Book Club Update

We had a great discussion last night on The Courstship of Miles Standish by Longfellow. We had a couple of interesting copies on hand. One was beautifully illustrated by Howard Chandler Christy, original copyright was in 1903. The other one did not have a copyright date but was given as a gift in 1934. Everyone enjoyed the poem about Miles Standish, John Alden and Priscilla. We then discussed poems in general, which I believe sparked an interest in reading other poetry. Shakespeare was once again suggested, and everyone agreed to Romeo and Juliet. We'll discuss The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, January 17th, 2008.

Thanks to the wonderful cook who brought Tiramisu and hats off to the bright young lady who remembered what book we were reading one year ago. You both did great!

More on poems:


How to Read a Poem by Burton Raffel-A good intro. I have a copy for you to borrow.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry -Everything you need to know and more.

Deutsche Straße

My husband wanted to know why I haven't posted any of his photography - so here's one of the best he's taken. We were driving through the Black Forest and suddenly we're in the most incredible countryside. Believe it or not, he gets out and is practically laying down in the middle of the street. For all of you who know him - he doesn't stop driving for anything! When we see this picture we say, "Now wasn't that a great idea?"

Metalworking

The Metal Museum in Memphis is worth stopping by if you're already in the area and need something to do. The museum was interesting- but what made it worth while was the demonstration in the blacksmith's shop. The blacksmith showed us step by step how to make a decorative hook. He was very artistic. He also showed us how he is making feathers out of metal to put on an angel-so creative. I very much enjoyed seeing him make beautiful things out of a piece of steel. It was quite different from what I've seen in the past. Make sure the Smithy is open before you go. I do have to mention though, I did spend a few minutes in the gift shop-

http://www.metalmuseum.org/

J.C. Ryle Quote

"Sin may be easy for you to do with your hands,
or run smoothly off your tongue now, but depend on it,
the effects of your sin and you will meet again in time,
however little you may like it. Old wounds will often ache
and give pain long after they are healed, and only a scar remains;
so may you find it with your sins."

~J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)

H. Lisle Quote

"Actions have consequences....first rule of life.
And the second rule is this-
you are the only one responsible for your own actions

If you don't accept responsibility for your own actions,
then you are forever chained to a position of defense.

You must learn to face the fact, always,
that you choose to do what you do, and that everything you do
affects not only you but others."

~H. Lisle

Thankfulness

Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Colossians 1:3, 12

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Colossians 2:7

...rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:15, 17

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Steinbeck on Positano

I couldn't have said it better.

"Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone. Its houses climb a hill so steep it would be a cliff except that stairs are cut in it. I believe that whereas most house foundations are vertical, in Positano they are horizontal. The small curving bay of unbelievably blue and green water lips gently on a beach of small pebbles. There is only one narrow street and it does not come down to the water. Everything else is stairs, some of them as steep as ladders. You do not walk to visit a friend, you either climb or slide."

~John Steinbeck 1953

Elisabeth Elliot Quote

Prayer and action. Faith and obedience.

II Kings 20, Isaiah 38

~ Elisabeth Elliot ( 1926- )