Wow...

Recently we got the latest Voice of the Martyrs magazine for September and it had this story in it. I thought it was kind of one of those "there is no such thing as a coincidence" thing.

******
When Muslims encounter the grace and mercy of Jesus they become "spectacular," a living Christian witness/JESUS film for their own family. One young spectacle we encountered is a Christian brother we will call Bobby.

In 2004, when Bobby was a junior in high school, he had three dreams of Jesus and heaven. Coming from a Muslim family, he was eager to know the meaning of these dreams, but he could not ask about them. Muslims may not question the Koran or investigate other religions.

"I bought three holy books," he told me, "a Bible, the Hindu book and the Buddhist book. I locked the door of my bedroom and placed them on my desk. I began to read them looking for the meaning of my dreams.

"One day I forgot to lock the door. My mother came in, and seeing the books she screamed. All 10 of my family ran into my room and began to rebuke me. My father told me, 'You are a sinner.'

''My parents called the security guard, who came in and wrapped his hands in black plastic bags. He put the books in a sack." [If a Muslim touches a Bible they are polluted and must say a five-minute prayer- the same prayer they say for touching anything unclean, like a pig.]

"The guard and my family went outside to burn the books. They locked me in my room, although I was not yet a Christian convert. I looked out the window. God gave me courage. I climbed out my third-floor window and slid down the drain pipe. I ran aross to the just-started fire and pulled out a book covered in gasoline. I ran out the gate with my family chasing me. I hitchhiked on a truck to a ctiy and, exhausted, fell asleep that night leaning against a wall.

''The next morning I woke up dirty with messy hair, looking like a wild man.

"People were walking beside me going into the building where I had slept. I saw them carrying a book like mine. I went in with them. It was a church. The book I had pulled from the fire was a Bible. I sat in the back.

"After church I went outside. I didn't know what to do. A Christian lady coming out wanted to help me. I lied to her. I was afraid. She came back again. I told her my problem, and then she took me home. Her family fed me for some weeks, and then I began to receive Bible training. I could read the Bible now without a problem.

"Encouraged by my Christian friends, I returned home to a family r0eunion. My family threw plates of food at me, beat me and broke my collar bone. I was in the hospital unconcious fo two days. On the third day I escaped through a bathroom window.

"After two years of bible study I took a ferryboat to another island with a Christian team. There we led Muslims to Jesus. One Muslim convert began a church. Som village leaders were particularly angry at me since I had been a Muslim. They dragged be into a house and knocked me out. When i woke up, I crashed through a window and ran into the jungle.

"I will go back to that island next week. Please pray for me."

We prayed for Bobby and his family. Bobby continues to share Christ. He does not have a death wish. He has a life wish- to bring a new life where none exists.
**********

What are the chances that he would have just happened to grab the Bible and that the building he stood against to rest was a church? I mean really? God was calling his name for sure!

Update

I found two four leaved clovers a while back. That was cool.

A week or two ago we went grocery shopping down at Dad's work. We went to the new Whole Foods store. It was very cool. Don't you just love the smell at Whole Foods? It is so fresh and clean.

Saturday was sooooo hot! Dad had to go to a delegate meeting and he rode to Novi with another delegate that we know. After he got home we went to town and got some stuff to make root beer floats, came home and made some then, went back into town to enjoy our float while we drove around. That was fun too.

Yesterday Danielle and I uprooted a bunch of little trees in the girl goat pen in the woods. Then I clipped Andre (our male Angora rabbit). He looks a lot better. I'm telling you that was a lot of work!

Today Dad and I clipped the goats toes. They didn't need it really bad but, it was a good time to keep up on it before it got out of hand.

That-big-thought-moment

...my big thought...

Most people don't have a standard to live by so, most of their dreams/wishes etc. tend to become a part of what their culture is moving towards in that moment. You see it all over the place, in all kinds of nations, cultures & religions (yes, even Christians, and we do have a standard).

EXAMPLE: The American Dream, "I want a bigger house, we don't have enough room in this tiny 2,000 square foot home, and a better this would be nice...Maybe if I worked more I would have a lot of money and then I could afford to buy a better this and that..." The list goes on.

In the middle of nowhere Africa the same thing happens, "Can you believe it, they have a mud hut and I don't so, I want that, I need it...A tribal war is in order because, don't you want what they have and we could easily take their village if this and that..."

EXAMPLE 2: In America, "I need to stay in shape, being skinny is THE thing and I really need to "feel" good about myself, because that is important to me. Also, don't call me tomorrow because, I won't be available as I need some "me time." Or "Please Lord could I just be half as cute as so and so"... And who decided that she was cute and you weren't? If you say that then how did you get to that conclusion? You had to be influenced by somebody. Who is that somebody? A friend? Your culture?

In Africa, "I'm ashamed of myself, I'm to skinny, I wish that I was half as fat as so and so, at least she gets to eat one meal a day regularly. That shows that they have lots of money and I don't. Can you imagine if an African girl came to America and said "Please Lord, half as fat as her!"? She would get the wildest stares on the planet!

EXAMPLE 3: In America, "I wish that my hair was this color like the popular girl at school. If only it was curly instead of straight. If only it was straight instead of curly.

EXAMPLE 4: "This popular Christian ministry says this so, I guess, we need to change directions and move with the "popular flow". Come on kids lets go..."


It seems like we as people always want what we don't/can't have. "I want this instead of this." And to throw something else into the mix there are trends. "Well this was cool but, today, not cool. That is soooo last year. Aren't you up with the newest things? I guess not. Hello, like you need to get it together" Or in the other direction... "I once was blind but, now I see as the old hymn goes, yes I use to do that but, now I would never do that. I'm so thankful to Mr. So and So Pastor that set me aright on September 27th, 1982 when I accepted the LORD as my personal saviour. I'm forever grateful."


Also, there are a few kinds of love, and without a standard of the bible you tend to be rather subjective in the way you show love to people. Most likely the way you learned how to "love'' people is though your parents. Here are the types I thought were out there...


1. Family love.
-How you interact with you family, how you show them that you love them.

2. Friendship love.

-How you have fun with a friend.

3. Man and women love.

4. Buying love.
-This type of love can be used with all of the above. "Well I bought you all this and that is how I show love."

5. Animal/human love.
-How you show you pets love. But, obviously animals can't be "bought" that easy.


This isn't a big thought for me in that it was a revelation but, that it would be a lot to write down. I have thought about this before and just decided to write in to a blog post.

A new pen

Yesterday we made the girl goats a new pen. Now everywhere they go they have a ton of food which, I'm pretty sure they like a lot. That was a lot of work but, their other pen really needed to be moved. We are slowly taking over our woods by moving each pen. It looks really good back in the woods.

Maybe something funny is in order:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/aftereden/index.aspx

Cartoons from Answers in Genesis. Some of them are hilarious.

http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/2006/11/20/phenomenal-testimony/

This is the cartoonist's testimony. Very interesting. A two part series so, look on the bottom of the movie to get the second part.

More stuff that we have been up to...

Dad finished a bee hive and we made another one too! They look very nice. We aren't really quite done yet but, all we need to do is make a top for it which, shouldn't be very hard.

On Friday we saw one and a quarter rainbow. It was awesome. The one rainbow was a full one, and the other one was on the right hand side of the full rainbow. Actually this was the first time I have ever seen a full and complete rainbow. So, that was cool for me. Of couse, rainbows mean rain and that is what we had. It poured really bad. We ended up milking in the rain. Actually it was fun. I enjoyed it a lot.





(No I didn't take this picture. It came with my computer but, I liked it so, I'm going to post it. Thank you to who ever did though because this is a wonderful picture.)

Today Mom, Danielle, and I ran it to town because we were totally out of grain for all the animals. Then worked outside on the garden. Put pea gravel in the flower garden.

What we have been up to

Yesterday we went to a friend's house and then today they came here. The lady's kids are very well behaved so, they are so fun to have around. Maybe I need a schedule to keep me going on blogging so that I always have a post in mind all the time. Nahh. That leaves for no freedom man:-) I could post a picture. Okay, here you go!

Special thanks to Danielle and MaKayla. :)

(Sorry about the quality of the picture. I don't know why the camera did that. Remember that I'm not a good picture taker.)

Yiiiippppeeeee!

All right, blogger let me update pictures! So here they are.

Let's see here now, what did I promise you? Oh yes...here we go...


A picture of our complete fencing. Isn't it pretty? I think so...
Now for the flower pictures...

I know this isn't a flower but, I thought that it was pretty.

Now this is Holly's lip. No, she was not in mid-sentance when the picture was taken:-)

Ok so the next thing was a meet the herd set of pictures, and because you have already met Holly I will forgo another picture of her.

This is General Stormy Sky before we got him. Isn't he a cutie?

This is Merrylegs.

These are Merrylegs' babies, (L to R) "Chops" and Girlie.

This is my first goat Clover.

This is Miss Dainty Bangles, Clovers first baby.

Then there should be a picture of Bear our buck but, I don't have a picture of him on my computer so that will have to wait until later.

Yesterday Mom, Danielle, and I stood at the polls all day long. It was very hot and tiring. But, we made it, so that is good. After the polls closed we came home, took a shower and then went to the canidate's parent's house for a big shin dig after the polls type of thing. They made grilled hamburgers, dessert and other stuff which, I must say was very good. That was pretty fun but, we were glad to get home and go to bed.

I got the picture!:-)

All right, I have a confession to make. I’m a night owl. So now you know why there are TWO posts today. I wrote the last post last night and posted it at 12:00 AM this morning. Then I went to bed. Now it is 10:00 PM and I’m posting another thing today. Get my drift? Yeah…so that's why there are TWO posts today. Anyway…

We worked outside today again. Dad and I worked on the bee hive and got a lot done. Mom and Danielle painted every thing black. Well most every thing:-) . Made a run to town to get a new saw blade ‘cause the other one we had was broken.

Danielle and I got stung by a hornet. Boy, that hurt! Our poor goat, Holly got stung too. Her lip was swollen. I'll post a picture of that. She looked so funny.

I was in a good mood today and I took that picture!

BUT, blogger won't let me update it on to my blog so...sorry, you'll have to wait until I can. But, in the meantime I'll tell you what kinds of pictures I have planned for your veiwing pleasure.

• A picture of the fence.
• Some pictures of flowers that we have around here.
• A meet the goat herd set of pictures.
• Holly's swollen lip.

Does that sound good? Cool.

I'll get right on it as soon as blogger will let me.

More Work...

We worked outside again today. Yes, we did top and paint the wooden fence posts. Got a ton of stuff done which is awesome. (But, I wasn't in a good enough mood to get that picture:) A family that was visiting the neighbors came and looked at all of our animals. They have four daughters under ten. All of them were really cute. I think that we are slowly turning into a petting zoo:-) Now the big thing is where is the cash flow?:-)


We had chicken eggs on the deck of the barn waiting for our next run up to the house which the little girls found and wanted to take with them. Mom told the neighbor girl watching them that they could take the eggs. She asked “Are you sure?” after Mom said “Yeah” she asked “Are you sure, are they real eggs?” It is really sad that today in America we have gotten so far from things that should be normal (like getting fresh eggs from your chickens out back) to just buying bleached, gross, old eggs from the store.


Well, Dad has gotten “Stung by a Bee” so to speak. He put a suit on at a friends house and got “stung’’. Oh no, he caught the bee fever. He just has to have a hive now and is reading as much as he can about bees. And next thing you know we are going to be beekeepers. So, he has been busy reading up on how to make a top bar hive and today he started it. Just to let everyone know, pallet wood is cheap. So cheap that it doesn't cost any thing. Cool. Now we can have a bee hive for free instead of $300. Once again, cool.


Ahhhh…I LOVE this type of picture. Two in one ladies and gentlemen! In the front Dad starts his bee hive out of pallet wood as the goats happily graze in the new pasture in the background. Perfect! (Notice how the goats are NOT by the electric fencing?)


******WARNING*******WARNING*******WARNING*******
This feeling of “getting stung” CAN happen with any type of animal. One day you could be going along and all of a sudden you JUST have to get your hands on as much information on a particular animal as possible. Note: I’m speaking from experience. Trust me I know. As the famous line goes in the animal world- “Animals are like potato chips, you can’t have just one!”


To have a little fun I’m going to tell you a story about how I got into goats/got my first goat.


Clover was my first goat. She is a ¾ LaMancha, ¼ Boer mix. Black and white. Big ears. Big attitude. Did I say BIG attitude? Yeah, BIG. And LOUD. Did I say LOUD? Yeah…VERY LOUD. To cut to the chase she taught me a LOT about goat ownership. You know, small stuff like, you have to have TWO goats if you are going to have ONE:-) OR, you will be outside from 8 AM to 9 PM sitting and playing with her to keep her quiet so the neighbors don’t freak out ‘cause she is yelling ALL DAY LONG. But, I love her. The first time I saw her I knew she had to be mine. I named her before I knew whether or not the lady was even going sell her to me. I know, that might sound kind of assuming but hey, when you love an animal that much you know that you have to find some way to get them, some how. (Whether or not it’s begging the person that owns the animal or your parents:- ) But, it wasn’t too hard to get her from owner as she was trying to bred purebred LaManchas for her goats milk share farm and Clover had just been an unplanned breeding. So, it was a good way to make money without having to eat her as they were going to do. But…where was I…Oh yeah…so, I named her and begged Mom and Dad to get her. I told them ALL the BENEFITS of having goats and so on and so forth…(And you know what? It worked ‘cause I got her and that has lead into a mini hobby farm. My joy. And to my joy.) Now Clover is milking and has had her first set of twins. This September I’m going to breed her and have February kids. I love kidding season. Don’t you?

Look at that sad face...

This is Jenny Lindski. If I remember right she was kinda hungry when this picture was taken:-) You know the whole morning chores thing:-)

Fencing

Thursday was the last day that we had to work on the new fence that we were building. (Well ok we still have to trim the tops off so that it looks uniform but, when you can do that with a chain saw and then all you have to do after that is paint the tops, you really can't call that "working on the fence" because that hardly takes any energy:-) The coolest thing was that we got the wooden fence posts for a really good deal and we painted them black. I keep telling everyone in my family that it looks like some rich horse farm. You know the ones- you just drive past it and think "Wow, some day I want a farm like that. But, alas, I could never afford it." Maybe this was our first attempt at a farm version of "Design on a Dime.'' But, gosh, that took a lot of time and effort! Every day for about a week I would come in, take a shower and jump into bed ‘cause I was so tired. But it is definitely worth it to see the goats grazing in the field. I think that they really enjoy it which makes me enjoy it too. Thursday was also the first time that we have used electric fencing- for us and for the goats. So they are learning NOT to touch the fence with their noses. Oh boy, training starts. I don't think that it gives them to strong a shock as the babies just walk right on through it. Argggg! Dad wet them down with the hose but, I don't think that it helped very much. Oh well.

Maybe I will get the camera out, take a picture and post it.

Maybe- if I am in a good mood:-)