The Singing Revolution

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200711/FOR20071130a.html

web sites related to authors I recommend

www.lemanbooksandvideos.com

http://www.marriagealive.com/

Mary: Mother and Disciple of Christ Jesus the Lord

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=908

If you're following the program aids from USA Central, you might be especially interested in this article, as Mary is the focus for this Sunday!

(hat tip -- Steve Court)

Evelyn

In Christ Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo

thanksgiving

I guess you might have noticed that I'm blogging a lot more now. We had a 28K connection for the month we were in America, so we're glad to be back in a civilized country now! ;-)

I feel compelled to list some of the things I'm thankful for, in no particular order!

PS 69:30 I will praise God's name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

PS 95:2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

PS 147:7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God....

PHP 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1TI 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone....

I am thankful:

• that none of us got sick the whole time we were in America
• that Peter didn't get sick until we were already home in Estonia (no puking on the plane!), and that it only last 24 hours
• for all of the men who have had an influence on my life
• for Andrus, Sirje, and everyone else who ran things while we were away
• that "we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)
• for USA East and all the support they give us, especially the Moretzes & Major Mansilla
• for all of the retired officers and soldiers in Asbury Park and OOB and elsewhere who pray for us
• for Mary Davis in particular, who prays for us at 6 a.m. every day!
• for so many who "excel in this grace of giving" (2 Corinthians 8:2-7)
• for a husband who takes good care of me
• for my (usual!) ability to fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow -- my current jet lag makes me grateful that this sleeplessness is not typical for me
• for people who have written such beautiful songs, and for Siiri who has chosen really beautiful Advent songs for our Songster brigade
• that we were safe in all of our travels
• that I get to live in this beautiful country
• for the way the snow sticks to the trees
• for a warm coat, warm boots, and warm car (thank you, USA East Home League!)
• for fellow Salvationists' blogs and Facebook profiles
• that we don't have to sin
• that Tim's whole family was together for Thanksgiving
• for three beautiful children
• that Chris achieved his SAT score goal, and was accepted to Houghton College!
• that Houghton College is so welcoming to Wesleyans, homeschoolers, and MKs
• that we have so many beloved friends and family that we couldn't even visit them all in a month (imagine that we had 1 friend and 2 family members, and we could see them all in one day!)
• for a lovely apartment that I don't have to worry about being evicted from
• for time spent with family and precious friends
• for the warm reception we've received upon returning home to Estonia
• that I didn't completely forget the Estonian language in a month!
• for people who pray for us even though they've never actually met us
• for peppermint tea
• for you if you've read this far!

Evelyn

noorteklubi homme

Sassilt:

Tervitusi taas kõigile,
Sellel reedel kell 19:00 - 21:00 toimub taas noortekasNarva mnt 51 noorteruumis
teemaks seekord "JÄRGIDES JEESUST?"
tule ise ja võta sõber kah kaasa!

a tribute to all kettle coordinators and workers

We're thinking of you and praying for you and thanking God for you today!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people" (Galatians 6:9-10)!!!!!!

SASB 579
1.He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase,

To added afflictions he addeth his mercy,

To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

2.When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

3.His love has no limits, his grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of his infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932)

"There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need."

http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_austinma.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/DD8122F64134FE8D80257305006D2198?Opendocument

http://www.salvationarmy-usaeast.org/SApublish/goodnews/gn_article.cfm?article_id=32

http://ebooks.reftogo.com/ebook_excerpt/7b/TWRomaotSalvatAr.html

http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext05/7warm10.htm

we Salvationists are often closer to Catholicism in our beliefs than to our fellow Protestants

Wesleyan Distinctives
http://www.armybarmy.com/jac-issue2.html

Journal of Aggressive Christianity
Issue 2, August/September 1999
"The Doctrine of Sanctification in The Salvation Army"
by John Norton

Salvation Army historian John Coutts suggests that "any search for the religious roots of Salvationism must begin with the Methodism from which the Army sprang." It is not surprising, therefore, that the theology of John Wesley would contain the foundation of the Salvation Army's doctrine of sanctification. Wesley diverged from Reformed theology by suggesting that perfection in love is attainable for all believers through faith in Christ. "His distinctive contribution was his conviction that true biblical Christianity finds its highest expression and ultimate test of authenticity in the practical and ethical experience of the individual Christian."(15) This is an emphasis of Catholicism and Wesley helped recover it for Protestantism.

[15. Dieter, "The Wesleyan Perspective", Five Views on Sanctification (Grand Rapids: Acadimie, 1987) p. 11]

Advent

http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_category/9/Advent___Christmas.html

birthday gifts for baby Jesus

So, we're frantically packing and getting ready to fly home tomorrow!

It's hard saying good-bye to friends and family and familiar things/places. But I don't want to bitter about the wonderful opportunity we have to live and serve in Estonia for another 3 years.

So I've decided that whenever something pops up that seems like a "sacrifice" (some really are great; some are so trivial I would blush if you knew them), I will offer them up to Jesus as a birthday present for Him this Christmas!

It's hard that I didn't see my brother Bobby, my niece Christina, and my cousin Debbie this trip. It's hard that we didn't make it to Old Orchard Beach (so many folks at that corps I'd love to see!) or Pennsylvania or ...

We are quite homesick for Estonia, and really look forward to being in our own home and with our own corps people!

So, please pray for us as we travel (Mon. 26 Nov. at 4:50 p.m. until Tues. 27 Nov. at 7:30 a.m. NY time). We have a five-hour layover in Amsterdam and will be quite exhausted!

If you're in Estonia, PLEASE meet us at the airport on Tues. 27 Nov. at 14:30!!!!!!!!!!

all I want for Christmas ...

Captain Danielle Strickland
The Salvation Army
PR Department
Lockbag 3020
BOX HILL, VIC 3128
EMAIL: justsalvos@aus.salvationarmy.org

http://www.justsalvos.com/userfiles/file/JUSTgiftscatalogue.pdf

SA UK job openings

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/www_alove_national.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/36FB7316548BE3B7802572EB00474D11?Opendocument

a quote that has comforted me

"It is generally accepted among cross-cultural trainers that individuals who adjust best in a new culture have the greatest difficulty re-entering their own."
Raising Resilient MKs
"The Re-Entry Task" by David C. Pollock

This helps explain why Chris and I are the ones who suffer the most when we come to America. It is amazing to me how much language has to do with this. It is certainly no coincidence that we are are also the ones who do best with Estonian language.

I've reached the point of being homesick for Estonia; we fly out one week from tomorrow and I really can't wait!

On the other hand, it's so hard to leave family not knowing when we'll see them again (2010?).

I just had a thought -- how does this idea translate for us as Christians? Individuals who "adjust best" to being on earth have the greatest difficuly entering heaving? Let's remember that we are strangers, aliens, sojourners!

Evelyn