Tell it on the Mountain/issue 2 May/June

Issue 2 – May/June 2011

ell it on the Mountain Inspiration for Today

Kill me if you can! shooting to the sky: life without chains Christ Wells' New Release – How Emptiness Sings A High Calling He Knows . . .

Proof of Payment – A Testimony Storytelling Sanctuary for My Mind Help for when Your Ship's (Life's) Falling Apart and more . . .

Welcome back to

“Tell it on the Mountain” We are so excited with the great response we've had to our 1st issue and it's wonderful to see the viewer number going up! Thanks to you all who viewed and shared the link with your friends!

As summer approaches, we would love for you to share with us and the other readers, how you plan to keep your family busy over the summer holidays.

There are a couple of new interests added – “artwork and music.” We are so pleased to have these talented people share their passion. If you are inspired by our contributors, why not tell them, by dropping them an email or by dropping us a note and we will forward it on to them. And let them know that you seen their work here in“Tell it on the Mountain” We are always looking for unique submissions from our readers. So send them on over to tellitonthemountain@live.ca

by June 15th, 2011. Write submission in the subject line of your email.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Blessings till next time, Deanne MacBurnie *Please take time to read through the magazine to the end! We have some wonderful articles there!You don't want miss them!

Photos taken by, Shane Corbett NB, Canada

A High Calling Easter according to Oliver

By Mike Messerli

submitted by Mike Messerli

For several days now I've been thinking about a passage that is challenging me to think through its implications, both in my own life and in the lives of those who call themselves Christians. Here are the words from Ephesians that have challenged me.

My friend, Bill shared this in

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;" Eph. 5:1

an e-mail. It's a description of Easter from his 4 year old grandson. I don't think I've heard it explained any better!

I didn't get much further in the passage .

That first phrase stopped me. This is such a high calling that most of us simply read over the implications. Stop for a moment and think about those eight words. What would change if that were your passion? How would you make choices with that as your model for life? How would your interaction with others change? What does this mean for your life today?

Oliver: "This is death (holds up fist) and this (other fist) is Jesus."

We all model someone. For most the models for our choices are the "celebrities" of television or politics. We all look to someone to emulate. We all have someone we have chosen as our hero, our mentor, the one we want to be like. It affects our choices. It molds our behaviour. We all do it. Who are you imitating? What guides your choices?

(Slams fists together.)

The high calling of the Bible is to be imitators of God. For today, let me simply dangle that model in front of you for your consideration.

"Be imitators of God, as beloved children." Look to him as your model for life, for choices, for how you interact with those around you. What would change if this were true of your life?

death will stay dead

"Jesus beat death.

God won.

Death is dead and forever!

God can give you a new body."

I'm still working on this in my life. I don't want to read further until I've worked out what these eight words mean for me.

“Wow. From a just turned4-year old.

To read more from Mike Messerli, please visit him online at http://mikemesserli.blogspot.com

And this, folks, is what Easter is really all about!”

–

© D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Wendy (his mom) © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Kill Me If You Can!

by Guy Myers Ks

Last time we looked at why Jesus had to die and this time we will look at why he had to raise from the dead.

When we look at things with human eyes,we tend to see things differently than God. Time is a good example that shows the contrast of God’s perception of time to ours. God is infinite, so what is a thousand years to God? But to us, a millennium is impossible to survive.

This is also demonstrated in what God thinks about death compared to how we think about death. To us, death is an inevitable foe that will eventually win, but is that the way God perceives death?

Jesus’ friend Lazarus had just died, so Jesus and His disciples were going to comfort their friends (at least that’s what the disciples thought). When Jesus arrived at Bethany He started to comfort the family, but He got all philosophical. What do you say at a funeral? Usually you say something like, “Sorry for your loss ” or “They’re in a better place.” What did Jesus say? “I AM the resurrection and the life!”

Doesn’t that seem weird?

Jesus has said things like this before, but people rarely pay attention.

After Jesus had fed 5000 men (this number does not include women and children), He said, “I AM the bread of life”(Jn. 6:35) and in John 9:5 Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world” and then He opened the eyes of the blind man.

What do you figure Jesus is going to do after He says He’s the resurrection and the life? He’s going to raise Lazarus from the dead! But there’s more to it than this because in just a week Jesus would die on the cross and He was giving them a preview of His own resurrection.

Do you love a good movie? I do. The movie previews come out and some live up to their billing and some don’t. Jesus was giving them a preview. It went something like this; “In a week, not far from here in Jerusalem ‘I’ will raise from the dead, and just to give you a preview, I will raise Lazarus from the dead.“ I’d say the main event was better than the preview!

Continued on next page . . . © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Kill me if you can!

by Guy Myers Ks continued . . .

Jesus main point was summed up in, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Why is His statement so important?

Well let me ask you a question?

How do you kill the resurrection and the life? You can’t!

When I was a kid there was a toy called a weeble. You could push it over and it would pop back up again.

That’s what Jesus was trying to tell them, “You can try and kill Me but because of who I am, I’ll just pop back up.”

In fact, we couldn’t kill Jesus anyway.

Jesus died because He gave himself as a sacrifice not because we killed Him. This is evident in the way He died, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit”, and John 10:17-18 confirms this when it says, "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

You can’t kill the resurrection and the life!

The previews aren’t over. Jesus’ resurrection was a preview of a future resurrection.

Jesus is coming back to get all the Christians dead or alive. You can be part of that if you put your faith in Jesus.

As I started out, comparing God’s perception of death to ours, I’m going to die some day.

I won’t make it to a thousand years.

I doubt I’ll make it to one hundred, BUT I’m with the resurrection and the life, and He’s the only one who defeated death. There’s an empty grave to prove it, but just in case you don’t believe this, He IS coming back to prove it and everyone will see it…unfortunately many will miss it.

Please Don’t miss it.

© D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Storytelling

by Rina Peru

I

know that the ideal and usual practice of families is to read storybooks before bedtime or during nap times. But for us, it hasn’t been the practice. Not that I don’t want to read books to our children, but to our three-year old tot, he doesn’t have any particular favorite among our collection of children's books, and also, because of the physical limitations brought by my illness, it hasn’t been convenient for me to grab a book and settle with my kids and read until sweet slumber takes over them.

But what I do, I believe, is more meaningful and exciting. I tell them stories from memory. Well, mostly to Tim, the three-year old. Hannah, at ten, reads on her own, and I’m glad that she loves to read.

When Tim comes to me and snuggles for a nap, he requests me, “Tell a story, Mommy.

About butterflies…” He often requests the butterfly story which I have told several times.

The stories I tell him are from my childhood.

I do have a trove of them! I am so blessed to have a rich, and I can say unique, childhood, far different from my children’s, and for most children today.

I grew up in a little town in the province. It’s so small a town that everybody knows everyone in the town proper. I grew up at a time when butterflies, dragonflies, fireflies, and friendly, grey beetles (salagubang in Tagalog, abal-abalin Ilocano) were the most fascinating pursuits for a child. I was great at catching dragonflies by their tails! And all these lovely insects swarmed almost everywhere. There were abundance of them then.

During summer, when the town was asleep after lunch (siesta in Spanish), my friend Elena and I would sneak out to the hills to pick blackberries (duhat in Tagalog) from the blackberry tree. Or gather carabao dung from the summer-dry fields, put them in sacks and sell them to the nursery for compost. These crusty carabao dung dotted the wide, empty rice fields like huge hotcakes.

They were everywhere!

Cont. next page .

. .

© D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Or catch mudfish and catfish with my cousins when the fields overflowed during rainy season and grill them over burning coals. Hmmm… I could still imagine how we savored those freshly-grilled freshwater fish.

And there are so much more!

So I tell my kids these stories and I see how they marvel at each one, listening in wonderment. These endearing stories of my childhood are so much different from what they have experienced and are experiencing growing up in a suburb east of Metro Manila.

If our idea then of amusement was to play “chinese garter”, “jackstone”, “stone hunting”, and other games that required no expense in a vacant lot or in the yard, my kids’ would be to go to Fun Ranch (an amusement place for families in the heart of the city) or Worlds of Fun (an amusement place inside the mall).

So I tell them about the thousands of fireflies that lit the guava tree one summer night; or how Elena fell from a broken branch of the blackberry tree straight into a thorny, giant maguey plant, but unhurt; or how my father and my uncles went out at midnight to catch frogs in the rain-flooded fields that were teeming with these fleshy, edible amphibians, and how in the morning the whole family (except my mother!) would be enjoying a big pan full of steaming frog legs cooked in rich coconut milk.

Telling my kids stories of my adventure-rich childhood not only brings them pure enjoyment, but I am also thankful that I’m able to describe to them a time, a place, and experiences they haven’t known and seen. In a way, I’m imparting to them a part of my life that would stay in their hearts and memories as they are growing up, and I hope, even to their old age.

Just as reading storybooks lull kids to sweet slumber, telling my son stories from memory with gentle caresses is just as effective.

If you would like to find out more about Rina, please visit her online at http://rinaperu.com/

© D&S MacBurnie, 2011

shooting to the sky: life without chains

by ChristaWells

I’ve been thinking about you …

You waking with anxiety, curling up at night with anxiety, and carrying her wrapped around your middle like a boa constrictor.

Squeezing out life with not enough time, not enough talent, not enough money, not enough friends, not enough…

I know it personally.

The pet who continually tears up your furniture and attacks your friends, but you can’t quite figure out how to get rid of it.

Or a quiet disease…

A sap-the-life-out-of-you while you’re standing there smiling and running to the next thing and saying yes to one more activity and making a million disclaimers for your dirty floors and wondering why no one is responding to your witty Facebook post and thinking we really just need more ________________ and when I get the job and what if this doesn’t work and trying to do better, look younger, sound smarter, sort of plague.

When did we start thinking it is no big deal to spend days with our breath held?

When did we start saying, it’s part of me…?

When begin thinking it proof of a purposeful life?

Who taught us to live in knots?

Continued on next page. . . © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Shooting to the Sky continued . . .

There IS a different way…

People waking up in simpler spaces, Not self-reliant, but inter-dependent, Not saving the world, but loving a neighbor.

Working for food, but not gasping for breath.

Fewer options, greater peace.

You think I’m idealizing, maybe.

Maybe this is a different place and we just HAVE to be this way?

I know that’s what I believed, but I just don’t anymore.

Not because I have any illusions about small Central American countries having it all figured out.

They do not.

But because I’m becoming disillusioned with the functional belief that GOD is to be admired more than worshipped, talked about more than known, acknowledged but not relied on ...that we can be about His work without being WITH Him. That really, on the plane of daily work and decision-making and accomplishing, it all depends on us being as close to perfect as we can muster.

But…

What if He is GREATER than we have believed Him to be?

What if the God who was alive and holy enough to make Moses’ face glow in the dark is still alive and holy?

What if I actually NEED him…in a desperate way in this ordinary untragic moment?

What if I admitted I’m like a HELPLESS baby and can’t walk 5 feet without running into an idol, apart from Him? Continued on next page . . . © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Shooting to the Sky continued . . .

I remember Samuel, coloring at the table in San Isidro del General, singing:

I’ve got the whoooooole world in my hands, He’s got the whooooole world in His hands, I’ve got the whole wide world in my hands…

Hmm…like mother, like son… but all we really have in our hands is what we’ve been given to hold today… daily bread.

How do I begin to release my imagined grip on things?

Lord, I believe.

Help my unbelief!

Save me from the poison of ego-rooted insecurity, prideful independence, control-grasping exhaustion, people-pleasing idolatry…misplaced affection..!

I am prone to bending my knee at the wrong altars.

You too?

He compassionately shines light: He…the only god that will ever love me back.

And how little I need that which I thought I might die without!

The more that creeps into my really-believing consciousness, the more I feel I might just shoot straight up into the sky, leave the gravity of these chains behind.

And yes, I’ve used more than my share of metaphors in one story, but that too, for today, is part of the process.

Find more Inspiring Stories & Learn about Christa's Music online http://www.christawellsmusic.com © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Christa's New Album

I made myself wait these past several months, and now we’re ready to share the music we made last summer/fall before heading out to Costa Rica.

And now… I’m both eager and a little shy about actually shipping. :)

How Emptiness Sings

is a 7-track EP, all new originals, recorded & produced by Zodlounge (Nashville, TN), cover art/photos/design by Shelly Eve (who, by the way, you might know as Shelly Moore – singer/songwriter). I love it.

Making music is joy – made complete when others enter in, listen, and respond.

Once that interaction begins, the work seems out of the artist’s hands ownership transferred to the listener.

So…to that end, I invite you to interact with these new creatures of music & lyric. click the link to listen http://www.reverbnation.com/christawells

Officially released on March 15, 2011, you’ll be able to find it at iTunes, etc) You have a million other places you could be right now!

Thanks for stopping here!

And…please respond freely…your stories bring the music to life.

Christa http://www.christawellsmusic.com Click on this link to purchase Christa’s new album on Amazon

He knows....

by Marie Wikle

Ps. 139:1 Oh, Lord, thou hast searched me and known me….

I’m often amazed at the thought that even though the Lord knows me, that HE still chooses to love me. Me….. a little ole nobody with fearful tendencies and so far from child like faith, it’s scary.

He knows when I’m discouraged, when I feel alone, defeated and depressed.

He knows when I’m at a loss of words to pray and when I can’t even cry out to Him. He knows when confusion has darkened the path and I can’t even begin to see a flicker of light.

He knows when I can’t lift my head and even utter, help me Lord.

He knows when I want to spend a day saying thank you for my many blessings, but I end up crying through the tears, thank you for being there Lord.

He knows when my heart is screaming I need wisdom, direction and peace and I wonder when it will come.

He knows when I can’t take “it” anymore and He waits for me to leave it at HIS feet.

He knows….

So, I wonder, why do I not leave “it” there? Why do I carry these burdens, doubts and fears?

Why, when I know that HE will carry the burdens and ME too!

When I can’t do this, when I can’t take another step, when I can’t stop the tears or see the light – HE KNOWS and he chooses to love me anyway, wait for me anyway and pour mercy and grace out on me, so that the JOY of the LORD can be my strength. Neh. 8:10 He has created me to be exactly who I am. He has worked all things together for good for me in the past and will continue to do so.

I will continue to be in awe that even though he KNOWS me, He LOVES me.

How about you?

Visit Marie online at www.spreading-joy.org or

HE knows you and chooses to love you!

www.facebook.com/spreadingJOYcorp to see the wonderful work she is involved in!

That is awesome! Don’t you think?

D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Missionary Dating?

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers…”

2 Corinthians 6:14

by Cory Vail

When I first heard someone teach on this verse I thought, what do eggs (yolked?) have to do with dating?

So I asked, and whoever was giving the devotion at the time kindly explained to me, that a yoke was a device used to hold two animals together for the purpose of plowing fields.

I thought, Ok, that makes sense, but couldn’t they have called it something else?

So why is it so important that Christians are not to closely joined together in partnership with those who do not believe, specifically a dating relationship?

An illustration I have shared and found helpful in explaining this is to imagine you were standing on a chair and your friend was standing on the floor, and you were told that both of you had to pull on each other to either get your friend up or to get you down, so you do, and you quickly realize that it is a lot easier for your friend to pull you down off of the chair, then it is for you to pull them up.

That is what it is like for us to be in close intimate relationships with unbelievers. They end up pulling us down, because they add temptation into our lives that our flesh or the desire for sin within us just loves.

God often commanded Israel to not inter-marry with other nations because they would bring in their idols and false religion and lead the hearts of the people away from God. This is what happens to us when we subject ourselves to the influence and persuasion of a non Christian within a dating relationship.

Some of you would say, “Yeah, but I will date them

and then they will come to love the Lord.” Well, let’s go back to the illustration the Apostle Paul uses in 1 Corinthians of being “unequally yoked” together. If one ox tries to pull the other ox in the opposite direction the pair ends up getting off track or being unproductive because they are pulling against one another.

Do you really want to be in a relationship where the person you are with does not share your interest or passion for knowing and loving God? And not only are they not interested, they will intentionally or unintentionally try to pull your affection away from Christ to serve false Gods — mainly themselves.

Do you really think God will bless sin? “Well I know what your word says God, about not dating nonbelievers, but I really like this guy/girl so I am going to do it anyway.” This just shows that you love this person more than you love God. Instead, tell the person that you cannot be with them unless they are a Christian, then start praying for them. If it is God’s will they will get saved but make sure you wait until they bear fruit before you jump into a relationship with them, because they might be just saying what you want to hear.

So don’t rush into any relationship and keep yourself from the temptation of dating a nonbeliever. The purpose of dating is to find a spouse, someone you will be joined with for the rest of your life. Ask yourself, do I want to spend my life with someone who opposes the most important aspect of my life? Or do I want to spend my life with someone who will encourage me to grow and develop my faith and Christ-likeness. © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

“Pure Elegance” Paintings by Holly Myers

© D&S MacBurnie, 2011

NEW ARRIVAL! Sherwin and Deanne MacBurnie are pleased to introduce their 5th grandchild, Dexter James Born May 9, 2011 – 8lbs 9oz

Jude holding his new baby brother!

Congratulations to Brad & Christine!

© D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Simply because He exists!

by Keturah MacBurnie

We pray to God, when we are hurt.

We pray to God,

when we need help.

We worship God,

when He answers our prayers.

We worship God,

when He helps us succeed.

Do we ever pray to Him, just to say hello?

Just to say I love You, for being who You are?

Do we ever worship Him,

because He is who He is?

Do we ever praise Him,

simply because He exists?

Sometimes, we take Him for granted!

Sometimes, we get lost in this world!

Sometimes, we just forget, He wants to be our Friend!

We need to study and remember His word!

We need to meditate on it day and night!

We need to give Him our time,

and praise Him simply because He exists!

Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

For with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37)

Proof of Payment -- a Testimony

By Paul P.K. Cheng

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.(Psalm 18:2)

At 3:00pm each day, I have been leaving work to pick up my kids from extended care at a church school; the bus stop happens to be conveniently located right in front of the office building.

It was March 24, 2010, a day like any other. I got on the bus, paid my fare, and the bus driver handed me a transfer. The transfers allow people to board another bus without payment during the specified time frame. As I don’t need to transfer, the transfer was normally of no use to me, so I quickly put the slip away in one of my pockets and forgot about it. I was unaware of just how important my transfer was to me on this particular day.

I made my way to the middle of the bus and found a window seat. As the bus continued on, I soon dozed off. Somewhere during the ride, I was awakened by some commotion in the bus.

Apparently there were two female Fare Inspectors who boarded the bus at a bus stop, calling for everyone to show them fast passes and transfers. The two Fare Inspectors had a citation booklet in their hands. There was also a male police officer who had boarded the bus, standing next to the bus driver.

This was the first I had seen random inspections, and it caught everyone by surprise. Everyone scrambled to search for fast passes and transfers in their pockets and purses. Those who happened to have transfers and fast passes in hand quickly held them up for the Fare Inspectors to see. There was a lady who had an expired fast pass and she was told to get off the bus. There was a man sitting in front of me who must have sneaked up from the backdoor of the bus earlier and didn’t have a fast pass or transfer and he was also told to get off the bus. There was a police officer standing at each exit to help escort people off the bus as these people were about to face a large fine for not having proof of payment.

I was also looking for my transfer and to my relief, I found it in my pocket but unfortunately it was two days old. Then I searched my other pockets and found a transfer from yesterday. Ironically these were the only two expired transfers that were in my pockets except the one from today. I remembered that I had received a transfer from the bus driver when I got on the bus. So Continued on next page . . . © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Proof of Payment -- a Testimony cont....

where did it go? Could I have dropped it somewhere?

One of the Fare Inspector came to where I was sitting asking for transfers. The guy sitting next to me showed his transfer to the Fare Inspector. The Fare Inspector was now waiting for me to show her my transfer. But I had to ask, just to confirm. “What’s today’s date?”

The Fare Inspector said, “Today is the 24th.”

Seeing that I was holding a prior day’s transfer, the Fare Inspector wanted me off the bus. “You have to get off the bus, sir,” said the Fare Inspector. “The bus will not leave until you get off the bus.”

I was immediately escorted off the bus by the Fare Inspector. When I was off the bus, I saw that tickets were being issued to the two passengers who were told to get off the bus earlier.

While standing there, I was still searching in my pockets in hopes to find my transfer from today. I told the Fare Inspector the truth, “I did pay my fare but I can’t seem to find my transfer now.” Of course, there was absolutely no proof whatsoever that I didn’t in fact sneak up from the back of the bus just like the guy sitting right in front of me. Why would the Fare Inspector believe my excuse? Anyone is capable of making up stories or act dumb. The Fare Inspector must have seen it and heard it all before. I felt the weight of the law upon me as I was about to face a large fine. Then I remembered once hearing my daughter reciting this Bible verse for school: (Psalm 50:15) “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

So in silence, I called upon God. “It doesn’t matter what the Fare Inspector believes,” I told God, “You are my Witness and that’s all that’s important. You know I have done nothing wrong.”

Right away, a small inner voice assured me that everything is going to be alright and there was a sense of comfort and peace within me despite how upsetting things were around me.

For once, even the wind was calm, the sun seemed brighter, and what happens next seemed so surreal.

The Fare Inspector who had a stern look before now had a faint smile looking in the direction of the bus. The police officer I saw earlier standing next to the bus driver was now stepping off the bus. The door was about to be closed and the bus would soon be on its way.

But this officer had this one transfer in his right hand. He walked up to me and gave me the transfer. “Here you go,” said the officer and he walked away. I didn’t understand why I was given a transfer.

I looked at the Fare Inspector to see when she was going to write me up a ticket. But the Fare Inspector with a smile told me, “Go on… get on the bus now before it leaves.”

In disbelief, I hesitated and thought to myself, “You mean you’re not going to write me up a ticket? Am I really free to go“? I knew that I better hurry before the bus leaves. With the transfer in my hand, I quickly got back on the bus. The door closed behind me and the bus was on its way again.

Indeed, something strange happened on that day. Somehow, I first lost the transfer as my only proof of payment. I broke the law. But instead of receiving a large fine and having to wait for another bus, I received a free transfer and boarded the same bus right before it left.

Why did the officer give me a transfer? How could the Fare Inspector so easily have allowed me to freely walk away?

(Romans 8:31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Continued on next page . . . © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Proof of Payment -- a Testimony cont . . .

It was days later before it dawned on me. The event of that day was a reminder that Jesus is the proof of payment for our sins. The small inner voice I heard had to have been the Holy Spirit who assured me that everything was going to be alright. It must have been how I was able to freely walk away from judgement on that day; as a reminder that knowing Jesus as my Savior, my sins have already been paid for on the cross. If anything, this had to be the central message that day on March 24.

May the wonderful name of Jesus our Lord be praised and glorified.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

The Proof of Payment is based on a real story.

If you would like to read more of Paul's work, please visit him online at http://certaintyofgodslove.blogspot.com Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Your Talent Counts

This Tent of Ours

Life's Journey of Choices

http://www.certaintyofdrawings.blogspot.com/

Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Sanctuary for my Mind

by Holly Myers

This past winter has allowed for some cozy, couch reading with the kids. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was chosen, and I was intrigued, since I had never read the "real" story before. It was a little dreary and a bit gory, but the childrens' version made it acceptable. My little princess walked around with the book for two days, seizing every opportunity to hold it out to me for more. Any spare moment she caught me having, we were in Paris, hugging Gargoyles and dodging a public hanging.

I found the story very interesting, not just because of the typical "love people even if they aren't beautiful" theme, but with the idea of obsession.

It seemed that every major character in the book was obsessed with someone. Dom Claude with Esmerelda . . . Esmerelda with Phoebus . . . Phoebus with himself . . . the old recluse woman with her lost daughter. Every obsessed person ended up either crazy or dead, or both. Quasimodo was the only one who loved sacrificially, but ended up dying of a broken heart anyway.

What a depressing ending!! I thought the kids would hate the ending, but they actually liked it. They liked a tragedy. I put my feelings aside and appreciated the lesson.

They want to watch the movie now. Not the Disney version, but a "real people" version. We'll see. It depends on how disgusting Quasimodo's weeping eye is.

I have a mind that can obsess. A mind that sometimes fixates on one thing or person and won't seem to let go of the thought, speeding it forward, growing it into something very intense and controlling, but not real...nor healthy. As a kid, I just went with it, not realizing how it would effect my thinking later. As I grew up, the thinking pattern often interfered with healthy relationships and peaceful daily functioning.

It wasn't until I discovered the importance of 2 Corinthians 10:5 that I got control of my thoughts before they got control of me.

"We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Unlike the characters of Victor Hugo's book, I was able to "get real" and live life free from the cell my imagination tried to lock me in.

Accepting reality (and loving it) rather than insisting on fantasy is very freeing.

Movies, department stores and high technology continue to lure people into the prison of obsession, but trying to have the mind of Christ, taking thoughts captive and refusing to let them dictate how you feel and what you pursue allows you to live in wide open spaces. He makes me lie down in green pastures and restores my soul. All of God's ways are freeing, once they are embraced.

Letting go is the hard part.

Once in awhile I randomly ask my husband what he is thinking. Expecting some dreamy thought, he is usually doing some mathematical calculation, figuring out how Barry Sanders makes those amazing touch downs or nothing. I don't know how thinking about nothing is possible, but wow...that would be nice sometimes. That is another reason why I love him so much. He helps ground me. When my thoughts are getting away with me and I'm too weak to grab a hold of them, I grab a hold of him.

His mental stability is extremely attractive and peaceful. A benefit I embrace of the two becoming one in marriage.

Don't tell him this, but he is like my Quasimodo, carrying my mind to sanctuary. Only WAY better looking :) Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Celebrating Death

by Mike Messerli

http://mikemesserli.blogspot.com I watched the news with a sense of disbelief. As the news reporter talked about the death of a Muslim radical leader the footage of cheering crowds in front of the white house told the story of how many felt. It made me think of a story I thought unlikely to be possible until last night.

Here's a portion of the story from Revelation 11:7-10 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

Until last night I couldn't imagine how people could celebrate death as the author John describes, but now I understand.

Honestly, I do understand the relief felt when an enemy who killed so many is finally defeated, but celebration? I may be an isolated voice here, but I'm not celebrating the death of any man who doesn't know Christ. His death is an eternal loss for him and for us. I grieve for those who lost family members, for those who live in fear, but to celebrate death? May I pass on this and simply say that a sad, angry lost man has begun a horrible eternity and that gives me nothing to celebrate.

Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Help for when your ship's (life's) falling apart!

By Mike Campagna

Why I Love God?

by Caleb MacBurnie

"They used supporting cables in undergirding the ship." Acts 27:17a It happens to all of us. We experience situations in life that try our souls/squeeze us to the very depth of our beings. It could be a job loss or an illness or the sudden death of a loved one or friend - you name it - and one day we're just sailing through life with calm seas below and blue skies above, while the next day the winds are blowing, the waves are crashing and we're taking on water/sinking.

So what do you do? The same thing the crew did in the Bible verse above.

Their ship was in the middle of a hurricane. (Acts 27:14) And so they took cables and wrapped them around the ship to hold it together.

The New Living Translation puts it: "The sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it."

The Amplified Version has: "They used supports with ropes to undergird and brace."

The King James is actually best: "They used helps, undergirding the ship."

That word "helps" is an interesting word. In the Greek it's boetheia defined as "aid; specifically a rope or a chain frapping a vessel" which we find it's literal use in Acts 27:17. But there's a spiritual use/application as well. For that same word "helps" (boetheia) is used in another place. (Which it just excites me when I think about it.) In Hebrews 4:16 it reads: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help (boetheia) in time of need." (KJV) And so there it is again. And this time in the context of prayer. Did you miss it? (Read the verse again.) It's our answer!

And when our own ship's (life's!) in the middle of a hurricane and about to fall apart, we can call out to God and He'll wrap "help/helps" (Himself!) around us and we'll hold together. We will!

And ultimately we'll be brought to a safe shore. (Acts 27:44) It always works that way with Jesus! Always!

Catch more of Mike over at http://www.aheartforgod.net Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

HE IS: W - onderful H - eavenly Y - ahweh I - mmortal L - oving O - mega V - ictory E - verlasting G - iving O - mniscience D - elightful And that's why I love God! Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Reminding you: "There's no joy like Spreading Joy" and helping you to make a difference by doing what you can, where you are - with what you have! http://www.spreading-joy.org facebook.com/spreadingJOYcorp

Caleb MacBurnie Age 13

New Brunswick, Canada

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Who is Jesus?

By Brad Silliker

This week as I was preparing for our weekly youth group meeting called “the Edge”, I really wanted to take the message of the night back to the grass roots of our faith … and so the message this week was called “Who is Jesus?”

Before I asked the kids that question, I really spent some time reflecting in my own life, for who Jesus has been to me and continues to be for me.

Now I believe that there are some absolutes to who Jesus is, for instance, He is God who came down to earth to die for the sins of the world and specifically for my own, but for me Jesus has also been a great encourager and friend and has been beside me through some very dark times and if it wasn’t for Jesus I wouldn’t be where I am today and wouldn’t have the greatest purpose in life.

I decided to check out a few videos on the internet to see what other people think about Jesus, and it was interesting to hear some of the responses. Things like “I think Jesus is the air, fire, earth, and water”, also when one woman was asked “Who is Jesus?” her response was “you mean who WAS Jesus?

Because he was just a man and is dead.” Now I personally have a hard time with that statement because the Jesus that changed my life and my families, is very much alive and well. Others said that He never existed at all and some said that He was just a man, not God in the flesh.

So the time came to go and talk with the kids and we watched the videos and also watched one titled, “Jesus Loves Me” where the actor shares about the simplicity of the message that God loves us and how scripture backs that up. After watching the videos we went around that room and gave kids an opportunity to share who and what they think Jesus is. It was a great time hearing kids that have put their trust in Jesus and what He has saved them

from, but It was also very interesting to hear from kids that really had no idea who Jesus is and that He wants a relationship with them.

So we took the rest of the time talking about who He is, things like Saviour, that He went through every struggle we have ever gone through and will go through … also that He is healer, that He is God in flesh, that He died for our sins, and because of Him we can have a relationship again with God. The main point that we really focused on is that Jesus Loves YOU! We talked about that fact that Jesus came to this earth because He loves us so much, that he would take on all the garbage that we have and get rid of it forever.

After a great time of sharing again we let the kids go and play a game, but one girl stayed behind to talk. She has a sickness that she has had for as long as she can remember and has a whole church of people praying for healing, but she has never been healed … so the questions she asks are hard, how can God really love me if He won’t heal me … and this is a preteen having to deal with this stuff daily.

We spent a long time just talking about that and I really tried to encourage her to continue to pray even though she isn’t getting the answers she wants, that God really does love her and that He cares about how she is feeling. When we finished talking and praying she said that she really knows that God loves her and that she will continue to ask for healing and even though she still hasn’t been healed, she loves God very much.

I was very encouraged by this teen and I hope that all of our teens will put their trust in him, that same way this girl has.

Please pray for this girl… I believe that God can heal her and we need everyone praying together. © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Going Home!

by Mona Vail

In this hospital, for 12 days I've lived here, With the care that I got, I have no fear; The nurses and workers always on call, What more could I ask, They give their all!

I've been waiting to go to MRI So they can find out the reason why my left leg hurts which makes me cry!

Many tears are shed in here, oh my!

My Father takes my pain away, The pills I get, He uses each day; But they may let me go home to wait, Then call me up, then help me feel great!?

I'm getting old, as we all do, I'm not afraid of that, are you??

Everyone is born, they live, then die; What we do when we live?

There's a reason why!

Continued on next page . . . Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Going Home continued . . .

My physical body won't last forever, Do I want any changes?

Never, no, never!!

For when I get to Heaven, I'll have a new one!!

I'll be Home with my Saviour, God's only Son!!

My Doc. was just in to check up on me, He's back from his holidays, Looks great, you see!

He's making plans for a 'walker' and a high bathroom seat, and other things too.

Won't that be neat?

Just as long as I feel good, I'll be down here, My Father's not finished with me yet, so there!

But I'll keep in service for Him, as He lets me stay; Then Home I will go!

Won't that be a Day??

Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

Grace Valley Church

WaterSki Camp 2011 July 24 – 30 July 31 - Aug 6

Living Water for Students entering Grades 7-12 We have full facilities with dining area and cabins for each age group.

We provide awesome meals! (you may get some junk food) We provide all the ski equipment and personal floatation devices required for the water.

If you have a favourite wakeboard or pair of water skis – bring them along!

Great Friends!

JOIN IN THE FUN! Enjoy an action filled week on the beautiful Salmon River, just outside Chipman, N.B., Canada Receive ski instruction for all ski levels, from beginner to advanced.

Make new friends while swimming, canoeing, boating -or just relaxing around the campfire.

If you like to eat.......

You will not be disappointed!!

Ski Camp offers hearty meals for all campers.

As well as enjoying all of these camp activities, there will be an opportunity for you to grow spiritually or be introduced to the Christian faith.

Why not be part of something this summer that will make a difference for the rest of your life.

Games, fun, sun, water, new friends, sports activities, superb meals, quiet time and the life changing truth of God's Word!

For more information or to register, contact: CAMP DIRECTOR Jim Brewster jbbrewster@rogers.com 506-849-1492 -- or -ASSISTANT CAMP DIRECTOR Chris Arbour arbour@nbnet.nb.ca 506-849-3790

“ The One Room School House” An Interview with Rita Hachey

by Keturah MacBurnie

This interview was conducted when I was in fourth grade.

1.

When you were growing up, where did you live?

I lived in Chamcook, NB, Canada. A small community outside of St. Stephen, NB.

2.

Did you go to a one room school house?

Yes, we called it “The Little Red School House”

3.

What year was that?

It was in 1952.

4.

Did you walk to school?

No, I got there by train. We actually called it the caboose.

5.

How long did it take you to get to school?

About 1/2 an hour. So I had to leave home early.

6.

What time did you have to be at school?

We had to be there for 8:00am.

7.

Did you have recess?

No, our recess would have been noon, when we ate our lunch.

8.

How many teachers were there?

Only one. Her name was Mrs. Brown. She was very nice.

9.

Did you like school?

Yes I did. We learnt quite a bit.

Continued on next page . . . © D&S MacBurnie, 2011

The One Room School House continued . . .

10. Did you have to stay after school to do chores?

No, we did chores in the morning. I had to carry wood in, bring in water from the water barrel and clean off the chalk board. We

didn't have erasers like you do, we used a cloth.

11. How was the school heated?

I was heated by wood. We had a little potbelly stove.

12. Did you have washrooms?

Yes, but not like your washrooms. We had to go outside to the outhouse.

13. How many grades were in the school?

Six. There were only a few children in each grade.

Some grades may only have had one child.

14. What grade were you in?

I started there in grade 1 and I was there for four years.

15. What did you write with and what did you use for paper?

We used pencils and campfire notebooks. I remember when we started using ink. It was in the little ink wells and another kid stuck my hair in it, resulting in my first haircut!

16. How were the kids disciplined?

They were disciplined with the strap.

17. Did you ever get the strap?

Yes. I was caught fighting in grade 1.

18. When did you get home from school?

By the time the caboose came, it was late afternoon.

Š D&S MacBurnie, 2011

The ABC'S of Salvation The dictionary defines salvation as: 1. deliverance 2. pardon 3. snatching from the jaws God's gift to us is everlasting life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ All we have to do is have faith and follow these 3 easy steps Admit - Believe - Confess Ephesians 2:8, 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast.

1. Admit That You Are A Sinner.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Results Of Sin And Gods Gift to Us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What Did Jesus Do For Us? Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Believe In The Lord Jesus.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,

for God's wrath remains on him.

Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

3. Confess The Lord Jesus.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Next Say This Prayer Believing With All Your Heart “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

Lord the sinful life that I lived separated me from you.

Lord forgive me of my sins.

I believe that you died on the cross and rose on the third day to pay for my sins.

From this day forward I will put all my trust in you, Lord show me how to live a life for you.

In Jesus name, Amen”

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J u s t G i g g l e i t!

*** There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country.

"Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk.

"Only the Ten Commandments." answered the lady.

*** While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage.

The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign...

"Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass.

Caution: Do not step in exhaust."

***