Steppin\ Up!

If you get a chance to take part in a Beth Moore Bible Study, I would highly recommend "Steppin Up". My sister-in-law, Susan, hosts (or is it hostesses) a weekly Bible study in her home and I've been able to be at two of the sessions of "Steppin Up". Wow! What a neat study and Beth really gets down to where you live. You laugh and then say "ouch" from time to time. Last night, there were a couple humorous points but there were even more, 'ouches' and 'oh, me's!!

Last night, Beth ended the session talking about standing 'shoulder to shoulder'. Even though there were only about 8-10 of us in the family room here, we stood in a circle 'shoulder to shoulder'. Well, sort of! Since I am quite a bit taller than Amy Balty, maybe her head was about the heighth of my shoulder! Whatever the case may be, what a special time of prayer and sharing it was! I grabbed my trusty camera which according to my family is somewhere attached to my body at all times -- not really, it's just in my purse! But, I got a few photos as we ended the session!

On a lighter note, did you read Amy's blog today -- she shared that story with my brother, Tim, who was responsible for sending those 'guys who didn't speak English' to the Balty home ... he really laughed as Amy shared (as only Amy can!) the story of Seth wanting to run those guys off!! That is one funny story! At least they got the new roof on before Seth could convince them to "Get lost!"

Back to my trusty camera -- here are a few of the Bible study photos and the share time at the end of the video session! (And before discussion and prayer time.) Oh, and Keelin, Tim and

Susan's dog, decided to attend the Bible study, too, but Susan has sworn that she won't let him do that again. He's just to distracting as you can see!

You will notice a tail in the right side

of the photo -- yup, Keelin is right there
with his tail wagging. And then he takes up residence right in front of the TV. He's more entertained by who is sitting on the couch rather than what is on TV! Oh, well!!

Susan is on the right in the second photo. Her family room is an ideal place to have a Bible study. Actually, on Monday evening, Christopher (their 24 year old son) hosts a Bible study for college age kids. Their home seems to be quite a center for ministry!

Here we go again!!

I know that there are some who read this blog that would know most of those in this photo ... can you find Daniel, Marilyn & Dorcas Cook or R.D. (Russ) and Gary Ulrich. Or Rosie Knuth or Janet Wilson. How about Sally Gross or Shirley Throne - or Vicki Preston or Earl Hunt. Or Richard Graham or Karen Throne. Maybe Russell Wilson or Mary Lewis or Liz Gove! Or the Hagen and Boynton kids -- and, yup, Bob and I are in the group, too. From what I gather, this photo was taken at a recital at Francis Asbury Bible College. What memories ... oh, I know I haven't listed all that are in the photo! Like Judy Patterson or Barbara Cutler and others ... let me know if you matched the names with those in the photo and if you figured out those I didn't list.

Was it just yesterday ...

That I was following those three little boys you saw below around camp meetings!! I was talking with John and Katrina Brewer yesterday about the 1960 Wesleyan Holiness camp in Wichita, Kansas. I remember friends like the Sander family -- all of them -- Judy States Jackson (for some reason, I don't remember Larry - sorry!) Marilyn Cook Darnell was my best friend during those years. John mentioned that it was coming up on the 50 year reunion and I wanted to stand up and shout, "There's no way it has been 50 years!!" I remember as a ten year old dreading the day my dad would turn 50 years old because he would surely die! Well .. I have passed the 50 year mark quite a while back and my dad is still alive and going .. well, I'm not sure I would describe him as particularly 'strong' although his mind is as sharp as it has always been. I'm amazed at what he remembers!! We take quite a few strolls down memory lane these days. I was with him this past weekend and there were some, "Do you remember when ...." moments. Most of the time, there was laughter! Laughter has always been a big part of our family -- anyone who has heard my dad preach over the years knows that laughter has been a great part of his ministry! So ... even at this stage of his life when there are lots of difficulties, we try to steer him back to the laughter from time to time.

When I was talking with the Brewers, we remembered Glen Griffith and Victor Glenn. Those men stayed were special friends and stayed in our home. In the holiness movement, most are not on a 'first name' basis. They primarily are "Bro." and "Sis." I found it interesting at a young age to hear Bro. Griffith (as I knew him) call my dad, "Dick". That was their relationship and he was a special part of my life. Maybe that's because I always gave up my bedroom when he came to visit!

Missionaries that I grew up with -- okay, I hope Leonard and Janet Sankey don't think I'm trying to date them when I remember when they came through Milan, Illinois and spoke at our school. That was in the early 60's and we have followed their ministry all through these years! I'm not sure if their kids were too young to remember the times in their home in Bedford when we videotaped our kids and their kids. I lost track of my video but there were some crazy antics! We just had the two oldest girls then, I believe! Then again, I'm getting older so who knows!!


Any of those reading my blog who want to add their "remember when's" about those days gone by -- I would love to have you share those! One of the things I remember was when Betty Bass got tickled when Bro. Lelf (how do you spell his name?) was preaching a revival at the school (Asbury Bible College). He was known as the stuttering preacher and he didn't mind at all when someone had to help him out with whatever word he was stuck on at the moment. This particular time, it got so funny that Betty had to get up and leave and she laughed all the way down the aisle. I'm sure we all laughed!


I was sharing yesterday with someone about how Faith Hemmeter was our teacher at least one year and to this day, there is a special bond whenever I see her.


I remember when the Orvan Links came to speak at the school and were at our house one day. I think I mentioned this on another post. Their two boys got into my dad's car and somehow got it into neutral or some gear that allowed it to roll back down the driveway - across a busy street and into a tree! I don't remember my dad being upset about the car hitting the tree -- he was much more concerned that an oncoming car would injure the boys. No car came down the street during that time -- how thankful we were.

Okay .. so I have rambled a bit. Maybe it's because of the 50 year thing -- BMI 50 years -- the start of the Wesleyan Holiness Church, 50 years! Wow ... where has the time gone? I can't be this old yet! My oldest isn't 40 yet -- well, she's marching towards it but she isn't there yet! When she gets there -- maybe I'll begin to feel old .. although, some days I do feel a little old ... and now I will quit while I'm ahead ...

Another smile for the day ...

I was looking through old photos and found this one this morning ... too cute!! The caption says they were singing which I assume they were. However, Thad has either a Bible or a song book -- so I'm not sure if he's going to sing -- or getting ready to preach!! I spent many an hour on that piano, too!!

Left to right: Thad, Joel, Mark

"I'm inside the box ...."

We stopped by McDonald's with Allen and Rachel and three of their children on Saturday night. Seth Mark momentarily disappeared and then popped his head "through" the box and stated, "Aunt Linda. Look! I'm inside the box!" He must have heard being "outside the box" ....

Thought for the day .. the Sin of Slander ...

I thought I would share a devotional written by Bob on the sin of slander. It seems to be so prevalent -- and in holiness churches. Scary, isn't it? I also need to remind myself of this because it is so easy to get caught up in this sin ...

Sin of Slander
Bob Bedford
Colossians 3:8

When Jesus summed up the last six commandments, he said to “love your neighbor as yourself.” For most of us, our main interaction with others is verbal. Specifically, the 9th commandment deals with our speech, “Do not speak falsely regarding another.”

In the letter to the church at Colossi, Paul instructs them to “put aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander (blasphemy) and abusive speech (filthy communication) from your mouth.” (Col. 3:8 NASB) This list seems to incorporate the sins which are tolerated in even evangelical or holiness churches. The word translated ‘slander’ is “blashpemin” which the KJV gave as ‘blasphemy’. The use of the word ‘blasphemy’ has usually been viewed as words against God. But the clear definition is abuse against anyone, specifically “wounding one’s reputation by evil reports.”

A report is evil if its intent is to hurt another – it doesn’t matter if the report contains any facts. Whenever I hear a negative story, I immediately want to know if that person has talked to the one they just talked about. If they have not, then I view the report as incomplete at best and is usually corrupt. I also want to know why a person is sharing the story in the first place. If they aren’t part of the problem or part of the solution, it’s usually evil speaking.

Jesus was very clear about the source of slander and it’s not from another person. In Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:22, He tells us that slander comes from the heart. When we hear a story and our heart is pure, we don’t believe it or repeat it. But if our heart is predisposed to evil, we listen to stories; adopt them in our heart, and then “out of our heart our mouth speaks.” Paul is writing to Timothy calls such as “conceited and knowing nothing” and whose actions lead to “strife, abusive language, evil suspicions and constant friction.” (I Timothy 6:4-5 NASB)

Wouldn’t it be great to go to a “church of pure speech” where Christians blessed each other and devoted themselves to building each other up? Paul gives us a directive: “Let no unwholesome (words of no value) word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29 NASB)

So we have a choice: speak hurts from an evil heart or speak grace from a healed heart. The church will only have an effective witness when we are a group that heals its wounded, builds up the weak and protects the strong. Christ wants to turn the sin of slander to the goodness of grace.

I have a crazy family!!!

I think the only time I have really be 'into' the Super Bowl was last year when the Colts played and we were in Indy. I was in Indy once again -- and found that I was somewhat carried away by the Super Bowl -- not because I cared who won but I cared who would lose -- the Patriots. Of course, since there is a Manning on the Giants team, that seemed to swing my support in their direction. Like my support really mattered since I don't think I ever really knew what the score was -- only that they won. I couldn't tell you right now what the ending score was -- but I do know one thing -- THE GIANTS WON!! And I have the video to prove it -- I am now a little bit deaf -- the reason, screaming fans!! My daughter, Roxanne, who is just an antique teenager, Shara, my niece, my sister, Rachel, my nephews, Jimmy and Seth Mark and their dad who is ... well, I'm not sure about that ...

So, here's a video clip to document the support my family had for the Giants!!

A herd of elephants ....

Seth Mark and I were in an intense game of Nintendo 64 (Mario Brothers) in his bedroom when we heard what sounded like a herd of elephants racing through the house -- I could hear Roxanne's voice -- and it sounded like she and Shara were really whooping it up! Finally, after Seth Mark had soundly beat me, we ventured out to see what was going on. It seemed that Rachel, Allen, Roxanne, Jimmy and Shara were all into watching the Super Bowl game and were so excited that the Patriots might get beat that at least three of them were racing through the house ! Yup ... my niece and my daughter -- racing through the house yelling at the top of their lungs over a football game! And I thought Seth Mark and I got intense in a video game -- we didn't hold a candle to them!

After the game, Shara, Roxanne and Jimmy headed outside to set off sparklers -- I wondered if someone might call the police until I remembered that they live on the outskirts of Spiceland -- which has a huge population of 750!! Like anyone would hear or see sparklers!!

It's not only cold ... SNOW and SLEET are ...

... in the forecast here in Indiana. Why is it that we seem to bring out the cold weather when we come up here. I take that back -- it's supposed to be 47 here on Monday so I guess that will be a heat wave. But, until then ... yikes!! I do not like to drive in the snow at all -- it's like I feel the car feels safer in a ditch where I cannot drive anywhere at all. I was so sure that the snow would start earlier this afternoon when I was out in Spiceland visiting my sister, her family -- and my dad. Since the weather system was coming from the west, I figured by the time we got back to Indy, the snow and sleet would have me paralyzed with fear! But ... even after watching my nephew, Jimmy, play a game of basketball (where the game was delayed because a ref either forgot to show up or thought the time was later than scheduled) .. it was just windy but no hint of snow! But, who knows what the morning will bring!!

We did have a great day today -- Roxanne and I, that is. We stopped by to see Shara at her job at the The Oak Store -- and, of course, Roxanne and her humor took over and before you knew it .. voila! We were in cowboy hats and she was grabbing a lasso or rope or whatever it was ..

Then it was off to Rachel's and Seth Mark met me at the door -- anxious to show off his latest Lego creations which are quite awesome -- and ready to share his latest stash of our favorite candies!

Lunch with my dad was a highlight for Roxanne and me -- what was neat, also, was to hear him sing for a couple there who recently celebrated 74 years of marriage. "I Love You Truly" was the song he sang to my mother each night .. what a special treat to hear him sing to them.

The evening finished with Jimmy's basketball game (he's #30) -- that is, before we got back to Bob's mother's home where she had homemade soup waiting on us! We are truly blessed!!

IT IS COLD!!!!

Okay ... I grew up in the north and I thought people were absolutely nuts who said that they had developed thin blood after moving to the south!! I'M A BELIEVER!! Of course, it's probably because I'm accustomed to the warm weather of Florida -- but when I got off the plane here in Indianapolis today -- and it was 22 degrees, it was a rude awakening!! And a memory of days gone by ...

Roxanne is with me and she became a chronic complainer within about five minutes after arriving ... she said that she just realized that she is true Floridian -- she just isn't adjusting well. Then again, when she arrives home next Tuesday evening, her complaint will be ... HEAT WAVE!!