Light's On

Reflections on the 4th

Linda Winn — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:46:00 GMT

by Linda Winn

Last year on July 4, Earl and I joined some friends on their dock to enjoy the fireworks display across the lake. Although the waves unsteadied my camera, I did get a few decent photos.

I love the way the lights illustrate the cross. The horizontal lights represent all the boaters who gathered on the water to watch the fireworks. The vertical lights remind me of The Light of the World who burst forth from the grave to be resurrected and live eternally. As we reflect the light of His glory in our lives like the water shimmers with light, we too shall burst forth to eternal LIFE!

Enjoy a blessed and safe 4th!

The Big Bang Theory Revisited

Linda Winn — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

by Linda Winn

As I studied background verses for my Sunday School lesson, I think I discovered the original "Big Bang" theory right there in the Bible. See what you think.

Considering that "There is nothing new under the sun," (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV) the Big Bang theory had to start somewhere. Right? How about this origin...

Moses had just come down from the mountain with God's commandments when he saw everyone dancing and whooping it up around a golden calf that his brother Aaron made all by himself. When Moses saw the golden calf, he asked Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?"

Aaron replied,"They gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire and out came this calf." (Exodus 32:21 and 24b NIV)

Maybe that same kind of thinking is how the Big Bangers' theory evolved into... "There was a big explosion in outer space and out popped the earth!"

If you really believe that theory, go down to your local junkyard of salvaged vehicles the next time a storm comes up. You just might be in the right place at the right time when a big whirlwind blows through and pops out a brand new Cadillac just for you.

Call me cynical, but I still believe, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," (Genesis 1:1 NIV). How about you?

When I Wander

Linda Winn — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:53:00 GMT

by Linda Winn

After His resurrection Jesus told His disciples, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit," (Acts 1:4-5).

Cleopas was one of Jesus’ disciples. Yet he and his friend were in the dark about the current events of the day. Even though Jesus had told them to stay in Jerusalem, they were walking the seven mile road toward Emmaus. They were walking away from Jerusalem, the place Jesus told His disciples to gather; away from the place where believers would be first clothed with power from on high; and away from the place where repentance and forgiveness of sins would be first preached in Jesus’ name. So Jesus, the resurrected Christ, still that Great Shepherd of the sheep, appeared to the two sheep who had wandered off in the wrong direction.

Cleopas and his friend were so deep in conversation they didn’t even recognize Him or notice when the resurrected Lord joined them on their journey. When Jesus asked what they were talking about, they explained to Him His own crucifixion and the disappearance of His body! They seemed to forget that the events they discussed had been prophesied.

Jesus rebuked them for being so slow to believe the Scriptures, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself," (Luke 24:27).

As they approached Emmaus, Jesus pretended to be going further, but they urged Him to stay. Then they finally recognized Him when He broke bread and gave it to them. When their eyes were opened to their living Savior, Jesus disappeared.

"Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" they asked each other, (Luke 24:32).

They were so excited, "They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem," (v.33) to share their joy in knowing for sure that Jesus was alive. Can’t you just imagine their joy as they walked and ran seven miles in the dark back to Jerusalem to share the Good News with the other believers.

Unfortunately for them, Cleopas and his friend didn’t have the benefit of their own personal copy of God’s Word to enrich and strengthen their belief in the risen Lord like we do. They had to rely on hearing the Word from Old Testament prophets and then Jesus Himself, for a brief period of time.

But I’m so thankful that I have my own personal Bibles to encourage me. I am so thankful that when I wander off in the wrong direction like they did, that the Great Shepherd of the sheep will leave the 99 to find me and turn me back to the path He wants me to walk. And I’m so thankful for the constant presence of His indwelling Holy Spirit that Cleopas and his friend ran back to Jerusalem to receive.

Aren’t you?

He Is Risen

Linda Winn — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:15:00 GMT

by Linda Winn

A few days before Easter Sunday the young cashier in the check-out line bagged my groceries. When I handed her a check, I wished her a "Happy Easter."

A cheery smile spread across her face as she chirped, "Happy Easter to you, too."

So I added joyfully, "He is risen!"

Immediately her world of white Easter bunnies, marshmallow chickens, and brightly colored eggs plummeted to the stark reality that God had invaded her vision of Easter.

She stood in perfect stillness, her face registering no expression and no understanding of what "He is risen" really meant. Utterly speechless, she turned to her next customer and began bagging his groceries.

The Barna Update, a newsletter of Christian statistics, reports that "one out of every three adults or 73 million adults in the United States is classified as unchurched. www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/107-unchurched-population-nears-100-million-in-the-us

If that is true, where are they going to hear the message that Jesus has risen from the grave? How will they ever understand that "By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also," (1 Corinthians 6:14) if we only believe.

Perhaps they think it’s impossible. But, nothing is impossible with God.

Perhaps they need proof. The disciples needed proof, too. Jesus’ death had left them scattered, disillusioned and fearful. So, "After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God," (Acts 1:3-4 NIV).

Perhaps they need to hear the message of Jesus’ resurrection from a friend. Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born," (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV).

God’s Word promises that "Everyone born of God overcomes the world... Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God," (1 John 5:4-5).

That belief comes from hearing the Word of God. So, share the good news, even to the girls at the cash register.

He is risen!

Digging Up God's Promises by Linda Winn

Linda Winn — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:50:00 GMT

In my Sunday School class we were talking about the Jews selling their own family members to other Jews during the time when Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. As we discussed their coming out of captivity only to be sold to their own brothers, someone asked, "How long were the Jews in Babylonian captivity?"

My mind drew a blank, so I asked the class, "Does anyone know the answer to that question?"

Evidently their minds were blank, too, so I called on a retired 80 year old pastor to answer the question.

"Pastor, do you recall how long the Jews were in Babylonian captivity?"

He smiled and said, "The only thing I know for sure is that they were there from the time they were taken into captivity until the time they left."

What a great reminder that all of us know a little bit, but none of us know or remember it all. But it’s never too late to find the answer. So I did a little digging in the storehouse of God’s Word. Here’s the story...

"The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy. He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians... God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar... They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah." (2 Chronicles 36:15-21)

What was Jeremiah’s prophesy?

"This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’" (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

So... How long were the Jews in Babylonian captivity? Seventy years.

God wants to bring you back from the things that hold you captive too. I hope you won't wait 70 years. Won’t you call on Him, pray to Him, and seek Him with your whole heart today?

He’s ready to listen, reveal Himself to you, and bring you out of captivity and into His gracious promises.

Resolutions

Linda Winn — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:40:00 GMT

Ah. Resolutions. The nuisance of the new year.

I resolve to eat less and exercise more. I resolve to watch fewer TV programs. I resolve to spend more quality time with my family.

The quest for these admirable goals begins with high hopes and good intentions until resolve slips a little...then a lot.

I’ll eat less and exercise more... right after lunch and a nap.

I’ll watch fewer TV programs... but that doesn’t include CSI, American Idol, and Eli Stone. Oh yeah... the bowl games. I’ve got to watch all the bowl games.

And of course I’ll spend more quality time with my family... just as soon as I finish doing all the things that I want to do.

When the realization of my failure sets in, oh well. Resolutions are made to be broken anyway; aren’t they?

Yes, in human strength, resolutions dissolve and failure triumphs.

But success doesn’t depend on high hopes, good intentions, or my resolve no matter how firm. It is only in God’s will and by His Spirit that I can accomplish anything at all.

So for this new year as I ponder my hopes, dreams, and plans, my goal is to seek God’s will. Because it’s "‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty," (Zechariah 4:6) that I can turn my resolutions from nuisance into anything of value.

Happy New Year!
May you meet The Divine in 2009
Linda

God’s Divine Plan

Linda Winn — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:29:00 GMT

by Linda H. Winn

Have you ever wondered about God's divine plan for your life?

This year as I re-read the Christmas story, I was struck by the way God confirmed His will for Mary's life — that she was indeed pregnant with His Son — and how He continually reminded her that Jesus is His Son.

Through Gabriel, Elizabeth, the shepherds, Simeon, and Jesus Himself, God gave Mary many moments that caused her to think back, to ponder, treasure and marvel at how her son was God’s Son — the One Who would bring salvation to the world.

Gabriel revealed God’s plan
What a mind-boggling moment that must have been for Mary when the angel Gabriel appeared to tell her about God's plan for her life. She was chosen to give birth to the "Son of the Most High."

She didn't shriek, "Who?" Or, "What?" Or, "When?"

She simply asked, "How?"

"How will this be since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34).

Gabriel explained, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God," (Luke 1:35).

Now, if somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind you are still harboring some doubt about the virgin birth, this account was written by a physician, Luke, who knew full well how babies are made. He even researched the event to provide an orderly account for you.

If a residue of doubt still remains, consider the explanation that Gabriel gave to Mary.

"Nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1: 37).

But if you yourself have experienced the Holy Spirit of God coming alive in your life, you know full well that nothing is impossible with God.

Mary's humble and devout faith that inspired God to choose her to bear His Son is the same faith that caused her to reply, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as You have said," (Luke 1:38).

Elizabeth confirmed Mary’s pregnancy
When Mary went to see Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist, Mary's pregnancy was confirmed to her by Elizabeth's instant recognition of her as the mother of our Savior.

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:42-45).

Mary responded, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant," (Luke 1:46-48).

Shepherds confirmed Jesus’ birth
After Jesus’ birth, shepherds hurried to town to find Him and told Mary and Joseph how angels had flooded the night sky with the light of revelation that the Son of God had come to all people.

How did Mary respond? She "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart," while the shepherds returned to their flocks praising God all along the way. (Luke 2:18-20).

Simeon confirmed Jesus as the Lord’s Christ
After eight days, the baby boy was named Jesus– the name given to Him by the angel Gabriel. Then 33 days later when their purification was over, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to consecrate Him to the Lord.

Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon– a righteous and devout man filled with the Holy Spirit– waited in the temple courts, because God had promised him that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ.

When Mary and Joseph brought in the child, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God saying, "My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel," (Luke 2:30-32).

Mary and Joseph marveled at what was said about their son.

Jesus confirmed God as His Father
Twelve years later God continued to send Mary and Joseph reminders that He was the Father of Jesus. After the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph were on their way back to their hometown of Nazareth when they realized that Jesus was not with them. They backtracked to Jerusalem and found Him in the temple courts sitting among the teachers who were amazed by His understanding.

They themselves were astonished, but Jesus simply said, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49).

Although they didn't understand at the time, "His mother treasured all these things in her heart," Luke 2:51).

This season as you re-read the Christmas story, I hope you’ll take time to ponder, marvel, and treasure all that the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, means to you personally. And as God continues to search your heart for a willingness to accomplish His divine plan for your life, may you respond in humble faith as Mary did.

"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as You have said."

You Are Invited... Come Rejoicing

Linda Winn — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:59:00 GMT

You Are Invited...Come Rejoicing into His Presence

Shout for joy to the LORD , all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is He Who made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
(Psalm 100:1-5 NIV)

Shout and be joyful. Worship and be glad. Come rejoicing into His Presence, knowing that the LORD is God.

He made each of us and placed us in His world exactly where He wanted, when He wanted. Aren’t you glad that God is in control? Isn’t it reassuring to know that we can enter God’s presence anytime no matter where we are.

God! The One True Living God who is so good that His love endures forever and so faithful that His faithfulness continues through all generations!

During this season of Thanksgiving, may every breath we take be filled with awe and praise for His Holy Name.

May every bite that passes our lips yield thanksgiving to the LORD and Giver of life.

And, may we be found faithful in all that we say and do, for the LORD is good. Taste and see.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Voice: Wow! by Linda Winn

Linda Winn — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:00 GMT

Recently I had the opportunity to review the New Testament in a different format. It’s called The Voice. When my Thursday women’s Bible study group asked if it was replacement theology or sound biblical doctrine, I asked Wayne Hastings about it. He’s the Sr. Vice President and Group Publisher for Bibles, Reference and Curriculum at Thomas Nelson who published The Voice.

"The Voice is not replacement theology," he said. "It is a carefully translated work, all based on the original writings and original languages. We’ve done some things differently to make it, hopefully, more compelling (from a format perspective, not translation) and easier to read (again formatting, not language) and enjoy, but it’s sound biblical doctrine I can assure you."

After reading the books of John and Romans from The Voice, I concur. It is not only compelling, it speaks to me personally and comforts my soul.

I read it devotionally now, and when I read the book of John, I feel like a child sitting at the feet of a master story-teller: comfortable, secure, and eager to see what happens next.

The screenplay format makes it easy to understand who is speaking, while the narrative lends itself to a more personal telling of the greatest story ever told. I was so enthralled with The Voice that I read the portion that introduced Jesus as the Liberating King and John the Baptist as John the Immerser to our Thursday morning bible study group. Their response: "Wow."

There are seven of us in this group, closely knit together by the Holy Spirit, ranging in age from 56-65: all born-again, all deeply Spiritual, all wanting more of God than our churches offer, all teachers in our churches and/or students of God’s Word drawn together as a result of our individual prayers, and all transplants to Winchester, TN. We meet every week for two and a half hours and then go to lunch together to discuss subjects that came up during our study.

Each of these ladies now reads The Voice devotionally. After you read their reviews below, you might want to buy a copy of The Voice for yourself. It will impact your understanding of Scripture in a mighty way.

Sarah Helms wrote:

"I have been reading in Romans from The Voice for my devotional time. This translation has been extremely easy to read, like a good novel. The boxes of commentary interspersed between the texts add more meaning to the reading without a separate commentary. I enjoy how the commentary boxes add cultural nuances and spiritual truths that make one consider what the Lord is trying to tell you in His word. I especially liked the comment and italic type on Romans 7:24 ("corpse that is tied to my back"). I never knew the true significance of Paul's analogy. The italic type inserted in the text adds more readability to the scriptures by putting it in plain English. I have never seen the screenplay format before, but I have to say it just makes it clearer as to who is speaking and to whom they are speaking.

"I would highly recommend The Voice for both the baby Christian and the spiritually mature Christian especially for devotional reading. However, I would use it along with other translations for in depth Bible study. I plan to buy it for my sister, who is a Pastor, and recommend it to my Sunday School Class."

Donna Budnick wrote:

"Our Bible study group has been studying the Gospel of John. After studying this gospel in other versions, it is a joy to read the same Scriptures in The Voice where they truly do come to life. These Scriptures come alive through the first person voice of John the apostle giving cultural insights in the "outlined boxes" bringing me into the story as no other version of the Bible has. The screenplay format also brings excitement, life to John's gospel.

"While The Voice covers only the New Testament, the Introduction section beginning on p. xvii brought real clarity to the Old Testament covenants: ". . . the Old Testament stands in relationship to the New Testament as promise does to fulfillment, as foundation to temple. . . . You cannot have one without the other." For the new Christian, it is just enough information to begin a lifelong walk in the Word. For the more mature Christian, it is a concise reminder that the path to Jesus begins in the Old Testament.

"For me, the title ‘Liberating King’ adds a new dimension to Jesus' mission: He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants from which we've been liberated.

"Thank you, Thomas Nelson, for the new ears you've given me to ‘hear’ the Word in The Voice."

Pat Esch wrote:

"The first thing that I loved was the ‘easy to read format.’ It was like sitting down and reading a novel because of how it was written; yet, I was disciplining myself in absorbing the truths about God's Word. The way the New Testament contributors sorted everything out and put it back together, helped the content mesh in such a way that it was a lot easier to understand. The way the conversations were arranged between different people also made it easier to follow. I can't wait to give The Voice to my acquaintances who have not had much experience in reading the Bible. I wish I would have had such a book the first time I was trying to search the Scriptures for truth about life.

"Another reason why I enjoyed reading this interpretation was because the writers went back to the ‘original writings and languages.’ To me, that's an important selling point since there are so many different translations out there. What a great idea to come from the angle of a format perspective. For instance, in the Gospel of John, I was reading verse 19 and then it skipped to verse 28 and then back to the chronological order of verse 20 and so forth. It made so much more sense to insert that verse within that chosen context because of the following verses.

"Lastly, I really enjoyed those extra tidbits of research and history that were within the ‘boxes.’ I did not have to look down to the bottom of the page to find the biblical references or take the time to look them up. Instead, they were already written out and placed in the appropriate spots. Also I felt those boxed comments related to practical living, our humanness, and our attitudes. An example of that which comes into play with our human thinking is when they inserted that phrase, ‘Here's the point,’ and then proceeded in explaining that point in John 3:17.

"Thanks to all of you who worked hard on giving us a new a new way to look at His Word."

Peggy Heyden wrote:

"I enjoy reading The Voice as an additional resource to my daily Bible Study. The script format, which is used for conversations that are recorded in Scripture, makes The Voice especially readable. Also, having the brief commentaries positioned within the pages of the scripture makes for easy access.

"Although I have not yet read the entire book, from what I've observed, The Voice is an accurate translation of the New Testament, using today's language. It's a perfect gift book, especially for a person who is seeking Truth, and does not yet have a Bible."

Marilyn Satterfield wrote:

"I am pleased to have received the complimentary copy of The Voice and appreciate the opportunity to give you my response to its format and content. I have not had an opportunity to read the entire book; but based on what I have read, I submit the following comments for your consideration.

"The Preface and the explanation of the project were particularly helpful in that they clarified the intent of the translation and explained the purposes of the italic type, outlined boxes, and screenplay format. I also found the Introduction to be quite informative and believe the explanation of the covenants would be extremely helpful to a new seeker.

"I particularly enjoyed the content of the outlined boxes which provided excellent historical and cultural information pertinent to the text at hand. Most readers would be more likely to read the information since it is sandwiched within the Scriptural text rather than footnoted. The format enhances the readability and will surely increase the reader's understanding of Scripture. The creative and personal style of the boxed narratives served to make biblical characters dynamic rather than flat, and I believe readers of all ages will experience a deeper connection with the men and women of the Bible because of this creative approach. The boxed content was my favorite aspect of this translation because it seemed to increase the relevance of the Word in so many ways.

"On the other hand, the italicized words and phrases were a bit of a distraction to me. I found myself wondering exactly how they differed from the original language and why they were substituted. I actually stopped to compare phrases with the NIV from time to time. I was not always convinced that it was necessary or helpful to substitute some phrasing. Some made sense to me. For example, the use of the term ‘ritual washing’ in place of ‘baptism’ seemed appropriate. But the reason for other substitutions was not as clear to me.

"The screenplay format accomplished its purpose beautifully. The text became so much more readable and the clarity of the content was increased significantly.

"I am 61 years old and beginning to realize that change is sometimes uncomfortable for me. Although I will enjoy reading The Voice as an ancillary text, I do not think I would ever use it as my primary Bible. For whatever reason, I could not get comfortable with the new names for Jesus. This is just a personal matter, similar to that of just being more comfortable in an old pair of shoes or a worn out t-shirt; and probably the overwhelming majority of the readers of The Voice will appreciate the new and fresh approach. I am sure it will be a big success for Thomas Nelson Publishers and perhaps speak to an entire new generation of seekers."

Linda King wrote:

"I have really enjoyed reading The Voice. I love the format and the historical information. It is like reading the bible all over again for the first time. The introduction to every book I've read so far has revealed something brand new to me. Being reminded of who is speaking in the narrative keeps my attention from going astray. You guys have done an excellent job, and I can’t wait for the rest of it! Thanks again for allowing me to review The Voice."

Enough Is Enough

Linda Winn — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:26:00 GMT

Are you thoroughly disgusted with the liberal media? I am. I’ve had it with them; and although I had no intention of jumping into the political fray, count me in. Enough is enough.

In Jon Meacham’s Newsweek article, "The Palin Problem," published October 4, 2008 he said, "It seems only reasonable and patriotic to hold candidates for high office to high standards... It is, rather, about the pursuit of excellence no matter where you started out in life."

I’m not sure which politician he’s using as a benchmark, but it seems to me that Meacham wouldn’t recognize excellence if Palin field dressed it, grilled it, and served it to him on a platter. If Palin didn’t show up on Meacham’s chart of high standards, it’s because she set a new standard that blew it out the top.

You see, Sarah Palin doesn’t hold herself accountable to the standards of this world. She holds herself to God’s standard, and that is a standard this world knows nothing about. Her confidence is not in herself. It is in Him. And her boldness is not cockiness. It is holy boldness that comes from knowing who she is in Christ.

Meacham referred to Palin’s responses in her Katie Couric interview when Couric deliberately stalked her before moving in for the kill in a game of "gotcha." Now tell me that Sarah Palin, a card carrying member of the NRA, didn’t recognize Couric’s tactics.

Palin not only recognized the ploy for what it was, she refused to play the game. She then withdrew her forthright answers and stopped giving Couric the full disclosure that Couric desired.

When the interview was spoofed on Saturday Night Live, Palin was amused. I wonder if Katie Couric was equally amused.

Later, when interviewed by Sean Hannity and again by Carl Cameron, both from FOX News, Palin was open, honest, and at ease with them knowing that they weren’t out to get her.

Maybe one day the liberal media will stop trying to elevate themselves to a position of their own imagined superiority by playing the game of one-upmanship and start treating the ones they interview with respect.

I know. I know. I’m the eternal optimist, but at least where there is life there is hope.

Linda Winn, M.A.T., is an author, teacher, and speaker who encourages others to think from a biblical world view.

If Our Planet Is Too Hot... by Linda Winn

Linda Winn — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:31:00 GMT

The ice maker in our fridge stopped working properly. It didn’t make ice anymore, so instead of trying to figure out how to fix it ourselves we called the guy who sold us the fridge. He knew how to fix it because he knew the maker. Now we have plenty of ice to cool our drinks.

It’s the same scenario with global warming. We need to stop spending billions of dollars trying to figure it out ourselves. All we have to do is call on the Maker, the One who created all the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He knows how to fix our globe, if indeed it is broken. He sustains all things. In other words, if our planet is too hot, God is the One to call upon to cool it.

Even Job's friend, Elihu, knew that. He said, "The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen"(Job 37:10). But I don’t recall Al Gore mentioning God’s role when he talked about global warming; and I don’t recall the Nobel Prize Committee mentioning God’s role either as they awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to Mr. Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In a press release the Nobel Committee said it was, "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." www.Nobelprize.org.

The press release went on to say, "Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man’s control."

Beyond man’s control? Excuse me, but man is not in control. God is. So I’d love to hear Al Gore, the IPCC, and the Nobel Prize Committee answer the questions God threw at Job when Job lacked understanding of God’s role in the scheme of things.

God said, "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell Me, if you understand... From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?" (Job 38:2-4, 29-30).

God has a way of bringing us to our knees, doesn’t He?

Do you suppose there is any chance that Al Gore and his global warming groupies would come to their senses and reply the way Job did?

Job humbled himself before the LORD and confessed, "I am unworthy–how can I reply to You? I put my hand over my mouth" (Job 40:3-4). "I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted... Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know... Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42: 2, 3, 6).

I don’t expect Mr. Gore or any of those guys to repent to the point of giving back the Nobel Prize. But I think it would behoove all of us to ask God about the things we don’t understand before we get all puffed up with our own opinions about things too wonderful for us to know.

How about you?

Where There Is Life, There Is Hope by Linda Winn

Linda Winn — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:15:00 GMT

Mac sat at the gate and shook with eager anticipation knowing he was just seconds away from a swim and canoe ride. My lower leg stretched out in front of him with my foot propped on the gate post to keep him from bolting.

Finally, I unlatched the gate and let it swing open wide while Mac waited for the word he longed to hear.

"Okay!"

Quickly, I moved my foot. Mac bounded down the hill and into the water to swim while I made my way down to the lake at a much slower pace.

Suddenly Mac started barking. When he yelped like he’d been attacked, I hurried to see what he had cornered. Although it looked like a floating rag mop, it was alive enough to snap at him.

Undeterred, Mac pushed the UFO (unidentified floating object) under the lip of the bank to get a good grip on it. Then he picked it up, jumped onto the bank, and dropped it next to the dock.

A closer look revealed an opossum. A sun-bleached, half-dead opossum.

I wondered if it had fallen into the lake during the night, or had gone to the water to die like many creatures do. Whatever the case, when it snapped at Mac a second time, I hooked Mac to his leash and walked him back to the house.

Opossums are vicious, and I didn’t want Mac to get bitten, but I didn’t want him to kill the opossum either.

With Mac safely inside the fence, I returned to discover that the opossum had crawled closer to the water’s edge. It lay clinging to a stick and looked up at me with shifty, mistrusting eyes like those weasel-nosed characters in the movies who are up to no good.

I walked back to the house knowing that our canoe ride had to be cancelled to let nature deal with the opossum.

The next evening as Mac and I made our way to the dock, I looked for the opossum, hoping to see it before Mac did and deal with it if I must. Once in the canoe, we motored out toward the bay where Mac caught a whiff of it. He stood on his hind legs with his feet on the bow and his nose to the wind.

I looked in the direction of Mac’s point. There in the distance, spread out on the surface, the opossum floated in a sea of hopelessness. And I thought of all the people who cling to worthless idols and false gods like the opossum had clung to the stick. They, too, will come to an end without hope and "forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (Jonah 2:8). But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Where there is life, there is still hope; and those who anchor their hope of eternal life in the living God can rest assured that the anchor holds. Firm and secure, the anchor holds so that those who believe will become heirs to the promise of eternal life.

Where have you placed your hope?

Ready to Fly by Linda Winn

Linda Winn — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:32:00 GMT

Thump!

Another bird flew into our back door. Just last week a downy woodpecker took that same flight path with deadly results.

I left my computer to see who it was this time. There, lying on the second step, blinked another stunned downy woodpecker. Its right wing, reaching out across the step, made me think it suffered a shoulder or wing injury.

I retrieved a dustpan and tried to scoop it up for a ride to safer ground, but it didn’t like that idea. It recoiled its right foot as if to say, "Oooh. That hurt my little toes."

I tiptoed down the steps, snapping photos as I went, but the bird was still too stunned to care.

Somehow I had to get the bird outside our fence to give it time to recuperate, otherwise it wouldn’t stand a chance with Mac, our Springer, on the prowl. For now though, Mac was still in the house.

Not wanting to add insult to injury, I finally picked up the little downy and held it gently in my hand to walk it outside the fence.

The longer I held it, the stronger it grew. I could feel its energy surging.

I opened the gate and bent down to place it in a safe, out-of-the-way, and sheltered spot, but its feet never touched the ground. The instant I opened my hand, the little downy flew. Strong and sure, it flew. On wings like eagles, it flew.

And just as the comfort of being held by a gentle, loving hand helped the little woodpecker gather its strength, God stretches out His hand to strengthen and restore me with the promise that no one can snatch me out of His hand until He is ready for me to fly.

Do you know the loving, protective, and restorative hand of God on your life? If you do, when He’s ready for you to fly, you can look forward to soaring on wings like eagles, too.

Age Old Question Re-visited

Linda Winn — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:31:00 GMT

Last week Val Thomas, a West Virginia woman, dead for 17 hours by a clinical definition of "dead," came back to "life" and renewed interest in the question, "When does death occur?"

She had suffered two heart attacks and had no pulse and no brain waves. Although rigor mortis set in, her hands and toes curled, and her skin hardened, doctors kept her on a breathing machine and her body chilled while they waited to determine if she was an organ donor. Meanwhile her family said their goodbyes and prayed.

Ten minutes after doctors pulled all tubes of life support from her body her family began praising the Lord.

Her son said, "That’s when Jesus stepped in and did His work."

Val opened her eyes and started talking to her family.

After a thorough check up, her doctors reported no blockages and said she’ll be fine.

So the question is, when does death really occur?

Some doctors say a person is dead when the heart stops beating.

Others say a person is dead when there is no brain activity.

But Val Thomas proved what the Bible has said all along.

It’s the breath of the Almighty that gives life, (Job 33:4 NIV), and man perishes when God withdraws His breath (Job 34:14 NIV).

Val herself thinks her comeback is a God-given miracle. She said, "I know God has something in store for me, another purpose. I don’t know what it is but I’m sure He’ll tell me."

Maybe the message He has for all of us is that He is still sovereign over all nations, all people, and each one of us from the first breath He gives to the last one He withdraws.

To check out the full story, click
http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/0805/080521_41d512f9.shtml

Thinking Backwards

Linda Winn — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:35:00 GMT

  Recently I confessed, "Lord, I’ve been so busy promoting Happy Tails that I haven’t had time to write."

    Then it occurred to me that even if I did have the time, I didn’t have anything to write about because the Lord hadn’t laid anything on my heart.

Then I realized that He hadn’t laid anything on my heart because I hadn’t asked; and I hadn’t asked because my prayer life had slacked off.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been so busy that your God-time slipped into the background and disappeared in the crowded busyness of your life?

At that point of realization I said, "Lord, forgive me for ignoring You. I know that I can’t write anything without Your input and direction, and I'd like to start writing again. Would You tell me what to write?"

Then in His faithfulness to open up His storehouse of blessings, He reminded me of the little boy I met in Kramer’s Pet Boutique. He was playing with toy trucks in the corner of the store when I entered, but a few minutes later when I walked to the door, he left his toys, grabbed my arm, and began talking to me about the dogs on the cover of Happy Tails.

We were having a delightful conversation when his mother turned and looked at us in amazement.

"I can’t believe he’s talking to you," she said. "He never talks to anyone. He’s autistic."

Whoa. What had appeared to me as a normal interaction between an adult and a child was a momentous occasion in their lives.

Looking back, I remember being awed by it at the time, and even thanked God for allowing me to be a part of something so special. And yet, in the busyness of accomplishing my do-list of people to see, I had overlooked that special moment until I asked God to give me something to write about.

Perhaps I need to look right in front of me before I look elsewhere for His answers. How about you?

Where is Happy Tails?

Linda Winn — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:13:00 GMT

Happy Tails wags in the U.S. and abroad

Now in retail bookstores nationwide and three foreign countries, Happy Tails is spreading the good news to dog lovers. What good news is that? God loves you a gazillion times more than you love your dog!

Isn't that the perfect message to send your dog-loving friends?

So hurry to your favorite bookstore or shop online at www.Amazon.com. And be sure to post your review there. Or if you want a copy personalized to you or your friends, visit my Web-site www.LindaWinn.com and receive ONE CENT SHIPPING when you mention this blog.

You'll also find reviews from several states and find my schedule of book signings and speaking engagements.

I hope you'll join me for this journey. I've met wonderful folks who have bought or received Happy Tails as a gift and look forward to meeting more of you. And remember... a portion of the proceeds goes to dog adoption.

May God bless you richly today!
Linda

The Fern Blessing

Linda Winn — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:01:00 GMT

Sometimes God's blessings cause unabashed laughter. Take yesterday for instance. A blessing for me splashed all over the couple in front of me, too. Here's how it happened.

I love a bargain. So when I noticed a HUGE fern at Home Depot sitting next to a sign that said $8.97 I had to ask. The price was just too foreign to what I thought the price must be. I looked around and snagged a guy with "Home Depot" on his shirt.

"Is this fern really $8.97?" Then I reminded him, "It's sitting right next to the sign."

He said, "If it's next to the sign, you can have it for $8.97 regardless of the price. Tell the cashier, 'George said.'"

"Deal. Would you put it in my car for me? I couldn't possibly lift it."

The couple in front of me at check-out heard our conversation and loaded the other two ferns like it into their buggies and said to the cashier, "He said they were $8.97 for her, so they've got to be $8.97 for us, too."

While the cashier was trying to figure out how to override the original price, I asked, "What was the price on it?"

"It scanned $34.97."

The three of us celebrated our bargain while the cashier studied the instructions on her register.

When the couple rolled the ferns to their car, a new cashier rolled in with her tray, so I reminded her that my fern was to be $8.97.

With scan gun in hand she circled my fern looking for the barcode. When she couldn't find it she said, "I'll just have to figure out how to override the price."

"Why don't you just scan the barcode on the sign?" I suggested.

"Well, of course," she said.

So she pointed at the sign, pulled the trigger, and started laughing.

"What?" I asked.

She leaned over to me to whisper, "They paid $8.97, but you're getting it for $7.00!"

I laughed to myself. And I think God laughed with me over my joy at recognizing His blessing. I knew it was His because of the abundance factor. He always gives us more than we could ever ask or imagine.

How has God blessed you abundantly today?