Jennica-Ayelet: Blogger who loves God, foreign countries, and life...and Amos...and adventures...and laughing...and pictures...and books...and...
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
If...
Israel decides to bomb Iran, they had better get a large part of Iranian military strength all at once. Have you compared the sizes of the 2 countries??? Iran is actually pretty big, and Israel is tiny...
A miklat (bomb shelter) on the moshav...
A miklat (bomb shelter) on the moshav...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Where to?
I am slowing but surely getting closer to my goal of getting enough money to GO OVERSEAS NEXT SUMMER!!!!
But where should I go? I say India to see the Taj Mahal and the Taj Lake Palace...Or Peru to see Machu Pichu...Or Cambodia to see Angkor Wat...Or Turkey to see the Hagia Sophia...Or Italy to see Rome and the catacombs...Or ANYWHERE!!!!
Until then, I suppose I will have to content myself with reading Richard Halliburton. I am the proud owner of a 4th Halliburton book. I just purchased Glorious Adventure from amazon. Hopefully it will get here soon!
But where should I go? I say India to see the Taj Mahal and the Taj Lake Palace...Or Peru to see Machu Pichu...Or Cambodia to see Angkor Wat...Or Turkey to see the Hagia Sophia...Or Italy to see Rome and the catacombs...Or ANYWHERE!!!!
Until then, I suppose I will have to content myself with reading Richard Halliburton. I am the proud owner of a 4th Halliburton book. I just purchased Glorious Adventure from amazon. Hopefully it will get here soon!
Monday, July 07, 2008
Happily Ever Ellsworth
So, the question is, did Paul Gregory Ellsworth and Katharyn Abigael Elizabeth Ellsworth really kiss in the wedding ceremony??? Yes folks, they did, though it took the video of amateur photographer Elizabeth Howell to prove it to the bridesmaids and groomsmen. More smooching was instigated during the reception by a water pitcher and bridesmaids Leslie Ann Tulloch and yours truly. Tulloch and Byers later gained the help of Christopher Buschhaus, brother-in-law of the bride, in their scheme.
In other news of the big day, Heather Hayes caught the bouquet and Troy Rankin fought for and won the candle. The candle, you say? Yes, a small, rose-shaped, floating candle was tossed aloft in the place of the garter; Rankin, we hope your romantic future is now looking brighter.
After a delightful dessert of ice cream and strawberries, guests gathered at the front of Trinity Bible Church to say farewell to the newlyweds. The oblivious couple drove off in a red, balloon-filled, '62 Ford sedan. Said sedan was promptly returned by the groom's elder brothers, Daniel and Brandon Ellsworth. However, it is safe to assume that the two lovebirds were not forced to wing it on their honeymoon.
Here's to you, Pablo and Katrin! May your new life together be as adventurous and fun as your wedding day and this blog post.
So, the question is, did Paul Gregory Ellsworth and Katharyn Abigael Elizabeth Ellsworth really kiss in the wedding ceremony??? Yes folks, they did, though it took the video of amateur photographer Elizabeth Howell to prove it to the bridesmaids and groomsmen. More smooching was instigated during the reception by a water pitcher and bridesmaids Leslie Ann Tulloch and yours truly. Tulloch and Byers later gained the help of Christopher Buschhaus, brother-in-law of the bride, in their scheme.
In other news of the big day, Heather Hayes caught the bouquet and Troy Rankin fought for and won the candle. The candle, you say? Yes, a small, rose-shaped, floating candle was tossed aloft in the place of the garter; Rankin, we hope your romantic future is now looking brighter.
After a delightful dessert of ice cream and strawberries, guests gathered at the front of Trinity Bible Church to say farewell to the newlyweds. The oblivious couple drove off in a red, balloon-filled, '62 Ford sedan. Said sedan was promptly returned by the groom's elder brothers, Daniel and Brandon Ellsworth. However, it is safe to assume that the two lovebirds were not forced to wing it on their honeymoon.
Here's to you, Pablo and Katrin! May your new life together be as adventurous and fun as your wedding day and this blog post.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
!!Coming soon!!
Stories from the wedding of Pablo and Katrin
Stories from the classroom
Stories from Hollywood
Sunday, June 22, 2008
You THOUGHT...
my eyes were blue. Apparently they are green:
http://www.lydiaphotography.blogspot.com/
My friend Lydia is working toward becoming a professional photographer. She does a great job!
http://www.lydiaphotography.blogspot.com/
My friend Lydia is working toward becoming a professional photographer. She does a great job!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sooooo...for those 3 people...
I am loving the extra songs from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian soundtrack, specifically Switchfoot's "This Is Home" and Regina Spektor's "The Call". Check 'em out on youtube!
K & I at her CalArts graduation. A master's degree at age 22! :)
I was disappointed with the way that Hollywood chose to change Prince Caspian, though I defintely believe that is much better than the first film! I reread Prince Caspian, and there is not even a hint of interest between Caspian and Susan. I think they talk to each other all of 3 times in the book. hmmpf. Dumb Hollywood inserting romance just to get the money. bleah.
My job has gone pretty well so far! I am tutoring 7 kids in 3 different grades. They are all really smart, cute, and funny. I think I will miss them 7 weeks from now...or maybe I won't. ;)
My job has gone pretty well so far! I am tutoring 7 kids in 3 different grades. They are all really smart, cute, and funny. I think I will miss them 7 weeks from now...or maybe I won't. ;)
I am about to be in my first "friend" wedding in the next few weeks! Katharyn and Pablo are getting married, and I get to be a bridesmaid! Pray that I will be helpful and have a good attitude for the 5 days that I am in Gilroy with my friends and their families. I am so happy for them. All of us have waited a long time for the day to come, and now it is only 9 days away! Though we all obviously have different opinions on how relationships should work, I am encouraged that Katharyn and Pablo resisted rushing into things with just their hearts and not their discernment. I think it will take away some problems that could have potentially come up in the future. To quote that scandalous book in the Old Testament, "This is my lover, this is my friend..." Song of Solomon 5:16b P&K, though I think we would all agree that we see things differently sometimes, I really am very encouraged by your self-control and your respect for God and for each other. Mazel tov!
K & I at her CalArts graduation. A master's degree at age 22! :)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
I want a freer life for some of my friends. One that is free from legalism. One where they are free to make mistakes and to learn from them. One where they are free to help their friends when their friends make mistakes. So much talent, conviction, kindness, impact, etc. is being thrown away...or rather, kept at home.
Hold yourself to the standard of Christ, but don't demand perfection; it leads to a stifled life.
Hold yourself to the standard of Christ, but don't demand perfection; it leads to a stifled life.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
From quite a while ago...
I saw this link on Todd's site quite a while ago, but only now got around to reading it. It is from John Piper (desiringGod.org) and is very good.
When Satan Hurts Christ’s People
Reflections on Why Christians Suffer Losses
By John Piper December 5, 2007
Revelation 2:10
When huge pain comes into your life—like divorce, or the loss of a precious family member, or the dream of wholeness shattered—it is good to have a few things settled with God ahead of time. The reason for this is not because it makes grieving easy, but because it gives focus and boundaries for the pain.
Being confident in God does not make the pain less deep, but less broad. If some things are settled with God, there are boundaries around the field of pain. In fact, by being focused and bounded, the pain of loss may go deeper—as a river with banks runs deeper than a flood plain. But with God in his firm and proper place, the pain need not spread out into the endless spaces of ultimate meaning. This is a great blessing, though at the time it may simply feel no more tender than a brick wall. But what a precious wall it is!
As a father, I want to help our twelve-year-old daughter Talitha settle some things with God now, so that when little or big losses come—and they will come—her pain will be bounded and will not carry her out, like a riptide, into the terrifying darkness of doubt about God. So as we read God’s word together twice a day, I point out the mysterious ways of God.
Two days ago, we read this from the lips of Jesus to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10:
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
I asked Talitha, “Is Jesus stronger than the devil?” “Yes,” she said. Indeed, I added, ten million times stronger. It’s not even close. In fact, as Mark 1:27 says, “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” So all Jesus has to do is say to the devil, “You shall not throw my loved ones into prison,” and the devil will not be able to do it. Right, Talitha? Right.
So, Talitha, why does Jesus let the devil do this? Why does he let the devil throw his precious followers in jail and even kill some of them? She shook her head. I said, well, let’s read it again slowly, and you tell me the reason that the Bible gives. Slowly, “Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison . . . that . . . you . . . may . . . be . . . tested.” So why does Jesus let this happen, Talitha? “That they may be tested.” That’s right.
And what is being tested? The answer is given in the way Jesus describes what passing the test looks like. He says, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Faithfulness to Jesus is being tested. Will his loved ones keep trusting him? Will they keep believing that he has their best interest at heart? That he is wise? That he is good? That he is stronger than all?
So, Talitha, there are a thousand things that God is doing every time something painful happens to you. Most of these you do not know or understand. Job, Joseph, and Esther did not know what God was doing in their losses. But there is always one thing you can know God is doing when pain comes into your life. This is something you can settle with God ahead of time. He is always testing you.
If the test leads to your death, as it did for some of the Christians in Smyrna, Jesus wants you to know something ahead of time. “You will receive the crown of life.” That means he will raise you from the dead and will crown you with the kind of everlasting joy in his presence that will make up for your loses ten-thousand-fold. “Crown” signifies majestic, royal restoration and exaltation.
James says the same thing:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Passing the test means loving God to the end.
So settle it, Talitha. Loss and pain are coming into your life, but Jesus is infinitely stronger than the devil. So even if the devil is causing it, as he did in Smyrna, Jesus is letting it happen. And he always has his reasons—more than we can know. One of those reasons is always testing, namely, the testing of our faith and our love for him.
We cannot answer every why question. But there is always this answer: My faith is being tested. And our Lord never wastes his tests. Whether we believe this truth is, in fact, part of the test. In the mind of Jesus, the promise that he would give them the crown of life was enough to sustain the Christians in Smyrna. I pray that it will be enough for Talitha—and for you.
Trusting the wisdom and goodness of Jesus in loss,Pastor John
© Desiring God
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
When Satan Hurts Christ’s People
Reflections on Why Christians Suffer Losses
By John Piper December 5, 2007
Revelation 2:10
When huge pain comes into your life—like divorce, or the loss of a precious family member, or the dream of wholeness shattered—it is good to have a few things settled with God ahead of time. The reason for this is not because it makes grieving easy, but because it gives focus and boundaries for the pain.
Being confident in God does not make the pain less deep, but less broad. If some things are settled with God, there are boundaries around the field of pain. In fact, by being focused and bounded, the pain of loss may go deeper—as a river with banks runs deeper than a flood plain. But with God in his firm and proper place, the pain need not spread out into the endless spaces of ultimate meaning. This is a great blessing, though at the time it may simply feel no more tender than a brick wall. But what a precious wall it is!
As a father, I want to help our twelve-year-old daughter Talitha settle some things with God now, so that when little or big losses come—and they will come—her pain will be bounded and will not carry her out, like a riptide, into the terrifying darkness of doubt about God. So as we read God’s word together twice a day, I point out the mysterious ways of God.
Two days ago, we read this from the lips of Jesus to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10:
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
I asked Talitha, “Is Jesus stronger than the devil?” “Yes,” she said. Indeed, I added, ten million times stronger. It’s not even close. In fact, as Mark 1:27 says, “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” So all Jesus has to do is say to the devil, “You shall not throw my loved ones into prison,” and the devil will not be able to do it. Right, Talitha? Right.
So, Talitha, why does Jesus let the devil do this? Why does he let the devil throw his precious followers in jail and even kill some of them? She shook her head. I said, well, let’s read it again slowly, and you tell me the reason that the Bible gives. Slowly, “Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison . . . that . . . you . . . may . . . be . . . tested.” So why does Jesus let this happen, Talitha? “That they may be tested.” That’s right.
And what is being tested? The answer is given in the way Jesus describes what passing the test looks like. He says, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Faithfulness to Jesus is being tested. Will his loved ones keep trusting him? Will they keep believing that he has their best interest at heart? That he is wise? That he is good? That he is stronger than all?
So, Talitha, there are a thousand things that God is doing every time something painful happens to you. Most of these you do not know or understand. Job, Joseph, and Esther did not know what God was doing in their losses. But there is always one thing you can know God is doing when pain comes into your life. This is something you can settle with God ahead of time. He is always testing you.
If the test leads to your death, as it did for some of the Christians in Smyrna, Jesus wants you to know something ahead of time. “You will receive the crown of life.” That means he will raise you from the dead and will crown you with the kind of everlasting joy in his presence that will make up for your loses ten-thousand-fold. “Crown” signifies majestic, royal restoration and exaltation.
James says the same thing:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Passing the test means loving God to the end.
So settle it, Talitha. Loss and pain are coming into your life, but Jesus is infinitely stronger than the devil. So even if the devil is causing it, as he did in Smyrna, Jesus is letting it happen. And he always has his reasons—more than we can know. One of those reasons is always testing, namely, the testing of our faith and our love for him.
We cannot answer every why question. But there is always this answer: My faith is being tested. And our Lord never wastes his tests. Whether we believe this truth is, in fact, part of the test. In the mind of Jesus, the promise that he would give them the crown of life was enough to sustain the Christians in Smyrna. I pray that it will be enough for Talitha—and for you.
Trusting the wisdom and goodness of Jesus in loss,Pastor John
© Desiring God
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
At this time...
one week from today,
Jennica L. Byers
will be
a
COLLEGE GRADUATE
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jennica L. Byers
will be
a
COLLEGE GRADUATE
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHOOOOOOOOO
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)