tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215403142024-03-07T14:47:14.441+06:00Rescued RemnantAn American family of 7 living and stumbling through life in China.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comBlogger917125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-90191243320411188562019-04-19T08:26:00.001+06:002019-04-19T08:26:06.024+06:00Day 3 & 4: 4 minute success!Day 3-4<br />
<br />
I was sick for day 3, so my meditation looked like a nap. A fretful nap where I reminded myself to defrost ground pork.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 4, I listened to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFSc7Ck0Ao0" target="_blank">this</a>. She guided me through a few centering moments of noticing my breath. I actually found this extremely helpful as well. I kept my mind just focused enough to not wander off course too badly.<br />
<br />
This is Good Friday, so we all have a lot to meditate on. I feel better about day 4 and my mind feeling clearer. While I did open my eyes 3 minutes in because it felt like 20 minutes, I was able to do fairly well until 4 minutes.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm going to try and increase my time by 1 minutes a day.<br />
<br />
Things I learned:<br />
<br />
It is good to have a short, small guided voice helping me start the meditation process.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-58231634820935959362019-04-17T07:31:00.000+06:002019-04-17T07:31:25.110+06:00Day 2: Sometimes frogs ruin meditation<b>Day 2</b><br />
<br />
This morning I made some significant meditation changes. I listened to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm1Z80ltba0" target="_blank">this</a> on Youtube. I have problems with a lot of nature sound meditation music because I get caught up in the scene. I notice the patterns of the seagulls calling out or the frogs croaking. I then wander off into where the frogs live and if there's a sufficient fly supply for his family. It turns into frog family reunions being interrupted by savage crocodiles.<br />
<br />
This music is simple and void of nature.<br />
<br />
I also discovered that I need to find God as I picture scenes. Me, floating in space, as I look down to earth. I try to mentally push aside all the narratives that could come streaming in and relax in the peace of it all.<br />
<br />
I also put on noise canceling headphones to drown out the noises I clung to in <a href="https://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/2019/04/day-1-meditation-multitasking.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>.<br />
<br />
I didn't ask God for anything. I didn't pray a single thing. I just sat and allowed myself to be in awe for 3 minutes. It was not without distraction this morning, but the music and headphones helped keep me present. I focused on the goodness of God in the patterns of a tide. Calmly ebbing to and fro as if being conducted by a masterful hand. I found my mind fixating on the simplicity of God's order.<br />
<br />
This order is all around me, I just miss it in the complexity of my thoughts. This was a good step back from my mind and a good step forward in my relationship with stillness.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-65559256798417686992019-04-16T11:13:00.002+06:002019-04-16T11:13:30.481+06:00Day 1: Meditation Multitasking<b>Day 1</b><br />
<br />
Our VPN was down, so I decided that was God's way of telling to meditate while I cut strawberries in my kitchen. Normally, I want to listen to a podcast or music or a Rami Malek interview on Youtube. I looked at my watch, 9:44 am. Ok, I would give myself until 9:49 to be quiet (with the added bonus of getting fruit chopped for dinner). I had now decided that multitasking meditation would be my jam.<br />
<br />
A solid 15 seconds in and my mind introduced itself to these these players:<br />
<br />
A hole being drilled 2 floors up.<br />
<br />
Groups of wandering policemen outside my apartment complex.<br />
<br />
My own acoustic remix of "Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs." But, only that line over and over because the rest of the song's lyrics are filled with incoherent gaps.<br />
<br />
Look how fast I can cut bananas.<br />
<br />
Maybe I should do some game show about home cheffing.<br />
<br />
Audibly telling the left over pico de gallo how much I loved it.<br />
<br />
<br />
I haven't even seen the minute hand move and all of these things had happened.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 1 was a total meditation fail.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I learned: </b><br />
<br />
1. I cannot multitask and meditate.<br />
2. I need to sit down with maybe some quiet, pan flutey type music to drown out any peripheral noise.<br />
3. I might even need to leave the house.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-89035928486018011222019-04-15T12:34:00.000+06:002019-04-15T12:34:09.222+06:00Taking Silence for a Spin<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I cannot be still. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I cannot meditate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I am dismissive of silence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
As a kid, I would oftentimes run to the car before my mother and crank the radio volume to full dial. When she stuck the keys into the ignition the radio would screech notes at an undiscernible decibel. My mother would wince and I would laugh with all the hilarity I believed that prank deserved. While I am not claiming causation, I am now an adult woman and notoriously play my music loud. I want to be fully embraced by the notes and lyrics of the music. If I am interrupted as I listen, I actually pause the song instead of turning down the volume. I cannot handle both relational and musical input at the same time. It feels like getting tapped on the shoulder and being cut in on during a slow dance during a Brian Adam's song. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We have some pretty major decisions waiting for us in the carpool line. We know they are coming. And instead of an excited kindergartener looking for their mom’s car, I have found I am a angry and annoyed 12-year old full of angst as the car gets closer and closer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
This week, I’ve picked up Emily Freeman’s, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Next-Right-Thing-Practice-Decisions-ebook/dp/B07NDMXLNM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+next+right+thing&qid=1555308804&s=gateway&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72;">The Next Right Thing.”</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Here’s what Mr. Amazon says: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">If you have trouble making decisions, because of either chronic hesitation you've always lived with or a more recent onset of decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing. With this simple, soulful practice, it is possible to clear the decision-making chaos, quiet the fear of choosing wrong, and find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
My go to decision making process is brainstorm until I have squeezed every ounce out of an idea. This requires full mental attention while doing just about everything-making coffee, doing homework with the kids, folding laundry, etc. Basically, the most present I am is with the churning and pressing of my own thoughts. I then take those ideas and poll my people. They get to hear all my great ideas and tell me what’s great and not great about them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Then, I ask God to notarize it all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
That’s how I’ve done it for as long as I can remember. But the decision fatigue is exhausting and I can’t keep doing it this way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Over the next 30 days, I am going to chronicle my inability turned to (hopefully) ability to meditate and listen to the Lord. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I’m not publishing these posts to social media, so if you end up here, let’s claim it as divine serendipity. I don’t need the parade of onlookers to distract me from learning to listen. I already play to the crowd enough in my life. This needs to be different. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Chapter 1: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><i>“Unmade decisions hold power.” <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-5718255997185856382018-09-04T08:00:00.004+06:002018-09-04T08:00:44.726+06:00If I were the man at the pool <b>What if I was the man by the pool of Bethesda?</b> (John 5)<br />
<br />
Laying there for 38 years. There's nobody to help me get into the pool. The only proximal hope that I will be healed. And even that is far away when your community decides the distance is too far to travel. That act of moving me from this grounded mat to the life-restoring pool is too big a burden for them to shoulder. They have all moved on to baking bread, bathing infants, and bringing wares to sell at market. The longer I bake here in the sun, the lighter the burden feels for them. Amazing what time can do. For many, it heals. For others, it commits the pain. Time only heals wounds when they've got healthy people injecting antibodies of community into the pain of another. This replaces the pain with moments of joy. But, for some of us, it only replaces our pain with more recent pain.<br />
<br />
So, where does that leave me?<br />
<br />
I know. It leaves me stranded on this island of a mat, longing for the life of the waters. Yet, the waters remain a mirage to me, while a reality to others. I hear the cheers of others as they are lowered into the pools and raised with sores healed and limbs moving. I hear the jubilation of family members who thought the prison doors of a stroke would remain forever locked.<br />
<br />
<b>Here I lie. </b><br />
<br />
The scuffles of the poor and lame have become a cadence of hopelessness to me, Until, that is, the swirling fog of dust settles to reveal feet standing at my eye's level. Someone stops. The cadence of passing strangers halts. For me. They halt for me. Certainly I will be asked to move while someone else is brought to water's edge.<br />
<br />
<b>A voice.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Eyes.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Both speaking to me. </b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>"Do you want to be healed?"</b></span><br />
<br />
I'm not even sure I know. I've resigned to the plane of hopelessness for so long that sitting upright in healing expectancy...I can't even visualize it.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>"Get up, take your bed, and walk." </b></span><br />
<br />
After this man, those eyes, that offer to be healed, I found myself rolling up my mat. As if I have been transfixed by his presence. I pick up the mat that has held my life in its straw. I actively tell my mind how to move my toes. Movement has been archived for 38 years. 38 years is close to life expectancy for me, but I have very little to expect from life.<br />
<br />
<b>Until now.</b><br />
<br />
I put one foot in front of the other; cautious at the potential betrayal of my healing. For so long I have seen and heard victory for others. I have abandoned the idea that victory was for me. My body seems to be the object of other people's gratitude. I've heard it, "I am grateful that my body has not failed me like that man's on the. mat."<br />
<br />
But not today.<br />
<br />
<b>Today is victory! It's my turn for victory!</b><br />
<br />
My walking pace quickens as if my synapses have woken and am remembering how to walk. I swing my head around to thank the man and he is gone.<br />
<br />
No name.<br />
<br />
He simply healed me and went about his day. He restored my body. He restored my life.<br />
<br />
I want to know about this man that require me to walk in my healing and nothing else.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-52867006992220925312018-08-27T07:10:00.000+06:002019-01-10T11:30:14.436+06:00Project Based Learning-Creating Books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">**This is a class assignment for a certification I'm getting*</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I'm getting married in white culottes, never working in an office, and I want to be outside." This was my fourth grade checklist for the adult version of me. Thank goodness the school system I was slotted into had a track that held <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCZvGesRz8" target="_blank">Project Based Learning (PBL)</a> up as a virtue. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YrZTho_o_is/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YrZTho_o_is?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my all time favorite Ted Talk. My desire as a teacher is to teach my students to take their peer reviews and teacher feedback not as criticism, but provisions to get them to, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZTho_o_is&t=3s" target="_blank">Embrace the Shake</a>." Within writing, this means finding their voice and way of communication that meeting the requirements and yet remaining true to themselves. Some students melt under the fire of critiques. I want to foster a classroom that constantly, embraces the shake, and works through our weaknesses to turn them into strengths.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for refugee camp" class="irc_mi" height="335" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Rwandan_refugee_camp_in_east_Zaire.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 127px;" width="500" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee_camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PBL encourages the strengths and stretches the weaknesses of each student. In any PBL, there will be sections students enjoy and other sections they merely get through. My hope with this PBL, is that they will learning not only to improve their writing and research skills, but also learn about the world outside of their own.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">PBL-Refugee Camp Book</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Project Theme and Goals: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
This is an English class project for secondary students. The students will be empathetically researching the lives of children in refugee camps. As a group of 4 they will put together a collaboratively written book of short stories that will touch on key areas of a refugee’s life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
Before starting, each member of the group will read a different book written by a refugee. They will share with their group things they learned in that book. As a group, they will need to do thorough research on a specific people group who are currently living in a refugee camp. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
The objective for this project is to get the students to understand the lives of other students who are struggling with different and yet, maybe, similar issues. Also, to get them to think through how studying literature can help a group of people in need. The end resulting book should have an underlying theme, tying the entire project together. For example, the theme of hope or family. Another objective is to learn about all the elements, processes, and staging in publishing a book. This needs to be a professional quality book that we would see on Amazon. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br />
While I am looking for a professional, end product, I am also looking to challenge their perspectives along the way. The entire process of researching and understanding refugees, receiving peer feedback, and teaching editing should foster humility in my students.<br />
<br />
While PBLs can be fun and creative, they still need feedback. I've outlined a detailed rubric and monitoring plan <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nzD9Ma5PQBLur37Cp_FTPMkk2Guc_VxIMr-6xnPCXa0/edit" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's a link to another PBL I did. We are walking through Joseph Campbell's, <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey" target="_blank">Hero's Journey. </a></i><br />
<br />
I love Campbell's discussion about the process a hero goes through in a story. In the classroom, we would walk through C.S. Lewis', <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</i>. The links are <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_ddrZSxfRMb_tGmZgQmWab3NAjGCl6idZrrU-y0IkDI/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a> for a unit lesson plan.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-85174566294724313952017-10-04T16:51:00.001+06:002017-10-04T16:52:14.413+06:00How Obligation can be a Generosity Thing***I'm guest blogging today over at <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jacksonwu/2017/10/04/chinese-teach-obligation-love/">JacksonWu.org</a>. ***<br />
<br />
<br />
I've been thinking on the concept of obligation for a few months now. For most of us Americans the idea of being obligated to someone makes us want to flash mob Times Square while singing, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUjeR01wnU">"You Don't Own Me."</a><br />
<br />
But since moving to China in 2003 I've learned that obligation doesn't bind me with shackles, it binds me with mutual generosity.<br />
<br />
Go over there and tell me what you think. It's not an easy pill to swallow, trust me. The night my now husband and I had the "Determine The Relationship," talk, I quickly responded with, "Just because we are dating now, don't think that means I want to see you everyday."<br />
<br />
I get it, friends. I totally get the panic that can come with being obligated.<br />
<br />
And with that, I appropriately leave you the last chorus of Lesley Gore's song:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<i>I don't tell you what to say<br />I don't tell you what to do<br />So just let me be myself<br />That's all I ask of you</i></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<i>I'm young and I love to be young<br />I'm free and I love to be free<br />To live my life the way I want<br />To say and do whatever I please</i></div>
<div class="_Mvn" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<i>And don't tell me what to do<br />Oh,<span class="_Lvn">…</span></i></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-48522527970747292162017-01-02T16:31:00.001+06:002017-01-02T16:31:46.866+06:00Thrive Interview: Contentment<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6aiRQY-NybOAhgGLnU4wDuyDuS0Ie_skyoSPhyMEsgse-0kI8oWfE6-ssdXmKu4WgDjA42WkQdfYbsL8BYi0SOHimrX-wFeb6DJniWiKB2sBtGgN9jnJH9sBaEZcKVSxuvneOQ/s1600/thrive.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6aiRQY-NybOAhgGLnU4wDuyDuS0Ie_skyoSPhyMEsgse-0kI8oWfE6-ssdXmKu4WgDjA42WkQdfYbsL8BYi0SOHimrX-wFeb6DJniWiKB2sBtGgN9jnJH9sBaEZcKVSxuvneOQ/s320/thrive.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Contentment. At times this has been Diet Dr. Pepper and cheap animal crackers. Other times it has meant sitting with my 3-year old on a tire swing at the park, not swinging. If there was swinging involved, there would be no contentment on my part.<br />
<br />
I've written for the ministry a few times and am grateful for their extended reach to women all over the world. Their content is honest, Biblical, diverse, and thorough.<br />
<br />
Below is the interview I did:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thriveconnection.com/2016/12/30/contentment-carrie-anne/">Thrive interview: Contentment</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-29914162041492143062016-12-13T16:37:00.002+06:002016-12-13T16:37:27.445+06:00My Letter to the Christian Parents of Overseas Workers<b>Dear Christian Parents of Overseas Workers-</b><br />
<br />
<br />
First off, this isn't a passive-aggressive right hook to my own parents. They have truly become a loyal and faithful support system to our family. But there's a thing happening. It happens every year starting the second week of November and not letting up until January. Christian parents are saying things like, "We wish you were here eating turkey with the family." Or, "I can't believe we will be celebrating Christmas this year without the grandkids." Or, "I can't wait until you're home next year so we can all celebrate as a family."<br />
<br />
These seem like benign phrases that merely express a longing to be together as a family. The problem is that your child who is overseas feels the loss even deeper than you'd think. They see messages like these and wrap their holidays in guilt, homesickness, longing, loneliness, isolation, and want. For many of us, we don't have a community to even eat a bowl of rice with, no way a Thanksgiving spread is gonna happen. We teach English classes on Christmas and worship to a youtube video. And the thing is that these can be godly, holy moments if we allow them to be. But when we have family and friends talking about us returning "home," all the time (especially during the holidays), it becomes infinitely more difficult to be present here.<br />
<br />
Christmas is the time we need you to remind us of why we are here. This season is busy, exhausting, and requires every bit of Holy Spirit to choke back another decorated sugar cookie. But when we are present, we get to open our lives up to the community and share the most radical birthing story in the history of the world. When our head is in the game, this glorious season becomes a launching pad to engaging our community in a more meaningful way. As a Christian parent, please remind you kids that their time and energy is worth it. Sure, tell them you miss them. But end that sentence with a, "But God needs you there to be Jesus to your people. That is the most wonderful gift I could get this Christmas." <b>Don't wish them home</b>. Trust me, there are many days their heart is already on that plane. Your kids know it's not easy on you either.<br />
<br />
They need believing parents in their corner of the ring praying, wiping up their bloodied noses, and telling them to get back out there.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yours Truly,<br />
<br />
Carrie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-57941444349263058722016-11-12T12:52:00.000+06:002016-11-12T12:52:50.663+06:00Creating our own Glass Ceiling<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m frustrated this week. Frustrated at low cut jeans,
because well, I’m a 40-year old mother of 5. I’m frustrated that a new computer
charger costs $100 here. I’m frustrated that I can’t eat bagels because my
stomach has turned into a tantrum throwing 2-year old. But maybe something of a
little more consequence has tagged me this week. I’ve been frustrated with my
gender. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Women. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve found myself more and more unsettled as this election
has rounded out. This is not a political post, but a call for women to stop.
This is my proverbial shofar call to stop talking about voting for Hillary
because she was a woman. If you agreed with her platform and voted for her in
response, then great. If you went to the voting polls and cast your vote for
her BECAUSE she was female, that’s less than great. If we as women want to
continue to make progress in salary equality and gender imbalances, we’ve got
to stop doing things like this. While I haven’t asked Hillary Clinton
personally, I have a hard time believing that she wants your vote simply
because she was born with two X chromosomes. She would rather you make a smart,
thoughtful decision about a person and a platform, not a gender. The former is
simply patronizing. Like when the P.E. teacher picks the uncoordinated, awkward
kid as captain of the dodge ball team. It’s a pitied choice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Voting for her simply because of her gender isn’t <b>actually
</b>breaking a glass ceiling, it’s reinforcing one. It’s walking up to that ceiling
and smashing your face on it, looking childish and uninformed. I saw a similar
phenomenon when Sarah Palin was first toying in public politics. People blindly
followed her lead without having any clue as to what she thought on issues. If
we as a gender want true progress, we’ve got to prove ourselves through
education, information, question asking, intelligent dialogue, and working
insanely hard. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We aren’t going to earn more respect in places by whining,
remaining ignorant, complaining, and knocking one another down based on
superficial criteria. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are better than this. We can scream loudly for change
when we actually have something worth hearing, otherwise it becomes screechy
white noise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I disagree with some of her politics, I truly admire
her culmination of 30 years of public service. My mom has worked in a male
dominated industry for over 30 years also. It takes wisdom, intellect,
perseverance, and gutsiness. These are the characteristics we teach our
daughters. We don’t want them to expect doors to fly open simply because they
are female. We want them to walk through doors because they’ve earned it. And
when you walk through a door knowing you deserved it, you’re head is held high
knowing you didn’t get there based on an invitation of pity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-73468846854047846372016-10-01T07:35:00.002+06:002016-10-01T07:35:45.972+06:00The Hardest, Shortest Word we Have to Start Saying. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3fP8ZLKNhyFhqXYM5_lL8YQAwZuPHOtgkyAAKEJrsQzV5_IYg1-4UmoLaZdOVjN6mJDwCzu-cq4A6YjgbJUUSm0ZZ-X1PPTK_vUiWscLIfMH1ysw1JJzUQMVAwQyP4MdAdTMAQ/s1600/connectionbanner-forum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3fP8ZLKNhyFhqXYM5_lL8YQAwZuPHOtgkyAAKEJrsQzV5_IYg1-4UmoLaZdOVjN6mJDwCzu-cq4A6YjgbJUUSm0ZZ-X1PPTK_vUiWscLIfMH1ysw1JJzUQMVAwQyP4MdAdTMAQ/s640/connectionbanner-forum.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />I was published on <a href="http://thriveconnection.com/">Thrive</a> a few weeks ago. But because I turned 40 yesterday, I get to claim things like old age and sore shoulders from rolling over on the couch too quickly. Those are actual things, friends.<br /><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Get up earlier. Read your Bible longer. Journal—better yet, do an art journal and use highlighters with different colors for different grammatical structures. Have a retreat; make sure to date your husband. Listen to sermons while doing dishes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://thriveconnection.com/2016/09/06/saying-no/">Read More</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-75364214261128865762016-03-30T12:48:00.002+06:002016-03-30T12:48:58.308+06:00Living Overseas isn't an Adventure, it's a LifeMaybe it's the fact that I turn 40 this year and I am waving at the people-pleasing thirties in the rearview mirror.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's because I'm living overseas and I get to post things like this online, not having to watch the facial expressions of my friends as they read my ridiculousness.<br />
<br />
Picking up the calling to live and work overseas is not an adventure. <b>We need to stop using that word.</b> We try to sweeten the grief of saying good-bye to our passport country by using the word, "adventure." It's been written in letters of encouragement; put on index cards and surrounded by butterflies; tagged on a Facebook post with mountains while wearing red North Face jackets and black-strapped Chacos.<br />
<br />
<b>Let's make it all stop.</b><br />
<br />
Each time we say these things to another person moving overseas, we are setting them up to stay short term. As they pack their bags and dream of "adventure," they are slowly telling the Lord, "This had better be fun or I'm out."<br />
<br />
<br />
I realize that some people intentionally sign up for one or two years overseas, and that's great. But here's the reality, if you love Jesus and are moving overseas in order to make Him known in a new country than this is going to take a longer commitment. With a life commitment overseas, most days will not be filled with adventure.<br />
<br />
Your pictures might look adventurous, but there are actual moments behind those crusty pagodas and exotic jumping tribes. Are there adventurous days? Yes. But there were also adventurous days when I lived in a suburb of North Houston. When you see pictures of your friends backpacking through Cambodia in order to find an unreached people group, you also need to know that they most likely camped in a cave and wore wet socks for three days.<br />
<br />
Wet.socks.<br />
<br />
They most likely reached their destination and failed to find a single villager. This is not an adventure, it's a frustration. But this frustration is worth it and that is why we do it.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I get nervous for many of these young men and women raising their hands in an emotional flurry, committing to move overseas. While it's exciting to move to a new country, we need people to actually stay and that is going to require us getting over the adventure piece. If you stay for a year, you will probably return feeling like it's an adventure. But what we need over here are people who stay for the long haul. People that learn language, buy local, pee in outhouses at their friend's home, and become ok with rolling power outages. Adventure needs to take a back seat to real life. Life is only adventurous to the degree that we allow the Lord to intersects our lives with others.<br />
<br />
I have loved all the moments of life overseas, but I will say that I've loved them because of how they have refined me as a Christian woman and not because they've all been fun. We have to start believing that God wants us to stay overseas for more than a year or two an that's going to require us to recalibrate our expectations. For some of us, that will mean that we will remain single for a really long time. Others of us have signed up to raise our children thousands of miles from their grandparents. These realities are very much not adventurous, they are simply hard. But the hard is where the Lord meets us to fold our lives into His.<br />
<br />
<b>And that is always the adventure. </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-36518323280292980052016-01-03T13:54:00.000+06:002016-01-03T13:54:42.711+06:00Letter to my friends<br />
To my friends from my passport country-<br />
<br />
I'm sorry that we sat by the campfire that night and I didn't know what to say. Our lives have been piling forward on different continents for some time now. I desperately want you to understand my life in China, but my stories of duck blood hot pot or 6 am wedding processions seem to be a compilation of snippets rather than a constructed life story. I've tried to mold my life experience into something palatable for you, but I'm afraid that I've failed over and over again. A decade has gone by since I've been able to call you at 8 and meet with you by 9.<br />
<br />
Friends have attended your baby showers, I have commented on Instagram.<br />
<br />
Your small group brought you dinner when you were sick, I sent you an emoji of a penguin in hopes it made you smile.<br />
<br />
I walked with you through grief in a few 45 minute Skype conversations.<br />
<br />
I realize it's been hard to be friends over the internet. But what I want you to know is that my lack of physical presence doesn't mean I don't need you in my world. I think it's easy for us both to forget that as our lives press forward, there is a person on the other side of the world who loves us and needs to hear from us. I've failed at this more times than is possible to count. Time zones have made me late to wish you happy birthday. By not checking Facebook, I've totally missed your son's broken arm.<br />
<br />
Don't give up on those of us who live overseas. We are all thankful to God that technology allows us to text you from 8,000 miles away. While it might seem we are living these radical lives for Jesus, we need you to ask us hard questions.We need you to see the person and not just the job we've been called to.<br />
<br />
One of the things we crave overseas are people with whom we have history. It is balm for the soul to have a friend who knew you when you stayed up too late while sleeping on a pier. We still love hearing about the time you cried when the grocery store ran out of Cheez-its.<br />
<br />
I get it. This friendship is hard. But thank you for sticking it out with me.<br />
<br />
I might present myself as stoic, but in reality I am needy.<br />
<br />
We need your prayers.<br />
<br />
We need your perspective.<br />
<br />
We need your presence.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-16653935143921549842015-08-05T13:48:00.000+06:002015-08-07T12:37:09.740+06:00Gluten Free cooking in China<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">After grieving the loss of homemade bagels and pumpkin spice coffee creamer sent lugged in suitcases, I decided to put on my big girl pants and learn to cook gluten free in China. I could almost live on bread alone, so this has been quite a journey for me and my stomach. About a year and a half ago my stomach took an early retirement from all the things I was feeding it-straight up packed a bag and moved south. After exiting denial, I found that I've really enjoyed eating GF now. Doing this in China can be tricky, but not impossible. You just don't have to opportunity to spend $85 on a loaf of gluten free bread. You simply have to make it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">A few of my favorite websites:</span><br />
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="http://elanaspantry.com/">Elanaspantry.com</a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Tons of recipes that are relatively simply. I’ve been using sunflower seed oil instead of grapeseed oil (or any of the other specialty oils she uses) and it’s worked fine. I actually use <a href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.237.DWu9U6&id=45144227644&ns=1&_u=51ker3j4355c&abbucket=9#detail">sunflower oil </a>for all my cooking. I noticed a huge improvement in my stomach issues when I switched oils. Even olive oil was causing me issues. I can find sunflower seed oil locally, but if you can't, I linked it to TB. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="http://myheartbeets.com/">Myheartbeets.com</a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Lots of Indian recipes. Friend, she even has one for paleo Naan. I'm gonna name a house plant after this woman. We’ve been into curries lately, and her website is a definite go to for us. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
There are millions of great GF websites now. These are just the two I've been using lately. Really and truly, once I got used to cooking this way, I’m able to take standard recipes and make them GF pretty easily. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSw-hOJhCO1PxnYO4S6xnQTwZgxLLXjJoEsnepd67v_UtNYZHBca9o9bkiT9MzPH8KcrFZ1mAGFMvMfB2qOuPJTjKY6WOLHwtYrBYaQXwwucDyrHqwG2NM6gYME1RnCf4CIxoAw/s1600/almond+flour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSw-hOJhCO1PxnYO4S6xnQTwZgxLLXjJoEsnepd67v_UtNYZHBca9o9bkiT9MzPH8KcrFZ1mAGFMvMfB2qOuPJTjKY6WOLHwtYrBYaQXwwucDyrHqwG2NM6gYME1RnCf4CIxoAw/s200/almond+flour.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Here’s the</span><b> almond flour</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> I get off TB:</span></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.102.m98qkU&id=16146516238&_u=51ker3j400e5"> |烘焙原料| 美国进口金山杏仁粉100%纯 马卡龙专用 500g分装 </a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
This is for about a 3 cup bag. I just order 6 at a time and they’ve stayed fresh for awhile. I usually use them within a month and have had no problems with them going bad. When we were in the States last fall, I used <a href="http://honeymill.com/">Honey Mill</a> almond flour. This flour is a little denser, but still works great. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">I also like to use </span><b>buckwheat flour</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> (荞麦粉 qiao2 main fen3)It has a little bit of a nutty flavor, but it binds really well. I failed miserably with a buckwheat bagel because I put more buckwheat than almond flour. If you add too more buckwheat than other flours, your bagel will taste like shoelaces. Trust me. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
Almond flour is pretty pricey, so I usually try and cut the almond flour with another type of flour. When you’re cooking for 7, I can’t justify spending 100 kuai making muffins. But cutting the almond flour with buckwheat has been a good cost saving shortcut. I have a local friend who can bring it to me, but I imagine you can buy this on TB. It imagine you might be able to find it locally as it’s a pretty common flour in Asia. </div>
</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I’ve also cut recipes with </span><b style="font-family: Helvetica;">millet flour </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">(小米分 xiao3 mi3 fen3), </span><b>sweet potato starch</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> (use in small amounts 地瓜粉 did gua1 fen3), </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica;">corn flour</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> (玉米粉 yu4 mi fen3. Some places, this word is also used for cornstarch. You just have to look at the color and texture ), </span><b style="font-family: Helvetica;">mung bean flour </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">(绿豆粉 lv4 dou4 fen3)。 All of these I’ve found at local stores pretty easily. Mung bean flour also binds well, but has a little bit more of a beany flavor, so I just don’t add as much. Try and look for the character 纯 (</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">chun2), as it will let you know that the flour is pure. I haven't found that to always be the case, but for the most part, it's accurate. Oftentimes these flours will be mixed with wheat flour or they will be almond flavored wheat flour. The Chinese words can be the same, which can get a little tricky. The 纯 character should help clear some of that up. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
When I make pancakes I use corn flour 2/3 and buckwheat flour 1/3 together. and they’ve turned out wonderfully. I throw in several mashed bananas, some eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, sometimes a little coconut milk and mix it into a batter. I have conformity issues, so very rarely do I stick to a recipe. It's a life long issue, I'm working on it. Kinda.</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SY6d-9bufzXLOcthANncN7zOdNKb4vLVlaHgzKKXJ7VT8oDEkgQj5iSpJHOun80n9mbEYLXnvO49GYIgJf7zohm644R6qxbTtg0vK7HVEarGAYut8U3I2hcQEH0a6mfLTMW-hQ/s1600/braggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SY6d-9bufzXLOcthANncN7zOdNKb4vLVlaHgzKKXJ7VT8oDEkgQj5iSpJHOun80n9mbEYLXnvO49GYIgJf7zohm644R6qxbTtg0vK7HVEarGAYut8U3I2hcQEH0a6mfLTMW-hQ/s200/braggs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>Soy sauce:</b></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
This is the bummer one with living here. But with these two sauces, I’ve really been able to make anything involving soy sauce. It made me super happy the day I found these on TB. I vividly remember sending texts to several people telling them what I found. These are both really big bottles. I do a lot of Chinese cooking, so I order a bunch at a time. They do have smaller bottles in the Braggs. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Liquid Aminos. A lighter soy sauce flavor. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzh3XfCFyFV_tyhQoqZL3ak_6u7CFsAluq-C1zLoVHWppCsDGJzKtoreXP4dwdUsB933SyekbqXYlrZH-X7zCNZuv2OewXlF9D3BQoOYUsB4XejEzKwMC3kvqeSwkm4YciFHC2w/s1600/tamari+soy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzh3XfCFyFV_tyhQoqZL3ak_6u7CFsAluq-C1zLoVHWppCsDGJzKtoreXP4dwdUsB933SyekbqXYlrZH-X7zCNZuv2OewXlF9D3BQoOYUsB4XejEzKwMC3kvqeSwkm4YciFHC2w/s1600/tamari+soy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzh3XfCFyFV_tyhQoqZL3ak_6u7CFsAluq-C1zLoVHWppCsDGJzKtoreXP4dwdUsB933SyekbqXYlrZH-X7zCNZuv2OewXlF9D3BQoOYUsB4XejEzKwMC3kvqeSwkm4YciFHC2w/s1600/tamari+soy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzh3XfCFyFV_tyhQoqZL3ak_6u7CFsAluq-C1zLoVHWppCsDGJzKtoreXP4dwdUsB933SyekbqXYlrZH-X7zCNZuv2OewXlF9D3BQoOYUsB4XejEzKwMC3kvqeSwkm4YciFHC2w/s200/tamari+soy.jpg" width="119" /></a><a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.12.unP0fG&id=18274226595&_u=51ker3j418fb"> 包邮美国进口Bragg有机氨基酸 无盐 儿童酱油营养超值家庭装946ml </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tamari GF soy sauce. A little darker.</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.219.uz3K7H&id=39942950198&_u=51ker3j42883"> 美国原装进口san-j 有机不含麸质豉油 无麸质酱油 防过敏592ML </a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqAXzRAygf1WpzAYCQOg0pWW_o_0SV9cBJ_qA0plvJcp6E4FvLQLxk4E1O8vLNBXShVB89z0IscM1yr4i0Ck5LGrIMJcxtl2RmpZIs9f-uOtSkrc2M5ATQbXyqNEzXIWPWQiRew/s1600/tapioca+flour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqAXzRAygf1WpzAYCQOg0pWW_o_0SV9cBJ_qA0plvJcp6E4FvLQLxk4E1O8vLNBXShVB89z0IscM1yr4i0Ck5LGrIMJcxtl2RmpZIs9f-uOtSkrc2M5ATQbXyqNEzXIWPWQiRew/s200/tapioca+flour.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<b>Tapioca Flour.</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> (木薯淀粉 mu4 shut dian4 fen3) time I ordered a Bob’s Red Mill Tapioca flour </span><a href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.310.luWJsg&id=43023657688&_u=51ker3j4960d" style="font-size: 12px;">Bob's Red Mill Tapioca Flour</a><span style="font-size: 12px;"> and loved it, but it’s too pricey. This one below is really more like a starch. You can find these at local stores pretty easily. I ordered this one on TB, but most of the time I just buy locally. Sometimes I use this as a filler, but only in small amount. It can make things a little pastey if you add too much. </span></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.31.HGEId8&id=35860627684&_u=51ker3j45d48"> 印尼特产 ROSE BRAND TEPUNG TAPIOKA玫瑰花牌 木薯粉 500g </a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1lCW4WxVoE9c0L9Ex_BF1MTB8aghrkAe1Jg0kHN8tAOLlAR22hhFCbrYGmgtIeRUmzoERgd7vaybxdg2scbKIKJgBFW2n3SAi9rjk0zU7vFcBAkL2bUsWBqqgJrTCIezCOrMIg/s1600/coconut+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1lCW4WxVoE9c0L9Ex_BF1MTB8aghrkAe1Jg0kHN8tAOLlAR22hhFCbrYGmgtIeRUmzoERgd7vaybxdg2scbKIKJgBFW2n3SAi9rjk0zU7vFcBAkL2bUsWBqqgJrTCIezCOrMIg/s200/coconut+milk.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>Coconut Milk:</b><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.67.HGEId8&id=36186837190&_u=51ker3j478b9"> 泰国原装进口 丽尔泰浓椰浆 400ML椰浆含量85%易拉罐装 超浓椰奶 </a></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I’ve loved learning to cook with coconut milk. We’ve learned how to make awesome coffee ice cream. I also use it in my curries and add it to pancake batter to add some good fats. This TB store seems to be much cheaper than other places I’ve seen. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwm5QWuVeUD_tt2BPDL0kMvN594bwbnyHNpuqJnf7fftA5AkJLiM0IIhuNtjiB7FL1dGaWSvS1rlfzMTwOIiuZ_qnDHhlQ54eRK1wWMIZDtsWJE-SsxE2TODTRvlxihBcImCoqQ/s1600/coconut+flour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwm5QWuVeUD_tt2BPDL0kMvN594bwbnyHNpuqJnf7fftA5AkJLiM0IIhuNtjiB7FL1dGaWSvS1rlfzMTwOIiuZ_qnDHhlQ54eRK1wWMIZDtsWJE-SsxE2TODTRvlxihBcImCoqQ/s200/coconut+flour.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Coconut flour:</b><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.203.f73ptF&id=35562406979&_u=51ker3j4a1eb"> 临期清货Bob's Red Mill Organic Coconut Flour有机椰子面粉453g </a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I loved this flour. You pay a pretty price for that love though. All the other coconut flours I’ve found are more like coconut powdered drink. Because the Chinese is the same, it can be a ton of hit and miss finding these flours. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JymBC4Uw5APZffmpvIaEJHXYrnOOT1XVtUFV_T0lSpqnzyB8CyCcplBJPyFhPl5gskmNcW5Q14PwMovokhjVmLVmSCilG-uI-zWsCosruTik3eqnVNuzgV_eGXTd-2AXJ20-6w/s1600/flaxseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JymBC4Uw5APZffmpvIaEJHXYrnOOT1XVtUFV_T0lSpqnzyB8CyCcplBJPyFhPl5gskmNcW5Q14PwMovokhjVmLVmSCilG-uI-zWsCosruTik3eqnVNuzgV_eGXTd-2AXJ20-6w/s200/flaxseed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>Flaxseed</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> (golden flaxseed: 黄金亚麻籽 huang2 jin1 ya3 ma2 zi3)</span></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a class="" href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.114.ET8bdU&id=10613524804&_u=51ker3j40070"> 江门荣生行 加拿大亚麻籽 500克 广东地区包邮 </a></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOIsDDACXCICsiGV8-BTgtBonrHf-yEU3qHhKnn5JAQnCXgu3DTI4BrRpeogP8VwFRRjjtWKzrqBNYgXIvOlglQlVqY8W7kgWRPWn4wY_wslpdgnsJORvHg4DHMe9vYk-bdJ0Lg/s1600/egg+replacer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOIsDDACXCICsiGV8-BTgtBonrHf-yEU3qHhKnn5JAQnCXgu3DTI4BrRpeogP8VwFRRjjtWKzrqBNYgXIvOlglQlVqY8W7kgWRPWn4wY_wslpdgnsJORvHg4DHMe9vYk-bdJ0Lg/s200/egg+replacer.jpg" width="200" /></a>I just stick these seeds in my blender and turn them into flour. If you’ve ever cooked with whole wheat, think a similar texture when using flaxseed flour. It’s pretty coarse, so you don’t want to use a bunch. (you might already know all of these little suggestions. If so, just ignore me and take the links :) )You can sometimes find flaxseed at a local store that sells grains.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Both flaxseed and chia seed (soaked and ground) are good for binding things. This can be helpful as one of my daughters has an egg allergy. But sometimes you have to rely on science and use these <a href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.239.j0JigI&id=37705377325&_u=51ker3j4c30b">egg replacers.</a> They are gluten free, wheat free, no preservatives, artificial flavorings, sugar, or cholesterol because they are all chemicals. Awesome.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br />
I would love to use chia seeds, but I haven’t found them affordable yet. I’ll let you know if I do.The tricky thing about GF baking is the binding. You can use <a href="https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.139.bnGkHO&id=36856691440&_u=51ker3j43191">Xanthan Gum </a>to help it too, but I've found I don't often use it. </div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our whole family enjoys eating this way now. It took a little bit for me to learn how to cook so that my kids didn’t feel like they were missing out on everything. But now, they really do love it and even comment on how yucky they feel if they do eat wheat at a friend’s house. It really is hard at first, but stick with it. You will get there. Promise :)</div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-7984548669631440422015-07-08T19:17:00.001+06:002015-07-08T19:17:28.963+06:00HOW MOMS MAKE DISCIPLES IN ALL NATIONS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HO56jKWJIuxmgzXZZxXT9AX4mMQMtvF_EvT8dagQt1KhTbZk8Jjwuq1xcT9IsMelx5Whi5WN9nVmfdPXfo9HgfHwTyuHchVeZet6qNhixLs8eeIqTWT2-2rRwcnNfRDCJPR91w/s1600/globalmissiologylogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HO56jKWJIuxmgzXZZxXT9AX4mMQMtvF_EvT8dagQt1KhTbZk8Jjwuq1xcT9IsMelx5Whi5WN9nVmfdPXfo9HgfHwTyuHchVeZet6qNhixLs8eeIqTWT2-2rRwcnNfRDCJPR91w/s320/globalmissiologylogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have had the honor of getting to write an article for the July issue of <a href="http://www.globalmissiology.org/">Global Missiology</a>. This journal has worked with many groundbreaking thinkers that are pushing forward the conversation of missions and I'm thrilled to be a part of this edition.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was asked to write an article peeling back the realities of a mom's role in the Great Commission. As a believer, a mom of 5 kids still has an integral role in the working out of Jesus' words to go to the nations and teach them to obey. This is a passion of mine because too often I see moms who are frustrated, bitter, resentful, and about to impale something. Hopefully we can bring some balance and health back to the expectations for moms. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I attempted to begin the conversation <a href="http://ojs.globalmissiology.org/index.php/english/article/viewFile/1812/4018">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-20922821582876386472015-06-29T13:47:00.002+06:002015-06-29T13:47:53.477+06:00Guest Blogging at Overseas Mama: Language Learning Reminds me of Middle SchoolI had the honor of guest blogging today at <a href="http://overseasmama.com/2015/06/29/language-learning-reminds-me-of-middle-school/">Overseas Mama</a> today. Language learning as an overseas worker will throw you back to the middle school emotions of insecurity, fear, and general daily discomfort. Basically it makes you feel 14 again.<br />
<br />
They've got some other great resources there too, so stay awhile.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-10892712803553373252015-05-21T13:44:00.003+06:002015-05-22T05:39:55.020+06:00God gives us WAY more than we can handleThis morning I found myself simultaneously cooking 4 meals. Lunch for the husband and 2 kids, dinner for seven, chocolate granola bars for tomorrow's sale, lunch for our 20 person church. At one moment, my son asked me a question about his math problem and my daughter couldn't remember how to spell cylinder. While none of these things are monstrously stressful, the overwhelming few minutes of multi-tasking led me to a common motherhood mantra:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5R8HdrIgYdjNVITr0BdGZPjLHhAJQXVxeU6gHRH_A979nyxkxK_NtX-zSVqOgTFMFOvoEUdbLZ8YxNROZvFyniWHxcrLXhI3i6us51cKZ1euPUYbfnc0P0ZE8PR07PPL1pi_xg/s1600/more+than+i+can+handle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5R8HdrIgYdjNVITr0BdGZPjLHhAJQXVxeU6gHRH_A979nyxkxK_NtX-zSVqOgTFMFOvoEUdbLZ8YxNROZvFyniWHxcrLXhI3i6us51cKZ1euPUYbfnc0P0ZE8PR07PPL1pi_xg/s1600/more+than+i+can+handle.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">"God doesn't give me more than I can bear."</span></b></div>
<br />
I whispered this "truth" to myself a few times as I stirred the peanut butter. Then I caught myself. I was comforting my mind with what feels like to be a Biblical truth but in fact is just a cute saying. While it might give me comfort in a moment, the truth is that it's not actually in the Bible. And if it's not in the Bible, I probably shouldn't be holding onto it with tight-fisted hope.<br />
<br />
My hypothesis is that people are thinking of the verse that says,<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b style="font-size: x-large;">"God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." </b>(excerpt from 1 Cor. 10:13)<br />
<br />
There is an important difference between the reading of these two verses. The second verse is a glorious promise that we will never be crushed by temptation. God is faithful and will always provide a way of escape. He never leaves his children strangled by temptation.<br />
<br />
In contrast, if we give into the idea that God doesn't give us more than we can bear, then when things get overwhelming we will look to eliminate tasks or people rather than introduce the strength of the Lord. We will throw our arms up in the air to surrender and decide that never again are we having people over for dinner on a Tuesday night. Inadequacy and stress will capture our minds and we will forge our own defeat. At this point it's<br />
important to frame inadequacy not as a defeat, but rather a rally call for the Lord to resume control.<br />
<br />
Motherhood is a prime time to feel relentlessly self-sufficient. Rarely in a day does someone come up from behind you and offer to fold that laundry while you sip tea. Most of our day is wrapped in self-sufficient tasks that require us to man up. While our tasks require independence, the placement of our heart requires just the opposite. Our hearts need to lean into dependence on a Redeemer who has already claimed victory over every ridiculous sin our minds can think of.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu4vkWpmpqw43g24C54VTlZD3V51nm-PUicRa4qgfT2C7fa2ml8TN6HhIl5zfbiZvAzF8dwjxjnqmBUF_yi7n-5v_TScqXdI4oSMfQoJxjvnW2pgmwtex-MW2b75SYFVuypFsIQ/s1600/god+show+off.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu4vkWpmpqw43g24C54VTlZD3V51nm-PUicRa4qgfT2C7fa2ml8TN6HhIl5zfbiZvAzF8dwjxjnqmBUF_yi7n-5v_TScqXdI4oSMfQoJxjvnW2pgmwtex-MW2b75SYFVuypFsIQ/s320/god+show+off.JPG" width="320" /></a>God <i>absolutely</i> gives me more than I can handle. He gives us 5 children, homeschooling, cooking, working, being a wife, tragedies, broken arms, cultural missteps, frustrating land lords, and people who cut in line.<br />
<br />
Feeling like we are sinking reveals that we have been swimming on our own for too long. The Lord wants to give us WAY more than we can handle so that we can see him <b>show off, not just just show up. </b>We need to treat God as not just our superhero that swoops down to save us in the nick of time. Instead, God is a King who has sent out an edict that says, "Don't worry, I've got this."<br />
<br />
And that's a promise worth holding onto.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-87938969617259553882015-05-07T13:08:00.000+06:002015-05-07T13:08:04.352+06:00Being Pile-Driven by a Blind Masseuse<a href="https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000034619062/media/110585743357/medium/1430907645/enhance" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000034619062/media/110585743357/medium/1430907645/enhance" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
When you look at the price and decide that a $10 hour long massage sounds heavenly, you need to be prepared for the very <i>earthly</i> aspect of blind massage. There is no diffusing jasmine and new-age pan flute lulling you into pampered bliss. As you walk inside, you are greeted by young men forming loogies and old women yelling about their boils. There's no spa to it. You get a massage because your muscles are broken. That is all.<br />
<br />
The first indication that this will not be relaxing is the fact that everyone is dressed in a white overcoat and are referred to as doctors. Most of the hour is spent with them commentating on much improvement your body needs. I once had a blind massage man who kept squeezing my arms and telling me it was obvious that I didn't exercise.<br />
<br />
These amazing men and women have either complete blindness or severe sight loss and a very heavy hand.<br />
<br />
After you lay down and situate your face in that bed hole the game begins. I explained to the doctor that I had tweaked my neck the night before and she replied, "Well, this is going to take at least an hour."<br />
<br />
She took her sledge hammer thumbs and started working on my neck. It was so painful that my hands went numb. I tried avoiding unconsciousness by reminding myself to buy eggs on the way home. I couldn't let my pain eek out because I wanted my neck fixed. She was pushing so hard on the back of my neck that I inadvertently started humming as she violated my vocal cords.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000034619062/media/110585743974/medium/1430907684/enhance" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000034619062/media/110585743974/medium/1430907684/enhance" width="320" /></a>The pain on the left side of my neck started to ease as I began to rhythmically breathe loudly like I was some sort of race horse anticipating the starting gun. My palms were sweating and I realized that I had been chewing on the bed sheet that was pressed against my face as I lay in the bed hole. Sometimes there is brief yelping as if you've stuck your foot in boiling hot tar.<br />
<br />
At one point, I channeled my inner "Rudy" so as to not roll off the bed and run out screaming of the room. If Rudy could play football for Notre Dame, I could endure the rest of my massage.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000034619062/media/110585744988/medium/1430907757/enhance" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000034619062/media/110585744988/medium/1430907757/enhance" width="240" /></a>It was now time for my lower back. She employed both her elbows and was poking me with her index finger as she made her way down each side of my spine. I'm pretty sure I felt my non-funcionting right kidney start working right there on the bed. <br />
<br />
Then comes the rub/pound combination. This is how most Chinese massages end. They rub your back as if to console you. Then she does the traditional chop chop to your spine, pats you twice like you're in the locker room and tells you, "You're good!" Then you're on your way. Well, you're on your way if you are still able to use your legs to support your body weight. It took me about 2 minutes to get blood moving back into my legs. I took a dizzy exit to the cashier, paid my $10, and walked out pain free!<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-49227071558573145072015-04-23T17:58:00.001+06:002015-04-23T17:59:40.131+06:00Our CornersCorners.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBWCIWjbketvjQhe-DrkBt4TyTX8238NilZRzNra-wP_e0V1IJsm7OWn3hupwkcz0Z1OjRShSFMJjIbai4pNkSUOv3JKctcw2ZUDa2XQU3szJulMRmgT9LZMtIxbG0o_ZdfD71A/s1600/cornerpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBWCIWjbketvjQhe-DrkBt4TyTX8238NilZRzNra-wP_e0V1IJsm7OWn3hupwkcz0Z1OjRShSFMJjIbai4pNkSUOv3JKctcw2ZUDa2XQU3szJulMRmgT9LZMtIxbG0o_ZdfD71A/s1600/cornerpm.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
They're inherently defined, small, and cozy.<br />
<br />
Sometimes they're dusty, war torn, and full of last week's hash browns.<br />
<br />
I've struggled with this blog corner for some time now (allowing the last post date to be the screaming confessor of this). I've struggled because it doesn't feel big enough or viral enough to keep writing. If I could just come up with some ultimate "Let it Go" parody that would go viral...again. Or if I could write something witty about how moms need to stop worrying about perfection, but start worrying about eating GMOs, then someone somewhere would say I'm awesome.<br />
<br />
And if I'm honest, I spend many wasted minutes of my day trying to figure out how to get others to think I'm awesome.<br />
<br />
Or at least interesting.<br />
<br />
Or even just ridiculous.<br />
<br />
I've been craving adjectives.<br />
<br />
These last few months I've spent looking to my left and to my right. Really looking into my people and I've come to see that I've bought into the lie that I NEED to be noticed by the masses in order to have value. <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/march/andy-crouch-gospel-in-age-of-public-shame.html?share=jWTDBNItUrmGWcoNet68M1usVW9KGY0n">Andy Crouch at Christianity Today</a> is spot on when he says that in the West we have evolved into a 'fame culture.' A culture where ministry success is weighted according to high attendance and large Twitter followings. We've created a place where name dropping and conference hoarding have become the litmus test for whether or not we are accepted into certain communities.<br />
<br />
This is a shame.<br />
<br />
A shame because there are shy, introverted, non-social media people who are crushing it for Jesus. But somehow it doesn't seem like enough unless you document it along the way. No longer is getting honor from the Lord enough. We need a collective pat on the back in order to feel validated in our ministries and lives.<br />
<br />
This makes the philosophical part of me panic. Once we as a Christian culture start taking our cues on success from numbers and popularity, we begin making hasty decisions. When we feel like we've gotta hurry up or get left behind, there becomes very little room for long-suffering and endurance. Anonymity and service look like traits belonging to the outed kid on the dodgeball team. But over and over again, this is what Jesus was doing.<br />
<br />
He was picking up the towel to scrap the junk off the disciples' feet.<br />
<br />
He was turning his head and healing unpopular, outcasted women.<br />
<br />
He picked a rag tag group of men to call friends.<br />
<br />
And yet here we are as a culture.<br />
<br />
I don't know what this will mean for writing here. For me, I'm turning off the comments and the followers tab. It's a self-imposed fence to keep out my ego.<br />
<br />
We've each been given a corner. Big people, little people, angry people, flighty people, hurting people, dying people. People who need my adjective to be: humble, fierce person of prayer, gracious, loyal, full of faith.<br />
<br />
I am to be faithful to my little corner. You are to be faithful to yours.<br />
<br />
Let's let that be enough for today.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-80800684310011961982014-05-13T12:49:00.000+06:002014-05-15T12:32:43.321+06:006 reasons women give so they don't have to move overseasOne of the things I treasure about living overseas is that people often ask us questions about moving their families overseas. We take our role in this Goliath-sized decision as an honor and take it pretty seriously.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Many of the people we get to talk with are just finishing up college and weighing the options laid out before them. Fortunately or unfortunately, most of these conversations are happening with women. (More on why men are shoving their fingers in their ears when it comes to moving overseas in a later post.)<br />
<br />
Here are 6 reasons I've heard as to why, "I just need to hear God more clearly," is code for, "Moving overseas scares the marrow in my bones and so therefore I'll just keep praying so that one day I can have a job in America and not have to get on that plane after all."</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzg63QTEEY650iB_Q-2RmoF09i1CxHDqG_i7RXzwYNPGZdfkTt1R4-0_DvXWe-XcZamQ7EqSQfc7lJaLpISvAg9H7t51EiX_YwH9NXwoVKxuLEYSkP3sMozohnV-tcD2SlwHmVQ/s1600/women+overseas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzg63QTEEY650iB_Q-2RmoF09i1CxHDqG_i7RXzwYNPGZdfkTt1R4-0_DvXWe-XcZamQ7EqSQfc7lJaLpISvAg9H7t51EiX_YwH9NXwoVKxuLEYSkP3sMozohnV-tcD2SlwHmVQ/s1600/women+overseas.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">G</span><span style="font-size: large;">od
hasn’t called me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At some point in modern Christendom, we've decided that we cannot hear God unless he visits us as a Siri-spirit and guides us audibly down every alley and stop sign we meet along the way. Certainly he speaks audibly to us at times, but he has also given us two wonderful megaphones to magnify his desires for us. One is Scripture and the other is community. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are on board with the Great Commission, you need to know that God's will is that the nations be reached. With that, we can know 100% that God's will is for people to go overseas. There is confidence in this that if it isn't clear to us what the Lord's will is, serving overseas is. My hope is that more believers would default to going overseas and instead be "called" to stay in America. Unfortunately, the default is to staying in America.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I want to have a husband first. Or, I want to let my kids get a little older and then we'll move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find myself often reminding young women that God never promises you a husband. <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/love-the-single-chapter-of-your-life">This is a great video</a> addressing singleness on mission.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About the kids things, actually, it is easier for them to acculturate when they don't know any differently. When kids are raised overseas, they don't miss things like 4th of July parades and choir practice because they've never had experience with those things. When you take an older child, sit them down one day, and tell them that you're moving 7,000 miles away from their soccer team, drama club, and best friend, things actually get a lot harder. They play a constant comparison with their new culture. Older kids can move overseas and flourish, but if you are waiting to move until they get a little older, I would say don't wait and move before they have roots established in America. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I just want to get established for a few years and get some work experience.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
You will never feel financially stable enough to move overseas, get married, have kids, or die. You just have to do it and then spend lots of time in prayer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
4. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My parents will freak out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes they will. Expect this. They have dreams of bouncing a bubbly 2-year grandson on their knees and baking mud cakes with their grand daughters. You will be taking that from them. They will worry about your health, your safety, and your sanity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Parents are going to need time to let you go. Line up all the details you have and let them know you have a plan. Pray with them. Introduce them to someone who has just gotten back from where you are going. Show them how to cook a meal from your new country. At the end of the day, your parents simply want to know you are going to be ok. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'll do it for a few years and then I'll come back and get a "real" job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have some rather large rants in, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Redefining-Home-Carrie-Anne-Hudson-ebook/dp/B007KA6PZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397371056&sr=8-1&keywords=redefining+home">Redefining Home</a>," about the lack of long term commitment to be overseas. Reaching the nations isn't an adventure or a hobby. It's a word from our Father in which he promises to be faithful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Living overseas is a real job concerning real people. They aren't projects or statistics. They are people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enough on that. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
6. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I could never do that. That kind of life is for people stronger, braver, smarter, and godlier than me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you've ever met me in real life, you wouldn't still be saying this. That aside, most of the men and women living overseas were at times seized in fear and doubt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moses was confident in one thing as he looked at leading the Israelites. He was confident that he couldn't do it. Lead the people, stand up to Pharaoh, cross a river! All God had to do was remind Moses who he was. "I am your God."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He's our God too. He will remain faithful to his children when we do crazy things like pack up our family and move to a foreign culture, language, and people. It's when we forget who God actually is that we allow fear to continue to call the shots. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-40159881537836568452014-04-22T13:30:00.000+06:002014-04-22T16:51:11.421+06:004 things I learned by leaving social media for Lent<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not a normal subscriber to fasting for Lent. I’ve done
it a few times, tossing out a token chocolate fast for good measure. This
year, I decided to give up Facebook and Instagram for these 40 days. I had been
feeling the strangle of social media for several months and decided there
needed to be an untangling. A colon cleansing of sorts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was thinking this through and trying to avoid it
altogether when I was skyping with my best friend and she told me she was going
to give up social media for Lent. I almost feigned a bad Skype connection so that I didn’t
have to admit to her that I was thinking of doing the same thing. Now I had
that blasted thing called <b><span style="font-size: large;">accountability.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned a lot about my character and about owning my own
junk these past 40 days. Blaming social media was replaced by naming my own misshaped desires and
insufficient heart. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRfigEzKQd2yva9DGkmeUtZhRxDC0CQe-57XJ6ynGorC0Izjhn0pv1aRCOkcy8g_5ipAQALW2MoR3C81J1bGIqmkRhNTPF-JRW94UntkX5AwrHk3DVYf-Bs2bLVYt6MsPcLtWSw/s1600/4+things+uprooted+by+social+media+fast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRfigEzKQd2yva9DGkmeUtZhRxDC0CQe-57XJ6ynGorC0Izjhn0pv1aRCOkcy8g_5ipAQALW2MoR3C81J1bGIqmkRhNTPF-JRW94UntkX5AwrHk3DVYf-Bs2bLVYt6MsPcLtWSw/s1600/4+things+uprooted+by+social+media+fast.jpg" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>1. </b></span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Social Media isn’t evil, but my heart can be.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>While social media can become a vacuum for productivity, sometimes we forget just where the problem lies. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
With us.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
Squarely with us.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
If I am choosing to scrape through Facebook instead of making dinner, then I’m choosing indulgence over responsibility.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
Jeremiah 17 reminds us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desparately sick…</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
A sick heart needs healing, not to my ignoring it by bandaging it with social media trivialities. But again, it’s not social media's fault. The apple wasn’t at fault in the garden. It was Eve’s deciding that God wasn’t enough that was her heart’s deception. I think there’s similar danger in our social media addictions.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 2. </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Social media has exposed my desire to be known</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
One of the most vulnerable things I’ve
learned was just how much I crave being known by people. I’ve struggled a lot
with loneliness these last two years. Living overseas is isolating. But giving
up social media made me realize that most of my loneliness was not a craving
for community, but rather a craving for people to pay attention to me. I wanted someone to notice that I wasn’t at that birthday party and be sad because of it. This was especially apparent for the first week of the fast. I replaced my Facebook "quick looks," with email "quick looks."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
It’s been good to separate loneliness from
attention craving. I now understand that when I start to sense loneliness, I need to
be sure it’s labeled correctly for my own heart’s sake. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. </b></span></span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Social media reminds us of our need for
community</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was grieved several times when I missed big events in my
friends’ lives. I had several friends who would periodically send me emails to
update me on things like: this person’s dad just had a heart attack; our
adoption was denied; our adoption went through; I leave for South Sudan today. I
missed getting to tell them I was praying for them or ask them how that
doctor’s appointment went. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as it does not become an unhealthy dependency, our
need for people is from the Lord. I Cor. 12 tells us that, “For in one Spirit
we were ALL baptized into ONE body…” One functioning, synchronized body of
Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My natural disposition is to do it by myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My natural disposition is to get stressed out, overwhelmed,
and void of joy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should not be surprised at the cause and effect. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need community and I’m thankful to the Lord that we have
social media that allows me to see that first birthday party of the friend’s
daughter whom I’ve yet to hold. While social media can take us tempt us to avoid face to face interactions, it also allows to remain connected that is unprecedented in history.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>4.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>When we categorize social media as merely a time
drain, we strip it’s ability for good. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We Americans like categories. Democrat/Republican;
liberal/conservative; pro-life/pro-choice. When we slip social media into the “waste
of time” file, we discount all the good things that can be done with it. Plenty
of organizations are using it for advocacy and raising money for great causes.
I’ve seen families decide to adopt because of a video they saw or article they
read off Facebook. I’ve learned how to be better mom through blogs and articles
found online. Redeeming social media is key-using it to move forward
Christianly things in a progressive and gracious manner. God knew we’d have
this push and pull with social media as we sit here in 2014. Let’s let it
revolutionize the world instead of feeding our gluttonous hearts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pile of nastiness that can be dumped in and around our
hearts can be overwhelming. But I know that tomorrow morning, new mercies are
offered to me by the most generous of all Fathers. Thank you Jesus that I don’t
have to muster up these heart changes on my own. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-20249024426013336962014-04-16T23:30:00.000+06:002014-04-17T11:48:17.645+06:00MTV music video is done. Oh buddy.I've been on a social media fast for Lent. I've also put a hold on blogging for awhile.<br />
<br />
I'll probably write on my thoughts on that soon.<br />
<br />
But, I break my blogging break to bring you our Chinese music video debut. If you missed the details about the filming, <a href="http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/2013/10/our-mtv-movie-debut.html">here they are</a>...in all their blackmailing material glory.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PMQyGnrlEFk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Since the release of this video, we've had friends text and tell us they've seen it in their hotels and on the bus. As you watch, notice the lack of close ups on my fingers as I play the piano. It might be because they had to bring in a piano teacher to show me how to position my hands. It might also be that once I learned how to position my hands, I just pretended to type my name like it was a keyboard.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, I still have the dress.<br />
<br />
<br />
For a single that's put out by someone with actual musical talent (unlike me), <a href="http://donnastuart.bandcamp.com/album/i-long-for-you">check out this new single:</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip53rSfyIl76CIWB7SvIb9c3VgKvcnGkhuBrZWamO_2HUhfNHsMz4WdDQ4RI73e9lZjCQL3uDCSbphPrJaYDCbA6RBJtU8Tsyzfpl5S7uTpz7xSkmuV3QAFqL3B4DpsO8R0_E-dw/s1600/donna+single.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip53rSfyIl76CIWB7SvIb9c3VgKvcnGkhuBrZWamO_2HUhfNHsMz4WdDQ4RI73e9lZjCQL3uDCSbphPrJaYDCbA6RBJtU8Tsyzfpl5S7uTpz7xSkmuV3QAFqL3B4DpsO8R0_E-dw/s1600/donna+single.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It will bless your soul.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-26051927981502806752014-01-04T06:33:00.002+06:002014-01-04T06:37:15.161+06:00Little Blogging BreakI'm taking a blogging break. I could take your hand and walk you down a romantic diatribe of why I need to step back for a bit. Here's the bottom of it:<br />
<br />
I'm tired.<br />
<br />
I have an uneasy feeling that 2014 is going to be a year of me coming to terms with my weaknesses. One of my disillusionments is that I can do anything I want to. I've bought into the American mantra and now I'm tired.<br />
<br />
I don't have a theme or a word for this year. Only a task: Lose Control.<br />
<br />
I am hoping that my brain will find its functionality in the next few months and I'll pick up writing again. I need writing, so I'm praying that the Lord would refresh my soul in the next few months and I'll be back at it soon enough.<br />
<br />
We also started watching Downton Abbey. That's not helping me with setting healthy margin in my life.<br />
<br />
I just jumped into the instagram game. Thank you 21st century. I'm going to try and still post pics there if you want to follow along, you can find me here: <b>cvaughn</b><br />
<br />
Until then...<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-81559553044142601582013-12-11T04:36:00.001+06:002013-12-11T04:36:57.572+06:00My First Magazine Article Published!Hey guys!<br />
<br />
My first magazine article was published today and I'm pumped. This whole magazine article thing could get addictive. You sit down, write, edit, and only self-doubt for a page or two of a Word document. It's bliss.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" src="http://cdn.thriveministry.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/connection-logo31.jpg" /></div>
<br />
<br />
This online publication is fantastically encouraging, especially to women who are involved in overseas work. It's clean, beautiful, and symmetrically laid out. I have issues with symmetry.<br />
<br />
I wrote about how the neediness of Mary Magdalene makes me panic. Here's the first little bit:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Mary Magdalene freaks me out. Her underlying, desperate neediness with
Jesus can be unnerving. When I read her stories I picture a pasty,
scrawny seventh-grader pathetically eager to join the kickball game at
recess.</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thriveconnection.com/2013/12/10/christmas-expectations/">The rest can be found here. </a><br />
<br />
<br />
Check it out and while you're at it, browse the rest of the site. It really is that good. <b><i><br /></i></b><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21540314.post-92229158740951112792013-11-18T08:02:00.000+06:002013-11-18T11:37:41.115+06:00Getting Kids WritingMy kids have been writing in journals since they could form a coherent sentence. While I've had to veto words like 'Poop' and 'Butt,' I've loved watching their minds open to imagination. I feel like imagination is what lets us humans breathe. It's in those moments of creative abandon that I feel we are truly human. It allows us to breathe in our souls and breathe out things created by a force other than reason and logic. In this post I'll focus on some helpful websites. Once I locate my motivation I'll post about some original ideas. But man that motivation can be an elusive creature to find sometimes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here are three of my favorite writing prompt sites for <b>middle/high school students</b>. I loved these because they are based on pictures or .gif files to get their brains cranking out creative energy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/">Writing Prompts</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6cqFmB_Xc6X8Q-fcagCNC6GrP4DoreP6Fn97tErBsc2sOBfmBjptFJQTmoDh3qaCINr5xMYg421ItngyEUkzyvUCD-8BO-T3tiJwrfh0INr_qgPBB7p6rKGTW6EyJP9yb2xKZg/s1600/flying+sharks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6cqFmB_Xc6X8Q-fcagCNC6GrP4DoreP6Fn97tErBsc2sOBfmBjptFJQTmoDh3qaCINr5xMYg421ItngyEUkzyvUCD-8BO-T3tiJwrfh0INr_qgPBB7p6rKGTW6EyJP9yb2xKZg/s400/flying+sharks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photoprompts.tumblr.com/">Photo Prompts</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQIjV3Q-Rgk1RSQ2AORsVjTQ7EL33M4mA1z_1liERV02NGu5YqC3rYCH6OdsE8qnIANDe9rBOWuMGv-Fw7jUJMaYiNUUnBZ4F1KhzMfNN6krci1Vgi7ILkLueiAVvtCt-vWhGWQ/s1600/created+things+prompt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQIjV3Q-Rgk1RSQ2AORsVjTQ7EL33M4mA1z_1liERV02NGu5YqC3rYCH6OdsE8qnIANDe9rBOWuMGv-Fw7jUJMaYiNUUnBZ4F1KhzMfNN6krci1Vgi7ILkLueiAVvtCt-vWhGWQ/s400/created+things+prompt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~creativewriting/Prompts.php">Wilson College has a list of some fantastic prompts </a>that will get high schoolers writing a more lengthy passage. If you have an advanced Jr. High student I think they can handle most of these also. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A sample entry:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><b> Describe the room of one of the following: a high school student about to drop out; a cashier who has just won the lottery; a faded movie star who still thinks she's famous; a paranoid person, etc (see full list of suggestions in What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers). Be as detailed as possible.</b></i></div>
<div style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few favorites for elementary age:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/">Scholastic Story Starters.</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Age K-6. You can choose the age-appropriate level on the first screen. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO7s_Fw-b_NnOm0zldYSAqIzzbr1W6wHtG1JiL33mBplg5zzQGfCebzQOg1MB3acfKmyYQgdOj_O3VCF2CWnz52dc-WkMNUGrOp4DxsdoBaNG9gji9NZrswTdX2Rfuniit1l3iQ/s1600/story+starters.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO7s_Fw-b_NnOm0zldYSAqIzzbr1W6wHtG1JiL33mBplg5zzQGfCebzQOg1MB3acfKmyYQgdOj_O3VCF2CWnz52dc-WkMNUGrOp4DxsdoBaNG9gji9NZrswTdX2Rfuniit1l3iQ/s400/story+starters.tiff" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAlw6b5V_9Q7SjWkcJ-uFSLVbamdwuQWG3MSfkSrQp8xpvLruw9b4tK8p3Xb_9hKFSX0BK2tVjWBEq-UgHXXMG9U7eZVM6T4ICrH7sq-qRrDC5LHjTkVxkHmP5ddVvo-bP8hz3g/s1600/story+starters+spin.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAlw6b5V_9Q7SjWkcJ-uFSLVbamdwuQWG3MSfkSrQp8xpvLruw9b4tK8p3Xb_9hKFSX0BK2tVjWBEq-UgHXXMG9U7eZVM6T4ICrH7sq-qRrDC5LHjTkVxkHmP5ddVvo-bP8hz3g/s400/story+starters+spin.tiff" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMB5xAug92XeMX3K9OTbmvrdmDi_TuhfXNo0lRvigxD2UzqKtE1nNuuuiqY_ydlflJzZcGacTeLlvDedCrO6mi1G9ovF6esXQ1rhfw_PlWRsPZEtWlv0gpm_Oo-IWmiOr6VHvoA/s1600/story+starters+writing.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMB5xAug92XeMX3K9OTbmvrdmDi_TuhfXNo0lRvigxD2UzqKtE1nNuuuiqY_ydlflJzZcGacTeLlvDedCrO6mi1G9ovF6esXQ1rhfw_PlWRsPZEtWlv0gpm_Oo-IWmiOr6VHvoA/s400/story+starters+writing.tiff" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://journalbuddies.com/teacher-parent-resources/48-thought-provoking-elementary-writing-prompts/">49 Story Starters</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These are fun ones to get them writing more short story types of entries. They are geared towards maybe 3-5 graders. These have spurred on many that I can take and branch off of to create my own prompts for them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are a few:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><i><b>Imagine if cows gave green juice instead of milk! What would the world look like?</b></i></li>
<li><i><b>Imagine that all the streets are rivers? How do you get around?</b></i></li>
<li><i><b>What would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs?</b></i></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you're a Pinterester, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/scrrt/elementary-writing-ideas/">here's a board </a>with tons of links to great writing helps for elementary-aged students. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u><b>All ages:</b></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html">This site</a> (Daily Teaching Tools) has 180 journal prompts, one for every school day. These are fairly age neutral, maybe tweeking a few so as to make them fit the specific age-level. There are so many here that even if you only journal once a week you'll have plenty to pick from. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are two examples:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">*Write a thank you note to a friend who gave you onion and garlic-flavored chewing gum.
<br /><span style="color: white;">journal writing prompts</span><br /> *Draw an imaginary constellation. Write a story such as
ancient people might have told about it.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://freeology.com/journal/personal-response-journal-topics/">Freeology</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This site has some thoughtful questions to get them thinking about worldview and current events. This is maybe for slightly older kids, but some of them could be modified for a younger writer. I have found that my younger kids can be asked some pretty deep questions and they actually have insightful ideas on how to answer them. For younger kids, you could even use some of these but have them answer them orally while you write their answers down. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are a few they gave:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><i><b>What do you like and dislike about elderly people?</b></i></li>
<li><i><b>Do you believe in ghosts or spirits? Why or why not?</b></i></li>
<li><i><b>Write about a time you had high hopes for something and got let down.</b></i></li>
<li><i><b>Is war ever justified? </b></i></li>
</ol>
<br />
And remember, journaling is all about creativity. I try not to correct spelling or grammar in these. I just want them writing and expressing their thoughts. I do veto certain words because well, not every story has to end up with pooping horses.<br />
<br />
I hope this helps. If you've got other sites that have been helpful, leave them in the comments so that others can steal them too. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rescuedremnant.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00070362846904868273noreply@blogger.com