The Lewis Chessmen September 28, 2010

By Connie Senescall

You never know when you will bump into little reminders that God is with you!  During a recent trip to the United Kingdom, we were enjoying the sights in the city of London.  One day, our adventures took us to the British Museum, where we tried to take in all the art and history we could absorb in the short time we had.  (The museum is huge, as in you could seriously spend a month there and not see the same thing twice.)  From the Rosetta Stone to the statue from Easter Island, we were awe-struck to see up close and in person the things we had only read about.  Imagine my excitement when we came upon the Lewis Chessmen?!  These little figures were unknown to me prior to the Beth Moore study on Esther, It’s Tough Being a Woman, but I fell in love with them throughout her videos each week.  Here they were, on display in the British Museum, along with a colorful history.  (They were found in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland, but originated in the 12th century, most likely from Norway or Iceland.)  It was another sweet discovery and reminder that God is the same today as he was hundreds, even millions of years ago.  AND no matter where we are, or what our circumstances, HE is with us always!

Girls Morning Out! September 25, 2010

Join us next Saturday morning from 9:30 -12:30 at Common Threads. It will be a great time to be together as women. Bring a friend or come and meet a new one!

Agenda for the morning:
9:30 Fellowship, Worship, and Prayer

10:15 Break -Out Sessions (you will choose one)

11:45 Lunch and fun!

Register online.

Break-out session offerings

1. Facebook: Staying connected with friends and family

Description: Come and learn the ins and outs of Facebook and how it can help you stay connected with friends and family. Topics covered: How to get an account, how to share photos and web links, how to protect your privacy, and more!

*** If you are a Facebook pro – consider signing up for the class to walk along side someone who is just learning.

*** If you own a laptop, bring it with you to the class.

2. Interior Design on a Dime – For Reals!

Description: Real tips and ideas for adding a fresh touch to your home décor without spending a fortune. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, good thrift shop stores, and see some before and after pictures. There will also be time for questions and brainstorming ideas.

3. Kitchen Shortcuts on a Shoestring

Description: You can be “wise, redeeming the time” spent in your kitchen! Whether you are cooking for yourself or a crowd, learn to save time and money as you become an efficient and freezer-friendly food shopper and chef.

Movie Review: Invictus September 21, 2010

By Julie Guest

This weekend we watched one those movies that stays with you long after you turn the TV off. Invictus tells the story of Nelson Mandela’s struggle to bring unity to a divided South Africa through rugby. This movie is a story of forgiveness and reconcilation.

My favorite quote of the movie comes when Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is talking to a group of recently liberated black South African’s who were lobbying to have rugby taken away from the Afrikaner (whites) who live for the sport. He said, “We have to surprise them with forgiveness and generosity.” This quote reminds me of how we are to respond to our world because of what Christ has done for us.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Tips & Tricks – Blog Contest September 18, 2010

Household Tip & Trick #1

Entry Submitted by Bethesda Wright

If there is an “informational” email sent to me that would make me wonder if I should take some action, I just look the story up at www.snopes.com.  This site gives you background information on email forwards and tells you if they are founded or not. That way, if there is something real I know I am informed and can share it, and if it isn’t – I don’t forward it on to others.

Submit your best “household tip/trick” to Julie Guest at ryjammers@comcast.net. You know, that secret mixture you use to get stains out of your carpet…maybe your special trick for folding fitted sheets into a neat stack…possibly your patented pantry organizational system. So far we don’t have many entries so your chance of winning is pretty good!

To the Internet and Beyond September 14, 2010

by Joan Lee

The other day I read a mass emailing warning about a new scam to deplete your credit card. It went like this.  You drive up to the gas station, swipe your card, fill up your tank, put everything away (I know from personal experience, failing to remove the nozzle from your tank can cost $700 to replace – I like the ones they have now where the nozzle and a bit of hose simply separate at a connection point from the rest of hose…but I digress), get your receipt and drive away.  The ruse is, if you fail to hit the “clear” button, someone can drive up behind you and start filling their tank using your “uncleared” card.

I had always thought the “clear” button was simply to erase a mistake you had made entering information.  Just the same, I tried the “clear” button today.  Turns out that it checked the status of the receipt printer paper.  Myth busted.

Still, it got me thinking.  I wonder how many people, like me, tried the clear button and continue to this day to push it after a transaction. And, because security looms so large in so many lives, I began to wonder how the power of internet “fear” messages could be turned to good.

So here’s a possibility for an email, “Warning.  The Boise Idaho police have issued an alert for a new scam.  It goes something like this.  You’re walking to the bus stop and see a wad of paper on the ground.  You consider picking it up, but stop yourself and go on.  The next day a little larger piece of paper is sitting there and catches your attention, you ignore it and move on.  There are perps waiting in the nearby bushes who have observed that you are distracted by the litter, and having taken psychology 101 before dropping out of college, they recognize your waning pangs of conscience.  They come back the third day and, when you don’t pick it up again, in that moment of distracted conscience, they jump out of the bushes and snag your laptop, briefcase or purse.  Your momentary distraction, caused by not picking up the litter for the third day in a row, undermines your power to evade the perps.  Boise Idaho police have asked anyone observing litter to please pick it up to avoid such an outcome, as the perps have a much harder time with alert, clear-conscienced individuals.”

Even if just a portion of the people who read that email took it to heart, the difference such an email could make in the landscape could be huge, based on fear.

Or we could just pick up litter, based on care.

The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

—Hebrews 13:6

Women in the Word September 11, 2010

Now that we are into the month of September, have you dedicated some of your time to the study of God’s word?  It’s amazing how quickly our calendars fill up with the things of life – appointments, practices, errands, lunches and the like.  We try and make time “for ourselves” to try and keep our life balanced.  If you looked over your schedule with a fresh pair of eyes – would you see time with the Lord? He, in reality provides the balance that we need.

The journey of faith is easier and a lot more fun with the support of other women. There is a place waiting for you. Women’s Bible study is designed to help lead you to the heart of God.   We have great studies on Tuesday morning and Thursday evening. Won’t you join us?

~Julie Zager

You can find out information here.

You may register online here.

He’ll make it whole again September 7, 2010

I have really enjoyed spending Wednesday nights in July at Women Together, hearing stories of how God speaks His truths in our lives.  The very first night, Julie Zager shared a quote that reminded me of a poem I had written a few years back in my grappling to understand restoration.  It was encouraging to hear words so similar to the ones I felt God had placed on my heart…it was a confirmation that His truths are the same and he speaks them to all of us…He speaks them to you and to me!  It’s my pleasure to share with you my own little story, I hope you enjoy it!

By Laura Minton

There they lay

Broken pieces on the ground

Must have been something beautiful

So I pick them up

Each little piece I see

Surely I can fix it

Make it something beautiful

Just for me

Every time I try

Something’s missing

It doesn’t quite fit together

And I realize I don’t even know

What its supposed to be

But I want these broken pieces

Just for me

Someone saw me with my pieces

He said, “I know what that’s supposed to be.”

“I made it,” He said

“But there is not a lot left to it.”

“I want it to be whole,” I said

“As whole as it can be,”

“Just for me.”

“Can you help?”

“Yes, I can help.  Only I can help.”

He said

“I can take those few pieces.”

“I can make them something whole and new.”

“And I will do it,”

“Just for you.”

So I watched as he took those pieces

And put them together

What he made was not so spectacular

Just a tree

But then he looked at me and said,

“The only way to make this whole is me.”

And he put himself on the tree

Never had I seen something so beautiful

That he would give his life

To make my broken pieces whole

And though I still want to see what they were made to be

I’ve seen the One who made it all

And that’s enough for me

So if you find you’ve come across

Some broken pieces too

I know that he will come

And if you give him all you have

He’ll make it whole again

Just for you