Sigh

Jackson apparently flushed a rock, a C-battery, and a dollhouse man down the toilet. So, until Ralph can fix it (IF he can fix it), we are down to one toilet.

All 9 of us....

**Update**

Danny (the fix-it guy) fixed it!

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats by Charles Spurgeon

An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.
From speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.
My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough So it would have been if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him.
Then again, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the ministry" (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.
Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the world? Ye are the salt" (Matt. 5:13), not the sugar candy---something the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt. 8:22) He was in awful earnestness.
Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, "Run after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow." Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.
In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of amusement! Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.
After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer meeting but they did not pray, "Lord grant unto thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are." If they ceased not from preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods.
Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

Ralph's 9 Things

I thought it would be fun to post 9 things about my family members. Why 9? Because there are 9 people in our family. I will start with my dear husband.

Ralph

1: He gets up very early every day and works hard to support and take care of all of us.

2. He is growing in the Lord, and is a good example to his kids.

3. He takes his kids camping, and spends time with them, because he loves them.

4. He is funny, and cracks us up all the time.

5. He never forgets my birthday and spoils me rotten every Christmas.

6. He lets me spend way too much money on books, even though he is not a book person.

7. He pretends like he doesn't like our cat and dog, but pets them when no one is looking, because he has a soft heart.

8. He willingly drives the kids to AWANA, karate, and other places they need to go, after already putting in a long day at work.

9. He tells me he loves me every day, and more important, he shows it.

Here are last Friday's creations:

Cara made 2 necklaces.

Nick made lemon bars.

Samantha and Rebecca made these make-it--bake-it charms. You take these tiny little plastic bead things, put them in the little charms, and then bake them in the oven. It was a messy, time-consuming craft and I never want to see another make-it--bake it kit come into the house. :-) (But I think the girls enjoyed it).

Oh, and with the left-over beads, Becca also made a little bowl, which she gave to Grandma.

Joey designed this robot-guy with these things we have called Capella.

Saturday we went down to Elk Grove. Nick and Ralph helped my brother start laying flooring in their house. The rest of us visited with my parents. Aunty Lynn took Cara and Samantha shopping at the fabric store. Late in the day, we (the kids and I and Lynn) walked from Mom and Dad's house to Scott and Lynn's house to check on the guys' progress. As we walked through the nice, flat neighborhood, I was reminded how much I miss grass and sidewalks......

There's alot that I don't miss about the city, though, too.

Then we all ate pizza together for dinner at my parents' house. (Poor Danny had to stay home to write 2 papers.)

Sunday was church, then Omi (Ralph's mom) bought us Chinese food for "linner". Or is that "lunner"?

Life is good!

Lord, I Love Thee

Today we sang another of Cara's songs in church.

This one is to the tune of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Lord, I love Thee

Lord, I love thee, thou art holy,
Thou art worthy of my praise.
I adore thee, I'm your's solely,
Lord you've set my heart ablaze.
Chorus:
You're my Saviour, you're the Righteous One,
You are the song within my heart.
You're Jehovah, You're the Just One,
From me You will not depart.

~
Lord, I'll worship Thee forever,
Thou art my sweet Living Bread.
I don't want to leave Thee ever
For my heart, Lord, tears Thou shed.

Chorus:
You're my Saviour, You're the Righteous One,
You are the song within my heart.
You're Jehovah, You're the Just One,
From me You will not depart

~
You're my rock, my Shield, my Anchor,
Lord, you're everything to me.
You're my shepherd, You're my Author,
To contentment You're the key.
Chorus:
You're my Saviour, you're the Righteous One,
You are the song within my heart.
You're Jehovah, You're the Just One,
From me You will not depart.

Our Camping Weekend

Friday evening we headed up to our favorite camping place, Hope Valley, with Scott and Lynn (and Dixie and Cowboy). Because we knew we would arrive with a bunch of hungry people, Lynn had prepared delicious barbequed chicken and garlic bread (plus I brought potato salad and watermelon) so we could eat as soon as we got there. Despite the fact that the nights were very COLD (cold enough to freeze the dog's water), we had a blast! With the help of Uncle Scott and their daddy, the kids caught a bunch of fish in the river. That was the first time the younger kids have really been successful at fishing, so they really enjoyed it. Saturday evening Danny was able to come up in time for a little fishing and dinner (which included steaks and all those fish--yum!). (He had stayed behind at home to tackle lots of homework). Oh, I didn't see it, but the kids saw a beaver eating a tree.

Of course we took lots of pictures.

Latest News Tidbits from Around Here

Ralph has had his CPAP machine for about a week and a half. He says he feels soooooo much more rested. Praise the Lord that we have access to medical care that can enhance our lives!

Cara has to get her wisdom teeth pulled. She is not looking forward to that. We will find out more today at the Oral Surgeon.

This weekend we are going camping with beloved brother and sister-in-love Scott and Lynn. Can't wait!!

Then next month we get to go to Pismo Beach for about 5 nights.

I have a terrible-awful-nasty-no-good-miserable cold. I am praying it goes away and no one else gets it so we can go camping as planned this weekend.

I have officially started my Christmas shopping; just thought that I would mention that. :-)

(I love Christmas!!)

Hmm, I think that's about all for now.

I will end with a couple of pictures of Joey, doing what Joey does.....reading. At the age of 8 (almost 9) he is distinguished as being the most voracious reader in this family of big readers. Joey sometimes surprises me with his grown-up book selections.

So that is the latest around the Houseful of Blessings.

This is for Grandma

Dear Mom and Dad,

I hope your computer can play these videos of your beautiful granddaughters. I know you would have loved to be here. (Please excuse my terrible video skills on the second video. I didn't know my hand was so shaky!)

Here are the words:

Jesus draw me ever nearer

As I labour through the storm.

You have called me to this passage,

and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

~

May this journey bring a blessing,

May I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart's testing,

With Your likeness let me wake.

~

Jesus guide me through the tempest;

Keep my spirit staid and sure.

When the midnight meets the morning,

Let me love You even more.

~

May this journey bring a blessing,

May I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart's testing,

With Your likeness let me wake.

~

Let the treasures of the trial

Form within me as I go -

And at the end of this long passage,

Let me leave them at Your throne.

~

May this journey bring a blessing,

May I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart's testing,

With Your likeness let me wake.

Fun Friday

I decided that we needed to schedule time for creative things. The kids are plenty creative on their own in their free time, but I decided that on Friday afternoons, instead of the normal reading time, they would have time to do things that they want. It has to be somehow educational, or at least "creative". Today Nick worked on his woodcarving, Joey started a pop-up book, Rebecca and Samantha drew pictures. Here's Samantha's:

And here is one of Becca's:

and Cara made:

Funnel Cakes! They were really.......Yummy!!!