Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there: if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
                                                                                            Psalm 139:7-10

This past Thursday our daughter, Christiane, completed all of her course work for her MBA at Indiana University. This was a two year program which involved classes at Bloomington, Indiana, New Delhi, India, and over the Internet. She finished strong and has even been asked to go back to the university as a guest lecturer. But, now it is time to celebrate. Some people would recognize this milestone by going out to eat, taking a weekend getaway, or enjoying some kind of a vacation.
Not Christiane! Rather than doing any of these tame endeavors, she has joined a group that is going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. She left today and doesn't plan on returning until September 12th.

Most of the time will be spent scaling the 19,300 foot mountain. She will spend seven days going from the tropical foot of the mountain to the below freezing temperatures of the snow capped peak.  She said they plan on taking only two day to descend the mountain. The group she is joining contains many people she has never met. However, she is looking forward to the opportunity to become acquainted with each member of the group. To Christiane, there is no such thing as a stranger.

                                                        Mt. Kilimanjaro

As a side note, a co-worker has asked Christiane to do a big favor for her family. Apparently, this co-worker's mother was a very active traveler right up to the time of her passing. She had her body cremated, and Christiane has now been asked to sprinkle her ashes on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. So along with all of her equipment, food, and clothing, Christiane is also carrying an urn of ashes in her backpack.

To change the subject, we would like to report on Paul's test results at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital this past Friday. They did both blood work and a CT Scan to test liver function and any signs of recurring cancer. Both tests revealed that my liver was functioning perfectly and no signs of cancer were detected. We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and healing power and for all those who have been praying for my complete recovery. The only thing that Dr. Kreske, Paul's surgeon, indicated was two small hernias that were caused by the surgery. Paul is scheduled to return in February to determine if a hernia operation is necessary. Right now, Dr. Kreske wants to give more time for complete healing from the surgery.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail

Louis Armstrong sings , “I see skies of blue, and clouds of white, The bright blessed day, dark sacred night, and I think to myself what a wonderful world.”

To start the week out, we were invited for a pontoon ride by a very dear friend.  She is one of the finest examples of a truly joyful person down to the core of her bones. Having been widowed in recent times and her daughter moving to Chicago, she still finds life wonderful. While riding the pontoon, Jeanie and Paul burst into Louis’ song, “….what a wonderful world.” God blessed us with a beautiful day of blue skies and white clouds.  Afterward, when we walked into her kitchen, she had on her counter a partially completed puzzle, the makings of a pie, and the plates beautifully decorated for lunch including a homemade blueberry muffin.  Jeanie went on to say that she is as happy as she was being married to Wayne, who was a fantastic husband. She has found contentment and joy in whatever state she is in including being single, which is certainly from the Lord. To add to her sharing, she went on to say that she has even gotten up in the middle of the night to play piano. In so many ways she finds life exciting.

       

                                                                    Jeanie

                                                                        

We found being with her a challenge to our own outlook on life. She certainly exemplified what Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

While at Jeanie’s she indicated that she was going to be with family on the other side of the state and wasn’t sure what to do with her dog, Molly.  Without hesitation, we volunteered to dog-sit for the next few days. She has been an ideal dog and a joy to take of.  Since we lost our last dog in March, which we discussed in our previous blog, after having Molly with us, we got the fever to look for another dog.  Today we went to Toledo and set ourselves up for failure by looking at a litter of ten week old Cocker Spaniels. Of course, we were suckers and didn’t just come home with one.  We are now the proud owners of two, Maggie and another Molly.

                                                              Molly and Maggie

                                                   Maggie and Molly and Jeanie's dog, Molly            

In our morning devotions we came across a verse that spoke to us because of the joy we saw in Jeanie. The verse is found in Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail

On July 31^st I turned the big SEVEN - Zero!!!  As a result I found a few more aches and pains, and when on my hands and knees getting up takes a lot longer as the gravity seems to pull harder.

While I have been viewing the Olympics from my comfortable, black leather Lazy Boy  and enjoying a bowl of fresh, sliced, Red Haven peaches over a piece of shortcake and topped with a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream, I have been convicted.  Gail is asking me how have I been convicted?  With some pondering, I have concluded that sitting in a chair just doesn’t cut it.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say retirees can sit on the sidelines and watch the runners go by. God expects us to be in the race of life as long as He gives us breath.

Hebrews 12:-1-3 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of  God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

I’m not sure if peach shortcake is considered a hinderer or a sin on God’s list as I think it is straight from heaven!

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail

After a cup of hot coffee and a bowl of cereal this morning I headed out the door before 6:00 a.m. to spend the entire day helping at the election poles. I’m freshly reminded of the privilege we have to vote and our need to pray for our country.

II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.

Never before have I sensed a need to pray for our nation as I do now and to vote at every given opportunity. With all the difficulties we are facing; corruption and lack of godly values, It is difficult to call our nation a God fearing nation as it once was when our Constitution was written.

                                                               One Nation Under God

Billy Graham’s daughter has challenged us to be in special prayer for the up and coming elections beginning September 28^th. With that in mind, some friends will be joining us for a time of prayer each week on and after the 28^th until the elections. It would be fantastic if many groups would humble themselves, and pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways causing the Lord to hear from heaven, to forgive our sins, and to heal our land, - - - and to cause the elections to be guided by His eye.

Blessings and Encouragement,


Paul and Gail