This is incredible! I had NO idea!! (Did YOU?)

A couple of facts blindsided me recently.  Did you know there are two towns named Bethlehem in Israel?  I was born and raised and have lived around all things "Bible" for my almost- 66 years, but never caught on. We all know about the southern Bethlehem (Ephrathah) in Judea, from whence King David's family came, and in which Jesus was born. The other one is in northern Israel and is usually called Bethlehem of Galilee. That's the one with an...unfortunate "past"!

(Parenthetical note: the Galilee one is very close to Nazareth, and some scholars believe Jesus was born there.  But Scriptures disprove that.  See below for Biblical proof.)
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Bethlehem of Galilee is ancient, with its peak occurring from the 2nd to 7th centuries, and was destroyed more than once, having a rather chaotic history.  In the 1890's German Templars purchased the lands, built nice stone houses and kept the ancient name.
Fast forward to around the time of World War 2.  In this Bethlehem there was actually an organized group of active supporters of the Nazi party!  Most got kicked out, and by the time Israel became a nation (again) in 1948, the rest either left voluntarily or were expelled.  Imagine...Nazis in the Holy Land!  (Of all the nerve!)

The deserted village was resettled, and became a "Moshav" (a cooperative community of farmers) in 1948.  Today it is a popular tourist site, with age-old ruins and an ancient cemetery.
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Now let's look at another story of two entities with the same name...that also occurred in the World War 2 era.  But this one is personal, as it involved my father!

My father enlisted in the U.S. Air Force (at 17, I believe) and at one time was stationed in Germany, serving as a radio operator on the aircraft.  One day he checked the assignment lists and found that "Bruce Moore" was slated to be on a particular flight. There happened to be two men with the same name in the group, so my dad wasn't sure if he was on or not.

 Then one of his superiors found him and wanted him for something. ( I can't remember exactly what). When my father explained that his name was on the roster to fly, the other man said, "Let the other Bruce Moore go; you come with me."  (Or words to that effect.) So that's what he did.

Later they found out that that particular plane had crashed, and the dead included the other Bruce Moore.  My father also learned that HE was the one who should have been on that flight.  The other man died in his place, and my father was alive, thanks to an officer who pulled rank!

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God looks out for His people!  It doesn't matter if 200 people have the same name.  He knows exactly who each one is.  He'll never confuse us, and we will never "get lost in the shuffle", or "slip through the cracks".

As He said to Jeremiah (1:5): "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."

The psalmist beautifully wrote:

                      "O Lord, You have searched me and known me...
                       and are intimately acquainted with all my ways...
                                 You wove me in my mother's womb. 
               I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...
               in your Book were written all the days that were ordained for me, 
                               before even one of them came to be."    (Psalm 139)

                                          Father, You are amazing!  Thank you!
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{In Joshua 19:14-15 the northern Bethlehem is mentioned as part of Zebulun's lands...not Judah's.  Luke says that due to the census, Joseph took Mary "to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David." (2:4)  Also, Micah's prophecy about Jesus' birth is very specific, leaving no doubt: "O Bethlehem Ephrathah...you will be the birthplace of my King Who is alive from everlasting ages past." (5:2)}

I'm collecting opinions. Please leave me yours!

Some time ago, my husband suddenly asked me, "Do you suppose your parents know that we are doing this?"  Hmmm.

 My parents passed away several years ago, and when my siblings came down to Ecuador and we all went out to the tribe where we grew up, to bury their ashes, those dear people told us, "Don't forget us!"  So we decided not to!  (Forget them.)  We have been joining and participating in their church services every 2 or 3 months, and being updated on how things are going for them.  My sister joins us when she comes down to visit.
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So.  Are my mom and dad, up There, able to watch us down here on Earth?  Does Jesus give them a big peek-hole through which to check up on things? We are far from being the only ones whose parents gave the best years of their lives to bring God's love and his Word to different people groups around the world, and who now have in some way or another kept up contact and minsitry with them.  Do our parents get to observe us and cheer us on?

(We were in a mall during a soccer game, where the food court was packed with people watching on big screens.  When our team scored, there was a huge roar!  I wonder...maybe Jesus sets up a huge screen  where everyone that has left life down here, and is with Him, can see their kids!)
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These parents are those who, like St. Paul, could say (in Philippians 1), "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.  Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!  I am torn between the two.  I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far."  In His time, He fulfilled their desire!

Having served God faithfully, don't you think it would be fair that they get to be updated?  (Although, it might not be so good if someone's work fell apart because no one cared...and then they would be saddened, rather than joyful...so...??)

Please let me know your opinion, as I am very curious as to how other people think regarding this!
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For all of us "kids" who continue, in one way or another, to keep in touch with the people/ministry our parents served when they were still alive, let's always remember this:

                              "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 
                                     stand firm. Let nothing move you.  
                         Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, 
                    because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
                                                    (I Corinthians 15:58)

My own "Samwise Gamgee" (Everyone should have one!)

One of my favorite moments in "The Return of the King" (Lord of the Rings) is when Sam and Frodo

are struggling uphill towards their goal, bleeding, dirty, discouraged...Frodo can't walk anymore. But he's the only one that can deliver the ring to its destruction.  Sam would like to help him carry the burden; however, Frodo knows HE  must be the one...but he can't make it.  Gathering what little strength is left in him, Sam says, "Come, Mr. Frodo!  I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!"  And that's how they finished their quest.
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I have a personal Samwise Gamgee.  I've had him for 46 years, and he has become more and more "Samwise-ish" as my health has little by little been losing ground.  When my husband was away for almost three weeks this summer, among the things I did to keep myself "busy" was re-watch the Lord of the Rings movies.  When we got to the moment I've just mentioned, my eyes teared up, and I thought, "My husband is my Sanwise Gamgee!"  Let me explain a bit.

Having several chronic illnesses, I have reduced energy, daily pain, and am always tired, with little stamina.  Germán always tries not to weigh me down, does things like keeping the dishes washed during the day, takes care of garbage disposal, runs all the errands, tends to brush off any comment from me about not having been able to cook this or that...saying I should only do what I feel I can, and to please rest when I need. He will readily order food in if I am not feeling up to cooking, or bring home take-out.  His whole demeanor is one of doing his part to make my days easier.  (He also tells me he loves me numerous times a day!)

You see, he knows that he cannot carry my sickness, the pain I live, the frustration I feel as I seem to lose ground...but he can do all that is in his reach to "carry" ME!  To make my life easier if he can, to encourage me, to cheer my sadness, to give me some of his strength...and, above all, to intercede for me with our Father.  (And he does this as he struggles with health issues of his own.)
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Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you."  (John 15:12)  This includes helping others to carry their burdens, and if necessary, "carrying" them.  (No, it isn't easy, since we have loads of our own!)

But don't be afraid to be a Samwise Gamgee to any "Frodo" God brings you, because if you walk with Jesus, you walk with the Source of strength, hope, joy, trust.  You walk with the One who loves you so much that He says, 

 "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke on you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.:  (Matthew 11:28-29)
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And here's the best part:  the whole time we are helping others, "carrying" those who need it while bearing our own burdens, our Father will carry us!

                                   "I am He who will sustain you. 
                             I have made you and I will carry you."  (Isaiah 46:4)
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46 years, my love? Oh my!!

Forty-six years ago, Germán's niece Alma graced our wedding with a very poignant recitation of a Biblical compilation of passages on LOVE (in Spanish).  Her rendition was so lovely that even my

grandparents' eyes teared up - and they didn't know any Spanish!

See the little ring-bearer?  Leslie, one of Germán's nephews, was only three years old.  My brother Steve (far right) was a groomsman.  My parents are on the left.

Through the ups-and-downs of all these years, God has been our Refuge, our Comforter, our Strength and our Hope.



Not many of you will have a picture like this one in your wedding album...not with these particular guests!  Right in the center of this photo (taken during the outdoor reception) you can see a man and a woman of the indigenous tribe my parents worked with, and around which I grew up.

                                                                                         
                             God has been so good to us, hasn't He, my love?
                                           
                                                  Happy Anniversary!

The definition of "Carol"

Dictionaries don't tell the whole story.  But they can point in the right direction. For example, one meaning (as a verb) is to speak or sing "in a happy way".  Yes, my sister Carol makes pretty much a

Carol on the left; then me and my husband.

habit of it...and she loves to laugh!

A "carol" is also a song, usually referring to one sung at Christmas.  My Carol has tried to make her whole life a song.  Though time and again she has been rocked by loss, she gets her feet under her once more and then works those hard times into the tapestry of the music, adding positively to its melody...instead of taking away from it. Her lyrics are restored and refined, speaking to those around her who hear. 

How does she manage to do all that?  The answer isn't hard to find or far away.  Starting with Christmas...the One who was born in Bethlehem is her Companion.  She personally knows Him, "The Why and Wherefore".  She trusts...and that's enough.

Happy Birthday, little sister!
May God continue to help you weave His music through your life.
Keep trusting.  Keep laughing!
I love you.

Tsachi sisters!

"Our bodies may have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the body of Christ,"  (I Corinthians 12:12)

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Another delightful visit to the Tsachi church in Cóngoma (where I spent numerous years growing up) has warmed our hearts.  The last few times we've gone, when I've worn the native skirt, none of my Tsachi sisters have...and when I haven't worn it, some of them have!  But this time, three of us matched! 

 I remember as a child watching the women of the tribe work their looms, making the colorful striped skirts for the females of the family, and short, navy blue ones for the males. (They were basically rectangular, no seams, buttons or zippers - just wrap-arounds.)  Nowadays, they don't need that back-breaking work.  They can just buy some already-woven fabric, make the skirt and put a zipper in!  One thing that always fascinated me was how they managed to keep the skirts on!  The men used a type of sash, but the women just tucked the one edge of the "tunán" into the other.  I never saw a woman's skirt come loose, in spite of all their activities.  (Mom never managed that; she used a big safety pin to keep hers from falling down!)

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The couple in the background (whose little girl Lulí I played peek-a-boo with) are much younger and don't wear native dress.  (Few youngsters do!)  The husband (Ismael) has decided he would like to look into becoming a pastor!  Although there are leaders in the churches in various Tsachi areas, none of them are actually pastors, so this would be awesome!  They are going to look into the most practical and efficient way to get him the training he wants. 

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The three of us in the picture match in another way...a much more important one.  It's something that we share with the others who, together with us, sang to our Lord (in Spanish and Tsáfiki), listened to a teaching (from the Word, via my husband) and prayed together.  We all believe in Christ!  This Bible verse says it really well:

                                                      "In this new life 
           one's nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; 

                                                such things mean nothing. 

                                  Whether a person has Christ is what matters, 

                                                 and He is available to all."

                                                                                                    (Colossians 3:11  LB)

The Artist Strikes Again!!

Lately we have been treated to the amazing brush-strokes of the master Artist as He adorns the sky...both in the evening and in the morning.  Our house is situated in such a way that we can see the

Sunrise in Quito

splendor of sunsets directly out our living room window. (Photos farther down.)

  Even though we can't see the core of the sunrise, I recently saw this "corner" of a lovely sunrise, and took a picture quickly before the light grew and colors faded away. (Only seen because I usually get up between 5:30 and 6:00!)  I am always entranced by the beauty!
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"Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars."  (Psalm 148:3)
When God adds the last touches, does the sun whisper, "How lovely! Thank You!" ?

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised."  (Psalm 113:3)                                                                                                                                                     "The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets."  (Psalm 50:1)                 

 "So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, people may know that there is none beside Me.  I am the LORD, and there is no other."  (Isaiah 45:6)

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There will be a time in the future when the sun won't be dressed in either twilight or dawn finery.

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord."  (Acts 2:20)
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And then...we won't need it anymore!   God's presence so outshines the sun that it will cease to be necessary, when Christ reigns in the New Jerusalem.

"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."  (Revelation 21:23)

"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD wll be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory...the LORD will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end."  (Isaiah 19-20)
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                         Thank You, Father, for light and beauty here and now...
                             and the promise of even greater Light and Beauty 
                                             when your Son returns!