The Last Day of 2005...

...and I'm in Boise.

I'm with two of my brothers, my sister-in-law, and her sister. We made the Portland-Boise drive to attend a wedding last night. And the attire was "formal," so that was fun! The wedding was pretty. The visiting with friends we hadn't seen for a long time was great!

I'll post some pictures in Studio '78 when I get home. We're about to jump in the truck and head home via the nearest Starbucks that will honor my 30% partner discount. Perks... gotta love 'em.

We'll bring in the New Year with Dad, Mom, Seth, Darren, and us who traveled to Idaho. Should get home in time for a good celebration!

I am rather relieved to see 2005 go and to meet 2006. What will God do with this new year in all of our lives? It's always so exciting, walking with Him! God bless you, my friends.

Luke 1:45

"Oh, how happy is the woman who believes in God, for His promises to her come true."

What a beautiful, poignant, yet hidden message of the Christmas story! Oh, how faithful is God.

Merry Christmas! May your New Year dreams come true!

"Elf's Lament"

I'm a man of reason, and they say "'Tis the season to be jolly"
But it's folly when you volley for position

Never in existence has there been such a resistance
To ideas meant to free us
If you could see us, then you'd listen

Toiling through the ages, making toys on garnished wages
There's no union
We're only through when we outdo the competition

I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise
Use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf

A full indentured servitude can reflect on one's attitude
But that silly red hat just makes the fat man look outrageous

Absurd though it may seem, you know, I've heard there's even been illegal doping
And though we're coping, I just hope it's not contagious

You try to start a movement, and you think you see improvement
But when thrown into the moment, we just don't seem so courageous

I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise
Use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf

You look at yourself
You're an elf
And the shelf is just filled with disappointing memories
Trends come and go, and your friends wanna know why you aren't just happy making crappy little gizmos
Every kid knows they'll just throw this stuff away

We're used to repetition, so we drew up a petition
We, the undersigned, feel undermined
Let's redefine "employment"

We know that we've got leverage, so we'll hand the fat man a beverage
And sit back while we attack the utter lack of our enjoyment

It may be tough to swallow, but our threats are far from hollow
He may thunder, but if he blunders, he may wonder where the toys went

I make toys, but I've got aspirations
Make some noise
Use your imagination
Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for
There's a list for who's been
Naughty or nice, but consider the price
Naughty or nice, but consider the price
Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf!

Paul Harvey's Christmas Exhortation

The following was allegedly written by Paul Harvey. Even if it wasn't, it's still worth reading.



Paul Harvey says:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up therereading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome...

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument

What about them?

Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of earplugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us.

And if that last sentence offends you, well...just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority don't care what they want. It is time the majority rules!

It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.

But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we will win!

God bless us one and all...especially those who denounce Him.

God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

May 2006 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Annual "Shop for Mom" Day

Daddy took me shopping today. We always have at least one good day out together during this season. He has gifts to buy for Mom and I help him with the ideas. We're good together...brainstorming and such. Sorry I can't divulge any details of our successes... Mom might read it! But we park, & eat, & walk, & shop, & Starbucks, & think, & shop, & run out of time. So we're gonna do it again tomorrow.

The side benefit to shopping with Dad - which all Brock kids know - is that the shopping assistant (in this case, me) gets an extra prize of their choosing that day! We postponed mine til tomorrow... hmmm... what will it be?

Must.Read.Seth's.Latest.

Seth's latest Christmas post is absolutely hysterical! Stop what you're doing and go read it right now. Go!

Emotional Songs

The following list is of songs I was thinking of today as I considered what made me cry and/or gave me goosebumps! Haven't heard one, yet? Listen to it for a good time. Or a good cry. Or just because! Maybe they only hit me that way...

"Asleep in the Light" -- Keith Green

"Make My Life A Prayer To You" -- Keith Green

"Come To Jesus" -- Chris Rice

"The Day Before You" -- Rascal Flatts

"Travelin' Soldier" -- Dixie Chicks

"100 Years" -- Five For Fighting

"She Will Be Loved" -- Maroon 5

"Letters From War" -- Mark Shultz

"If You're Not the One" -- Daniel Beddingfield

"My Immortal" -- Evanesence

"When God Made You" -- Newsong

"Mary, Did You Know?"

One of my favorite Christmas songs, ever. Can you imagine if Mary knew what her obedience would cost? Would she have agreed? Would it have been harder to know? Or better not to know?

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?

This child
That you delivered
Will soon deliver you...

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know
That your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss
Your little baby,
You kiss the face of God...

Oh, Mary, did you know?

The blind will see,
The deaf will hear,
The dead will live again!

The lame will leap,
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb!

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?

Did you know
That your baby boy
Is Heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child
You're holding
Is the great
I Am!

On Witnessing...

For those who know me, you'll already know that the jobs I've had and work I've done in past years (paid or volunteer) have all been one form of ministry or another. Sometimes I've worked for myself. Sometimes for the family business. And then, of course, church, IBLP, and Bridgeway Ministries.

What I'm driving at is this: I have always and forever been surrounded -- completely surrounded -- by Christians. Without question. If I've worked closely with anyone, they have been fellow believers and ardent followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My current situation has me working daily with non-Christians. It's been different. And very good for me to realize that I am actually a part of the minority in the world. I'm exceedingly pleased and relieved to run into other Christians on the job or just in the store. And think of all the opportunities to share His love and light just by example!

I like cross necklaces, now.

As a wise person once said: "Witness at all times and in whatever way you can. If necessary, use words."

Working Women

I've been thinking about this lately...and then suddendly found a devotional by Elisabeth Elliot on the same subject! Good words...

========================================================
For you who so far have found it necessary to work I want to offer some encouragement and comfort.

1. "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19, NIV). Just remember that God must be the judge of your needs. Being wise, powerful and loving, He can be fully trusted to do just what He says.
2. You only know what you have to do today. None of us knows the future. Be faithful today--do your work faithfully, thoroughly, honestly, and gratefully. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV).
3. Be a lady. Betty Greene, pilot during World War II and later with Mission Aviation Fellowship, told me, "I made up my mind if I was to 'make it in a man's world,' I had to be a lady." A true lady is recognized and respected by men. Keep your honor, your distance, and your close touch with God. He will protect you.
4. If you are truly abandoned to the Lord, He will show you if/when He has a different assignment for you. Stay in touch with Him.

Jesus says, "Work for Me!"

Do you desire purpose? Do you want to know the will of God for your life?

Answer me this: Who has He called you to serve right now...where you are? Where have circumstances and need brought you? Where have your parents led you? That's a good clue. Don't discount it.

Are you seeking a foreign mission field and missing the foreigners in your own hometown?

Don't try the excuse that you're not an evangelist. Doesn't matter. You can be friendly. You can care about people. You can love. You can give. You can actively share God's love with people you run into every day. Do you not have the right words? Not a problem. The best witness is just that -- you are a first-hand witness of the change God has made in your life.

Are you waiting for the promised "wages" of Christianity and not seeing many blessings? The Lord of the harvest has promised to pay you 'what is right.' Not what you think is right. Not in the timing that you think. But what He deems is right. And when.

I'm saddened to see the great number of young people--with whom I served in the past--being burned by ministry. Did God not give them what was promised? Not what they expected?

"He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.

He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'"

(Matthew 20:6-7)

Oh, friends! Serve God! Be true to Him! He calls to you, "Work for Me in My vineyard! Don't waste away in idleness when the fields are ripe! I need you."

Expect nothing. No fame. No pats on the back. Expect to be treated as a servant, and be glad you are! Be used of God! Be faithful. Faithful in small things. Only then will you experience the indescribable joy and peace that comes from being in the center of God's will. Those "wages" are the sweetest. And they will come.

As much as depends on you... be faithful. Don't get stuck in boredom.

Inspirational Quote #1

"Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life."