Happy Thanks Giving

I re-read Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation two weeks ago.  Reading this proclamation gives a different perspective on our celebration of this day.  We are scaling back our feast, including more giving of our time, talent and treasures to our community and focusing on our many blessings.

I wish you all a wonderful day of thanks giving

(with a little turkey and cranberries on the side).

Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.  To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.  In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.  Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.  Population had steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.  It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.  I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.  And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

-- Abraham Lincoln

In addition to being floored by the sentiments expressed by Lincoln in this proclamation, I am truly awed by Lincoln's use of the English language. When (and why) did we loose the ability to speak so eloquently?

Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make kown among the peoples his deeds!
Psalm 105:1

Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakeable kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should offer worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe.

Hebrews 12:28

. . . and say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
Sing praise to the Lord; for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throught all the earth.
Isaiah 12:4 - 5

I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you . . .
Philippians 1:3

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, your wonders of old I will remember.
I will recite all your works; your exploits I will tell.
Your way, O God, is holy; what god is as great as our God?
You alone are the God who did wonders; among the peoples you revealed your might.
With your arm you redeemed your people.
Psalm 77:12 - 16


I thank you, Lord, with all my hear; before the gods to you I sing. 
I bow low toward your holy temple; I praise your name for your fidelity and love. 
For you have exalted over all your name and your promise.
Psalm 138: 1-2

Those who offer praise as a sacrifice (of thanksgiving ) honor me;
to the obedient I will show the salvation of God.
Psalm 50:23So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6 -7

Media Monday #1

Here is a little of what I have been watching and reading this week . . .

(FYI - It occurs to me, that it might seem that I watch a lot of DVDs, but we dropped cable two years ago, so except for about 3 prime time series, we only watch DVDs and I am usually folding laundry, washing dishes or stitching while watching.  I also like to listen to audio books while doing housework, so you might see a lot of those, too.)

Book of Ruth

An account of the story of Ruth and Naomi.  While obviously not a "big budget" film, the simple storyline makes for enjoyable family entertainment.  There were a few production issues that took away from my enjoyment of the film, for example, in the beginning Naomi is a little too well "made-up" and her son, Mahlon, has what I think is an Alabama accent. 

The Secret of Jonathan Sperry

Gavin MacCleod, of Love Boat fame, portrays Jonathan Sperry a kind-hearted grandfatherly-type who establishes a friendship with a neighborhood boy and his friends.  It is a wonderful family film that highlights the friendship and forgiveness.  A great film to share with your tweens.

Amish Grace

In October 2006, a gunman entered an Amish school house and shot 10 young girls, killing five.  Ida Garber (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) is a fictionalized parent of one of the murdered girls.  Keep your tissues handy for this inspirational story of extraordinary forgiveness.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

If your tween liked the Percy Jackson series, they will also like the new Kane Chronicles series.  Carter and Sadie Kane are siblings raised apart who discover they are decendants of the ancient Egyptian pharoahs on both sides of their family.  This time it is the Egyptian gods who are real and like the Olympians of Percy Jackson, some are nicer than others.  Carter and Sadie begin by trying to save their father from the evil Set and end up having to save the world from an even more evil force of chaos.  The book is written using the voices of both Carter and Sadie, switching back and forth for each chapter.  This makes it great entertainment for both boys and girls with the added bonus of learning a little about Egyptian history and myths.  An extra bonus, if your child participates in Accelerated Reader this book is worth 18 points!
Note:  I listened to this on audio book and the two narrarators were excellent representations of the young Carter and Sadie.

Gingerbread Cookie Murder

A short story trilogy featuring Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen (my favorite), Laura Levine's Jain Austen and Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone.  All three are great cozy mystery reads.  The short story format makes it perfect for the holiday season (if you don't mind a little murder during the joyous season).

• "Gingerbread Cookie Murder" (Fluke) Hannah Swensen finds another dead body with her gingerbread cookies scattered at the crime scene.  A very quick read with an easy to solve solution, but very enjoyable with a couple of yummy recipes.
• "The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" (Levine) Jaine Austen is spending Christmas with her parents' at the Florida retirement community they call home.  The community puts on an annual Christmas play, this year's play is The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. When the gingerbread cookie, played by retired playboy Dr. McCray, falls to his death during the play's final act, Jaine must find the killer among the residents of the community.
• "Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" (Meier) When Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy given to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick's car.  Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again.

DVD: To Save a Life (2010)

(Review from Amazon.com) To Save a Life is a powerful Christian film about suicide, faith, and the power of one person to make a difference in the lives of many. Set in an urban high school where the jocks are high on the popularity scale and partying is commonplace, the film opens with several striking segments that include a surprisingly uncensored look at a teen culture ripe with underage drinking, bullying, and sexuality. Jake (Randy Wayne) is a popular basketball player who's at the heart of every party, but when he witnesses a childhood friend commit suicide in the halls of their school, he begins to reflect upon how he treated his friend in recent years. As he starts to grapple with his own sense of right versus wrong and struggles to define what his duty toward others might be, he meets a youth pastor who intrigues him despite his own disinterest in religion. As Jake's relationships with his parents and his girlfriend Amy become increasingly tumultuous and confusing, Pastor Chris (Joshua Weigel) serves as someone he can talk to, and his weekly youth group becomes a safe place where he can be himself without the fear of being judged. With Chris's help, Jake sets out on a journey of transformation and personal growth that will reveal God's unconditional love and Jake's power to make a difference in the lives of others. This film is both graphic in its demonstrations of immorality and openly preachy, traits that may render it uncomfortable viewing for many, but those very traits send a powerful message to modern teens. (Ages 13 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

DVD: Mother Teresa

I watched this movie with my DS last night and thought he would fall asleep during the movie since it was past his bedtime, but he not only stayed wide awake, but fully engaged in the movie. After the movie, he was full of questions. We will be reading The Simple Path and Come Be My Light, both written by Mother Teresa between now and the start of school (just 31 days away).  The movie begins with Mother Teresa already in India as a teacher in a convent school, after 20 years in India she receives a calling to a new vocation to help the poor and petitions Rome for  the creation of a new congregation, The Missionaries of Charity. She was fully aware that the work she did was only "a drop in the bucket", but she dedicated herself to her vocation completely.  Her unfaltering faith in the provision of God is awe inspiring. She left the comfort of the convent to live with the "poorest of the poor": the sick and dying, the lost and the lepers.  She lived for today and had faith that God would provide for tomorrow.  Her strength and simplicity is inspirational to all, whatever your belief system.

"At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done.

We will be judged by

‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat.

I was naked and you clothed me.

I was homeless and you took me in.'

Hungry not only for bread-but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing-but naked of human dignity and respect.

Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks-but homeless because of rejection.

This is Christ in distressing disguise."

HIGHLY recommended!