Marsha's Blog

 Good Morning.  This morning we’re still in Texas, have had a lovely week juggling relatives and friends, but unfortunately missing quite a few.  I’m glad for the forgiveness of many of you who still care about us even tho we never show up on your doorstep. If I don’t lose my mind before the next visit, those of you who got played over will be on the first of the list!  We’re happy to report that, except for a couple of “Come to Jesus” moments, we mostly drove on the correct side of the road. Tony would like to add that, so far, he has managed to negotiate the Dallas freeway system without breaking anything or losing his mind.  We also were made aware of the importance of one’s political stance, and even tho we never had to deal personally with it, came to understand that some folks are quite sensitive about the pronouns they identify with. Get me home!!!  In amongst all that, we ALMOST managed to vote in the US election – just a few more hoops to jump through. If I’d been just a touch

Good Morning All, Today some of you will be seeing me in person as we visit Tony’s parents’ Church (and ours too, for that matter), Holly Brook Baptist.This last week, we had a nice catch up with my only sibling Sherry, and her husband Richard.  Family is so nice.  We ate and reminisced, drove the country roads and avoided hittingt he skunk bent on self-destruction (which was very fortuitous), and just had a nice time.  We helped them say “no” to  another puppy, then held their bags as they signed the papers.  I wonder at their wisdom to bring this responsibility into their already heavy load, but we all got sucked in; who can say ‘no’ to such cuteness? I need to mention that although I try to write you a blog every week, you need to understand that this ‘exercise’ is more for MY benefit than anything else.  What I’m doing is making you witnesses to what’s going on in my head. It’s such a privilege to be able to share with you. Thank you so much! And once again, you’ve blessed me.After

 We got a thought-provoking newsletter the other day from some dear friends we worked alongside for many years in JAPAN. They are of a more 'reformed, Calvinistic nature' than us crazy "free will" Baptists and we had some interesting and challenging repartee with them over the years. Somehow we've remained good friends, as do some of our children and theirs.   So it was a surprise in this letter, to hear them asking for prayers for all the people they've invested so much time and effort into and who have not turned their hearts towards Christ ...... even so much as to be polite.    While reading it, I began to mourn for our own "lost causes" and believe me, there are many. We invested SO MUCH into them, and especially our own hopes and dreams, but somehow they chose to float away.   And then I thought of how Jesus must have felt.  The Scriptures refer to Him many times as a "Man of Sorrows".  He, being God, probably not only grieved, but re

  Good Morning Friends, I’m typing this from the airport; our trip to the States has begun.  Hopefully I’ll see a few of you I missed last time.  I’ll have to say it’s been a bit hectic, getting ready for this little and somewhat simple trip, and I’m glad to be started.   I had something ready to send, but this morning I saw a friend’s Facebook post and thought it might be appropriate to share.  I hope they don’t get me for plagiarizing….. but some of my Australian friends, like me, might not have got a real idea of what’s been going on this last week in Appalachia. So with prayers, I’m going to share this: If you haven’t heard about the floods and relief efforts in North Carolina, I thought I’d share some thoughts.   Firstly, I hope you aren’t thinking, ‘They should have been better prepared”.  Nothing like this has EVER happened to these folks in recorded history.  20-30 inches (50-85 cms) of rain falling on 3000 ft mountains (really tall)……in one day!   Unbelievable forces came into

 Hello Friends I wanted to “spice” things up a bit today, and you may be thinking I’m going to a lot of work to find the spiritual reference, but trust me: it’ll be worth it. You may have to look at today's blog as more of a travel log of our recent trip through Europe.  The subject I'm talking about first came to mind a couple of months ago, while traveling through Amsterdam’s canals. It was pointed out that many of the buildings on either side of these beautiful narrow waterways are very old, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. It seems pretty obvious when you notice that quite a few of them don't stand straight up, due to the constant moving and sinking into the soft soil. In fact, some buildings have begun to depend on the building next door for support, which then requires laws about what a person can and cannot do to his property if it might cause the adjacent building to fall down. Just about every three to four-story building has a familiar prominent hook ou

I had to chuckle as I was reading in Job this week.  Not that Job is what I'd call a particularly “funny'' book,  but it’s just that God has a way with words that can speak to so many people and situations at the same time.  I was reading Job 38: 39, "Will you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the hunger of the lions, when they crouch in their dens?" I had to laugh, because the verse called up an old memory for me, from back in 1996. It was a younger and more naïve “me” back then, at least in terms of the realities around an Ethiopian refugee camp where we were working. For some reason, another missionary kid and I were hiking, hoping to climb a small mountain behind the camp.  We had the village dog with us.  I can't remember why the rest of the family wasn't along, but I think Tony was teaching the Old Testament and Nathan was teaching every boy in the village how to play basketball.  Who knows what 6-year-old Nicki was doing, but I'm sure it