Category Archives: Ramblings

Two as One

 

GEDSC DIGITAL CAMERA11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-11

Does he trust you, can he put his full confidence in the fact that you will be there in thick and thin? Can you be trusted with the afairs of the family, the banking, the shopping and whatever else might be needed to do to be a help to your man and family? Can he trust that you only have good to say about him, or nothing at all, that you’re not telling friends what a louse he is, or just prehaps sharing things that should only be between a wife and her husband.

Yes, I know that this is some strong stuff! I think we have forgotten the dynamics of husband and wife precribed in the Bible.  Why do you suppose in the Christian Wedding vows it calls us ladies to respect our husbands.  Could it be that we have trouble with respect? Maybe because men thrive on respect, being held in high esteem. Whoa! you say what is there in this for me, and what if he doesn’t deserve such? Truly none of us are worthy of such perfects thoughts. Surely, I can’t say that I am so perfect that my spouse should regard me so that his love for me is like that of Christ, the he would give everything for me up to  and including his life.

Quoting Zig Ziglar

“If you treat your wife like a thoroughbred, you’ll never end up with a nag.”

I am wondering if this truth works in reverse, perhaps if you treat your man like a thoroughbred, perhaps you’ll not get a mule.

 

Religion or Relationship what is in your heart?

mike

I found this posted on Facebook the other day and I found it interesting how this man feels about religion.I agree with him that religion will not bring peace.

Religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. (definition taken from Dictionary.com)

Religion be it Christian or any other belief system is just that a belief system. It’s a set of laws that are intended to guide the believer in said god, or idea.

Being a Christian, I will come from that aspect of that belief. There is more to Christianity than just following a general set of rules, some man-made and some God-given. There is a matter of relationship. I can say I am a Christian and I can even say I believe in the God of Abraham, but the Bible clearly states that the even that the devils  believe in God and tremble ( James 2:19), but do they have a relationship with God, or might I say a good relationship with Him?  The relationship that I talk about is much like an emotional and relational connection with God. Let me put it in human terms, if you are in a relationship, especially a good one, do you not seek to do good for that other person do you not set out to please them and in return do they not do the same for you.Do they look out for your welfare as you look out for theirs. This is the kind of relationship that Christians seek with God.  I truly believe this relationship can bring peace, joy and blessing. You ask how do I know this? The Bible surely shows this, but also  because I have experienced the fruits of this relationship.

What goes into a human relationship also goes into one with God. You ask, well how does one get to know God ? My answer to this is, get familiar with Him. Get to know everything about Him. Like you get to know about the person you are looking to have a relationship with. You read His word, the Bible, you talk with Him, pray, and you get to know his friends (understanding that not all of his friends are true friends) and learn what He is to them! Easy task ?, no not really, but remembering that He is your friend and helps you, makes it easier.  In this relationship there is peace and joy, and I contend if you have such joy and peace in your heart it will spread to your fellow humans here on earth. There will be caring there will be sharing. I would say try Him, you just might like what you receive!

Happy Hunting!

Climb Every Mountain-A View from another Window

CJ McCartney on an early quest
On an adventure

 

 

 

 

Coming from lands far away a young traveler has embarked on a dream of a life time. Study in a foreign land in the beautiful mountains of Austria and the history filled city of Salzburg!

Follow her on her 14 week adventure, as she climbs every mountain, fords every stream, follows every rainbow. (to shamelessly take from “The Sound of Music”)

What interesting things might she find? What narrow escapes from danger will she meet?  What lands will she visit? Join her daily at, “A View from another Window“.

PS
Aunt Julie is very proud of you young lady!  What I have seen so far has been really good!  Have a wonderful adventure full of realized dreams!

Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday/Thanksgiving 2012

The faces of those gone on before are but shadows on a piece of paper. In my veines their stories are still told. For those long ago names and dates are now part of me.

I am thankful for each ancestor, their trials, their joys, those that  lived life the only way they knew how. Those that sought to improve their plight, even though they sought for freedom for “their” religion, they opened a door in  this new country that would over time come to understand that we are all created equal and all have a right to practice religion as we as individuals  see fit to do so.

This country as she stands today is also something that I am so grateful for. Oh I understand we are in a nasty mess, one that we may never climb out of. That there is hope that this land will regain her footing is another thing that I am thankful for, a hope that is born of the human spirit and a God that has I believe placed this country here for this time and place. What the outcome is, is not mine to see. Saying that this does not remove me from the responsibility of  those privileges given to me as a citizen of this great country.  For those privileges I am thankful.

Never last but first I am thankful to the one that orchestrates it all. I am thankful to God for His love, mercy, and longsuffering.  How he has guided me these last 54 years, never ceases to amaze me! His Son Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift and I am truly thankful that  he loved me enough to give his life for me for my sins. A debt I can never repay, but only with my heart.

My family and friend are a blessing each and everyone each bringing a special aspect to my life. Children bring joy, grandchildren even greater joy ( like the old saying, if I knew grandkids were so much fun I would have had them first )  parents bring love and stability, friends sharing and caring sometimes the only one besides God that you are comfortable sharing your uttermost depths with. For a loving husband who puts up with my shinaigains and still loves me, sometimes leaving me to wonder why!

As my daughter so nicely said in a post on facebook, she is thankful for all her challenges, for they have made her who she is. I agree with her completely all of her challenge……oh wai tI  mean all <GRIN> of my challenges good and bad have made me who I am, for which I am thankful, the make me, the only me there is !

May each of you be truly blessed this day~ God Bless and keep each one.

Love

 

Amanuensis Monday-History of Dresden Presbyterian Church History 1819-1919/part 6/

Amanuensis Monday – An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

The following History will be presented in 6 parts each one being posted on Monday.  This is a History of the Presbyterian Church in Dresden Ohio as of 1919, that is in my possession.  My Great Grandfather was the Pastor of the Church when this piece was commissioned. I have pulled it from a earlier posting on my rootsweb family website. I hope that it brings information you can use or maybe an interesting read. Enjoy! There is more to Dresden then baskets 😀

1819- Dresden Presbyterian Church History -1919

author unknown  for this Addendum

Addendum
The celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Dresden has been the hearts of the people for some months, which finally, culminated in a Congregation Meeting. The various committees were arranged for the assigned and the time set and “Our Centennial began” the week’s service, Sabbath, September 28th, very fittingly with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and the Text-1 Samuel 7, 12, “Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us”-which, ignorant of the Pastor’s text, the Historian has also chosen.

The program for the week was most interesting and was planned by our most efficient Pastor, Rev. D. M Ogilvie and his able Coadjutors, J.W. Lanning, W.W. Shore, C.W. Stevenson, Hugh Adams and Robert Mortland. These, with their wives and Mr. Lanning’s daughter, Miss Lettie, were also the Reception Committee to welcome the Home-coming guests.

On Monday, September 29th, the Choir gave a splendid Concert under the leadership of Messrs. S. Spencer and Harry Shore.

Tuesday, September 30th, P.M. Rev. F.B. Shumaker, a former Pastor, of Jeanette Pa., who had preached his farewell sermon, September 30, 1907, preached from Deut. 3, 4-7; “One hundred years old and the the eye not dim nor his natural force abated.”

On Wednesday, October 1st, “The Presbyterian Family-Homecoming Dinner” was served to over three hundred guests. A word of commendation must be said. Never was a more capable committee appointed and as the whole Church could not be named, the Pastor announced that any lady who would assist would be very welcome. Many ladies not mentioned on the Committee came forward and served faithfully throughout the occasion. Such were the wise and willing-hearted Presbyterian women rendering the highest type of service. Mrs. J.J. Horn was the Chairman of this efficient Committee. Menu and service were fine and carried out like clockwork.

After the dinner came the speeches, the Pastor, Rev. D.M. Ogilvie, acting Toastmaster. Rev. Kenneth McLeod, H.J. Shore, J.W. Lanning, Mrs. R.B Longstreth and Rev. F.B. Shumaker were called upon. Rev. Shumaker remarked in his response, that he had “attended other Centennials, and this one was the best planned and best carried out of them all.” Rev. Ogilvie then read the Regrets from the four points of the compass, getting the best of them all. Mrs. F.B. Shumaker, by request, sang a beautiful solo.

Then came the Church History of the One Hundred Years, by Mrs. T. M. Stevenson. Mrs. Stevenson endeavored to gather the laborers of the past, and their labors, the Ministerial Committee sent by the Presbyter of Lancaster (Ohio), to assist the little band of eight persons to organize the Dresden Presbyterian Church-three ministers, four men and four women, their names, and a brief biography of each.

Strange to relate, in the audience were grandchildren, of every Charter member or founder, and great-grandchildren of most and at least one great-great-grandaughter, and all these still faithful active members of the Presbyterian Church. Surly a wonderful record after on hundred years!

The Historian also gave the Apostolic Succession of the sixteen Pastors, beginning with Rev, Prescott B. Smith,1819, and closing with Rev. D.M. Ogilvie, 1919. She also named the Elders and date of ordination down to the present Session. Then the Missionaries: Mrs. Josephine Lemert Coffing, nearly fifty years in Armenia, and Roy Lanning, now for five years in China; the former, daughter of Laban Lemert, a former Elder, and Roy, son of J.W. Lanning, now an Elder. Then as our Representatives for Home Missions; Mrs. H.G.O. Cary, daughter of another Elder, John N. Ingalls.

Mrs. Cary organized the Zanesville Presbyterial Home and Foreign Missionary Society. She visited the Churches of Muskingum, Licking, Coshocton, Knox and Perry Counties, stirring up the Presbyterian women of all. Then for seventeen years served as President and as President Emeritus the rest of her life. She and Mrs. Coffing organized the Dresden Home and Foreign Missionary Society, which still exists, with Mrs. C.S. Frazier as President. We have had many, many faithful workers.

Mrs. Coffing also organized the “Mercy Drop” a Home and Foreign Missionary Society-a young ladies society-who raised more for missions than any society we ever had, and who at one time, gave more than any other society in this large Presbytery.

Mrs. T.M. Stevenson, of this Church, served for seventeen years as the President of the Athens Presbyterial Home and Foreign Missionary Society and two year as President of the Zanesville Presbyterial Home and Foreign Missionary Society.*

* notion in pamphlet Still a Vice President ( unsure of handwriting)

Then there was Mrs. F.W. Gorche who, besides organizing the C.E. Society, was President of the Auxiliary Missionary Society, a Sabbath School teacher and President of the W.C.T.U. Society. Our ladies never confined themselves to their own Church activities. Mrs. Mittie Cresap Senior hand the Junior Mission Band. Today Miss Mary Stump leads the Union Endeavor. Some of these workers have gone to their reward. We love and appreciate them and can never forget them and the blessing their lives have been. His work goes on and gathers strength from their example. For years Mrs. Alex Pruson was Auxiliary President.

Another activity of Christians which is sometimes forgotten was ministering to the Black Man. There was a transportation called the “Underground Railroad.” It took a strong, kindly heart to open the doors to the black brother seeking the North Star. Mr. and Mrs. Pruson, Alex. Pierson and Rev. S.P. Hildreth had that heart and hand.

Truly hitherto hath the Lord helped us and will be with us always. This fortunate Church has grandchildren of its members in the ministry; Rev. Hayes Beeman, of Wooster, and Rev. John White, of the U.P. Church at Cedarville, Ohio; the former son of the late Rev. Henry Beeman, of New Lexington, and the latter of Rev. James White and Mrs. Amelia Wallace White, God hath not dealt so with any people.

On Thursday Evening October 2, Rev. Dr. D.W. McLeod, of East Liverpool, also a former pastor, preached upon the “Glorious Gospel.” This was a unique service. H.J. Shore, for twenty years or more leader of the choir, invited all former choir singers-visitors- to take their old places. The choir was full to overflowing and and they added their voices with joy to the singers of the present choir, and Harry Shore wielded the baton with his old-time zest, and Rev. Dr. MacLeod preached in his happiest style.

On Friday Evening October 3, Rev. J.A. Speer, of Coshocton, gave a stirring sermon on the “New Era.”

On Sabbath Rev. D.M. Ogilvie, our Pastor, finished this delightful and eventful Centennial Week with a wonderful plea for the future, from Joshua 1, 2: ” Moses, my servant, is dead. Arise now, therefore, and go over Jordan.”