Journey North Character is about “walking with Christ and becoming more like in Him.” This is an audacious goal, except when one considers that the Holy Spirit, no, the entire Godhead resides within believers! This concept is mind-blowing. But Scripture says so! Take a look at Ephesians 3:16-19 and then at the fuller context. This passage has always boggled me. Continue reading
Lost and Found
Cousins:
Front: Susan, Gary
Back: Elaine, Karen, Donna
Bobby & Susie Kloeffer ( June 2012)
What do you think of when you read the words, “Lost and Found”? I think of a big, plastic bin at the YMCA where swimsuits, goggles, towels, and tee shirts were tossed when people left things behind in the locker room. I think of a closet at school where books, binders, purses, and such were stored, waiting for owners to come and claim them. I think of little Bo-Peep who lost her sheep and didn’t know where to find them. Lost and found.
Categories: Joy & Suffering -- Good & Evil, Spiritual Growth
Tags: death, Dustin DeFord, Good Shepherd, life, Yarnell
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Peace to You All
Reflection Pool at a Christian retreat in Ohio
I want to welcome some new readers to JNC. I hope you read some old posts. Feel free to make yourself at home on this blog.
Journey North began as a blog project for Continue reading
Categories: Uncategorized
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Belongs To Whom ?
June 18: View from behind our house in Prescott Valley of the Doce Fire near Prescott, involving 7000 acres, 460 evacuated houses, and 672 firefighers including the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The fire was successfully extinguished with no loss of life or houses. All Prescott rejoiced.
This has been a life-framing prayer for Paul and me:
“Your Majesty,
Thank you for what you have entrusted to me to manage on your behalf.
These possessions, these resources, these gifts are not mine, but yours.
Give me the wisdom I need to make them available for the work of your kingdom.
I am honored to be your subject.
Amen.”* Continue reading
24 Summers
Dustin DeFord
Twenty-four summers. If you’re old enough to have lived some years, and I suppose most of my readers are, do your remember your 24th summer? Dustin DeFord completed his. At least part of it. And, as you know from my last post and from national news, 24 was his culminating year! I told my sister what an irony it is that he with his youth, vigor, and dedication to Christ should have his life snuffed out, while I am 59, physically weary, and am still alive. I would have gladly died instead. Of course, no Hotshot firefighter could I have ever been! My sister’s immediate response was, “Karen, your job’s not done, but Dustin’s is.” Continue reading
Alloy in the Heart — Mourning and Joy in Arizona
Paul Olsen and Dustin and Ryan DeFord
How do I write today’s post? What I had planned must be set aside in light of the great loss that has been thrust upon us. Most likely you’ve heard, but for us, we are a part of the devastated ones, praying for those who are more devastated, those closer to the 19. We live about an hour from Yarnell, Arizona, where the fierce fire on Sunday, June 30, claimed the lives of 19, beautiful, capable, dedicated Granite Mountain Hotshot Firefighters.
Dustin DeFord, a buff, rugged 24 year old red head, is our friend and was one of these “Hotshots.” He belongs to our church. He was in our home on Father’s Day for a big, noon dinner. Continue reading
Sparkling Water and Repetitious Lyrics
I just returned from a water aerobics class down at the pool at our community center. Back to my studies and writing. In the background, I’m listening to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing such songs as “Because of Who You Are” and “Hallelujah Anyhow.” I could houseclean to this kind of music, but I’m not cleaning. I’m contemplating the edges of Divine Majesty, eating Greek yogurt with almonds, daydreaming about my family and our future, and still seeing in my mind the crystalline, blue sparkles of the pool’s H2O. “Glory Hallelujah to the Risen King,” the choir now sings. My! My senses are being exercised in the otherwise stillness of my kitchen, where I sit on a padded stool by my counter with my laptop. Continue reading
Categories: Spiritual Growth
Tags: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Contemporary Christian music
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The Sound of the Quail
My last four posts were written in the mid west– somewhere between Chicago, Illinois and Dayton, Ohio. After five weeks away, I’m now back home in the high dessert of central Arizona — in Prescott Valley. Still adjusting. Continue reading
When in Doubt, It’s Chocolate Time — Dark Chocolate Time!
Hello!! No one took me up on addressing the question I threw out last time: Why do our minds, emotions, and wills want to fight each other? Maybe it’s too obvious to you. Maybe you are uncomfortable with responding to a blog. A number of people tell me they read the posts but don’t want to comment; they just like reading them. Pleased you read and enjoy. Well, where shall I go from here? When in doubt, it’s time for chocolate. Continue reading
Dissonant Hearts; Merry Hearts
The intersection between Scriptural concepts and life experience fascinates me. A study of the words translated as heart in the Bible have led us to understand that the biblical concept of the heart includes all the functions of the immaterial self: Continue reading
Categories: Spiritual Growth
Tags: affective, divided heart. cognitive, volitional domains
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