“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not ...

Grand Junction Church of Christ July 2012 Ladies’ Pages
Compiled by Lila Briggs
“WHY AM I HERE?”
Excerpt from Rick Warren’s book entitled Meditations for the Purpose Driven Life
(A very small book, worth reading!!!)
“This is what the Lord says—I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1
Why do I exist?
Why am I here?
What is my purpose?
These are the most fundamental
questions you can ask in life. Have you
ever asked these questions, wondering
where to turn for the answer?
The truth is that you were made
by God and for God. Until you
understand this, life will never make
sense. God has never created anything
without a purpose. Colossians 1:16
says; For everything, absolutely
everything, above and below, visible and
invisible…everything got started in God
and finds its purpose in Him.” The
Message
The very fact that you’re alive
means God has a purpose for your life!
“The Lord takes pleasure in His people.”
- Psalm 149:4 NASB
And you weren’t created for just one
purpose. You were created for five
special reasons that are explained in
God’s Word, the Bible.
You were planned for God’s
pleasure!! You,… God…created
everything and it is for Your
(God’s) pleasure that they exist and were
created. Rev. 4:13 NLT
The Bible says that God is
love. It doesn’t say God has love. It
says God is love. Love is the essence
of His character. God created you as an
object of His love. You were made to
be loved by God—that’s your number
one purpose. God didn’t need to love
you. He wasn’t lonely. He didn’t need
servants. He wasn’t bored. God created
humans because He wanted to love
us. We were planned for His pleasure.
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I
would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no
difference. He is praying for Me.”
- Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Consider These Thoughts BY Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“Make no reserve, exercise no choice but obey His (Christ’s) command. When
you know what He commands, do not hesitate, question, or try to avoid it, but ‘do it’,
do it at once, do it heartily, do it cheerfully, do it to the full. It is but a little thing that,
as our Lord has bought us with the price of His own blood, we should be His
servants. The apostles frequently call themselves the bond-slaves of Christ. Where our
‘Authorized Version’ softly puts it “servant” it really is “bond-slave.” The early saints
delighted to count themselves Christ’s absolute property, bought by Him, owned by
Him and wholly at His disposal. Paul even went so far as to rejoice that he had the
marks of his Master’s brand on him, and he cries, “let no man trouble me; for I bear in
my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
There was the end of all debates, he was the Lord’s, and the marks of the
scourges, the rods, and the stones were the broad arrow of the King which marked
Paul’s body as the property of Jesus the Lord. Now if the saints of old time gloried in
obeying Christ, I pray that you and I, forgetting the sect to which we may belong, or
even the nation of which we form a part, may feel that our first object in life is to obey
our Lord and not to follow a human leader, or to promote a religious or political
party. This one thing we mean to do, and so follow the advice of Solomon as he says,
“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” Beloved,
let us endeavor to be obedient in the minute as well as in the greater matters, for it is
in details that true obedience is best seen.
We are to wait upon our Master humbly, reverently, feeling it an honor to do
anything for Him. We are to be self surrendered, given up henceforth to the Lord, free
men, and yet most truly serfs of this Great Emperor. We are never so free as when we
own our sacred serfdom….Often Paul calls himself the servant of the Lord, and even
the slave of Christ, and he glories in the branding iron’s marks upon his flesh. “I bear,”
says he, “in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus; henceforth let no man trouble
me.” We count it liberty to bear the bonds of Christ. We reckon this to be supremest
freedom for we sing with the psalmist, “ I am thy servant; I am they servant, Thou has
loosed my bonds” “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even with cords to the horns of the
altar.” Such is the conduct which our servitude to our Lord requires.
Every true Christian pronounces this phrase, “Jesus our Lord,” with the emphasis
of unreservedness. We desire that Christ Jesus should be our Lord in everything and
Lord over every part of our being…He who truly loves Jesus, and who knows that he is
one of those who are redeemed by Him, says with all his heart that Jesus is Lord, his
absolute Sovereign, his Despot, if that word be used in the sense of Christ having
unlimited monarchy and supreme sway over the soul. Yea, O “Jesus our Lord,” thou
shalt be the autocratic, imperial Master of our heart, and of the whole dominion of our
manhood.

“Faith is to the soul what life is to the body. Prayer is to faith what breath is to
the body. How a person can live and not breather is past my comprehension, and
how a person can believe and not pray is past my comprehension too.”
- J.C. Ryle
This Month’s Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things
Oven Mitts
Use as beverage cozy or egg warmer…Keep that mug of java or tea from getting cold
when you’re called away by placing an oven mitt over it. The glove’s insulation will
keep it warm until you get back. You can also use an oven mitt to keep boiled eggs
warm for up to half an hour. Conversely, an oven mitt will help keep a cold drink
colder longer.
Use for dusting and polishing. ….although oven mitts are typically confined to kitchen
duty, they are actually great for dusting an polishing around your house. Use one side
of the mitt to apply wax or polish to your furniture and the other side to buff it up. It’s
a great way to use old mitts or all those extra ones you’ve collected.
When pruning thorny plants….although oven mitts may be a bit too awkward to use for
weeding or planting seedlings in your garden, they can come in handy when it comes
time to prune trees, hedges and bushes—particularly those thorny ones such as holly,
firethorn and rosebushes.
Remove hot engine parts….Keeping an oven mitt in your car’s glove compartment or
trunk can make life a lot easier when you need to handle hot radiator caps and the like
during an on the road emergency.
Change a hot light bulb….Did the light bulb on your reading lamp just blow out? Don’t
scorch your fingers when replacing it. Once you’ve removed the lampshade put on an
oven mitt, remove the dead bulb form the socket and toss it in the garbage. That way,
you won’t still be blowing on your finger tips when screwing in the new bulb!!
“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”
- William Cowper

FOOD (ideas from “Martha Stewart Living” & “Whole Living” magazines)
STRAWBERRIES
Strawberries are one of the season’s most delicious fruit, and they pack more
vitamin C than any other berry. Make the most of these nutritional jewels by swapping
them in for jam on a sandwich to dispense with the added sugar and calories. Slice
some onto whole wheat toast spread with peanut butter or almond butter, or serve
them over whole grain pancakes, for satisfying sweetness.
Turkey-Strawberry-Spinach Salad
1 lb. asparagus spears
½ cup bottled poppy seed salad dressing or
Italian salad dressing
1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
1 tablespoon orange juice
8 cups fresh baby spinach, torn fresh
spinach or assosrted greens
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries and/or
whole blueberries
¾ to 1 pound cooked turkey or chicken, cut
into ½ inch cubes
¼ cup pecan halves, toasted
CARROTS
Snap off and discard woody bases
from asparagus. (If desired, scrape off
scales.) Cut into 1 inch pieces. Cook
asparagus, covered, in a small amount of
boiling lightly salted water for 3 to 5
minutes or until crisp tender. Drain
asparagus. Rinse with cold water. Let stand
in cold water until cool; drain.
Meanwhile, for dressing, in a small
bowl stir together poppy seed dressing,
orange peel, and orange juice, set aside.
In a salad bowl combine asparagus,
spinach, berries, and turkey. Place on salad
plates. Top with toasted pecans .Drizzle
with dressing.
Makes 4 to 6 main dish servings.
Carrots contain more carotenoids, the cancer fighting antioxidants that give them
their orange pigment, than any other vegetable. The body converts them into vitamin
A, essential for healthy skin and eyes and a strong immune system. Plus, one cup of
carrots packs in more fiber than a slice of whole grain bread.

Cinnamon Carrot Muffins
¾ cup al purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoon wheat germ
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
¾ cup light brown sugar
2 cups finely grated carrots (4-5 carrots)
Corn Bake
1 small onion
½ green pepper
½ cup margarine
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can cream style corn
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
2 beaten eggs
1-2 cups shredded Cheddar
(or your favorite) cheese
1 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 350°. Line a standard
muffin tin with paper cups. Whisk flours,
wheat germ, cinnamon, baking powder,
baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Whisk
remaining ingredients in a separate
bowl. Fold dry ingredients into wet and mix
until just combined. Spoon batter into
cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the
center of a muffin comes out clean, about
22 minutes. Cool in pan for 15 minutes,
then transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly
before serving.
Yield 12 muffins
Saute onion and green pepper in
margarine. Add vegetables to the 2 cans of
corn, eggs and cornbread mix.
Stir and pour into a greased 9 x 13
inch pan. Spread on 1 cup sour
cream. Sprinkle with 1 to 2 cups shredded
cheese. Bake at 350 deg for 45 minutes. (or
until lightly browned and toothpick or knife
inserted comes out clean)
Note: can be prepared ahead and
baked later.
“He who has not forgiven an enemy has not yet tasted
one of the most sublime enjoyments of life.”
- Johanna K Lavater

Miscellaneous Tips (from “Healthy Living” magazine)
+ We all know joy feels good in the present, but it also has long term benefits. “Positive
emotions may extend the years of quality living, says Anthony Ong, assistant professor of
human development at Cornell University. Why? Happier people are more likely to
exercise, eat well, and not smoke. And upbeat folks produce fewer of the harmful hormones
related to stress.
+ Take steps to protect your skin while gardening etc since ultraviolet rays increase in the
spring, sasys Macrene alexiades, assistant clinical professor of dermatology of Yale
University School of Medicine. Gloves will protect your hands and a wide brimmed hat will
help shield your face and neck.
+ To make your brightly hued nail polish last longer, before painting, swipe nails (even if
they are bare) with polish remover to get rid of any moisture or your skin’s natural oils,
which can prevent polish from sticking, says nail artist Julie Kandalec. Always use a base
coat and a top coat, but skip fat drying varieties-although convenient, they can cause polish to
chip faster.
+ Get set for sleeveless season with this quick triceps toner from Mary Tedesco, Martha
Stewart’s personal trainer. Stand with feet hip width apart and knees slightly bent. Hold a
12 to 15 pound dumbbell in front of you with both hands and straighten arms
overhead. Bend elbows, and slowly lower the weight behind your head. Return to start. Do
20 reps.
+ Keep your teeth in top shape; Lilmit your intake of acidic drinks, such as orange juice,
soda and bottled iced tea, which can attack enamel, softening it and making it more open to
the bacteria that causes cavities, “ says Jennifer Jablow, a New York city dentist. When you
do have these sips, rinse your mouth with water afterward to help wash away damaging
acidic residue.
+ Meditation may actually make you smarter. Researchers at Mass. General Hospital took
MRIs of people before and after an eight week mindfulness meditation program and found
that meditating for an average of 27 minutes per day increased gray matter density in the
hippocampus region of the brain, which is involved in learning and memory processes.

“We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity,
for in prosperity we forget God.”
- Dwight Moody
Health Issues
“We do not cease to be children because
we are disobedient children.”
- Frederick Denison Maurice
(Some tips from “Health” Magazine)
When infants are first introduced to solid foods, they often develp a golden
skin tone because of all the pureed carrots and squash they are getting.” Says
NoelleSherber, M.D., a Baltimore based dermatologist. “later in life, the variety in
your diet dilutes that effect.” A recent study from the United Kingdom found that
eating plenty of fruits and vegetables each day imbues skin with a glow that’s more
attractive to others than a tan. That’s thanks to carotenoids, a class of
antioxidants that gives foods such as sweet potatoes and tomatoes their colorful
hue.
“The ski-gut connection is strong.” Says David Colbert, a New York city based
dermatologist. “If your digestion stagnates, your complexion suffers—it’s nature’s
warning sign.” Limit simple carbs(white breads and processed foods) in favor of
complex ones (whole grains and produce). Rich in fiber, they help buffer sugar
absorption and fend off ruddiness. Likewise, while fats are necessary to keep your
skin hydrated, avoid the saturated kinds and opt for omega 3s. (salmon and fish
oil), monounsaturated (olive oil), and polyunsaturated (nuts) all of which aid
digestion. While probiotics in yogurt may improve skin tone, choose dairy that’s
free of hormones, which are associated with acne and dull skin.
Unless you regularly eat omega 3 rich foods such as salmon or walnuts, fish
oil supplements may be your best bet for decreasing inflammation in the body and
reviving dry skin. Also consider taking glucosamine, a natural compound found in
cartilage. It’s ,most commonly used for osteoarthritis, but dermatologists are
reporting benefits such as fewer wrinkles and improved hydration. And get your

vitamin levels checked at your annual physical: Dietary deficiencies can show up
as skin problems. A multi can fill any gaps.
Oxygen is critical for production of collagen and elastin (two key proteins in
youthful complexions) and helps distribute essential nutrients to the skin. Too bad
we often deprive ourselves of that natural beauty booster. “When we are under
stress, we tense up and hold our breath,” says Margaret Chesney, PH.D., as
professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Less than
optimal O2 intake means dull skin and a host of other potential health
issues. But simple breathing exercises can bring oxygen levels back to their
natural state. No need to pace yourself at a certain number of breaths per
minute. Instead, focus on a relaxing scene during tense moments, Chesney
says. This will help you tune in to your body’s bio rhythm.
During sleep, stress hormones go down, oxygen intake goes up, and the body
heals itself.” Chesney says. But it’s crucial that your shut eye be
uninterrupted. As you rest, your body continuously cycles through five stages. It’s
during phase three and four that growth hormones are released and tissue repair
begins. Try to maintain a consistent bedtime and stay away from stimulating
activities. (including TV and your cell phone) For optimal melatonin production,
darken the room or wear an eye mask.
Some Food Block The Effects Of Meds
Be Aware: some foods and beverages can block your meds.
by Camille Noe Pagan in “Arthritis Today”
If you’re like most people, you down your pills with juice or food, thinking you’re
doing your stomach a favor by not taking the medications alone. As it turns out, you may
be doing more harm than good to food drug interactions.
Recent research shows that foods and beverages can have a dramatic effect on
how the body absorbs certain medications.
“Twenty years ago, a team of researchers and I realized that grapefruit juice could
cause many medications to be as much as 10 times more powerful than they’re meant
to be,” says David G. Bailey, PH.D., clinical professor of pharmacology at the University of
Western Ontario in Canada.

Thanks to their research, more than 50 medications now carry cautions about
grapefruit juice on their labels.
Now Bailey has discovered that grapefruit, apple and orange juices can actually
have the opposite effect on some other drugs. “They block the pills’ absorption, so you
get less or even no benefit from taking them.” says Bailey. “This might cause someone
to think that they need to switch to a ‘better’ medication—when in fact changing what
they eat, or when, would make the drug effective.”
How long should you wait? In most cases, you can consume a potentially pill
blocking food or beverage about three to four hours after you’ve taken your meds, but
it’s best to ask your pharmacist, who can tell you for sure. Plus, he/she can check to see
if other medications or supplements you take might further affect how your body
absorbs your medicines.
Four Common Pill Blockers to Watch Out For:
Food: Milk and yogurt
Blocks: Iron supplements; many antibiotics, including fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin
and ‘cycline’ antibiotics like tetratcycline: thyroid hormone; and penicillamine (Cuprimine,
Depen), a disease modifying antirheumatic drug.
Food: Apple, orange and grapefruit juice
Blocks: Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, including methotrexate (Theumatrex,
trexall): cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), a drug used for severe psoriasis and
rheumatoid arthritis: beta blockers like acebutol (Sectral): cancer drugs like etoposide
(Etopophos, Vepesid): alendronate (Fosamax), an osteoporosis drug, the allergy medicine
fexofenadine (Allegra); some antibiotics including ciprofloxine (Cipro) and levfloxacin
(Levaquin)
Food: coffee
Blocks: alendronate; the antibiotic penicillin
Food: foods rich in vitamin K, including leafy green vegetables and liver.
Blocks: blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin)

“Who is there that receives a gift and tries to make bargains
about it? Let us then return thanks for what He has
bestowed on us. Who can tell whether if we had had a
larger share of ability or stronger health we should not
have possessed them to our destruction??”
- Alphonsus Liguon
OUTDOORS
MOSQUITOES
It’s just instinct; see a mosquito, smack a mosquito (or try to).
(taken from “Gardening” magazine)
But like all living things, ,mosquitoes play an important role in the ecosystem, so
it’s not a good idea to try to kill every last one. However, since their bite can cause
an itchy welt at best and spread disease at worst, here are some simple steps you
can take to discourage them in your garden.
Understand how they breed and feed. Like butterflies, mosquitoes have a four part
life cycle, egg, larva, pupa and adult. Females lay eggs on the surface of
water. The aquatic larvae are not strong swimmers, so the female seeks water
with little or no movement. The larvae feed on bacteria and algae and go through
several molts, eventually pupating and emerging as winged adults.
Adult mosquitoes are nectar feeders and pollinate plants such as orchids and
goldenrods. The females feed on blood to get iron and protein only when they’re
ready to reproduce. Mosquitoes are a food source for a myriad of wildlife species,
including dragonflies, frogs, lizards, fish, birds and bats.
Shut down the mosquito nursery. Anything that holds water—clogged rain
gutters, flowerpots, puddles on tarps, or kiddie pools—will serve as a nursery for
mosquito larvae. It takes a minimum of five days for larvae to turn into biting
adults, so empty birdbaths and other standing water twice a week. Stock garden
ponds with fish and encourage predators such as frogs and dragonflies. Goldfish
and mosquito fish are not native so never release them into natural waterways.
Pesticides can be toxic to predators that reduce mosquito populations. Never put
oil on water surfaces, as this pollutes the water and kills many forms of life.

If eliminating breeding areas and encouraging natural predators isn’t doing the
job, you can add a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis ( Bri) to
ponds. Purchase Bri in disc form at garden stores, water garden suppliers, and
home improvement centers. But be aware that though Bri won’t harm birds,
mammals, or amphibians, it can be harmful to insects that are mosquito predators.
Get the better of the biters. Females find their blood meals by following the trails
of carbon dioxide, body heat, and water vapor that vertebrates exude. They aren’t
attracted to light, so all purpose bug zappers don’t work (although they will kill
thousands of beneficial insects.)
According to the Centers for disease Control and Prevention, repellents containing
the active ingredients DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus are most
effective against mosquitoes. Natural repellents with citronella, lemon balm, and
mint are effective if reapplied often. There are no plants that repel mosquitoes on
their own.
Sometimes common sense is your best solution. Avoid going outside at dawn and
dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, and wear long sleeves to cover exposed
skin. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, so a fan is often all you need to keep them
away.
Female mosquitoes can transmit disease from one organism they bite to the
next. In North America, they can pass on several types of encephalitis, including
West Nile Virus, which affects humans and other mammals. Mosquitoes also pass
diseases (canine heartworm, for example) to domestic animals such as horses, cats
and dogs.
That said, mosquitoes are more of a nuisance than a health threat in this part of
the world. Each year, millions of people in North America are bitten y mosquitoes,
but only a few get sick. Overuse of pesticides can lead to poisoning, pollution, and
the death of beneficial wildlife.
The key to minimizing the annoyance and the risk of disease from mosquitoes is
prevention.
TOADS
(I have always liked toads from the time I was a child, and thought this a good article about
them and how beneficial they are. I try to increase the population in our yard. )
Roll out the red carpet for the humble toad, one of the most useful critters in your
garden. And no, he can’t give you warts!!

Frogs will just have to share the award. When the Association of Zoos and
aquariums declared 2008 the Year of the Frog (which they did in order to call
attention to the global decline of frogs and other amphibians) they meant toads,
too—because toads are a type of frog. And toads are actually more likely to show
up in a typical garden, because they are more adapted than other kinds of frogs to
terrestrial habitats (as opposed to aquatic ones.)
What better way to celebrate than to roll out the red carpet for toads in your
garden? They’re easy to attract and they make great garden inhabitants.
Learn to recognize toads. There are many species of toads, but they typically
belong to the family Bufonidae. Toads generally have a stocky appearance, dry
skin, and short, thick legs with little webbing between their toes. They move
around by walking and raking short, quick hops rather than massive leaps or
underwater dives. Many sport tan, gray and brown patterns that camouflage them
in dry leaves or rocky terrain. These adaptations allow them to range further from
water for longer and survive in dryer ecosystems than other frogs.
Build a toad kitchen. To provide food for toads, select native plants for your
garden. This isn’t because toads eat plants—like all amphibians, they are
carnivorous, consuming any living thing they can capture with their sticky tongues
and stuff down their throats. Some large species tackle mice, snakes and even
other frogs, but insects and other invertebrates are the most common prey. You
have the best chance of attracting a healthy insect population—and thus, happy
toads—with native plants.
Dial back your level of control. Garden designs that are not overly tidy provide
good habitat for insects and shelter for toads. If you cringe at the thought of
providing habitat for insects, remember that toads are voracious predators that
will help keep pests in check. Toads are actually a far better method of pest
control than toxic chemicals, which don’t kill just insects—they kill toads,
too. Amphibians as a group are extremely sensitive to toxins, which they readily
absorb through their skin. And speaking of toad skin and toxins, toads don’t have
warts. The bumps on their skin are called aprotid glands, and they produce toxins
that make toads taste bad to predators. You CANNOT get warts by touching a
toad.
Give tadpoles a pool. Although adult toads are terrestrial, they rely on standing
water for their eggs and tadpoles. If you don’t have a lake or pond nearby, create a
simple garden pond. Bigger is better, but even small, prefabricated plastic pools
work, provided they have gradually sloping sides or plenty of vegetation and
branches dipping into the water to allow the toads easy entry and exit. Toads will

also attach their eggs, which they lay in long strings, to this plant material. Be
careful about introducing fish, which will find toad eggs and tadpoles a tasty
treat. If you have fish, provide plenty of aquatic vegetation and underwater
branches near which tadpoles can hide.
It’s quite a sight to find dozens of toads mating in your pond in spring. The trilling
calls of the males will be your first indicator, but toads are not shy and are easy to
see floating on the surface. Even if you don’t attract a breeding population, just
knowing that you’ve created a friendly habitat for these important little creatures
will make you feel good!
A Bit Of Trivia (Things That Happened In July)
� In 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of
the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, two of the three surviving
signers die within hours of each other; John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
�
� In 1924 an Independence Day
customer rush depletes Tijuana chef Caesar
Cardini’s supply of salad ingredients, so he
whips up a new concoction tableside. The
Caesar salad is born.
� 1937 - The canned “meat” Product
Spam first hits grocery store shelves.
� 1950 - A young comedian named
Jackie Gleason replaces Jerry Lester as the
host of DuMont’s ‘Cavalcade of Stars’.
� The territory of Alaska first flies its
official flag. Designed by 13 year old
Benny Benson of Seward, it depicts the Big
Dipper and the North Star.
� 1882 - Former Texas Governor James
“Big Jim” Hogg officially becomes the
worst father in world history when he names
his newborn daughter “Ima.”
� 1935 - Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa
join the “King of Swing for the first
recording session of the Benny Goodman
Trio. The presence of Wilson, a black man,
was particularly historic, since the trio
became the first major integrated combo in
jazz history.
� 2002 - A remix of Elvis Presley’s “A
Little Less Conversation” end its chart
topping run in Britain, having broken the
long standing tie between Elvis and the
Beatles for most number ones.
� 1868 - The disastrous blood bath of
Pickett’s charge marks the end of the battle
of Gettysburg and the ‘high water mark of
the Confederacy’ It will be seen as the
turning point of the Civil War.
� 1844 - the last nesting pair of great
auks is shot by sailors on the Icelandic
island of Eldey. They also crush the pair’s
egg.

“We cannot live with bitterness because it will first manifest itself in
our spirit, then in our emotions, finally in our bodies.”
- Tom Drout
Some Colorado Characters … (You may not have heard about)
A LONG HARD DAY ON SKIS
Merrill H. Doud had the contract to carry the mail between Mineral Point and White
Cross in the 1880’s. Mineral Point was a mining town located near the top of the divide
between Silverton and Lake City, at about 12,000 feet altitude.
The skis used were somewhere between eight and ten feet in length, and each probably
weighed about eight pounds. The skier used a single pole to control the slats. Doud left Mineral
Point before 8:00 a.m. and went to White Cross, returning that afternoon after climbing at least
a thousand feet.
When he arrived back, the postman learned that a miner had just blown a portion of his
hand off picking a “missed hole.” A missed hole was one in which dynamite was lodged but had
not gone off in the planned explosion. Medical attention was needed as soon as possible, so Doud
skied down to Silverton, about 15 miles away, to get a doctor. He and the medical man returned,
skiing up about a three thousand foot rise in altitude by around six the next morning.
In all the intrepid mailman had skied for twenty two hours and logged fifty two
miles! With today’s light skis on level ground, that would still be quite a challenge for both speed
and endurance.
A WORLD FAMOUS AERIALIST
One of the world’s most renowned aerial performers made his headquarters in Denver
during the height of his career. The man just could not resist walking both tight and loose
ropes across deep canyons or making parachute jumps from balloons before the era of
aviation. He performed his stunts throughout the U.S., Java, Mexico, Borneo, and Europe.
Willie Ivy was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1866 and moved to Denver as a
youngster. For awhile, he performed with a troupe known as the Baldwin Brothers and adopted
the name by which he became famous: Ivy Baldwin.

Baldwin joined the Signal Corps during the Spanish-American war and survived when his
observation balloon was shot down. He contracted with Elich Gardens, a Denver amusement
park, to perform regularly and made it his international headquarters.
He was the second man in the nation to make a parachute jump. (the first was his touring
partner, Tom Baldwin) His most spectacular feats, though, were probably his walks
across Eldorado Canyon, 582 feet above the streambed, first on a tight rope and then on a loose
rope swaying in the wind.
Dropping from high above the streets in Chicago and New York, he showed many urban
dwellers their first sight of a parachute jump. Baldwin was among the first inductees to the
Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame.
Late in life, he made his home at Marshdale, near Evergreen. At the age of eighty two, he
took another ropewalk across the canyon at Eldorado Springs; his eighty sixth stroll across the
ravine there. If he ever came close to falling, he never admitted it. Baldwin lived to the age of
eighty seven, dying in 1953 at Arvada.
On Marriage
TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR A HEALTHY MARRIAGE
…some important things (there are others as well, of course) taken from a book titled Marriage
in the Making written by Richard Exley. It is a devotional for couples. You might want to hunt this
book up and read it in its entirety. There is a section on each of the following:
1. Spend time together. Protect your day(s)
off at all costs and spend them together as a
couple and as a family.
2. Eat dinner together
3. Go to bed at the same time together.
4. Never let anything rob your marriage of
the sexual joy God intended.
5. Play together
6. Don’t take separate vacations
7. Don’t hold a grudge.
8. Pray together.
9. Little things mean a lot.
10. Pledge yourselves not only to physical
fidelity, but emotional fidelity as well.

On Parenting
From a book entitled God’s Little Devotional book for Dads
(But moms can learn from it too!!)
Happy is the child who happens in upon his parent from time to time to see him on his
knees,….or going aside regularly, to keep times with the Lord.
“Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord, seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face
evermore” - Psalm 205:3,4
“You must have a good heart,” one man said to his child,” if you are going to act right in this
world.” And then in illustrating his point he continued, “Suppose my watch was not keeping time
very well. Would it do any good if I went to the town clock, and made the hands of my watch
point exactly the same as those of the larger clock in the square? No, of course not!! Soon my
watch would be just as inaccurate as before. Rather, I should take my watch to a watchmaker, or
to a jewelry store that repairs watches. It is only when my watch has been cleaned and repaired
that its hands will be able to keep time accurately all day long.”
When we spend time in prayer, we are, in like manner, going to the Heart Maker, asking Him to
“clean and repair our hearts” from the damage caused by sins we have committed. We are asking
Him to put us right again on the inside, so that we can more clearly discern right from
wrong. When our children see us doing this, they are much more likely to go to the Heart Maker
when they feel their own lives in disarray or “out of sync” – rather than turn to the world and reset
their souls according to its standards and priorities.
There are many ways to measure success; not the least of which is the way your child describes
you when talking to a friend.
Two little boys were discussing their lives one day, including the various behavioral patterns of
their parents. One boy finally asked, “Does your Daddy sit in the den a lot after he comes home
from work?
“No,” his friend replied, “he growls all over the place at our house.”

Your children not only have a candid opinion about you, but they are also likely to copy your
behavior, both good and bad. Even if y our child doesn’t particularly like what you do—when
asked objectively about it – he or she is likely to behave in the same way, unconsciously. A two
year old might walk with a swagger just like Dad. A three year old is likely to use all the words
his parent use, even the ones inappropriate for polite company! Above all, children imitate the
way their parents behave one to the other.
Three little girls were playing house one day, taking turns playing various roles, when one of them
said to another, “Now you be the daddy.” The little girl pouted for a minute and then said, “I
don’t want to be the daddy. I want to talk and besides what would I use for a remote control?”
Listen to your children. You may hear an echo!
E h q x Sing Praises To The Lord! E h q x
“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends,”
- John 15:13 NKJV
Samuel Stennett, the Seventh Day Baptist who wrote “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks,” originally
titled it “Heaven Anticipated,” a sentiment that later comforted a dying twenty one year old
spy.
Sam Davis was a student in Nashville when the Civil War broke out. He joined the
Confederate army and proved such a fearless soldier that he was selected for an elite group
of spies named, “Coleman’s Scouts.” Sam excelled and an undercover agent. Once he even
shared a table at Nashville’s ST. Cloud Hotel with General William Rosecrans, listening to a
discussion of Yankee battle plans.
In November, 1863, Sam was seized in Giles County, Tennessee, and thrown into jail. The
maps and papers under his saddle exposed him as a spy. His captors promised to spare
his life if he would only reveal the identity of the mysterious “Coleman.”
Sam refused, and it fell to Private C.B. Van Pelt to inform him of his sentence. “I read him a
copy of his death sentence,” Van Pelt later said. “A reprieve was extended which I also read
to him, if he would inform us where “Coleman” was. He stood before me, an uncrowned

hero, his eyes flashing and said: “ I will die a thousand deaths rather than betray my
friends.” We were both moved to tears and remained silent for a time.”
Unknown to the Yankee soldiers, ‘Coleman’ was really Dr. H.B. Shaw, who at that moment
was being held in an adjacent cell and who was later released.
On the eve of his execution, Sam wrote to his dear mother, saying: Oh how painful it is to
write you! I have got to die tomorrow morning—to be hanged by the Federals. Mother, do
not grieve for me. I must bid you good-by forevermore.
Chaplain James Young spent the day before the hanging praying with him. That night in a
small worship service, Sam asked if they would sing “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks.” Young later
said he would never forget the young soldier’s animated voice as he sang; “I am bound for
the Promised Land; I am bound for the Promised Land.”
Today there is a monument honoring Sam Davis on the grounds of the Tennessee State
Capitol. Underneath are the words: ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.”
“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”
Words by Samuel Stennett, 1787 Music...An American Folk Melody
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.
O’er all those wide extended plains shines one eternal day.
There God the Son forever reigns and scatters night away.
No chilling winds nor poisonous breath can reach that healthful, sickness and sorrow,
pain and death are felt and feared no more.
When I shall reach that happy place and be forever blest,
for I shall see my Father’s face and in His bosom rest.
I am bound for the Promised Land, I am bound for the Promised Land.
O who will come and go with me? I am bound for the Promised Land.
Answers To Last Month’s Bible Questions:
1. Isaiah 7:14
2. Isaiah 40:3
3. Isaiah 42:7
4. Deuteronomy 8:3
5. Deuteronomy 6:16
6. Deuteronomy 6:13
7. Exodus 21:24
8. Leviticus 19:18

Bible Questions For This Month
The Most mentioned women in the Bible….
Give the names of the women in each of the following.
1. What Old Testament woman bore a
child at age 90 and is the most mentioned
woman in the bible (56 mentions)?
2. What wife of a patriarch ranks
second with 47 mentions?
3. What relative of Number 2 ranks third
with 34 mentions?
4. What mother of twins ranks fourth
with 31 mentions?
5. What evil woman ranks fifth with 23
mentions?
RAINBOWS …
6. What New Testament woman ranks
sixth with 19 mentions?
7. What wife of both Nabal and David
ranks seventh with 15 mentions?
8. What sister of a famous leader ties
with number 7?
9. What follower of Jesus is mentioned
14 times?
(Excerpt from an article in John Clayton’s publication “Does God Exist?” written by Al
Cornell. There is more to the article but will share the following thoughts from it. I have
always loved rainbows so these thoughts were especially meaningful to me.)
“Anytime you stand facing a rainstorm with your back to bright low angle sunlight, that spectrum of colored
light appears in the clouds. White light entering a raindrop divides into a spectrum of colors. That light, reflected
from the backside of raindrops travels to your eye. The red comes to you from the drops that create the top of
the bright colored arc and the other colors are progressively lower—orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and finally
violet.
The resulting rainbow is mentioned in only six Bible verses. Three are in Genesis chapter nine, culminating
with verse 16, “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it…” Other translations render this, “I will
look upon it…” So whenever you are looking at a rainbow, know for sure you are not alone. There is a greater
being and higher consciousness observing that rainbow.
It might be a little awkward to imagine that you are just doing something fun with God. However, take a
leisurely look at a rainbow and sense the presence of God there doing what He promised.
Like the tree of life, the rainbow occurs in Genesis, revelation and only one Bible book in between. In 1:28,
Ezekiel describes his vision of radiance like a rainbow around the one on the heavenly throne.

With the rainbow being so scripturally tied to the presence of God, its radiance helps us perceive attributes
of God. God cannot be fully comprehended from earth, but the bow in the clouds can help narrow the gap. Paul
informed us in Romans 1:20 that we can perceive attributes of God from the creation. This special relation of
rainbows on earth and in heaven to the presence of God puts them in position to help us understand the
magnificence and glory of God. We come closer to realizing why God splashed beauty throughout His creation and
designed a creature in His image that can appreciate that beauty. God created the potential for color in the
electromagnetic field, created many animals equipped to perceive the color, and created us with the capacity to
appreciate its beauty. And He placed the rainbow in the cloud. The pathway to atheism would be a little easier in a
cosmos without rainbows.
A human fable imagines a treasure at the end of the rainbow. With Ezekiel’s and John’s visions of heaven,
it is revealed that what we need to be seeking resides at the center of the endless rainbow. So when you reach
that point in life where there is no longer an opportunity to look at an earthly rainbow, by the grace of God, you can
step through the door to see a brilliant one encircling the throne. And there too is God.
Our Nation’s Godly Heritage
In a book which I have quoted before, I share some excerpts from another
section. This is from the chapter on Principle # 1 which is:
“THE ONLY RELIABLE BASIS FOR SOUND GOVERNMENT AND JUST
HUMAN RELATIONS IS NATURAL LAW.”
“It may be surprising, even to Americans, to discover how much of their
Constitution and their life style is based on principles of Natural Law. For
example:
The concept of “unalienable rights” is based on Natural Law. (we talked
about unalienable rights last month)
The concept of Unalienable Duties is based on Natural Law.
The concept of Habeas Corpus is based on Natural Law.
The concept of Limited Government is based on Natural Law.

The concept of Separation of Powers is based on Natural Law.
The concept of Checks and Balances to correct abuses by peaceful means is
based on Natural Law .
The right of Self Preservation is based on Natural Law
The right to Contract is based on Natural Law,
Laws protecting the Family and the institution of Marriage are all based on
Natural Law.
The concept of Justice by Reparation or paying for damages is based on
Natural Law.
Law.
The right to Bear Arms is based on Natural Law.
The principle of No Taxation without Representation is based on Natural
These few examples will illustrate how extensively the entire American
constitutional system is grounded in Natural Law. In fact Natural Law is the
foundation and encompassing framework for everything we have come to call
“People Law.”
This is precisely what Thomas Jefferson was talking about when he wrote in
the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
These well remembered phrases from America’s initial charter of liberty are
all primary pre-suppositions under the principles of Natural Law.

Next month we will move on to the 2 nd principle…which I will quote now so
you can think on it. “A FREE PEOPLE CANNOT SURVIVE UNDER
A REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION UNLESS THEY REMAIN VIRTUOUS
AND MORALLY STRONG.” Think about that one in light of our nation
today. Should give us something to consider!! Some comments on it from the
book next month.
JULY…
The Month Of The Birthday Of Our Nation…
The following are some thoughts, some from others, some my own, that I hope will help us
to realize what a blessing God gave us to be born and live in this nation…which was once the light
to the world….founded on Godly principles and maintained by relying on God to guide and
protect.
May we not only be thankful to be a citizen of America but may we be on our knees in
repentance and petitions for our apathy in allowing it to fall so far from its intended purpose and
so far from those Godly principles on which it was founded. I urge all to spend more time
praying for our nation, for guidance from above for us and all of the nation’s leaders, for all to
move back to what God wants…not our selfish interests.
The writer of a small book called Pray for Our Nation, says this: Faith, courage, and
prayer birthed our great nation and guided America through more than 200 years of wars,
natural disasters and crisis.
Prayer is a freedom guaranteed to us by our Constitution and a God given right to all
humanity. He opportunity to pray is a privilege, honor and sacred duty.
History has proven that forces will wage war against our freedom. Terrorism has shed
blood on American soil. Violent crime has invaded American homes and schools. Drugs and
alcohol abuse rage against the innocence of our youth. Forces of darkness threaten our morality,
integrity and faith. Prayer for our nation is our defense.

Now is the time to be resolute in our defiance against the forces of destruction—to unite as
a nation and not succumb to fear.
Americans must stand strong and remain bold in faith, courage and prayers.
The nation needs your prayers. The President, his advisors, congress and all local and
national leaders need your prayers. The armed forces, firefighters and law enforcement personnel
need your prayers.
Often people are unsure how to pray. It is the sincerity of the heart that determines a
successful prayer, not the length, eloquence or level of vocabulary. Pray based on the scriptures so
that you can pray in confidence, knowing you are praying God’s will for this nation.
Commit to pray daily for your nation. Your Heavenly Father is listening. He loves you and
all in this nation.
“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.” - II Chronicles 7:14
Remember to honor those who have given their all in service to our country….to keep our
freedoms, both individual and as a nation, intact. Remember them and their families as we
celebrate July 4 th …with all the “fun” things that have become a part of how we celebrate this
day. Enjoy the blood bought freedom to celebrate and have fun with family and friends….but do
not forget the privileges we have came at great price paid by many over the centuries. And
remember the ultimate price paid for us by our Lord that also set us free…..and that it is He who
gives us all things to enjoy. Enjoy your fourth of July and be Blessed and Bless others!!
Lila