Newlyweds' News Brief

8/8/10 My heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for time with family these last few days---so rare, when various cities of distance and time zones become the “great separators.”
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
Our pleasantness always includes a lot of laughter. Yet, at the same time we’re missing anyone who’s not there. In Florida it was the newlyweds. This time it was the Texans. Usually even in the midst of the frivolity, a pall of “dreading the leaving” can settle over me if I’m not careful to stay in the moment. So here are those moments of joy, briefly.

• 8/5/10 Arrival of newlyweds, Josh & Megan postponed because flight cancelled again---they’re 2 for 2 with Delta this year---they arrived just one day late. (We & many others want Southwest Airlines to fly into Memphis---maybe we should begin a campaign.)
  

• 8/6/10 Typical Memphis welcome---golf for guys, shopping for girls and BBQ, sweet tea and Nora’s pound cake, served with homemade ice cream & Flippen’s peaches for OOT family visitors.

• 8/7/10 Electricity outage had breakfast changed from “cooked” & served inside to bagels & fruit served alfresco.

• Cooler temps and breeze help Memphis humidity but Uncle Josh still takes a wading pool dip (fully clothed) w/ his niece & nephews.

• “Young folks” from 5 states (7 if you count Evan, from S.C & John, IL.--represented by their parents) gather in downtown Memphis at the “classic” Earnestine and Hazel’s to welcome the newlyweds---soul burgers, fried dill pickles, and hot wings. Mmm-m-m good. (*classic is a euphemism for a seedy, former brothel turned bar, turned “the” party place for juke box dancing and piano sing-a-long)

My generation, in the 60s, had “Sing –a-long with Mitch Miller---as we followed the lyrics on our TV screens by watching the superimposed ball that bounced over the words. Saturday night, Josh & Megan’s generation had “Sing-a-long with Lex” as they followed the rhythmical bouncing of Mr. Bonner’s head and the creative words inserted if memory failed. Megan even remembered all the words to “ I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet.” The newlyweds loved it!!

• 8/8/10 Final breakfast with visiting family followed by church and Josh’s buddy, Les, coming for lunch, a Pottery Barn trek and a much needed Sunday afternoon nap. Owen joins Uncle Josh and Aunt Megan for dinner.
  

• 8/9/10 Not here yet but I’m already feeling that “hurt” that I get as I say good-by to my kids knowing it will be a long time (hopefully, Christmas) before I see them again. Maybe it will be 3 for 3 and their flight will be cancelled!!

Meditation Skills.........

8/2/10 ….."those skills needed to help one gain a stronger “grip” on trustworthy words” is what I had written on yesterday’s church bulletin note page. Sunday’s sermon answered two questions: 1. How can I emphasize the importance of meditation? 2. What would help others glean truth from meditating on a passage of scripture?
Meditation is God-ward and is both inward and outward. (It's God-ward so that's important!)
Pastor Cole quoted Martin Luther, 16th C theologian, who required that his students ponder 3 questions on every passage of scripture. His questions seem to deal with both aspects---inward (praise & confession) & outward. (petitions)

1. How does this passage lead me to praise God?
2. What sins do I need to confess in light of this text?
3. What do I need to ask God in relation to this text?
   

I selected today’s text, II Corinthians 2:14-16 for your practice. Linger over these verses---ponder the words, tether your mind to what this passage says. Ask the questions.

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
15For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
16to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life *And who is adequate for these things?

Use Luther’s meditation skills and see what God’s trustworthy words say to you. Are they as relevant for meditating today as they were in the 16th Century?

*The answer to v. 16 question is in II Corinthians 3:5

Exercise in futility

8/1/10 Exercise. I need it. I want it----sort of. (I seem to want the benefits without all the work.) The decline started after age 50---or the excuses began.

Tai chi---I left Southwind Elementary so I left those “postures” with vulgar sounding names and gripped fists behind.
Step aerobics---CUMC---great location but my schedule and my back went in different locations.
Jazzercise---Donna Cross moved to AZ.
Weight training---no plausible excuse, the weights await with “dust” gathering as I type
“Body Electric” (with Margaret ?) on PBS at 6:30 a.m.---at work now by 6 a.m.
VHS tapes with Richard Simmons---no VCRs around here anymore
LES jog/walk chat---Lisa Panigoni moved to FL and I left Lakeland
Pilates-2 tries showed me I don’t have the abs for that.
24 Hr. Fitness classes: Tenelle’s dance class filled up with high school cheerleaders, bottom didn’t fit on seat in spinning classes, water aerobics classes went from 2-3 a day to none, zip, zilch
Yoga at G’town Baptist---Betsy quit teaching.
Water---swimming and aerobics---5-7x a week to 3x a week to just 3x this July---what’s with that?
Walking---still walking unless it’s too hot, too cold, too wet, too dark or Ellen isn’t available.
So what’s the point???? Futility: An action to achieve a goal that is unachievable. Has my intellect taken a back seat to a force (aging)---is my exercise goal really futile or is it mind over matter. Hm=m=m. I might have to sit down and think this out for awhile.

As you can see, I have lots of excuses why I’m not exercising, at least not like I once did. Maybe I need to give up past goals and accept age appropriate ones---like chair aerobics.

Calgon............take me away

7/31-10 No I'm not at a spa--- Since a spa is out of the question, I’m just planning to soak in my tub for awhile. I've decided to use the last of 2 of my “special” bottles of shampoo----you know those really good ones that the upscale hotels/resorts provide. I only have ½ bottle of each, so my first coat will be with Cobb Lane B&B’s (Birmingham) very light sudsing. “The Sea” fragrance of Hotel Del Coronado’s (San Diego) mini-shampoo gel will wrap up my fragrant “splurge.”

These will have a way of opening my mind to memories that will fill my head with good thoughts----thus pushing out the anxieties lurking in the corner. Cobb Lane was a great B&B that I shared with my T-Cup friends last summer between my surgeries and Grandaddy’s funeral---very timely. Hotel Del offers its spa toiletries---if you’ve ever been there, enough said. If not, GO. Go with a high recommendation from me and my "Las Amigas."

I’m saving 2 full mini-bottles for next week’s suds and soak---Lemongrass Sage from the Brown Palace (Denver) and “fresh & clean” from the Greenbrier (West Virginia's top spot for amenities)----because I’ll be back at work with a full family agenda to be juggled on the side as the newlyweds visit and Mommar has surgery.

Today’s Jesus Calling gave me permission to let “Calgon, take me away.” “When you feel flustered or frazzled…..events overwhelm……Slow down your pace of living for a time. Quiet your mind in My Presence.”

Headin’ to the tub to do just that---with a headful of fragrant lather to wash out the worries and take my mind back to Him.

Password Protection

7/30/10 None needed. Only one word and it’s available to all---JESUS. His name gives all the security that one needs and it lasts an eternity.

But I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (II Timothy 1:12)

FORGET IT!!!

7/29/10 I do. Lately I seem to forget lots--- especially if numbers are involved. This morning, I couldn’t even remember daughter, Molly’s phone # and it’s one of my “MFC.” (most frequently called) If I am dialing a number and get the prefix wrong it tends to start a brain storm of sorts and it only worsens as I try harder to recall the #. I seem to have a few mental blocks as well and confuse HHS # and Drenda’s # on a regular basis. I won’t even add passwords and pin numbers to the mix because they are impossible---6-8 characters are always required now and have to have letters as well as numbers.

At work old ones have to be changed on a regular basis for sake of security. Trust me, a hacker could get in to my account easier than I. Even when I have it written down I have to remember where I wrote it and where I stored that info----too many options for retrieval is maddening. I think my brain is encrypted and I need to break the code---or at least have a password that doesn’t require so many characters along with punctuation and other symbols. Instructions I’ve been given recommend using a password you can’t forget---“a strong mnemonic passphrase, easy to remember, without writing it down, but hard for others to guess.” Yea, right! I’d be the one having trouble guessing it.

So what’s with this forgetfulness.

Maybe I ought to quit trying to figure out what’s causing it and just learn to live with it. (Though hubby is the one who is really suffering---wearing himself out running interference and trying to give me clues. Sort of like “Charades” around here sometimes.)

“Crazy Ada’s” favorite words to rehash were, “Oh, just forget about it.” A conversation with her was like a stuck record---a “Groundhog Day” of sorts. But…….I’ve remembered them all these years. Now I plan to follow them----and "forget about forgetting," at least for now. Besides Jeremiah 33:3 is still in my memory bank, so I’ll just apply that.

Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

I can forget everything else, but Him.

Mama………….

7/28/10 ………..that’s all the name she went by when I was growing up. At least it’s what my family all called her, even Daddy, though she was his mother-in-law. Margaret Louise Hooper Davenport would have been 105 ten days ago. I know that because it was Sunday, July 18, and Molly was in the beach house researching her family tree at ancestory.com. She did “dig up” lots of interesting data. A 1930 census showed the ages of everyone in the “farm” household. Aunt Cora Mae Hooper, age 21, was living with them at the time. She even found a copy of my granddaddy’s signed WWI draft card. Dang Dang was 5 years older than she. They married when she was only 14. He was a tall, strapping corker and she was diminutive with a quiet, gentle spirit.

That info wasn’t on ancestory.com but I know it to be true. Compiled data can only give us so much information. That in itself is fascinating. But the real stories come from the hearts of those who know and remember their loved ones.

For sure, Mama was a loved one, especially by me. She was my spiritual mentor---though neither one of us had ever hear of that term. Nowadays it’s described as one mature Christian sharing his life with another in a one-on-one relational experience. The mentor invests, his God-given wisdom and resources of time and energy with the “mentoree” thus empowering him/her to align his life with Christ.
Our relationship wasn’t that formal but she shared much godly wisdom with me as she allowed me to “see” Christ in her, the hope of glory.

She lived Christ and found her joy in Him. I was just blessed to be alongside for all those years, especially during the summer when I got to spend a week at her house. I couldn’t wait to go to Mama’s---just to be with her. Mama might have been short in stature but she was the spiritual giant of my life.

Glimpses of my Meditative Gleanings

7/26/10 My favorite thing about Monday mornings in the summertime is that I get to join the faithful, albeit small, group of prayer warriors in the prayer room at church. Today was my last day to have that privilege. As I’ve told you before the procedure is to have a passage of scripture for meditation prior to praying. This morning it was 3 chapters in II Chronicles---14, 15, & 16. “Too much” was my first thought. But the story of Asa would not have been complete and it’s his story that had such an impact on my meditation.
Chapter 14
v. 2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God (Could that be said about me?)
v. 3 …..he removed the altars of the foreign gods (What false idols need to be removed from my life?)
v. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. (Do I show leadership in encouraging others to seek the Lord?)
v. 6 ….because we have sought the LORD our God (Battles were won, rest and quiet were given b/c of seeking the Lord. 5x rest & quiet were mentioned in first 7 verses)
v. 11 ….in Your name we go against this multitude (Do I face my battles against the world’s way by calling on the Lord’s Hebrew name---Elohim?)
Chapter 15
v. 2 The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; (Wise men seek the Lord and He allows them to find Him.)
v. 4 when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. (Does it take times of trouble to get my attention to cause me to turn to Him?)
v. 12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul (AM I seeking the Lord with all my heart and soul?)
v. 17 But the high places (a pagan religious worship area usually located on a natural height/hill) were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days. (A loyal heart for all one’s days---what a testimony. God sees the heart.)
Chapter 16 (Asa’s failure)
v. 7 “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God,…..(In Asa’s later years, he made mistakes/bad choices but God still knew his heart and Asa only needed to cry out to him.)
Dr. Constables notes summed it up.
Asa's heart was right in that he consistently loved God. Nevertheless, like David, his obedience lapsed. He trusted in a foreign alliance and later in physicians more than in Yahweh. This resulted in defeat and death.

"Asa, then, has done a complete volte-face from his earlier faithfulness. It
is as if we meet two altogether different Asas. He appeared first in the
strength of God-reliance, now in the weakness of self-reliance." (McConville, p.174)

v. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (Lord, may I be found faithful even as I age. May others see a heart in me that is loyal to You.)

See how meditation can lead to conviction, confession prayer and even further study!

Beach Bullets

7/25/10 This bulleted list is synergistic. Just combine the parts to get my whole idea of a week at the beach with family, including 1 expectant mom, 4 grandparents, 5 adult kids, 8 kids, ages 8 and under. The scriptures are also just snippets from memory---they literally came to mind while typing and so contextually only have meaning to me and my list, not to their complete scripture references, which are not included anyway. I hope that is not irreverent or even illegal in the writing realm.

• Tennessee & Texas convene for 8th consecutive year at “Big Water” a Liles moniker for Seagrove Beach ---New Yorkers honeymooned in Bali instead. (The sea is His for He made it.)
• BIG crashing waves = fearless kids & fearful “on-watch” grandmothers, Shug & YaYa. (God has not given us a spirit of fear but power and love and a sound mind)
• Visits from other in Liles clan (12) beach year-rounders & visitors. (Be hospitable to one another)
• 1,000+ digital pictures among us---I just want 1 perfect (everyone looking) glossy of all the grands to hold in my hand. (May you see your children's children)
• "9 hole" and Bananagrams®---too late and too tired for Scrabble® & Boggle® this year (they they wait upon the Lord.....they shall walk and not faint or become tired/weary.)
• Beach read, latest “Tea Shop mystery” book, The Teaberry Strangler, goes virtually unread (excessive devotion to books is wearying)---and I thought it would be relaxing
• Disappointment = opportunity---non-working spray/splash fountain for kids at Seacrest/Rosemary led us to sledding in Costco boxes in grass bowl at Alys Beach--we shared out boxes with many on-lookers. (He called the dry land earth.)
• Corey, resident fix-it man---cars, AC, bikes and dishwashers and locator of “grass bowl” (by the sweat of your brow)
• Intracoastal Waterway boat ride for the “boys” with Captain Doug (cousin) allowing them at the helm (A generous man will himself be blessed,)
• Sandcastle building with cousins Grace and Anna---yes, there are some females in the Liles family, just not ours (He created them male and female and blessed them.)
• Eating out at a seafood restaurant---adults orders included grouper and flounder---kids orders included hot dogs and chicken nuggets (let them rule over the fish of the sea)
• Washer runs, dishwasher runs, kids run----constantly--(His bones are filled with youthful energy)
• Sleep is deep after hours of sun and water (He gives to His beloved even in their sleep)
• Red Bar for young adults with grouper (the best yet) and crab cakes plus Jay Liles on stage (the main draw) (Children are a gift from the Lord.)
• It takes a village---cooking, cleaning, feeding, diapering, sunscreening, monitoring swimming pool feats and ocean wave riding, de-sanding, biking, crafting in the morning, painting by the sea at twilight and crabbing at night, bubble bathing, storytelling, praying and singing to sleep, etc. etc. etc. (Serve one another.)

“It’s worth the drive.” 500 miles in 10 hrs. for Tennesseans and 800 miles in 15+ hrs. for Texans We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:1---I looked this one up.

Best Part of the trip comments---
Adults---time with family, seeing kids grow, building memories (Give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness)
Kids---“I got a Coke Zero on the boat.” “We have a TV in our room.” “We do too!” “Ice Age DVD.”

Hmm-m-m---looks like a bullet list of our memories are generationally different.

Heartfelt Meditation

7/19/10 Yesterday's Allen Bible Church psalm for pondering had me considering meditation and wondering how I could post a blog for Monday's meditation. Then, "wa-lah" Molly picks up WiFi.

Psalm 5:1-3 ¹ Give ear to my words, O LORD,

Consider my meditation. ² Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. ³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

Meditation on God's word renews our mind. It is a spiritual act of worship. It's more than just checking off an entry on our spiritual "to-do" list---much more than just "knowledge in" and "knowledge out." It requires engaging of the mind.

Last Sunday, First Evan's Pastor Jeremy reminded us of the importance of the following aspects of the Christian walk:

1. Fill your heart with God's values. (not values of our culture)
2. Engage your mind with God's Word. (meditation)
3. Do the next right thing. (love your neighbor, serve others, esp. the poor)

Today's ABC psalm seemed to sum it up for me.

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart. Psalm 26:2
I'm asking the Lord to examine me---I want my heart to be aligned with His heart and His values and my mind filled with His word so that my life might prove and reflect that which is His good and perfect will----loving and serving others.