Joash - Choosing Wise Mentors

I am doing a series of messages on people in the Bible who were not raised with their biological father and mother. There are quite a few of them, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Joash, Esther, and in some ways Jesus himself was a foster son of Joseph. Yesterday my message was based on some lessons from the life of Joash. The text was II Chronicles 24.

Joash was a good king while he had Jehoiada as a mentor or coach. After Jehoiada died, Joash started following the advice of people who were not Godly. He ended his life in disgrace. He was assassinated by two of his servants and was not buried with the kings of Judah.

It was a reminder to me of the importance of choosing Godly advisers, coaches, or mentors and then listening well to the advice they give. I have been thinking back over people who have helped me grow toward being what God wants me to be. There are many of them. I thank God for men who have coached me and advised me at various stages of life.

One of my objectives in life is to develop resources of wisdom that are helpful to other people. I want to use my life to extend a hand of help and guidance to other people. I trust that God will help me to continue to have Godly coaches in my life who will help me to walk in His ways and do the things that please him.

Men's Retreat

I returned from Men's Retreat yesterday. We had a wonderful time together as Believer's Fellowship men. We spent two days in Sioux Narrows. Tuesday we went deer hunting on the islands in Lake of the Woods. It is great fun. There are so many deer that live out on the islands. We would set up and make some drives across the islands. We got one deer.

I am so grateful to have Godly men to relate with. The time together was encouraging. Hunting together adds a dimension of joint challenges, adventure and excitement. We had a beautiful day for hunting on Tuesday. The sun was shining and it wasn't too windy. We did get kind of soaked once when waves came splashing in over the boat when we were going from one island to another.

South Atlantic Conference

I returned home from speaking at the South Atlantic Conference Meeting in Hepzibah, Georgia. I left Thursday and got home today. I spoke at the conference Friday evening and Saturday morning. My topic Friday evening was "Preparing for Kingdom Service". My topic Saturday morning was "A Life Well Lived".

Thursday night Allen and Lucinda Schrock picked me up at the airport in Atlanta. It was after midnight when we got back to their house. I slept in Friday morning. I had lunch with them and we visited for the afternoon until we left for Hepzibah. They were very gracious and at least appeared to be interested in the things I chattered about.

After the conference Ricky and Maria Wright took me back to the airport. We had a great time visiting and the three hour trip to the airport was too short. They are leaving for Thailand next week, so we had a lot to talk about. Brother Ricky will be teaching a three week term at IGo.

I saw a lot of people I don't get to see very often and enjoyed some wonderful southern hospitality. I was impressed too, because as we were leaving the church Saturday afternoon, one of the men came out and ask if he could pray for me. I felt really blessed and cared for.

Summer Memories

Every time one of us sisters turns 60 years old, we all get together to celebrate. This year it was Esther. We gathered in Maine for a weekend in June. The Lupines were blooming beautifully. Our 2 youngest sisters weren't able to make it, but the rest of us had a great time together. I think I got a couple years' worth of healing if laughter is good medicine! From the left back, it's Leona in the pink, then Ada, Esther, and Barbara. In the front, it's me in the white sweater, then Sue, Rose, Mim and Tina.Our children gathered together in New Jersey when Bethanie came home from Haiti. Below, Jennifer, Hans and Bethanie.Merle's brother Lester, and his wife, Martha, took us to a petting zoo. Here Dallas is feeding the goats.With Merle's siblings in Pa. Back row is me, Merle, Leroy and Romaine, Lester and Martha.
front row, Marvin and Betty Ann, and Carol.
My extended family got together over the 4th of July weekend as we always do. Below, the children are looking for coins in chocolate pudding!

Below, one of the newest additions to the family. Eden was adopted from Ethiopia by my neice Becky and her husband Mark.
Supervising the children swimming in the creek.
In July we started picking blueberries. The children enjoyed practicing driving on the logging roads. I treasure the memories of them yelling loudly and hearing the echoes!On the houseboat in August with Marcia, Keith, and Leslie.My Flowers.



And to bring a close to Summer, the wild Fringed Gentians that bloom in wet road side areas in the beginning of September. It's always bitter sweet to see them. I know it means Summer is almost over. As of last week, I decided to stop feeling sad about it and just accept that Fall is well on us with it's particular beauty.
~Edith

Thanksgiving Day

This is Thanksgiving Day weekend in Canada. Our Thanksgiving day is tomorrow, Monday October 13. It is a big weekend for many people too because moose hunting season opened in our area yesterday.

I am a fair weather hunter. I looked out the window yesterday morning. It was raining. I was so glad that I wasn't out there in the rain. I am so uncommitted when it comes to hunting. I do it as a social event. I hunt if there is someone to do it with. It doesn't help that I only have a tag for a calf this year. I was hoping for a cow tag, because I am going to be home this Fall. But, it didn't happen and I have a calf tag again. Next Fall we will be in Thailand again over the opening of moose season, so I will miss the first month of the season.

We had a Thanksgiving feast at church today after the morning service. It was great to be together and have that fellowship time together. We also enjoyed using the church basement. It is all painted, the floor is finished and we installed a new drop ceiling. It looks wonderful! I'll try to post a picture or two.

I am grateful for the opportunity to hit the pause button in life, and consider the things for which I am truly thankful. I feel that God has been so good to us. I have come to be in a position in life in which I am privileged to do the things I really enjoy doing. I am humbled when I think of the opportunities God has given me around the world. I really do have a lot to be thankful for.

On My Way Home

I finished the Mid-Atlantic Mission Conference Sunday evening with a service at Sharon Mennonite Church. It was great to see many people I know over the weekend.

Monday I traveled to Hartwell, Georgia for the Anabaptist Foundation Business Seminar. I spoke Tuesday morning at the seminar. My topic was "Being a Business Leader of Integrity". The seminar went well. We had a good turnout and people seemed to appreciate it.

Today I am traveling back to Sioux Lookout. I plan to be home by this evening.

Rome, Pennsylvania

I guess I proved the saying that, "all roads lead to Rome". I arrived in Rome, Pennsylvania last evening and spoke at the mission conference, at the Union Valley Mennonite Church. I had a good time with Doug and Audrey Myers. I stayed at their house over night. Audrey is my niece.

One interesting thing about Rome, PA is that it is the birthplace of Philip P. Bliss. Philip P. Bliss was a well-known song writer in the mid 1800's. He worked with D. L. Moody. Some of his songs include, Almost Persuaded, Hallelujah, What a Saviour!, Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, and Wonderful Words of Life. I'm sure you have sung all of these at one time or another.

Philip and his wife Lucy were in a train wreck in Ohio in 1876. A bridge collapsed and the train fell into the river below. Philip got out but Lucy did not. The train cars caught on fire and Philip went back to attempt to rescue Lucy. Their bodies were never found, and it is assumed that they both burned to death.

Among his belongings was a song for which he had never written music. James McGranahan wrote music for the song. The title of the song is, I Will Sing of my Redeemer.

There is a monument in the cemetery in Rome, PA in honor of Philip P. Bliss and his wife Lucy.

This is the monument in honor of Philip P. Bliss and his wife Lucy.

Pennsylvania

I am in Pennsylvania for the Mid-Atlantic Mission Conference. I will be at Union Valley this evening, New Haven tomorrow evening, Pleasant Valley Sunday morning and Sharon Sunday evening.

Monday I go to Georgia for the Anabaptist Foundation Business Seminar at Hartwell, GA on Tuesday.

So, here I am as the guest speaker again. I wonder, what do you think of guest speakers? Is there value in a person, that you don't know very well, coming to your church and speaking for an evening or a weekend?

Today we are having a committee meeting for our Anabaptist Foundation Micro-Finance Committee. Hopefully, we will be able to get a micro-finance project on its way.