"  We loved that she didn't understand the rules!
  Then the "Grand Finale!"  Uncle Bennie would ask: "Does anyone want to go and see the lights?"
There was always a resounding, "Yes"!  We came from rural Bridgewater, where "there weren't much" to see, so going to "The Big City" there was plenty to see!!
    First we would drive downtown, where all of the store fronts would be decorated beyond our imaginations.    There was one store we always looked for, with the mechanical Santa eating a turkey drumstick.   Uncle Bennie knew how much we enjoyed it, so he would take us by it several times.  After the downtown tour we would go to the richer part of the city, where he would tell who lived there, and what they did for a living. It was interesting to the adults,  but to us kids,  it was like the Fourth of July, absolutely breath taking.
    We would come back to the house, and Aunt Frieda  would have coffee for the adults, and cider for the kids,  and Christmas cookies, and goodies for all.
    I love to reflect on times gone by,  and now I like to write them down in our blog.  If I told you about  how much fun,  and  what these  times meant to me as a child, you would only have my memories.  When you are having a heavy day you can read about my memories, and remember with me.
  When God wanted us to be  able  to reflect on His promises He gave us the" Written Word".  In this season of reflection make His Word a foundation of your life, it's worth more than all the Silver and Gold this world can supply.
  To Sharon, Dennis, and David, and all of their families, have a very Merry Christmas, and thank you so much for sharing Uncle Bennie and Aunt Frieda with a couple of farm boys, from Bridgewater,  and letting us have the adventure of "The Big City"!!!  From a child, of your Daddy's baby sister (Mabel)... "We love you all"!!  Delmar.                                        
                                                                                   
 Editor's note:  I wish I could have done all this with you all!  (Pat)                                                                                                

There's no joy in Whooville ...

    This year the Grinch, aka, the enemy of our souls  has conspired against us in many ways to rob us of our joy, to rob us of our peace, to tear us apart in ways I can't even talk about.  Our hearts this day are heavy, our spirits are not exactly full of holiday cheer.  You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.  Those things that normally bring us pleasure are tinged with sadness.  Our hearts feel 10 sizes too small.  The newspaper brings bad news.  Even the Hallmark movies that I usually enjoy, make me cry, and not in a good way.  If only we could have such a happy ending.
     Well, Mr. Grinch, we may be down, but we are not out.  It might please you, for the moment, to see our tears, and our sadness, and to think you've destroyed our spirits.  You are probably thinking that you have brought us down to your level of despair and hopelessness.  That our lives of trusting in God are over and that we will give up our hope in Him.  If so, Mr. Grinch, you have forgotten already that the one you nailed to the Cross did not stay down.  Neither will we, by God and his grace, by God and his mercy.  You lose, Mr. Grinch!  You will never have the ultimate victory!  You won't even have temporary victory, although it may seem like it right now.
     Our hearts will recover:  they will be once again filled with joy, with laughter.  We will once again
find pleasure in the little things in our lives. After all, our God lives!
   
     "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Ps. 30:5

    "In the world you will have tribulation, but, be of good cheer,  I have overcome the world" John 16:33

Don't bother looking for us, Mr. Grinch.  We are dwelling in the Secret place of the Most High, and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.  We are saying of The Lord, "He is my refuge and my Fortress, my God in Him will I trust!"

See what I mean?  You lose, Mr. Grinch.  I don't know the future, but I know who holds the future, and it isn't you!  

Another Concert.

 To the orchestra and chorus students at WHS:    
      Here  in Watertown, we have our annual high school Christmas concert.   In life we have our daily concert.   Both are a blessing but neither one is especially easy.   Why do we go to all the trouble that both involve?
   It was 6 p.m. and we just arrived in Clear Lake to pick up Emma.  The concert is  just a hour away and we have 30 miles to drive.   We need to grab a bite to eat, and get to the concert.  Too much too do, and too little time to do it.  I bet you felt like that yesterday, too!  Pressure, who likes it, and who needs it?
     Let's talk about pressure.   As I sat down for a evening of blessing, I picked up the program, and read through it quickly, " This one is good, and I really like this one," "Oh yes Peace Peace"! it has been the final song for many years.  The first Christmas concert we attended, our daughter Rachel was a freshman. How do we really experience peace?
     The two matters that came to mind, Pressure, and Peace, have an answer.  The first one I want to address is pressure.  As a youth I faced the same peer pressure's that you face today:  alcohol, drugs, and sex.  I wasn't good at saying no too any of them, and they caused all of the problems that people told me they would.  As a young person I thought that somehow I was going to run out of time, and I felt like I had to do, as much as possible, the sooner, the better.  I was wrong!  The people that were telling me the problems I would have--my parents, my youth leaders, were "religious." So, immediately,  I built a wall of resistance.  You know what the real problem was, "I had a God problem!"  When you resist God, all of the pressures start to take over.  So when you are tempted by Satan to go against God, don't give in.  You have been given a free will to do the right thing, make the right choice, and when it has lifelong implications, saying no the first time may be hard, but it will be easier the next time, and that's how you win.
     A lot of the songs you sang were about Jesus, and as a older person, I so appreciate that you can still do that.   There are many schools that wouldn't allow you to sing about the birth of Christ.
     And now there is "Peace".  This is the question that has been asked down through the ages, will there ever be "Peace"?  The world we live in has never really known real peace, but the same Jesus who's birth you sang about is the answer to real Peace.  I'm a bus driver, but I love to tell the old, old, story, about Jesus and his Glory, and Jesus and His  Love ( a few words from a old Hymn).  The Joy of The Lord is your strength Nehemiah 8:10(KJV).  For me knowing The Lord makes Him my joy, and my peace because, I know that even when the pressures of life come,  He will be with me through it all,  and that is real peace to me.
  It was one of the best concerts I have been to,  and each and every one of you did a excellent job. I so appreciate the hard work, and long time you spent, to bring such a inspiring message to a old bus driver.  Pat and I want to personally "Thank You" for your labor of love to us, and the city of Watertown, For another grand, Christmas concert!!!                                          

My Testimony of the Baptism

  It was a autumn day, and a load of turkey had to go to Chicago.  A old friend of mine wanted to ride along, so I said he could.  He needed to have some truck experience.  Dave was one of the  original  members of the church that Pat and I attend.  He had something that I wanted, and needed, but was I willing to do whatever it took to have it?
  When I first met Dave he was 57, and I 29, he's 93 and I'm 65.  We have been friends for 35 years, and there have been times when we have disagreed, but I am thankful that this was not one of those times.  We were driving down I-90, by the Blue Earth exit, and I asked Dave if he was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  His reply was "Oh yes!" Simple, not many word's, that's Dave.  As we drove further I asked another question, "What do I have to do, to be to be baptized in the Holy Spirit"?  Well he said,   "Just pray and ask Jesus to baptize you with His Spirit".  Simple man, simple answers, that's Dave, and that was the end of the conversation.
  As we were driving along we talked about trucking, because he wanted to get a CDL(commercial  drivers license), so he could spend time with his oldest son cross country trucking.   I wish I had asked him when he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. It would have made a difference to know, because to me now it's the natural thing to do.  So as we were driving along I prayed a simple prayer.  "Lord fill me with Your Spirit in Jesus name!"  That's all I did, and it made a difference??
  What I am about to share with you may sound a little strange, but it's what happened.  I had read,  "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit  gave them utterance." Acts 2:4 (KJV).  When I wanted to talk to Dave, strange sounds were in my mind, so the only thing I said to him was, "You drive.  I'm going into the sleeper."  When I went into the sleeper, I continued to let my new language flow out of my heart, it continued for 3 or 4 hours and things haven't been the same since.
  I want to tell you how I feel about two things.  First I was saved, and if The Lord  would have required my soul before this gift was given to me, I would have gone home to Glory.  I don't believe that, Baptism, or being Baptized in the Holy Spirit.  "Are essential to Salvation."  If it were so,  then the thief on the cross next to Jesus couldn't have gone to paradise, and Jesus would have lied, when He said, "This day shall you be in paradise with me." Salvation is believing that Jesus is God becoming Man, and giving His life, for us on His Cross, and whosoever has done this, is saved.  Salvation is a simple gift from God.  His will is that none should perish that all would come to the saving knowledge, of Jesus.
  When I go to a band concert, and tears start, to me thats The Spirit of God saying "Tap, Tap,Tap"  "Listen" "Watch Me" "I Have Something to Say", and the end result is a blog that ministers to me, and others.  Before I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, I wasn't as sensitive to the Spirit. When I sit down to write our blog, if I am struggling for words, and it just doesn't seem right, I delete it.  When I sit down to write and it flows through me I know that the Holy Spirit has something to say to me, and to share with you.  I believe for me,  if I was not baptized in the Holy Spirit, this wouldn't have the power that God intended it to have.  Sometimes my mind is blank and He gives me the words to write, one at a time. Precept upon Precept, Line upon Line, Hear a little, there a little.
   If this is something you want in your life, just ask Him, He will give it to you free of charge, but it could give you more power to help  build His  Kingdom.            

The Conductor!

  It's the tenth of December.   I was anticipating  a simple night at home, and some relaxation.  After a day of fighting weather, and disruptions to my normal schedule, extra bus trips, a real mess!  Talking to Pat, I found out that we were going to a middle school Christmas band concert.  "Oh  yay!  Just what I Needed to end a busy day!!"  What good could come out of this?

  Have you ever listened to a child who is just learning to play?  Emma  practices hard, but she's just in her second year.  At her great-grand father's 95th birthday party she played him a solo, and it was great,  and it took a lot of courage, because she isn't used to performing in public. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, middle-schoolers aren't expert musicians!
  The time has arrived, and the concert is about to begin.  The conductor has arrived on the seen, and all eyes are on her and the young musicians.  Then I remembered, from my own clarinet experience,  the old command, and signal, "Tap, Tap, Tap", "Watch Me".  When she had their full attention, she proceeded, baton held up, and let the concert begin!
    We have attended many concerts over the years.  But this time,  I had the privilege to be there with Pat, Chach (Rachel), and The Holy Spirit. Yeah, I know, you're thinking I get so emotional. But He had something for me, and He wanted it shared with you. All of those amateurs know the basics, but the conductor knows the finished product.
  As I was listening, The Lord started to show me the importance of all the instruments, and how we are all amateurs in His Kingdom.  He has created us individual, but a very important part of the overall music to His ear.  We were created for His good pleasure, a joyful noise unto The Lord.  In our lives there should be only one conductor, and His name is Jesus.   He knows what a completed  life looks like,  and we can only imagine.  He knows what we will sound like, while we have no idea!  When you hear the "Tap, Tap, Tap" of His baton in your spirit, pay close attention, keep your eye on Him, listen for Him to say, "Watch Me"  "Listen to Me", and as His baton is lifted, and He brings it down to start the concert of our lives.  What a beautiful sound it will make, when we pay attention to the direction of the Conductor.

For you, Barb!

     My mother was married twice.  First to a man named Carl Phillips, then to my dad, Marvin Barkley.  My sister was born to Mary Lou and Carl, and she was named Barbara Ann Phillips.  What a blessing that earlier marriage was to me--because I can't imagine life without my wonderful, and amazing sister!
     Barb was born in Michigan (I won't say when, just that it was during the last century!), and lived for a time in New York (at least I think she did).  But when she was still small, Mary Lou and Carl divorced, and Barb and our mom came back on the train to Marshall MN where our grandparents lived.  Her dad, Carl, was then killed in WWII.  She lived in Marshall until after our mom married my dad, Marvin, and they moved to Fresno, CA, then Watertown, where Barb graduated from high school, at the top of her class (at least I assume she was :))  During her high school years, she was blessed with a baby brother, then a baby sister!
     Back to Minnesota she went, where she graduated from Northwestern School of Nursing, again, at the top of her class (again, I assume).  While in school, she met and married a handsome, charming, intelligent young man named Marvin Walter Heins.  (His intelligence was proved out in that he married my sister.)
     After college Marvin served in the military, and Barb and Marv lived in Massachusetts, or possibly Connecticut--I'm a little unclear on the details since I was just a little kid at the time.
Anyway, during that period of time, our mother was  in a automobile accident.  They were preparing for a transfer at the time, but they headed back to Minneapolis, where our mother was hospitalized.  Eventually, our mother was brought back to Watertown, where she died.  Barb and Marv stayed at our house and took care of me and our brother Mike until after our mother died.  Then Marv had to report for duty in California, so he hitched down to Arlington to catch a train.  Barb stayed with us a while longer, but then had to leave for California,  where she gave birth to her first baby, Mary Lou Heins.
     Whenever I think about what I just wrote, it makes me cry.  But it also makes me admire my sister more and more.  She was a young woman, pregnant for the first time.  She must have longed to have her mom to talk to, but instead, she had to put aside her personal grief and worry, looking out for two little kids, and a grieving step-dad.  Then she traveled across the continent to settle on a military base and give birth to her baby.  But that's what she did.
    They settled in Rochester where Barb worked until she retired at St. Mary's Hospital, mostly in the pediatric unit, and mostly at night.  In the daytime, she was busy raising her six children.  And she and Marv did an amazing job with their kids, who all are as amazing as their parents.  Maybe even more so!
      Anyway, Barb never forgot her little brother or sister, even after my dad remarried.  She always kept in contact by letters, gifts, and visits, even though she had her own family to raise.  The highlight of summer was going to Rochester to stay with her!
     Barb, my dear sister, I hope you know how much I love, and admire and cherish you!
    Happy Birthday!

Jesus our Redemption.

  I was raised a christian, so the title of this blog is what I want to talk about today.  When are you saved?
  As a young person, one day I was saved, the next day if I sinned I was lost.  If that were true I would be lost all the time. The Scripture says, " For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God."  Being justified (as though you never did it, my understanding) freely by His Grace, through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  Any time the Scripture says, in Christ, by Christ, Through Christ, it means, "The atoning work that was completed on The Cross!"
  As we celebrate His birth, although it's a important celebration,  the real reason that He came  was to die on the Cross, a pure sacrifice, for sinful man.  When The Holy Spirit reveals to us  that we are sinners, and need a Savior, The Cross of Christ is the only answer!
  My next point may seem strong, but as a preacher of the truth, I have no other choice!! "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God and our Father", ( the standard of the entire process of Redemption): Galatians 1: 4 (KJV) Now we know the standard, and now you will know why I say" I have no other choice"!! " But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again,  If any man Preach any other Gospel unto you than that you have received let him be accursed" Galatians 1:8-9 (KJV).  I have heard that the word accursed in the original text, should have been translated as damned.  This portion of Scripture is repeated twice, as a Preacher "I had better be right"!
  When I posted Four Generations on 11-16-2012.  I talked about traditions.  In that post, I mentioned that Pat and I were raised in churches that had traditions, that became ritualistic.  They could be dangerous, if the aren't scriptural.  I had a reader ask which church we belong to, it's just another denomination with traditions also.   We need the local church, but we need the truth of God's word more. When I stand before God, I will not be judged by what others believed.  I will be judged by what the Bible teaches.  So to be safe as a preacher,  I preach Christ and Him Crucified, as the only answer to all of man's sin, past, present, and future.
  So, what is the  answer to the question when are we saved?  The instant that we believe that only what He did on The Cross can save us!  How long are we saved?  As long as we keep believing that what He did on The Cross has saved us.  The word says, " For by Grace are you saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9(KJV)  Your Faith is what you believe, whether it is right, or wrong.  We will be held responsible, for our Faith by God.  " But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He (God) is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 (KJV).  His plan is, "I will go to the world, and die on a Cross for their Sin, as The Man Jesus"!

  Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! Thank you Lord for making me whole! Thank you Lord, for giving to me, Thy Great Salvation, so Rich, but Free. Amen

  

A Review

  So much has been written, and so much has been said.  I was looking for something to do, and The Lord suggested to go back and read some of the great thing's that He has shared through our blog.
  It may sound a little arrogant, but the ones I read were like it was the first time I ever read them.  Does the Holy Spirit minister in a new way, or do we grow in The Lord ?
  As I am thinking about the different times that Pat and I sat in front of our house, and the Holy Spirit would interact with us, and reveal an old truth, in a new way.  Or the time when Pat was busy, and I had Daina come over to edit the blog, these memories are a blessing, that only a Dad and Husband can truly appreciate.
  When I was a young child The Lord called me to be a minister of the Gospel, Satan did everything in his power to stop that from happening.  But the word says, " I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten." Joel 2:25 (KJV).  It is  never too late for The Lord to accomplish the desires He has placed in your heart.
  I have had many jobs, but none have been as satisfying as this ministry.  The desires of the heart, I believe are placed by God.  In life the desires that I had were driven by one factor: how much will I make if I pursue this ambition.  If someone would have told me that I wouldn't receive a monetary reward for my work, I wouldn't have done it.
  The Apostle Paul had a desire placed in his heart to preach to the gentiles.  We read in the word that he supported himself making tents.  The work that was started in his heart after his conversion, is still  going on today.  He wrote 14 letters to the churches that he started, so we know that he started that many and some scholars believe there could be more.  God knew that Paul would persecute the Church, but He also knew that he would build the Church.
  When I read about Paul, I see something of myself.  I would never believe that The Lord could use someone like me to accomplish his Kingdom.  Do you believe that He can use someone like you to build His Kingdom?  He can, and He will!
  It says in the word," But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." I Corinthians 1:27 (KJV).  To a wise man the Cross of Christ seems foolish, but nothing that man has devised, has ever changed a life.  What do you, and I, and Paul have in common?  I know for Paul, and me it's The Cross of Christ, only you know if you have that in common with us.  If you aren't sure?  Here is how simple it is, a simple prayer.  "Father, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe that your Son Jesus died on the Cross for my sin.  Jesus, will you be my savior?"  If you prayed this prayer, the word says to confess with your mouth what you did.  At the end of the blog there is a place for comment, would you let us know that you prayed a asked Jesus into your heart. It's not that we have to know but it will start to build your faith.  We love all of you, and may God richly bless you!
                             

Tis the Season to be Busy!!

  As I sat down to write today, I didn't have any particular subject in mind, then the thought came to mind why are we so busy at this time of the year, the Holiday season.
  We start the season with Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and finally Happy New Year.  By the time Happy New year comes around, we're back to "HO HO HO", because we're so worn out by all of the festivity!  We just about have to force ourselves to laugh.  It doesn't get easier as we get older!  Grandma was blessed to get run over by a reindeer.
  When I worked in retail, I saw things differently. Let's start with Valentines Day: buy candy to show how much you love the other person.  Then Easter: buy more candy.  Fourth of July: buy watermelon, and fireworks.  Then Halloween, buy way more candy, and costumes, so you don't look like yourself, and you gain 15#.  Then Turkey Day oh, I mean Thanksgiving.  Buy ten times more food than you can eat, and gain another 15#.  Finally the big one has arrived: Christmas! Now we  buy trees, lights, gifts, cards, food, oh, "BY" the way, more candy!
  The retailers are more truthful than we give them credit for.   They want their employees to say Happy Holiday instead of Merry Christmas.  My, I sound like Scrooge.
  Believe me I love the season as much as everyone, and I have some warm and fuzzy blogs that I want to post, and will,  The Lord willing.
  As I began this blog I didn't know where it was heading.  As I was going to get another bus load of youth, this thought came to mind. "My dream of a perfect Christmas."
   It's the 23rd of December, Pat and I were the first to arrive, then Paul and his family, then Preston and his family, then Kerry and her family, then Daina and her family, and finally Rachel and her family.  We all live in different parts of the country so we decide to meet in Omaha.  We rent room's on the top floor of the hotel so we can look out and see the decorated streets.  We have a general meeting area for the fun and festivities, a place to share all of  the  love, that is in our hearts for our children, and grandchildren.  On the 24th in the evening we would do a Del and Pat traditional Christmas eve meal, oyster stew, chislic, cheese and crackers, shrimp ring, veggie tray with ranch dip, and all that we have enjoyed in years gone by.  After the meal spend time reading the Bible account of the birth of Christ.  Then the gift opening would start, youngest to the oldest, one gift at a time, then start over till all the gifts are opened.  On Christmas Day we would all come together, and have Prime Rib dinner with, cheese potatoes, scalloped corn, green bean bake, and relishes. and spend the rest of the day just being  together as family.  We have never had the whole family together at the same time. Wouldn't it be grand?  At least once?  It's just a old man's dream of something that he would like to do. 
  Because we all become so busy with life, and all that it involves.  I can't help but think about a time that is coming, when all we will know is joy, peace, and happiness.  As I wrote about retail there was a common thread, of buying.  As I finish this blog I want you to again realize the common thread of fools for God." The Lord Jesus Christ and Him Crucified"!  When I go to heaven it will be a grand time of celebration.  As we gather around  The Throne and cry Worthy, Worthy, Is the Lamb that was slain, and when the Marriage Feast of The Lamb begins, what a time of celebration!  After it's over we have eternity to visit with the family of God.
  My dream just a dream,  but the place that He is preparing for me a reality.  I can hardly wait!       

Power!!!!

  There are some things that are worth knowing, and some that don't make much difference  I believe that first and foremost is a personal relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ.  If you don't have that the second will not have the power that we so need.  What can change my life and help me to have power?
  I love personal testimonies: stories about real people in a real world.  I recently listened to the testimony of a man named Jim Wolsey, who was a missionary in Peru.
  It was early in the morning, and one of the townspeople was coming home from a night of drinking. As he was walking along he found a piece of paper laying on the ground.  He picked it up and put it into his pocket.  The people of this town were garden farmers. They would take the produce to the city and sell it, come home and get drunk.  The whole town was suffering the effects of alcoholism.  They didn't have food to eat, clothes, shoes, everything that people need to live, because they spent their money on alcohol.  Wives and children were getting abused, murders were being committed; it was a Godless town.
  The next day as the man was digging through his pocket, he found the piece of paper, it wasn't a whole sheet just a scrap.  He later said that he almost threw it away, but he noticed that there was something written on it.  Through his hungover eyes he read,   "If My people, which are called by My Name (Believers), shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land." He had never heard this before so he read it again.  So he decided to do what it said!  That evening when it was time to go drinking, he decided to stay home with his family.  The next day one of his friends came over wondering what had happened to him the previous night.  So he took the scrap of paper out of his pocket, and gave it to his friend to read.  After his friend read the scrap, the man said, " I did that! I prayed to God for help and he answered!"
  Now this man who found the scrap of paper wasn't just a regular guy. He was the meanest person in town.  He had influence, bad influence, and for him to miss a night of drinking was a big deal.  The men of the town started to watch him and wondered what had happened. And his friend that had read the scrap, was more than happy to share, " Oh, he found God!"  and they would laugh and drink  some more.  " It will only be a short time and he'll be back."  Time went on and he didn't come back. Soon others came to him and he would read the scrap to them, and they would pray with him.  It only took a matter of time and the whole town found God.
  As I had mentioned they were garden farmers and they used to take cart loads of produce to the city. Now they were taking truck loads!  The local church that previously had only women and children, was now filled with families, all because a man found a scrap of paper.  They had food, clothing, and the abuses stopped.
  Where did it come from, and what was that scrap?  It came from II CHRONICLES 7:14 a book in the Bible.  If a scrap of paper that has a Scripture on it has that kind of power, how much more power does the whole Bible have.  I have always said if the sermon doesn't preach to the preacher first it's probably not from God, and this has spoken to my heart. First I challenge myself to read the Bible from cover to cover. I have read a lot of it but some books aren't as interesting as others.  As God has been working in my life, it will be interesting to see how that has changed.  The word never changes, but how it ministers changes as we mature in The Lord.  The Bible: it's a challenge you might want to consider.                                               

The Call.

  The year 1956, the location Ecuador. January 20, 1669 London England.  What can we learn from these dates and people?
   It was the 20th of January 1669, and Dr.Annsly, and his wife Mary were awaiting the birth of their daughter Susanna, the last of 25 children.  On the 11th of November,1688 she and Samuel Wesley were united in marriage, they had 19 children, 10 died as infants, and of the 9 that lived came, John , and Charles, better known as the Wesley Brothers.  Samuel, their father had disagreements, and conflicts with Susanna, and would leave the family for long periods of time.  Susanna asked God what to do to be of service to Him and the only reply that she received was, " Raise your children" and so she did.  According to the account that I read, she would spend time with each child every evening, Monday with Molly, Tue with Hetty, and the days went on untill she would have talked to each of the 9 children.   Then  she would start over.  She knew the importance of quality time.   Because of her call to raise her children, and how she did it, she is referred to as the Mother of Methodism.  It wasn't a easy task to raise 9 children on her own, but it produced John and Charles Wesley, who where the great revival ministers of the eighteen hundreds in the U.S. known as the Holiness movement.  There are millions who have benefited from her work, and her faithfulness to the call.
  The next call to faithfulness are five men in Ecuador, and the Huaorani tribe (aka Auca).  Jim, Nate, Ed, Peter, and Roger, had a call on their lives.  In 1955 they started to fly over Auca villages and drop gifts out of their airplane,  and they continued to do this for several months.
  Then, on January 3rd of 1956, the men set up a camp on a sand bar, by the  Curaray river.  It was  referred to as "Palm Beach".  On the 8th of January, the Huaorani tribesmen attacked and killed the five men.
  As a result of these men, and their being martyred.  there was a galvanized effort in the U.S. for world evangelism.  A few years later,  the wife of Jim Elliot, (Elizabeth) and the sister of Nate Saint, (Rachel) returned to Ecuador, and lived among the Huaorani tribes, sharing  the gospel. Many became followers of Christ.  The man who killed Jim Elliot  had become a Auca pastor in the village close to where Jim had been killed.  He answered the call.  According to Elizabeth's testimony, her l4 year-old son asked his father's murderer, who by then was a brother in Christ, to baptize him.
  I believe answering the call is doing what God has given you to do.  A parent could be raising the next President of the United States, or possibly the person who will find the cure for cancer, or maybe the next world Evangelist, or a mom, or dad, or a worker at Wal-Mart.  The point we are trying to make here is this:  what God gives you to do, do it unto The Lord.  There is no insignificant person in his service.  You could be Billy Graham and lead thousands to Christ, or you could be the mom who leads her children to Christ.
You could be an author and witness to millions by your words, or you could be a neighbor who, by showing love and kindness to those in your neighborhood,  ministers God's love to them, and brings him glory.    Will you answer the call The Lord has put on your life?     

I Cannot Tell a Lie!

    We are his children, and He expects us to live a life of truth.  If you aren't a child of God yet, then He wants you to find the truth.  Truth is God's way of life, as he said in Num. 22:19, "God is not a man that he should lie" and He wants us to be truthful with him.
   In our lives if someone is not truthful with us, we lose trust and faith in them, and with God He knows the truth of anything that we do.  There are  no secrets with him!  I was reading the story of Ananias, and Sapphira (the first 11 verses of Acts chapter 5).  Because they were untruthful with God, it cost them their lives.  Untruthfulness will cost us, also.  We could lose a friend, a child, a spouse.  Once someone loses trust in you, it is difficult to get it back!  But God operates  in grace and mercy.
  I was listening to a radio talk show the other day, and the guest was talking about someone who had hurt him at some time in his life.  He was praying and asking God to help him forgive the person  who offended him, but he said "I couldn't lie to God, so I said I would just as soon he was run over by a truck!"  After telling the truth to God, God showed him how much He had forgiven him, and he was able to forgive.  He said something came over him, and he had a love for the individual that still lasts to this day.
    If we listen to God, he will even tell us when we aren't being honest with ourselves.  For example, if I decide in my mind to "share" a little something that I know with someone else, and have justified my actions by telling myself that the person I'm "sharing" with needs to know, or that it will somehow help the person I'm "sharing" about, God will unfailingly set me straight!  If I listen, that is!  He will let me know that I am just gossiping!  Or, another example:  I decide, out of the goodness of my heart, that I will do a kindness to another.  He will show me if the intentions of my heart are pure, or if they are selfish--to make me look good in my own mind or to others.   Hmmm...  Interesting stuff, huh?  God wants truth:  with Him, with others, and with self.
     Learning this truth has made us free!  Living this truth brings to mind, the words to that old hymn:  "Every day with you, Lord, is sweeter than the day before!"
     

How close can you be?

  I was in a room and it was dark. I was in a cave and it was really dark.  The other morning I was listening to a local radio station, they had a optometrist as a guest, she said "If the eye is in total darkness for too long, you will go blind, because the eye needs light to keep working."  How important is light? Who is the true light?
  In the last three blogs, I told about how The Lord used people to shed some light on my life, (one was an old friend, and two were strangers).  Writing this blog has been a eye opener for me, I always said that the sermon needs to preach to the preacher, if it doesn't it is of the flesh.   If it does,  it is of the Holy Spirit.  We don't want anything that gives instruction to be of the flesh!  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:14(KJV)
  If the sun didn't shine on the earth, it would take only a short time and all life would cease.  Light is as important  as water and air, on the natural side of life.  On the spiritual side of life it is also necessary.  Remember when I wrote that God had shown me that I had little compassion?  In writing the blogs, He is ministering to us, and we feel a closeness to Him, the closer we get, the brighter the light, the brighter the light, the more sin is revealed.  When we are closest to God, we realize how undone we are of ourselves.
  When the Pharisees brought the adulteress woman to Jesus, and He started to write in the sand, He was shedding light on their sin, and they all left. (read John12: 1-11) After they were gone He said to her "Go and sin no more".  Light from The Son has power to reveal sin, and to heal and forgive!  I need to make myself more available to "His Light Through His Word!"  The very next verse after the adulteress woman account He declares, " I Am the Light of the world: he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." John 8: 12(KJV)
  The closer you get to God, the brighter the light, and sin will be revealed!! It's a good thing!                 

The Plan.

  God's plan for our lives starts before our birth. He knows who will play a part in it, and how it will end.  As I wrote the last two blogs, God started to show me the importance of what we call the little things.
  We have relationships for a far bigger place in our lives than we will ever know on this side of Glory.  The Parents we have, our brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren, everyone that we know are players in our journey.  It doesn't matter if they are high profile or are homeless, they all play a part in our development.  As Christians we need every experience that God gives us. He knows what He wants us to learn from each personal contact we make.
  I want to talk about three people. The first is a young girl that was our neighbor, the Church Basement Lady, and Arnold.
  The girl now is a young woman with children of her own, a stay-at-home mom, and a dear friend to our ministry.  Sharron, you are a great encouragement to Pat and me, sometimes when I am writing our blog, I think of all the things that God has helped you through in life.  I won't mention them but God has been good to you, and we want to encourage you to continue growing in The Lord.
  The Church Basement Lady.  I don't know how many times you have performed your part, but when you were in Watertown, South Dakota, your part made me aware of a void that I had in my life.  If  I would have missed the show, I would not have the compassionate heart I have today.  May God richly bless you in your endeavors
  To my friend Arnold.  If I would have known when you allowed me to take your picture, that it was going to have such a impact on my life, I would have been kinder and more loving.  You don't even know me, but I will always call you my friend.  I feel very close to you even though I don't know where you are,  or even if you are still alive.  But I ask for God's richest blessings on you.  I pray for you and know that you were used by God to give me a richer life.
  When it's all said, and done, you three people have been used of God to build His Kingdom.   "Well done thou good and faithful servants!!"
      
   

The Lady in the Basement , and Arnold.

   Have you ever wondered;  "Why do I have problems with certain sins"?  Hebrews 12:1, says "The sin which does so easily beset us".(KJV) (partial quote) In my journey through life I believe, there are certain Sins, that I have a bent towards, maybe you are different, but we don't have to be slaves to thous sins. 'There Is a Answer"!!
  When I went to The Ladies In The Church Basement Christmas, (I suggest you see) I didn't know that it would start the Sanctifying process in my heart.  And when I chose the picture of my friend Arnold, the process would continue.  Does God care about us?
   I want to give a few examples that are a part of my personal testimony.  As a man, I have had a wandering eye; I liked looking at the ladies too much.  I am blessed with a wonderful wife.   Most would have left me, but she fought for me (with closed eyes and folded hands).  I have walked down the aisle of marriage four times; my sin took me much farther then I wanted to go.   But I had a bent toward that sin, (notice I had), but don't be deceived, Satan knows my weakness, and always has a pretty girl standing by to tempt me.  It's time to respond, not to react.   In the past reacting has cost more than I wanted to pay.  Is it simple? Not always, because sin is complex, but the resolve is simple.
   Remember when I said tears filled my eyes while relating the story of Arnold?  To me that is a indication of the presence of God.  I was looking for a certain Scripture, and opened to this one.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14(KJV) The quicker I respond to the Spirit, the closer I am to God.
   When God shows us a fault that is a road block, the Sanctifying process begins again, and when we respond, the road block is removed.  This process will go on the rest of my life.  It will end when Glorification happens, the end of my human life.
  Some might ask; "Was he saved?"   Yes!  There is a way to deal with sin, it's simple, but not easy.  In searching the Bible the only solution that I have found, is to deny self, and place my faith in what Christ did for me on the Cross.  It's easy to say, "He did it all for me,"  but hard to place our faith above self.
   If God didn't touch my heart in the area of compassion, (the story of Arnold) and instead, self took over,  I would just give everyone with a hand out, a five dollar bill.  But true compassion is a heart- felt love for all mankind,  no matter what they have done,  or where they are in life.  If our example of compassion, The Lord Jesus Christ, would have come to take care of our needs, where would that leave us?  We would still be lost!  He came to take away the Sin of the world, and if we place our faith in that finished work we are Saved.  If we place our faith,  in that same work when sin arises, Sanctification will begin.  Sin is the problem! A Crucified Christ is the only solution!    

Black Friday Outing, and Arnold.

  This year we decided that we would share our Christmas gift early, so while other's were shopping we enjoyed our gift to  each other.
  There we were in the basement of the church, and with us were four women, and the pastor.  Upstairs the children were practicing for the annual Christmas program.  We weren't sure how it would go this year;  Pastors wife had passed away, and she always had been in charge of the program.  As the day went on we found out that our older widow friend was having a male dinner guest over for Christmas.  Well,  we all thought that she had intentions of a relationship.  After she had talked a while, we found out that wasn't the case.  As she continued talking we found out that her guest was her late husband's brother.  He had come to their house for Christmas many years, and he usually smelled like booze.
  At that part of our Christmas gift, she started to sing a song, a few of the words moved me to tears.   "As you do it to the least of these".
  I am always amazed where, and when the Holy Spirit shows up wanting my attention.  We are spending the evening at The Church Basement Ladies Christmas and nine words of a chorus move upon my spirit.  When saw we You a stranger, and took You in? or naked, and clothed You?  Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came unto You?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me. MATTHEW 25: 38-40(KJV).

  This brings two thoughts to mind I'll address one today. I have a critical attitude, when I see someone standing at the exit of a interstate hi-way, or a retail store with the sign, telling of the hard times  they are having.  We call it panhandling, but we don't know, maybe that person has a real need, or not?  What makes a difference is, do I respond, or do I react?

  The photograph that was posted, is a homeless person that was in Watertown, Arnold.  When I first met Arnold, and made a effort to get to know him, he was 42, had a child, and chose the way he was living.  He was a likable man.  One day I was telling Pat about my new friend, and wanted to find him to introduce them to each other.  As I was driving along looking for Arnold we prayed, "Lord help us find Arnold!"  Just a few minutes went by and Pat said "He's there under that tree."   Well The Lord directed us to him now what?  I introduced Pat to Arnold!  She started to ask just normal questions like where do you come from?  Do you have family?  How did you come to Watertown?  Treated him like a human-being, kind, and loving. I looked at Arnold more like a project, when in reality I am the project.  As soon as I started to have a relationship with Arnold, he became my neighbor, someone that is closer to me than before.  After we had a time of conversation, "Pat got the look",  and I knew what was coming.  We had stopped at the bank, and taken twenty dollars out to buy lunch. I knew that wasn't going to happen!  She said "Arnold here's twenty dollars.  Buy yourself something that you need."  He thanked her.

  This blog is doing what The Lord intended way back then!  If I were writing this on paper you wouldn't be able to read it because my tears are flowing!  The Lord has shown me that a heart full of compassion is a great asset. "Fill my heart to overflowing"!!!!         

  OUR GOD is KIND,  and LOVING, but only as kind and loving as we let Him make us. Arnold, I miss you, and when you're in town come to our house, and have dinner at our table.  Little did you know, how The Lord would use you in my life.

                                                        

Who do you work for!!!

   The last 15 years of my full time employment, I worked in retail.  There are some points that I want to make about the work place.  First point it is the work place, should you work there?  The second point should you witness at your work?  What is a true witness?
   As I stated I worked in retail, Prior to working in retail, I worked in transportation, and the freight industry, now we work in this ministry.
  My wife and I have a combined time of 104 years of work experience.  In retail I was a support manager in the receiving area, I was in charge of the company truck unloading.  I had a person that was new, and she had been saved recently, a zeal for God.  The only problem was she would talk so much about God, and didn't work much.  As a fellow believer I felt that I could help her, "Jean if you worked it would be more of a witness", it was the wrong thing to say as far as she was concerned!  Working in the work place is what we are hired to do! So the answer to the first question is "WORK"!!!
   I believe that we should witness wherever we are, do we always? "NO" Should we? "YES".  As Christians, we should at least work as hard as the person that we stand next to, if we want to be a real witness, we should work harder.  Not to look better then the other person, but to please God.  Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the Glory of God. I Corinthians 10: 31 (KJV)
   I believe that a true witness, are those who do all things as unto The Lord.  Pat and I went into the retail store that I worked at to buy our glasses.  I had some conversations with the associate that waited on us.  She was getting married, I asked her what church?  She told me. (I'll leave it at that) The Lord prompted me to give her a quarter, and I did.  I said "I'm giving you this quarter as a gift, the same as God gives us salvation through faith."  She replied "and works".  I said "no then you earned it, and it's not a gift".  That was the end of our conversation. I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised that some of the times when she has a quarter in her hand that she remembers that time and place.  A witness of the goodness of God.

  What we do or say has a impact on His Kingdom.  I said that Pat and I are ministers of The Gospel  through this blog.  If it has helped you in some way, it could be a tool to reach someone that you know, and minister to them.  As simple as a quarter.   Nothing big in our sight, but we don't see the big picture as God does, To God Be The Glory.
 

Thanksgiving Day, 1971

    I was just 19, full of myself, ridiculously naive, newly married and pregnant!  After eating a huge dinner of goose and all the trimmings, prepared by my mother-in-law, we settled in the living room to watch a little tv.  A popular show that year was "All in the Family", and while we were watching a particularly funny episode (the one where Meathead suffers from impotence) I felt a peculiar sensation.  I jumped up quickly, to protect my mother-in-law's couch, and rushed to the bathroom.
     Well, guess what!  That night just before midnight I gave birth to my first baby, 6# 11oz of beautiful baby girl, whom we named Kerry Ellen Phillips.  A few days later, we brought her home to our tiny one bedroom apartment with a crib in our bedroom.  I was definitely underprepared, as far as   what it took to be a parent.  We didn't have much as far as baby clothes, and furniture, however, back in those days, babies required about a tenth of what they require these days! :)  I also was quite short in the area of wisdom and common sense!  Thank The Lord for my mother-in-law!  She definitely made up for what I lacked in the area of mothering skills.
   But we all loved this little girl!  She was perfect in every way.  She deserved much better than what we were able to give her.  A few years later, while she was still little, her dad and I ended up getting divorced, and because of my own lack of self-esteem,  I thought she would be better off with her grandma and her dad, a decision I have regretted ever since.  Both of her paternal grandparents died while she was still little.  What she was left with was an absent mother and a father with a fatal flaw.
    But God is God, and despite all this, my Kerry grew up to be a smart, compassionate , hard-working, loving young woman, and an amazing mother to her own two girls.  I am so proud of her and grateful for the relationship we share!
     Happy birthday, dear Kerry!  I love you so much!

The Blessing.

  Thanksgiving the Holiday is over, but the spirit of thanksgiving, is  everyday. We have much to be thankful for.  As the morning progressed. the question came to mind.  What to do? go hunting, write a blog, watch some tv.  Well, I see write the blog won. My grandpa Tschtteter was a pastor and I love to preach as much as he did.   It's a blessing to me that his passion was  also placed in my heart.  The title of this blog is "The Blessing."  Where does the true Blessing come from?
   Some of you celebrated  Black Friday.  Pat and Rachel, and the kids went to Sioux Falls, not to shop, but to visit Grandpa Barkley, and Irene,  who has been in hospital since Sat.  Black Friday is considered a day when we choose how we will bless family and friends materially. But some don't have enough material to do that the way they would like to.  How can we be generous, and survive?
   Being generous?  It's something that we all want to do, but the way that we have learned generosity,  isn't always possible.  The only way we can be truly generous, is to tell others this.  There was a man named Jesus, and "He said he was God".   Some took offense to what he said, and they thought that if they had Him, stripped of all His clothes, beaten, bloodied, and crucified, it would put a end to His testimony.  Well it didn't!!  He is still God and it was the greatest act of love in history.  That one horrible, humiliating act of love, is the answer to all of the world's problems.  It may seem too graphic, but, I am feeling it in my spirit.  His word says!!  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly JOHN; 10-10 (KJV).  Love can't be bought!!!  When God became Man He did it for one reason:  To become the blessing!
  We can be part of the blessing, but we can never be the blessing.  Through Christ Jesus is how we can be truly blessed, every blessing that we have, is because of His act of Love. I know that gifts will be given this Christmas, and I, too,  will give and receive them.   But I want to encourage you.  If it is hard to tell others this truth, share this sermon, forward it, tell others.  If one soul comes to Christ because of your effort, you will receive a portion of the reward.  I can't give you silver or gold, but what I have I give you freely, for freely I have received, so freely I give.  The Blessing "Jesus Christ" pass it on, it is the greatest act of love that you and I can do.

P. S. I still have time to go hunting.              

A Bertsch Thanksgiving.

  It was the 24th of November and no snow.   We only have two more days till Thanksgiving, and no snow?  How can it be, no snow in November, impossible, it has to snow!!!
  Every year that it was our turn to go to Grandpa and Grandma Bertsch's for Thanksgiving, snow was more important than anything else!  Good food, there would be plenty. Cousins, more than enough, uncles,  that could sled with us,enough of them, too,  but what good did it do if we had no snow!!
   The trip to Grandma's house started at about 11:30 Thanksgiving morning.  Some of my cousins would be there by the time we arrived, and some were always late. Usually there would be four or five of my uncles and aunts and their families at the feast.  So many that we ate in three shifts, first the men, then the children, and finally the women.  The women were really thankful if there was some left. The meal that was prepared for us was always goose, mashed potatoes, gravy, relishes (pickled beets and cucumbers) cranberries, and Grandma's sage dressing.  
   When the men started to eat, it started to rain a little.  They were getting concerned that it might snow.  When we sat down to eat it was snowing pretty good, by the time the women sat down to eat, it was really coming down!
   When the men got done eating they would go upstairs to the sitting room and visit in German;  I could enter into the conversation because I grew up speaking German.  I never thought about it before: what did the men who married into the Bertsch family think?  They couldn't understand a word of the conversation!  Grandpa always took a nap, then when he came into the room and started to visit, he would say something funny, and laugh at his own comments and we smiled respectfully.  The women visited in the kitchen dining area while cleaning up.  The kids and the young uncles couldn't wait until it was time for some fun!
   Up to the granary we headed, to get out the homemade sleds.  My grandparents lived in a creek bottom, and had the longest hills in the world, in the eyes of a 8 year old boy.  While we were eating the goose, it snowed about 4 inches of wet snow.  It came straight down and covered everything; so were  that  it packed under the rudders, making for a great ride.  Did I mention that the sled was homemade?  Well, you couldn't steer the sled, and the older cousins and Uncle LeRoy would like to do daring things.  When the younger cousins rode down the hill, the older boys would set us on a straight course.  It was a highlight of my youth: cousins, uncles, sleds, and snow.  The only thing that was missing were the cousins that lived too far away to join in the merry glee that we enjoyed.  To those of you that read this I wish that we could live those days over, and that you could come to the best Thanksgiving ever.
     Hoping you have a Thanksgiving almost as good as this one!  And don't forget to be thankful!          

Tschetter Thanksgiving.

  Saturday, and all the chores are done, lunch is over, and it's time to go get the turkey.  To all my cousins, on mom's side of the family.  Did you ever wonder,  where did that bird come from?

    Saturday chores at Grandma's always consisted of waxing those beautiful oak floors.  First the paste polish, then the two wheel buffing .   I can still smell the wax, and hear the conversation of busy women, and two little boys.  Hurry up we have to go get the turkey!  Well,  in today's world that would be simple! Right?  Not in those days!  Grandma would get the car, and come into the house, grab a small sack of orange slice, and circus peanut candy, and give the command. " Fartich soo gaen"(ready to go) in hutterish, the unwritten language of the Hutterite people.

   In 1874 my Great grandfather, Paul Tschetter emigrated to the United States from Russia, and they were Hutterites, of the party of 1200 people that came to the US. 400 colonized, and 800 lived on homesteads ( a little history lesson).   We lived on a homestead.  But Grandma had a cousin that was married to the Boss of the Maxwell colony, and they raised turkeys, and that's where we were headed.  Every year some turkey was going to face "Black Saturday" (we didn't have black Friday).  I always enjoyed that trip with Grandma. It took a long time to get there, and all the old people would talk about the year's happenings, over a cup of coffee and a sviboke (biscuits still baked every Saturday at Hutterite colonies).  Then it was time for black Saturday.  We would walk down to the turkey yard, and out off 1000 bird's Grandma would point her cane, and he would be the one.  Every time she picked the bird.  Huska would ask; are you sure that's the one Anna?  She would nod her head "Yes"! After she pointed her cane,  five young boys would run through the flock of birds and grab a turkey, invariably two would get caught.  Huska had to ask "Which one Anna"?  she would point left or right with her cane and identify the bird.  After the 20 minute ordeal we would go to her other cousins house, and have coffee, and sviboke, and go to the broom house and Grandma would buy a yea'rs supply of brooms. (her cousins husband was the preacher and broom maker).  The whole ritual finally comes to a end about three and a half hours later.

  Thanksgiving day was always special, one of the days we got to see our cousins from the big city.  Uncle Bennie and his kids would come to Ma and Pas house and the two things that I remember are, Pepsi, and Coke.  They would get a 6 pack of each every week( I was told by Sharon) and when they came to Grandma's,  they always shared them with us.  It's where I acquired a taste for Pepsi which I still have today.

  There are many more memories I could share from a child's point of view, but your time, and mine are limited. So many fond memories, and it would be fun to do them again.   The people that made them have passed, but are still alive in my heart.  I love you all, and have a blessed Thanksgiving with your families..  Wish we could get together one more time.  Oh, by the way, now you know where the turkey came from,  and there is a black Saturday!

Joy to the World!

     Christmas is coming, and, wonderful, Godly Christian that I am (:>)), I hate to admit that I am dreading it.  There's so much expectation, so much expense, and so much exertion (I mean work--but I had to stick with my exes).  I want the holidays to mean something more this year!!
     I wish my grandchildren were more from my generation.  Yeah, I know it doesn't work that way.  But when I was a kid, I loved to get books, dolls, pretty much anything.  It didn't have to be electronic; it didn't have to have a brand name.  Come to think of it, I don't think they had brand names back them.  We certainly didn't have electronics.  I would love to give each of my grandchildren a book and something like, say, pajamas, and that be it.  It would be less stressful and expensive for me.  Unfortunately, they don't like books as well as I did back then--and still do.  And I'm sure something as utilitarian as pajamas would not be all that appealing for them.  (Sigh)
     I did cut back on decorating when we moved into this tiny home.  I have a tiny tree, and decorate it with things I really love--like pictures of my family, bird ornaments, and stuff that bring me happy memories.  I saw some animal ornaments at Walmart that I liked.  Maybe I will pick up a couple.
     The thing is, I want to honor the season by doing things that are meaningful.  I want my Lord to know that my heart is in the right place--that I appreciate that tiny baby boy who grew up to be my savior.  I want to show that by loving and honoring others, by spending time in such pursuits as going to the beautiful choir and orchestra concert at the high school, baking cookies and giving them away, spending time with my grandkids watching Christmas movies, or working on a craft, talking about stuff that is important, and maybe even not-so-important.
      So, for that purpose, I took one of my granddaughters to the Ladies' Christmas Tea at Joy Ranch yesterday--where the young lady who was speaking,  literally wept as she spoke of Jesus' birth and sacrifice, and where we were serenaded by sacred Christmas songs.  It was beautiful.
     And I think I will plan a craft day for the younger kids to make something cool for their parents, involving paint, of course, and quite possibly, glitter.  We'll leave the tv off, and put on some Christmas music.  I'll make sure Papa is there to share the fun!
     Next week I will have a date with my husband, where we will attend the play, "Away in the Basement: a Church Ladies play.  We will relax and have some good laughs!
     Of course, I will buy some presents, because I love to give gifts--hey, I love to GET gifts!  I consider them as a representation of God's gift to us.  But in the midst of all these activities, I will purpose, with the help of the Holy Spirit,  to experience God's presence, to worship my Savior, and to convey this meaning to my family.
   And if you're looking for a gift idea for me--I really love books!  And pajamas!

Look at all the lonely people.

 Have you ever walked down the street, and wondered how many that you have met are redeemed?  Or as you are driving along, how many lost souls have you gone by?
  One day I was sitting in front of the house, and two men approached me, and asked if I would take a ten question survey.  I agreed, at the end of the last question was; between 1-10 ten being the most sure; how sure are you that you will go to heaven?  I answered 10.  Then I asked them:  what kind of answers do you get to that question?  They replied, "We hardly ever get 10 for a answer.  Some say, I'm a good person oh at least a 50-50 chance.  I thought that is so sad.  Then I asked "Well do they go to church?" I was surprised when they said most of them had claimed to belong to a church.
  I had a nursing home ministry, and one day the nurses asked Jimmy if he would like to go to church.   They were surprised that he said yes. The nurse told me "He never wants to go to church!"  As the service went along I said, "If you ask Jesus into your heart, when you die you will go to heaven."  Jimmy had been in a accident 25 years earlier, and was brain damaged.  As soon as I said those words, Jimmy threw up his hands and started to say Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, as tears were streaming down his cheeks.  Even though, after a short time he went back into his former state,  I expect to see Jimmy in heaven.  I believe he accepted Jesus as his savior that day!
  Another time, Marge a lady we knew, was also in a service.  When the I asked the question, " Do you want Jesus in your heart?", she responded with raisied hands, and tear filled cheeks.  Shortly after that time, Marge passed, and I expect to see her in heaven.
     Jimmy and Marge each had an appointment to know Jesus.
 
     In the first situation, with the survey takers, the people who thought they had a 50-50 chance of going to heaven, and had gone to church, SHOULD have known whether or not they were going to heaven.
     Jimmy, the man who was brain-damaged, most people would think that he COULDN'T know.
     Marge, because of the life she had lived, and her age, most would assume she didn't WANT
to know.
     So , the next time you come across one of these lonely people, don't be afraid to share The Lord with them--ask them if they want to know Jesus.  It could be their appointed time!

Four Generations.

  The picture that was posted are four Bertschs, Emanuel, Gideon, Delmar, and Paul.  A lot of history, and many traditions.  Are traditions always good?  Do they fit all areas of life?  Are they always true?
   It was Thanksgiving and the family was gathered at mom's house.  The women were busy in the kitchen. Sue was making the ham that year, and she said, "I wish that I could make ham like grandma.  Did she have a special recipe? Her mom said, " I don't know. Ask her-- she is in the living room."  Sue went to her grandma and asked, "Your ham was always so much better than mine.  Is it because you cut off the ends when you bake it?"  "Well" grandma said, "When grandpa and I got married we didn't have much money.  we received a roaster as a wedding gift,  and it was so  small that  I cut the end off of the ham so it would fit." "Tradition".
  Pat and I grew up with a lot of religious tradition; certain things were done at certain times, almost  ritualistic and it had been done that way for centuries.  "Tradition"!
  This brings up the point.  What is the harm of tradition?  In Pats blog (homecoming) I said, "she is the most Godly person I know."  Pat didn't agree totally with that.  As I was asking The Lord about my statement He started to show me how committed she is.  When tradition becomes our way of spiritual life we do things because our father's father did it that way, and so will we.  When we become committed  to the ways of The Father it's a different situation.  Pat is committed to The Father's ways.  Pat became committed upon receiving Christ;  I was raised in a church where it became a tradition.  I am learning commitment, and she is living commitment.  Her commitment to God, family, church, and work, in that order make her Godly, because of the order.  My commitment didn't have the right order, and almost cost me everything.  Because the order makes it work, my commitment was to a church, not to God.  When we say that we are committed,  God knows how committed we are, and when we start to fail,  we find out how committed we are or are not.  The apostle Paul was committed to The Lord, I like this Scripture. " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which The Lord , the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also who love His appearing." II TIMOTHY 4:7-8 ((KJV)   

The Homecoming.

  It was about 8:30 AM on the 7th of August 1977.  Our friend Jack was standing in our office and talking about The Lord.  I could see that Pat was interested about the conversation.  After it went on for a while she made this statement.  "I'm scared to die!"  What should I do? Who can help?
  I knew The Lord as a child, didn't live that way, but when push came to shove, I always defended The Lord.  When I first met Pat (blog How I met their mother), I was afraid to share The Lord, because Satan had given me the spirit of fear, he told me that I would lose her if I got religious, so I didn't talk about Jesus directly.  I remember going past the old radio station south of town, and I was talking about the Bible, and she said "You sure know about the Bible".  That was some time before the happenings of Aug. 7th. I decided to go to the back office and pray, " Lord what can I do?"  I decided to call Jack's Pastor and invited him to our house.  Pastor Slater arrived that evening and shared the gospel, and Pat responded.

  I want to make a statement about my wife: Pat is the most Godly women that I know. She is a prayer warrior, a student of the Word, full of mercy, and tenacious about Jesus. After that day I had a different, and better wife, she was a new creation in Christ Jesus.  I'll ask her to tell her side of the story.
     As I have said before on this blog, I attended Catholic school through 8th grade.  Looking back, I can see how valuable it was to my life--and I can see how even back then I wanted to be close to God.  However, I never seemed able to achieve that.  Then came some wild years, when I figured that the "rules" by which I was raised no longer applied to me!  By 1977, I had been married, divorced, and remarried.  I did not want to live the way I had been living.  This friend of ours that Del referred to, Jack, had been quite a wild guy, in a whole family of wild boys.  To hear him talking about God, as though he "knew" him did interest me.  I had friends in high school who were quite devout, and I respected that about them.  I wanted to know peace and freedom from fear.  I wanted a fresh start.
     One day we were riding in the car, with our newborn baby girl in the front seat between us.  (Back in the old days, we could do that!)  I don't know what we were talking about, but I remember Del saying, "She (our baby) is one of God's most favorite people."  Wow!  That struck a nerve in me because that meant that God was interested in us!  This eventually led to the visit from Chuck Slater, where I asked Jesus into my heart--which did indeed change my life for the better.
     I want you to know that I am certainly not the most Godly woman in the world.  I have sins in my life that I struggle with.  But I know when I prayed that prayer back in 1977, Jesus saved me, and forgave my sin.  And he sent the Holy Spirit to me, who makes me aware of my sin.  Nowadays, I like to keep a short account with The Lord--that is, asking forgiveness and praying for his help in dealing with sin and temptation.  He doesn't expect or want us to do it alone!  Thank God for that!
    Well, that is my salvation story--not very exciting compared to others I have heard, but as I said, it was and IS life changing!