Thoughts Along the Journey

"Jesus Before Pilate" The MasterPeace Collection Artist: Brian Jekel I know most of my recent posts have been Greensburg-centered. That's where my thoughts have been lately. My hope has been that in some small way I can help those who are there, dealing with the reality of it all every day. Please continue to pray, and to give in whatever ways you can. However, a change of direction today. As I was going over catechism lessons with my youngest son today, we read a section of the Gospel of John. A couple of verses really stuck with me. I'm sure I've read them many times. For some reason, though, they stood out this time. "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known." (John 1:17, 18 RSV) The first part is pretty basic: Moses gave the law. Anyone who knows even a little about Scripture knows this part. (Which, to me, fl...

Today, we celebrate Memorial Day. Many view it as the "beginning of summer". There is the constant sound of mowers running. Someone in the home and garden business has convinced the homeowners of America that this is also "fix your yard" weekend. Whatever. The day began as Decoration Day: a day to honor those who gave their lives in the Civil War. Today, we honor all who have given their lives in service to our country--those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we all enjoy. Today, I especially honor: my dad, who served in the Korean War; my uncle, who served in Germany; my husband's grandfather, who served during World War II (and was given a bronze star); my friend's husband, who served in Iraq; my niece's husband, who also served in Iraq. And a young man named Luke Emch, whom I never had the privilege to meet. This young man, who grew up in this area, was killed by an explosive in Iraq a few months ago. I had the privilege, along with ou...

This article ( http://www.hutchnews.com/news/regional/stories/billsigned052607.shtml _) from the Hutch News is encouraging news for the residents in Greensburg. The governor of Kansas signed a bill which will give the businesses in Greensburg some much-needed funds, as well as some tax breaks. Also, the recent bill signed by President Bush included funds for Greensburg. In some sad, news, though, the mayor of Greensburg resigned. http://www.wichitaeagle.com/news/story/80228.html

I was given a copy of this prayer about 4 years ago, when I was going through a very difficult time. I think it is a prayer we would all do well to pray every day. ________________ My Lord, grant that with Thy peace I may greet all that this day is to bring. Grant me grace to surrender myself completely to Thy Holy Will. In every hour of this day, instruct and guide me in all things. Whatever tidings I may receive during this day, teach me to accept tranquilly, in the firm belief that Thy Holy Will governs all. Govern my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say. When unforeseen things occur, let me not forget that all is sent by Thee. Teach me to behave sincerely and reasonably toward everyone, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to no one. Bestow on me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in its events. Guide my will, and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love. Amen. ~from the ...

"I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 ** I know I previously talked about life after death, regarding the Va. Tech. shootings and the rulings against partial birth abortions. I see a reality of this in what's happening in Greensburg, too. There were lives lost. Homes lost. Businesses lost. Family pets lost. Vehicles. Cherished possessions. Even the trees. It looks helpless and depressing to see the photos of the devastated town. And yet...there is new life. People beginning to pull together to rebuild a little here, a little there. People digging through the rubble of what "was" to make way for the "what can be". I even received a reply to my inquiry re: trees. The Kansas Forestry people already have around $25,000 designated toward planting new trees. Yes, it's a long process, but definitely full of signs of life. Please don't stop praying. It's...

I've been tagged. Here are the rules: Each person starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their eight things and post the rules. At the end of your blog, tag eight people and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog. So here's my personal info. Most of my family and close friends know these things, but my bloggy friends probably don't. 1. My all-time favorite snack is tortilla chips and mild salsa. With a tall glass of milk. (You've got your breads, your veggies, and your dairy. Very balanced, don't you think?) 2. My next all-time favorite snack is anything with peanut butter and chocolate: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (yep, yep, yep!), Butterfingers candy bars, and any ice cream that includes this combination! 3. One of my favorite ways to relax is to putter in a garden. Weeding? Yuck. Planting? Yes. Watering? Yes. 4. I grew up ...

Laura Spradlin of El Dorado, KS, has started a project she calls "Rebuilding Greensburg--Block by Block". She is collecting 8" bias garter stitch afghan squares. The afghans will be donated to Greensburg residents this fall. So, if you know anyone who knits or crochets, please let pass along this information! For more information, see her blog: Sugar Bunny Boulevard The left sidebar has the information you need. She is specifically asking for the squares, but NO MONEY. THANK YOU, LAURA!!!

The firefighter in the photo above is Chris Jarvis, of Moundridge, KS. Photographer: Fernando Salazar, Wichita Eagle newspaper.

How DARE these people call themselves Christians??? "Church Protests Storm Victim's Funeral" May God have mercy on their souls...

This week marks the one-year anniversary for a significant event in the life of my family. One year ago, my dad finished up his chemo treatments, after discovering he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The treatments were necessary, but really hard on my dad's body. It weakened him, of course. It also wreaked havoc with his diabetes. His body is still striving to recuperate. Last week, he had a new CAT scan performed. Yesterday, he was able to meet with his oncologist for the results. In Dad's words, the doctor was BEAMING! The scan came back completely clear! We are so thankful! In the words of the old hymn: " Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory. Great things He hath done. " ____________________ In Greensburg recovery news: the metal from my parents' church building (Lighthouse Worship Center A/G) was re...

This song has been going through my head for days now--even before the tornado. It has became more real to me, though, since May 4th. ________________ Shepherd of My Heart Maker of this heart of mine, You know me very well. You understand my deepest part, more than I know myself. So when I face the darkness, when I need to find my way, I'll trust in You, Shepherd of my heart. Keeper of this heart of mine, Your patience has no end. You've loved me back into Your arms time and time again. So if I start to wander like a lamb that's gone astray, I'll trust in You, Shepherd of my heart. Refrain : You're the beacon of my nights; You're the sunlight of my days. I can rest within Your arms; I can know Your loving ways. So let the cold winds blow, and let the storms rage all around, I'll trust in You, Shepherd of my heart. Giver of this life in me, You're what I'm living for. For all my deepest gratitude You love me even more. So as I walk through valleys, l...

This picture says more about the people of Greensburg than any words of my own. Yesterday, a community church service was held. The tent they erected wasn't large enough to seat everyone who showed up. One news source estimated there were close to 3,000 people at the service. This is in a town whose population before the tornado was around 1,600. People from Greensburg and the surrounding communities came. Former residents, in town to help with the clean up, came. Family members, friends... Each pastor in town had a chance to share some words of encouragement or a song. I saw my parents' pastor on ABC News. She was preaching words of hope. Mom said one minister sang, "It Is Well With My Soul." On the news, I heard them singing, "Holy Ground." This is what the people of Greensburg are made of. Strong, courageous, loving people who know how to "pick themselves up by their bootstraps" and go on, even after the entire town was demolished by one of the ...

I have made up a flier, which you can print and distribute. It has all the information that people need for donating to Greensburg. It's a Word document. Please e-mail me if you want a copy, and I'll send it along. If you need it in another format, e-mail me, and I'll see what I can do. Thanks!

While perusing the Internet today, I went to Greensburg's website. There was a plea for financial assistance. This information was pulled from the site: Tornado Disaster Assistance Needed Greensburg needs your help with reconstruction. Please send your donations to: Greensburg Reconstruction Fund %Greensburg State Bank P. O. Box 787 Greensburg, Kansas 67054 Every dollar you donate will go to rebuilding our city The pictures below are what is left of the post office. The post master of Greensburg is a member of the church my parents attend. The gentleman in the foreground of the first picture is the postal inspector for that area. I was told that if you follow this link, and click on the video link there, you will be able to see the interview I did with WKYC Channel 3 news here in Cleveland. WKYC Interview

President Bush visited Greensburg yesterday. He got to see the devastation firsthand. I wish the news media had taken more time to focus on his visit there...but, alas, they didn't. If you happened to see any clips on TV, you might have seen my dad! He was standing right behind the president. Actually, Dad got to meet the president, too. Someone asked if President Bush would like to meet a Kansas farmer. My dad happened to be standing there...so he was the farmer that got to meet the president! They talked about farm issues, etc. But the neatest thing happened after that. President Bush asked if there was anything else Dad would like to talk to him about. Dad began sharing with him about how important it is to be ready for the Lord's return. He said the president was moved to tears. I don't know the exact words of President Bush's response, but the gist was this: Keep telling people that message! Wow. On another note, yours truly was interviewed by Cleveland's Chann...

In phone conversations, via e-mail, and through newspaper and TV stories, I have heard so much about my home town over the past few days: some good, some bad, and the tornado made it all ugly. Thankfully, I've heard more good than bad. * When a gentleman went to Wal-Mart in Pratt, KS, to pick up prescriptions, he was told there was no charge for anyone from Greensburg! I've been told that they are not charging Greensburg residents for clothing and other items, too. * A former resident of the town (and a friend of mine), named Tim Hacker, has already said he will donate all brand-new golf equipment for the school's golf team when things are back up and running. * A professional golfer (I'm sorry I've forgotten her name) who won an LPGA tournament yesterday, has pledged $100,000 of her winnings to Greensburg. The bad? * People who go into town, pretending to be residents. They are only there to loot and steal. * The governor of Kansas, who made it into a political ...

As I said yesterday, I won't be posting any tornado destruction pictures for at least a day or two. I'm still overwhelmed by what I see on TV, etc. I keep looking for things I remember or recognize, but they are simply not there. Before this weekend, Greensburg's claim to fame was having the world's largest hand-dug well (which you could go to the bottom of...if you were brave enough to go down those stairs!) and having the world's largest pallasite meteorite on display. Of course, the well is still there. Nice thing about holes in the ground. Tornadoes can't move them! The meteorite, which was on display in the gift shop next to the well, was moved by the tornado. I saw a picture in today's Akron Beacon Journal: the meteorite was found. The Big Well Tower There were other things that made Greensburg a great place to be, though. Mostl...

Allison Schmidt, a nursing student at Southwestern College (Winfield, KS) , is one of the hundreds affected by Friday night’s tornado in Greensburg . The home of Ali and her family was destroyed and they lost all their possessions—clothes, pets, cars, and personal items were demolished. Abbey Lowry, a classmate and close friend of Ali, is coordinating efforts at Southwestern and in Winfield to help the family. At this point, the most crucial need is for money to replace personal items (the family rented the home and did not have renters’ insurance) and cars. Abby has established a bank account for donations. Those who wish to contribute should send their checks to the Emerald Bank in Oxford-- c/o Allison Schmidt Emerald Bank 305 E. Main Oxford, Kansas 67119 Ali has been very involved in the Winfield community through Leadership Southwestern, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Rotary Leadership Camp, employment at Southwind, and volunteer hours at Eagle’s Nest. Persons wanting more informati...

I will not be posting any more disaster pictures here, at least for awhile. I have seen enough on the TV, Internet, and in the newspaper. I have cried so many tears. I want to remember Greensburg as it was...and pray for what it can be again. Greensburg was the hub of the community. I went to church there. We bought groceries there. I took piano lessons from two wonderful ladies who lived there. We went to track meets and ball games. We had music festivals and 4-H events. It is a place of community-minded people who look out for each other. That was very evident the night of the storm, and even more so now in the aftermath. I have been asked for information on how people can help. There are already scam artists out there. (They have arrested some looters on site. Can you believe the nerve of people???) I have listed here three reputable organizations, and their donation information. Thanks again to all for your concern. Keep praying.... American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter P.O....

I have been in "daze mode" the past 36 hours or so. The devastation of Greensburg is unfathomable. As I have been reminded, it is the lives that are important. Yes, this is true. And the fact that they had 20 minutes from the time the siren sounded until the tornado hit...well, that is the main reason so few people were killed. I have heard stories of heroics. I have heard incredible stories of what the storm left and what it took. Ohio feels really far from Kansas, when I just want to be there helping in some way. How do you rebuild an entire town? I don't know. All I know is, they need prayer and they need help. The Red Cross has a link on their website called "Safe and Well" where survivors can report and where you can search for those who you are wondering about. I know the Salvation Army is helping, too. To the blogger from Australia, thanks for sending the pictures. I won't be looking at them today, though. I've seen enough pictur...

I received the following e-mail from a gentleman who is with NBC news. I am posting it here, in case someone from the Greensburg area might see it. Or if you know someone there, you may feel free to pass along this information. ~~Joni _________________________ Hi Joni, I happened to come across your blog and I was looking for info about Greensburg. I'm writing from NBC's Today Show trying to reach out to people in Greensburg who might be willing to chat with us for a few minutes today. We want to hear from as many people as possible about their experiences and what their plans are for the long and short-term. I know things are extremely busy and stressful in town and you're not necessarily in contact with many people but if you could pass my phone number on to anybody there who might be willing and able to talk for a few minutes we would greatly appreciate it. I'm at (212) 664-5526. Many thanks and we're keeping your hometown in our thoughts and prayers here in Ne...

The tornado __________________________________________________________________ I am being swamped with e-mail, from people wanting to know "is this friend okay?" and "do you know if this building survived?" Mostly, though, people just want to know how to help. I am giving a link to an article from a Kansas news station. There is information on who to contact and how you can help. Again, thank you for praying. Please continue to pray. Even as I post this, more storms are headed toward Greensburg and the surrounding area--including my parents' farm. KAKE-TV article God is faithful.

This is what my hometown of Greensburg, Kansas, used to look like. It's a small, rural town in Southwest Kansas. Last night, a tornado swept through the town, killing at least 7 people, and destroying most of the town. (News reports are saying 90% of the town was destroyed or damaged.) Every church in town, including the one my parents and my sisters' family attend, was either severely damaged or destroyed. The roof of the small hospital collapsed. My family lives a few miles north of town, and none of them were injured. Three family members worked in Greensburg, and will be dealing with the devastation left behind. Thankfully, several relatives and friends are known to be safe. I'm sure more details will come out as time passes. Right now, they are evacuating the entire town (what's left of it), for people's safety, and to enable safety and rescue efforts to go forward. Please pray for Greensburg, Kansas, my family, and the surrounding community. How do you rebuil...

My kids are VeggieTales fanatics. Our oldest son became acquainted with them at the tender age of 2. My sister-in-law introduced him to the characters while we were all visiting a bookstore. A month or two later, we rented "Josh and the Big Wall". We have been hooked ever since! Each video is full of silliness and funny lines. But there are biblical principles that people of any age can grasp. (Now if I could just get the "Lance the Turtle" song out of my head! LOL) As an aside, I just finished reading the book Me, Myself, & Bob , which was written by Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales. I highly recommend it. Back to the subject at hand. At the end of each video, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber share a verse from the Bible, which reminds the viewers of the lessons the stories taught. As it concludes, Bob and/or Larry always say, "Remember: God made you special and He loves you very much." I have really been struggling with the reality of t...

"Anonymous" asked what "spiritual sacrifices" (from I Peter 2:5) meant. I've been pondering it off and on all weekend, and through Monday. I can't say I have it nailed down. However, here are some thoughts. Paul talked about us being living sacrifices in Romans 12:1. So that's one part of it, I guess. Offering ourselves to God. The other thoughts that come to mind are offering our praise, thanksgiving, desires...things that are not "tangible" (like the sacrificial lambs of Old Testament times)...but nonetheless real, and necessary to be offered up to Christ. The following quote is from the Orthodox Study Bible. I thought it was good, so I'd like to include it in my response. "In the true temple, one sacrifice is offered, the unrepeatable sacrifice of Christ. But in Him, in baptism, we also are sacrificed, "a living sacrifice" (Rom. 12:1) acceptable to God . Our whole life is to be lived in this baptism as an offerin...