Placed on trial

This past semester, I taught senior Bible--Defending Your Faith. During the course of the year, we studied how to defend that God exists, Jesus is divine, and the Bible is true. We then focused on studying some of our core doctrines and getting solid Biblical answers for what we believe as Seventh-day Adventists. We studied four major issues which were the Law and Sabbath, State of the Dead, Second Coming, and Millennium/Hell.

I divided the class into four groups and gave them one of these major doctrines to study and defend. I told them that for their final class project, they would be put on trial to defend their faith. I reminded them that in the end of times, all of us will have to stand up for our beliefs and we may be called to stand in a court to give a Biblical defense of the truths we hold dear. A court session would help them see what it would be like to defend their faith.

The students have been studying like crazy trying to understand their particular doctrine in depth and then answer challenging Bible texts that other denominations use to contradict these Biblical beliefs. They were nervous about the court session, but I assured them they would do great. So yesterday was their day in court. I rearranged the classroom and had a long table at the front of the room for the panel group on trial. To their side sat their defense attorney, one of the pastors on campus. In front sat three jurors consisting of the principal, and two teachers. And also in front of them was me--the prosecuting attorney. I had each group open their session with a Bible study on their topic and then I began challenging their responses. Taking the opposition side was somewhat difficult because I had to try to argue positions that I knew were totally incorrect. Even as I was presenting the arguments, I kept thinking how dumb they sounded and how easy they were to disprove, but I had to sound convincing so that my students could see that these are valid arguments that people will use against them.

I challenged them on verses that use "spirit" and "soul" in the Bible and made them prove why these cannot be conscious entities that live on after death. I made them respond to verse likes Phil. 1:21,23 or 2 Cor. 5:8 that other denominations use to prove that you go to heaven at death. I asked them about Col. 2:14-16 about the law being nailed to the cross or the apparent "first day" (Sunday) worship services in the New Testament and Romans 14:5,6 of not judging a person regarding what day they keep. I questioned them about the Sabbath and the mark of the beast in the end times. I challenged them on hell burning forever and 1000 years of peace on earth after Christ's coming. I challenged them on the secret rapture, the seven year tribulation, and the dangers of believing in such a thing.

The whole court session was 3 1/2 hours, but the students loved it. They said it was so real to them of how they may have to stand up for what they believe and they better have Biblical answers to back them up. It was a nice way to end the semester and I just hope it really challenges them to dig deeper to really know how to "be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Pet. 3:15).

One thing that is nice too is that this whole semester goes right along with the senior class trip to the Philippines. In just one month, myself along with several other staff and the senior class will be spending three weeks there. The students are preaching evangelistic meetings at 8 different sites. I am so excited that now they have the opportunity to share with others what they have been studying this semester. I have included the senior promotional video for you to see. We are still trying to raise the remainder of the funds to go, so if you have a burden to help sponsor them to the Philippines, we would be very grateful!

A Brush with Death...Grateful to be Alive...

When people say life is fragile, it is so true. But sometimes it is not until you come face to face with death that you realize just how fragile it is.

Yesterday was my birthday. I felt so grateful to God for giving me a new year of life to live for Him. I had hopeful dreams of what the new year would bring. Little did I know that just as I had started this new year of life, it almost ended as soon as it began.

In one of my very first entries regarding life in Canada, I took pictures of a section of road going to the nearest town called the “Big Slide.” It is a section of road that narrows from two lanes to one because there is a sheer cliff up the mountain on one side and then a sheer drop-off on the other side. The road is just carved along the cliff face. Periodically the slide is closed due to avalanches. Along other sections on the road to Lillooet, there are other avalanche slide areas that periodically have rocks the size of small pebbles to huge boulders come sliding down the mountain onto the road.

This morning, Shanuk ran out of food, so I had to take a trip into Lillooet. (Interesting side note here…Before I left on Christmas break, I had bought Shanuk 5 bags of dog food. I knew that should be plenty to last her through break and then some. But when I returned from Christmas break, she was on her last bag. I wondered at how much food she had been fed while I was gone and was shocked she had eaten so much… More on this later.) I really didn’t want to go to town since it had been raining all morning. But I knew I had to. I prayed earnestly before I left that God would keep me safe from falling rocks on my way into town. When I got to the slide, it was fairly bad. There were quite a few rocks on the road but at least it was passable. Small rocks and stones continued to fall from the cliff as I crept my way down the mountain. I got behind a snow blow along the way which was pushing huge fallen boulders off the road and into the ditch. I chuckled to myself that the snow plows here probably do more boulder pushing than snow plowing.

After running my errands in Lillooet, I once again prayed that God would keep me safe on my return. I had barely left Lillooet, when I came to a section of road that was literally covered with large rocks (6-12 inch boulders) all over the road. (They had fallen since I had driven through there a little while before.) I tried to go around them but there were too many so I drove slowly over them trying to not completely tear up the underside of my car. Then all of a sudden, I heard this absolutely horrifying blast right by my head and realized I was completely covered in glass. A large boulder (I am guessing it was anywhere from 6-12 inches across) fell from the cliff and completely shattered my driver’s side window. Knowing I couldn’t stop for fear more would come down, I crept through the remaining debris and kept driving towards home.

Since my windows have a darkened tinted film on the inside of the glass, it acted almost like tape on glass and kept part of the shattered window in the opening rather than all on my lap. (I really think this is one thing that protected me from getting more glass in the face. If that hadn’t been there, the impact most likely would have sent the entire window into my face.) To prevent it from all falling in on me, I had to hold what was left of the shattered window in place for the remaining 30+ km back home.

To make matters worse, I still hadn’t gotten to the Big Slide yet. When I got to it, larger boulders (these about 3 feet across) had fallen onto the road almost blocking the one lane. I was able to squeeze through them and prayed so hard all the way through that God would just at least get me home safe. (I am so grateful it wasn’t one of those boulders that hit me. I can almost guarantee it would have killed me.)

When I got home, I tried to shake the large quantities of glass off me (I had it all in my lap, my coat hood was filled with glass, it was down my sleeve from holding the window up, in my hair, in my shoes, and even in my mouth. Thankfully none in my eyes.) When I stepped out of the car, I realized then how God had spared my life. Along the top of the door frame was the huge dent that had taken the brunt of the boulder’s impact. Because it had hit partly on the frame and partly on the window, the boulder had bounced off the frame and back onto the road. If it had hit merely 3 inches lower, it would have come right through the window and hit me in the side of the head. Considering the size of the boulder, I either would have been dead, seriously injured, or had shards of glass all through the side of my face.

Though I tried to shake most of the glass off in the car, I kept dropping shards of glass all throughout the house. (The glass was so imbedded in my coat, I had to vacuum clean it to get it all off.) So I went to get the vacuum cleaner (in an obscure room of the house I never go to) and behind the door I saw the three left over bags of dog food from break. Someone had put them there and never told me they had done so. (So now I have six bags of dog food, a shattered window, and a very shook up psyche!)

I was very shaken by the event and when talking to my dad on the phone, I burst into tears. I realized that I very easily could have been dead after that event. It was only God’s mercy and protection that I am still here. I still am not sure what good God wants to come from this all. I know he must have some reason for allowing it to happen. If it is to help remind me of the fragility of life, it worked. If it was to challenge me to live for Christ more earnestly this next year of life, then I’m glad it happened. If it was to help my students realize that we have no guarantee about tomorrow, then it was worth it. If it was to help family and friends rededicate their lives to Christ and serve him more fully, then it was necessary. And most of all, if for some reason it was to bring glory to God in some way, then I will be grateful for it.

Whatever the reason is, I am just glad to be alive. A new year, a new lease on life. I pray I will live it for Christ.

Funny sayings...

I always enjoy spending Christmas with my family and this year was extra special since we were able to spend it with my grandparents (we haven't had Christmas with them for four years). Whenever the extended family gets together, we always have loads of fun accompanied with tons of laughs. My grandfather usually takes the cake in getting the family to laugh. I've taken note of just a few of the things that made me laugh this break.

• My grandfather ran into a friend at the grocery store last week. This individual asked how my grandmother was. My grandfather replied that he didn't know because he hadn't spoken to her in three weeks. His friend asked very seriously if they were having marriage problems. My grandfather replied nonchalantly, "No, I just didn't want to interrupt." (To which my grandmother replied later, "He is always picking on me!"
  
  
• My grandfather was proudly showing me his Oklahoma University hat that he got a while back (he is a fan of OU). Then he showed me a second OU hat made for a lady. I asked him if that was for Grammy to wear. He replied, "Of course not! It is for me to wear when I feel like being a girl." (Right! I think not!)
  
  
• My grandfather recounts a time when he was about to give a waitress a 50 dollar bill and asks her if she knows whose face is on the bill. She doesn't know so he offers her a hint: "Who is buried in Grant's tomb?" She answers, "Lincoln?" (I hope he somehow covered that with grace!)
  
  
• One night, my grandfather randomly flings his dirty socks onto the floor. A few minutes later, my grandmother goes around trying to pick them up and chides him for doing it. Later, she asks him where he put his dress shirt that he had just taken off. He replies, "I threw it on the bathroom floor!" He was kidding of course, but my grandmother was ready to get after him big time!

He never ceases to amuse us! I love my grandfather! He is too much.

Overall, my Christmas break was wonderful! I spend five days in Michigan, then I flew to Minnesota for GYC, then flew to Arizona for Christmas and New Years. Went to the Grand Canyon with my family while there. It was all fun! I will have to post some pictures later, or better yet, you can just go to my sister's blog at http://resurrectiongirl.blogspot.com. She's given the full scoop there.

As this new year begins, we find ourselves one year closer to Christ's soon return. I pray that this year will find us preparing more than ever for that great event!

Snowbound... or is that Stranded??

What was meant to be a quick jaunt down to the lower mainland to have a meeting with the Bible working team here and to do some Christmas shopping, has turned into the adventure of a lifetime. Let me explain...

Last Wednesday, the entire school left on a music tour to Oregon. That gave me the remainder of the week off from school. I came down to the lower mainland on Thursday to have a debriefing meeting with the Radiant Living Bible work team regarding the four-weekend training session we did with the seniors this fall. While down here, I thought I would get some Christmas shopping done since I wouldn't have much time once I got home for break. Everything went great until Sabbath afternoon when it started snowing hard. (That is a rare occurrence here in the lower mainland where all they get is tons of rain.) It snowed hard all throughout the night and by Sunday morning, we had 5-6 inches on the ground. (Another 2-3 inches accumulated through the remainder of the day.)

On Sunday, I was supposed to go the 3 1/2 hours back up the mountain to get to school, but realized the roads would probably be horrible the farther up the mountain I went. The bus was traveling up from Oregon so I thought I might catch up with them and follow them up just in case I needed help along the way.

When I called them to see if we could meet up, they were about a half hour away so I scrambled out of the house to meet them. After clearing my car of snow, getting onto the horribly slippery snow-covered road, nearly getting stuck in someone's driveway, and getting not more than a couple miles down the road, I had already used up about an hour or more of time. People from the bus called me to see were I was and then advised me not to even try go up the mountain since the roads were getting progressively worse. They thought they would just come get me, but then opted not to since they started sliding around in the parking lot.

So, I opted to stay in town for several more days to get some snow tires and then travel back up the mountains when the roads got better. (The whole ordeal in trying to find snow tires could be a blog all of its own!) Little did I know the roads would just get worse instead of better. By Monday, all roads going into the school were closed from all directions due to ice, snow, and avalanche warnings. So here it is Wednesday and the main roads are still closed up the mountain. I spoke to a friend at school last night and they have well over a foot of snow (she said nearly 2 feet) with 1 1/2 inches of ice on top. They said it is a mess there.

So in the mean time, I am stuck here at the Radiant Living home and it doesn't look like I will get back up to school until Sunday or Monday at the earliest. So my short weekend jaunt has turned into a week and a half adventure. It is pretty crazy! The school is snowbound in and I am snowbound out, so it makes it interesting to teach! I am so thankful I have an awesome sub at home who is taking my classes for the entire week. I email him all my lesson plans and then he teaches them for me.

All and all, it has been a rather relaxing week! I am hanging out with the totally awesome Bible workers on the Radiant Living team. It reminds me so much of living in Troy last year with all the Bible workers there. Brings back fond memories. So I am thankful that at least I was stranded here with wonderful friends, Christian fellowship, and a nice place to stay. I just hope I can get up the mountain early next week since I leave for Christmas break on the 13th and I need to pack for break! (All I have with me here is about 3-4 changes of clothes! Crazy!)

So that is my winter adventure stories...I just hope we don't get another round of this next week or else we aren't going anywhere for Christmas break!

Happy Thanksgiving from Canada...

I do have much to be thankful for...so I am not complaining, but it really does feel terrible to have to work on Thanksgiving! This Canadian tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving in October just doesn't cut it for me. I am too American...Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving unless it is celebrated the end of November. But since I moved up to Canada, I did it to myself. So now I sit in my office and know that I will have to miss Thanksgiving with my family and friends back in the states. I feel just a bit sad....

But I do have much to be thankful for...life, health, family, friends, a job, a home, a dog, and most of all, a loving Saviour. So even though I can't celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, I will celebrate it in my heart because I have much to be thankful for...

Would Jesus really wash his feet?

My principal caught me after class this morning and asked if I had known anything about the controversy that occurred in Seattle and Oregon the beginning of October regarding a painting by Lars Justinen that depicts several world leaders--and a world terriorist-- having their feet washed by Jesus. The painting was designed to advertise for a conference that was going to discuss the character of God. The enraged reaction from the public caused many to take down the posters and others to blog vehemently about the meaning presented in the poster. One man stated, "I guess the point is to show just how forgiving and loving Jesus is. He's so loving th[at] he'll even wash Osama bin Laden's feet! Sorry, I aint that kind of Christian. My Jesus would use nunchucks on Osama bin Laden. Or maybe rip his still beating heart out, Temple of Doom style. This is the South Park Jesus. The one who boxed Satan and only won because the Satan threw the fight..."

One of the leaders who commissioned the painting stated, "that the picture was meant to parallel the story of Jesus washing the feet of Judas. No one is Judas in the picture, but the meaning is that Jesus would stoop to wash the feet of his enemies. The meaning is that in that painting of powerful world leaders -- and one powerful terrorist -- the one with all the power is ultimately Jesus.”

This whole thing got me thinking... a lot of people are in a rage that people would kill others in the name of religion. They look with horror and disdain on these people yelling "how unChristian is that!" But then, they turn around and say that the Jesus they serve would not wash the feet of his enemies, but instead would annihilate them too. Sounds like what they accused the others of doing. My principal made the comment that there is only one false religion, but it takes on many different faces. Here, we see that both entities are wrong in their thinking. They are accusing each other of the very thing they themselves are guilty of.

And then I started thinking, Would Jesus really wash the feet of someone like bin Laden? Why not? Did he not wash the feet of his betrayer (Judas)? Did he not wash the feet of his denier (Peter)? Did he not wash the feet of the want-to-be annihilators (James and John referring to Luke 9:54))? I am confident that Jesus would. Granted Jesus wouldn't love the sin that is within the heart of the individual, but he would always love the sinner. That is why he chose to die--even for his enemies. Roman 5:8, 10 says that "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." And if Jesus would die for someone like bin Laden, why wouldn't he wash his feet too?

I don't think any of us can fully grasp the meaning of Christ's love. We view his love from a very selfish, human standpoint that holds grievances for wrong doing and that shows love only to the lovable. But Jesus demonstrated the very opposite in his life. His whole mission was to minister to the worst of society, to seek and save the lost of humanity.

And when I look at bin Laden or myself, what it all boils down to is that we are both sinners in need of a Savior. I am thankful that God is willing to stoop down to wash the feet of the worst of the worst. That's the type of God I serve!

Hurricane Force Winds...

Headline News...

Storm Day in BC
"The BC coast will be battered with strong winds and heavy rain for most of today. Wind and rainfall warnings are in effect for large areas of the BC coast. Winds are expected to be from 70-90 km/h with up to 105 mm of rain forecasted for some areas."

This was the weather forecast for the events we experienced yesterday. And it was an accurate prediction. I don't recall ever being in a wind storm as bad as the one that hit here Sunday night/early Monday morning. Here is what happened.

Sunday night we arrived late back at school returning from our senior outing to Radiant Living in Vancouver. It was cold and slightly windy, but nothing serious. I went out to feed Shanuk and thought that I would bring her inside with me just so I could spend some time with her without having to stay in the cold. (I don't usually bring her inside except when the temperatures are extremely low or she is barking at the bears and keeping me awake.) As nightfall came, the winds started to pick up and Shanuk started to get really nervous. Because I have a corner bedroom, the wind rips around the outside corner and makes horrible groans and screeches. Shanuk didn't like it at all. Several times I thought she wanted to go back outside, but whenever I opened the front door and she saw how terrible the wind was outside, she would run back in. So I just let her spend the night with me.

It was an absolutely restless night. Shanuk kept pacing around and several times throughout the night, I tried to let her go outside, but she wouldn't. I don't think I have every heard the wind like it was that night. It almost sounded like the house was going to blow away. A loose board on the outside paneling right next to my bed kept clapping at the house. The wind blowing around the outside corner shrieked and hollered. It was horrific sounding. It lasted all night.

The next morning, I finally convinced Shanuk it was time to go outside so that I could get ready for class. I stepped outside and looked over toward her doghouse just to realize there was no longer any doghouse there. Instead it had been thrown a hundred some feet into the orchard. Don't ask me how considering that doghouse is extremely heavy (it took three of us to lift it onto a truck bed to haul it away) and there was a full bucket of water in it that made it heavy too. (I am really grateful it blew in the direction it went because my car is always parked right in front of the doghouse. If it had blown the other direction, my car would have been majorly damaged.)



Anyway, I cringe to think what would have happened to Shanuk if she would have been in the house. Since she is tied to a rope, she probably would have been strangled to death had she been thrown with the house. In addition, it would have just traumatized her to wind even more than she already is. (When she was a puppy, a tornado threw her about 100 yards against a tree while she was in her house). I am just so thankful I felt impressed to bring her inside and that she refused to go back out throughout the night.

So now she is staying in my room until I can get her house fixed. I spent nearly three hours yesterday working with the principal's son trying to get it all put back together. It was so torn up from the wind, we had to take it completely apart and start from the foundation up.


In addition to trees down on campus, one of the roofs on a staff house was raised two feet, then moved back one foot and dropped back down on the house. The ceiling collapsed in part of the house. Amazingly, the couple had just been in that room and felt impressed to move right before it collapsed.

All I can say is that God is good and he cares for those who love him. May we always be thankful for his watch care in our lives.