A Bucket List Trifecta!

I'm sure you've seen the movie, The Bucket List. Well, my list of things to do before I kick the bucket included hang gliding (or paragliding as the case may be), riding in a helicopter, and sky diving. And really, without much planning, all three of those things happened this year! I am thankful. And I think the key lesson I learned is to just be aware. I really had no intention of paragliding when I went to Jackson Hole on vacation this summer. It just kinda happened. And the riding in a helicopter was part of a work trip that came up last minute (I even rode in the helicopter over the jungle of Indonesia which was pretty cool in and of itself). And lastly, I had been wanting to sky dive for years and deciding to do it for my birthday was pretty much a game-time decision!

What's on your bucket list? Just do it!

All for now,

Lisa

Just Hafta

OK, so I wrote earlier that I would refrain from writing about myself. Well, I just heard this song on the radio and it spoke to me. Had to share!

Mountain Of God
by Third Day

Thought that I was all alone
Broken and afraid
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me

And I didn't even know
That I had lost my way
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me

'Til You opened up my eyes
I never knew
That I couldn't ever make it
Without You

Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me

I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again

Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me
With what's in front of me

All for now,
Lisa

And Now a Moment to Honor the Veterans in My Family

I wanted to take a moment today to honor the veterans in my family. I'll start with my mom's side then go to my dad's.

Mom's Side


I've been able to trace my mother's heritage in the United States back to 1621. So, it's no surprise that I found out some good history.

My great grandfather (x4) on my grandmother's side - Osbourn Holley (b 1764, d 1847) - was listed as having served in the Revolutionary War! His identification is S-7021. Yes, I'm a DAR!!!

My grandfather's grandfather, John Robert Godwin, was born in 1841 and enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861. He served as a Private in Company H, 20th Regiment, North Carolina Troops. He was wounded in 1862 was captured by the Yankees in 1864. He was later exchanged (probably at the close of the Civil War in 1865).

My grandfather's sister, Octavia Bass, married William R. Miles (b 1909 d 1996). He was from Little Rock, AK. He served in World War II and received a purple heart. Bill retired as a Major.

My grandfather's other sister, Corinna Bass, married Rufus Wellon House (b 1912 d 1977). He was from Rutherfordton, NC. He was a Lt. Col. and served in WWII.
My cousin, Andrea, married Matt Tatman, who has been in the U.S. Army since 1988 and has served numerous times in Iraq. I am very proud of him.
  

Dad's Side

My father's side is quite the opposite. Both of his parents immigrated to the US in the early 1900's. So, it didn't take long to research that side! However, it is with extreme pride that I tell you that ALL of their sons served in the US military! My grandfather had a tremendous sense of American pride and I can tell you it has definitely been handed down through the generations.

I'll go in birth order:

Theophilus (Ted) Karabatsos served in the US Navy during WWII. He was in the South Pacific on New Hebrides island where he contracted malaria (and the young age of 19 in 1942). He made petty officer second class.

Ulyses Karabatsos served in th US Army in Europe in WWII. He won the Bronze Star for heroism against the German Army in France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany during the war in 1944 and 1945. He made sargeant (twice) - so he got busted a few times. ;-)

Kimon Karabatsos joined the US Marine Corp during the Korean Peace Action in 1952. He made sargeant and received a purple heart.

George Karabatsos (my father) joined the US Navy in 1950 as a cadet in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corp. He retired as a Lt Commander after 22 years of service in the Naval Reserves and on active duty.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to each of these heroes. Yes, John Robert Godwin fought for the side of slavery. All I can say is I'm glad the other side won. Regardless, John Robert Godwin was asked to serve and he did. And to the others who fought in WWII. I'm REALLY glad we won!!


But Most of All


While it is important to recognize and remember all those who have given service and even the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the name of freedom, may I never forget to recognize and remember Christ - who gives us ultimate freedom. As Our Daily Bread says, "His death was not just to give us a better life, but to give us eternal life."


All for now,
Lisa

Great Men and Women of Faith Series: George Müller

There has never been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.
Theodore Roosevelt

George Müller (1805-1898) was born in Prussia (currently Germany). He established many orphanages in Bristol, England and also founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. If you want numbers: An 1871 article in The Times stated that “since 1836, 23,000 children had been educated in the schools and very many thousands had been educated in other schools at the expense of the orphanage. The article also states that since its origin, 64,000 Bibles, 85,000 Testaments and 29,000,000 religious books had been issued and distributed. Other expenses included the support of 150 missionaries.”

However, he started life off on a very different track. Although Müller’s father encouraged him to be a pastor, although it was encouraged less for the glory of God and more for the comfort of his family. Left on a very long leash, his younger years were filled with drinking, lying, thievery, and gambling. As a matter of fact, at age 15, he was in a drunken state playing cards with his friends while his mother lay dying.

With the financial support of his father, Müller attended the University of Halle, and while there, met Christ! In 1825, Müller was invited to a small house meeting by a classmate. It was there that he came to an understanding. “I understood something of the reason why the Lord Jesus died on the cross and suffered agonies in the Garden of Gethsemane; even that thus, bearing the punishment due to us, we might not have to bear it ourselves. And therefore, apprehending in some measure the love of Jesus for my soul, I was constrained to love Him in return.”

It was a short-time later that Müller decided to become a missionary. His father immediately withdrew support and Müller was left penniless. Obviously, this brought great struggle and heartache. However, he so firmly believed this decision was of God that he decided in everything he did there would be no patronage, appeals or requests for subscription. He was convinced that God would provide all resources and meet every need. (And, in fact, the George Müller Foundation today does no fund-raising.)

He started establishing the orphanages in England a short time after graduating. And after marrying, this work began full throttle. It was after she died and he married again that he began to travel for mission work. In fact, reports have him traveling over 200,000 miles (and this was in the late 1800’s).

Müller is often quoted in Streams in the Desert. Today is no exception:

Remember, the very time for faith to work is when our sight begins to fail. And the great the difficulties, the easier it is for faith to work, for as long as we can see certain natural solutions to our problems, we will not have faith. Faith never works as easily as when our natural prospects fail.

All for now,
Lisa

Great Men and Women of Faith Series: Billy Graham

There has never been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name
is worth remembering.
Theodore Roosevelt

Today is a PERFECT day to honor Billy as it's his birthday! William Franklin Graham Jr. was born on a dairy farm in North Carolina in 1918. According to the Billy Graham Center, Billy Graham came to a believing faith in Christ at age 16 during a series of revival meetings led by traveling evangelist Mordecai Ham. Yet still not completely surrendered to Christ, he was considered "too worldy" by many and was almost expelled from college. If almost by prophecy, he was told he had a "voice that pulls". "God can use the voice of yours. He can use it mightily".

In his autobiography he writes that he "received his calling on the 18th green of the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club", which was across a river from where Graham often paddled a canoe to a little island where he would later practice preaching to the birds, alligators, and cypress stumps.

I think Billy can best be described as a crusader, tent revivalist, and pastor/advisor to Presidents. In fact, he's had a sitting audience with every sitting US President since Harry Truman (which I can't help but wonder if that will continue).

In 1943, Graham married Ruth Bell (who died in 2007). They have five children, 19 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Billy's integrity has always been very well respected. I've heard a story about him that he would never even get into an elevator alone with a woman. Integrity is something you have to treat with very careful hands. In fact, early on, being mindful of potential problems with public ministry, Billy, along with his team, created the "The Modesto Manifesto," in 1948. The first item on the list was a matter of money. It also mentioned the dangers of sexual immorality, criticism of local churches, and exaggerated publicity.

Beginning in 1949 and still going today, Mr. Graham has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history. The numbers are impressive. He and his team has preached to nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories— reached through live audiences, television, video, film, and webcasts.

In 1969, Woody Allen interviewed Billy. The 10 minute full interview video is here. It's worth watching... both are very witty. One of them is very wise. I bet you can figure it out for yourself.

"My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ." --Billy Graham

Billy, I think you have. Happy Birthday!

All for now,
Lisa

Great Men and Women of Faith Series: Hudson Taylor

There has never been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.
Theodore Roosevelt

James Hudson Taylor (1832 – 1905) was a missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission (now called OMF International). Born in England, all in all, Taylor spent 51 of his 73 years in China. His “numbers” are impressive. Some accounts have him helping bring over 800 missionaries to China; and those began 125 schools and directly resulted in 18,000 Christian conversions. He also helped establish many stations of work. Other accounts have developing a witnessing Chinese church of 125,000 and to have baptized some 50,000.

His life is even more impressive. Once at age 4, Hudson said to his parents, "When I am a man I mean to be a missionary and go to China." And even though growing up in a Christian home, his early years were marked with a wordly flair. Yet, at 17, he picked up a gospel tract, read it cover to cover, and accepted Christ as his savior. 4 years later he left for China.

Escaping death more than once, one of my favorite Pauline-like stories happened in September 1853. He was the only passenger in the sailing vessel which almost crashed as they neared the vicinity of New Guinea. Cannibals were watching as the current carried them swiftly toward sunken reefs near shore. Taylor and three others began to pray and suddenly a strong breeze sent them on their way. He finally reached Shanghai, China, March 1, 1854.

Losing both wives and many of his children, Hudson Taylor became bankrupt in mind, body, and spirit. As he reread a missionary friend's letter, he realized his struggle with with his self-effort. "I have striven in vain to abide in Him, I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me...never to leave me, never to fail me?" He then entered into what he called the "Exchanged Life" where his work for the Lord was no longer done in his own strength.

One of his favorite hymns is below:

Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

All for now,
Lisa

Great Men and Women of Faith Series

There has never been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.
Theodore Roosevelt

I had mentioned a while ago that I was kinda done with blogging about myself would prefer to put the spotlight somewhere else.

And about a week ago, a friend and I were cooking dinner one evening and were discussing why do we know certain names of believers who lived lives many years ago... Francis Schaeffer, Dwight Moody, Corrie Ten Boom? I had told her I was interested in blogging about just why do we know these peoples' names. She encouraged me to follow through with my idea of focusing a blog entry on a great man or woman of faith.

To that end, my intent is to provide a very short synopsis of the individual and their life. It is my attempt to show (myself mostly) that lives lived without conflict or struggle are probably not the kinds of lives that God can best use and show Himself mightily. It is also my attempt to encourage each of us right in our own struggles and that God will use them (and us) just as easily and completely as He used the lives of people's names that are somehow familiar or famous.

Our pastor has mentioned Hudson Taylor frequently over the summer so I want to offer him as the inaugural blog post. And our pastor's Theodore Roosevelt quote on Sunday (see above) was the final straw that made me decide to start this series. Matter of fact, I found another TR quote worth noting:

I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.
Theodore Roosevelt

Look for the post first thing tomorrow!

All for now,
Lisa