Gus and me

The highlight of visiting my farming family in Alabama as a child was Gus. I thought Gus was the greatest thing in the world, a horse I could actually hang around with as much as I liked. And Gus never seemed to mind. I think my parents were hoping the horse thing would go away, but from the cradle I had the horse gene. Pretty cruel trick to play on my father who had his teeth kicked in by a plow mule as a child. Though I think my mother, who has a fondness for animals, was happy for the chance to expand her "fattening of all God's creatures" to the larger domesticated animals of this world.

I miss horses so much. Especially the scent of them. They carry all the scents of the field and forests in their manes. And there is no therapy like that of the rhythmic strokes of grooming a horse or the meditative picking out of stalls and scrubbing of feed buckets. There are days, when it is almost 100 degrees and there is so much humidity in the air you can barely breathe that I don't mind not having to go to the barn after a long day at work. But there are those mornings, when the mists are rising from the fields and the air is cool and crisp that I long to see that long white neck of Einstein in front of me and feel the strength of him in my hands as we trot and canter our way through the early morning hours building endurance for the next goal, the next dream, the next show. If only I had known at the time that that was the best part, right there alone with him in the rhythmic swish swishing of his four white legs striding boldly through the tall grass as we passed deer grazing in the fog.

The cards you hold...

"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well."
—Josh Billings

How many times I have thrown in my cards in disgust only to realize that it was never the situation I was in at the current time, but the one constant in all my life, ME. Sure, there were difficult people, bad job situations, less than ideal circumstances. But in the end it came down to me and how I reacted to them.

Who was the 3rd man in history to walk on water?

Do you really know your Bible?
Who was the 3rd man in history to walk on water?


The first was Christ.






The second was apostle Peter.






Then there was this guy Jose...

Well, Corgis ARE among the top ten smartest dog breeds

And I thought I had troubles with my two begging.

Moments of Rapt Contemplation Dear to Horsemen

Wholesome Wear

Ah my good friend Paige. She can always send me the latest in fashion.

Check these out for the beach this summer, girls! And if anyone is unclear about your wholesomeness the logo is emblazoned in 72 point type on your chest.

Now, I know you are just wishing you could see all the color choices.

American's Cultural Baggage

I am doing a fantastic study put out by the IMB for missionary teams. God has really used it to open my eyes to some of my many hinderances that I need to ask God for help in healing or tearing down before I head out to follow His call for my life.

I am going to quote from the book because it says it so perfectly. If you are interested in doing short-term mission work or you believe God is calling you into long-term mission work, definately do this study! Even if you have done mission work before, it will open your eyes to so much.

"What a team does on the mission field is greatly influenced by what it brings along as baggage. Oh not the suitcases, trunks, and boxes. I am referring to cultural baggage. Strengths of our American culture, like our problem-solving skills; our sensible, no-nonsence approaches; and our "I can do it" attitude, can quickly become harmful in another society if we are not careful.

'Let me tell you a story about Americans,' an African Christian said, 'Elephant and Mouse were best friends. One day Elephant said,"Mouse, let's have a party!" Animals gathered from far and near. They ate. They drank. They sang. They danced. And nobody celebrated more and danced harder than the Elephant (obviously not a Southern Baptist elephant :-) ...Sharon aside here) After the party was over the Elephant exclaimed, "Mouse, did you ever go to a better party? What a blast!" But Mouse did not answer. "Mouse, where are you?" Elephant called. He looked around for his friend and then shrunk back in horror. There at the Elephant's feet lay Mouse, his little body ground into the dirt. He had been smashed by the big feet of his exuberant friend Elephant."

"Sometimes that is what it is like when you do missions with you Americans," the African storyteller commented, "It is like dancing with an elephant."

Americans tend to be very task-oriented, a quality that runs counter to the relational orientation of many cultures worldwide. When we commit to a short-term mission trip, a danger arises from the very fact that time is limited; thus, we fall into the trap of placing the project agenda over the people we came to serve. Naturally, we want to accomplish as much as possible, then go home and report on the tangible fruits of our ministry. However, our drive for quick results can prevent us from taking time to interact with the people in a culturally appropriate manner. .... Our schedule and our need to complete the task can result in the unfortunate picture painted by the African storyteller—complete wth real names and faces."
-end of quoted passage-

This was so sobering to me. Americans are already known as loud in other parts of the world, but I never thought this would be a problem for me. But task-oriented? GULP. I am strongly gifted in organization and logistics and I believe God has done this for my calling in life. But just because it is a gift doesn't mean I won't have to manage it, and in this case with a very strong curb bit!

I pray that I can learn to wait and be patient. My hand is on the plow. I am itching to go and prepare the soil and to help harvest. I see ways to help, and I want to do them now, not later. But to those lost without Christ who may also live in a totally different culture than mine, will they see my actions as lacking respect for them as human beings. As thinking of them as insignificant and not worth listening to? God help me never to appear this way. How Satan loves to make us appear as something we desire be totally opposite of. How our flesh can really screw things up!

I know now that I have to start today to guard my mouth. Even here in America, I need to listen more. I need to slow down. Start getting off "American time" and get into "being time" no matter how great the lost number. God knows this more than I do. So I need to have patience for His timing. My focus needs to be on learning about the needs of those I have come to serve before my desire to serve them. On developing a bond with them that might mean just sitting and listening. It might mean watching them do tasks a primative way when I am aching to show them what I believe is a "better way". In many cases, my way (which better be God's Way!) will be the better way and they will embrace it from God because they trust my influence because they know I care for them as individuals. In other cases, they will teach me that their world view is actually more in line with God's desires than my western views.

I am excited to see what God has planned. I just pray that I can keep me out of the way of God's healing and plans for the people he sends me to.

I also am fervently praying that my desire for large ice-filled glasses of carbonated beverages diminishes....

Married for 75 Years!

I read this in the paper recently:
"Fernand and Emily Cavalier of Schriever in Terrebonne Parish have been married for over 75 years. They married on April 20, 1931 and will celebrate their 76th anniversary in just a few months. According to Louisiana Family Forum, Fernand Cavalier cut timber himself for their first home. He is 96 years old. His wife, Emily, is 90. Fernand still plays the fiddle. Cavalier said that it was their Christian work ethic and commitment to personal faith that strengthened and lengthened the marriage. The Cavalier family includes 10 children, seven of whom are still living. They have two dozen grandchildren, three dozen great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. Fifteen additional couples with marriages lasting over 70 years are being awarded 'Keeper of the Covenant' certificates and will be inducted into the Louisiana Family Forum Marriage Hall of Fame today."

WOW. It is hard to imagine living for 75 years, much less living all 75 years with the same person! I had to share this amazing story. Thought it appropriate for the month. I pray all of us who are chosen to be married one day (and are currently married) will have such a fruitful life together with our spouses.

And Lord, give us the patience and humility that can only come from You to SURVIVE a union with another human being for so long! :-)

20 Ways to Know if You're a True Alabamian...

Some of you might know that I am from Alabama originally. So we moved here when I was five. Doesn't matter. Every other month or so we made the trip to Bama to visit relations go to Alabama football games or for the huge Gaines Family Reunion on July 4th at Tannehill.

So this list was especially fitting. I am proud to say that yes, I am an Alabamian. Roll Tide!

1. You can properly pronounce Conecuh, Cahaba, Opelika, Sylacauga, Oneonta,
and Eufaula.

2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.

3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.

4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance
to the door, but by the availability of shade.

5. Stores don't have bags or shopping carts, they have sacks and buggies.

6. You've seen people wear bib overalls at funerals.

7. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.

8. You measure distance in minutes.

9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.

10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.

11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.

12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.

13. You have known someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist.

14. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the
same store.

15. A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew
Cab is.

16. You know everything goes better with Ranch Dressing.

17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.

18. You actually get these jokes and are "fixin' " to send them to your friends.

19. You have used your heater and air-conditioner in the same day!

Finally:

You are 100% Alabamian if you have ever had this conversation:

20. "You wanna coke?" "Yeah." "What kind?" "Dr. Pepper"