11 YEARS a Photo History of July Highlights

For the last 11 years,

what we were doing in the month of July

July 1997 

We were briefly living among Chinese immigrants in Monterey Park,

preparing for our move to China.

July 1998

We'd lived 10 months in Kunming, China studying language & culture

having loads of opportunities for sharing good new

while preparing for long term in Singapore.

July 2000

We'd finished our first half year living in Singapore.

Kimberly participated in a 24 hour playwright competition,

wrote an award winning play & sang for Children's Day.

July 2001

Jim was coordinating one of the conferences for building ministry partnerships for China

July 2002

Our friends from a Marriage Mentoring small group prepare for long term move to China.

CRM First Pastor's Network goes on their first retreat.

CRM Singapore's first Executive Committee

July 2003

Outreach to Thai workers living in Singapore.

We all were finally feeling settled and thriving.

July 2004

First CRMS Pastor's Mentoring Network - Facilitator Training

"Five Stars" Actors Mentoring Group celebrate a birthday.

July 2005

Jim stays behind in China for the summer, Kim and kids spend time on both coasts for reunions and time with grandparents & friends.

July 2006

After a full year of expanding ministry, we found ourselves back in California again, namely Santa Barbara for the CRM worldwide conference.

Tyler went to DC with grandparents. Cameron met his birth family. We all scouted out Pasadena praying for wisdom for 2007-08.

July 2007

We started our year back in USA by driving across 12 states in 10 days. Here is Sgt. Light Brown on his US tour.

July 2008

Tyler's last football practice, the Maranatha High School Football JV team prays for him and gives a cheer for Singapore.

We Praise You God for guiding, providing, and protecting in these many Julys (and the other 11 months each year too).

We humbly ask for your wisdom & will to be done in our lives as we continue to live for & follow you.

AMEN.

I should be packing

but instead i'm reading this wonderful book. a refresher theology course as well as inspiration for new ways to approach our life of faith and following Christ. I HIGHLY recommend it!

June Post Card

The Irrational Season

C'havala Crawley, an amazing younger woman I've come to know in CRM has been prolific on her blog regarding TCK issues (see below for a definition). She makes my head spin at how much reading she does. But I'm glad, and my children are blessed that she has a calling to advising and encouraging and raising third culture kids who embrace their unique identity. I'm reviewing what makes for a good/healthy transition from one country to the next as she reminds me of a RAFT acronym. Reconcilliation, Affirmation, Farewells, Think Destination.

"A TCK is an individual who, after having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than that of their parents,develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures while not having full ownership in any. Elements from each culture are incorporated into the life experience, but the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar experience."

Third Culture Kids- The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds
David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken

For My Dad CHUCK COVENTON

Last night I watched a play, DANCING WITH MY FATHER, featuring 5 women of Actors Co-op who told of and dramatized their relationships with their fathers. It was a sweet show, but full of a whole bunch of disappointments and unrealized dreams. I sat there as women around me (and men) wept with strong identification.

Throughout the show there were segments in which they'd tell of dreamed for scenes with their "fantasy dad." And through everyone of those scenes I sat their blessed to know that those scenes have been a reality for me. I've always thought you were a wonderful father, dad, but I never as profoundly grateful for you as I was last night as I watched the show.



Thank you for the time, the tickling, the talks (mostly you listening to me talk) and your tender care for me all of these years. You've shown your love for me, my husband, your grandkids in COUNTLESS ways. And though I've complained about it in recent years, your grandsons would add another T that they like about you: teasing! (Go figure!). But for me, I'm especially grateful for the time you've taken to write special notes and letters to me. I cherish those notes. Have scanned them all (even the notes you wrote for what you were going to say for our wedding...a speech that didn't get made, but I've read the words over and over!) I don't tell you enough how much I appreciate and love you.


You pour your life out and come alongside so many others to build them up and encourage them. You balance all that helping with your quiet walk with Jesus, and he gives you the energy and connections to be the right person at the right time for so, so many people!

How blessed I am to be your daughter. You're the "fantasy dad" that all the kids wish they had!

Happy Father's Day.

JUNE 2008 postcard from Pasadena, CA

"Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing..."
Not sure what time I'll be on, but I'll be singing Come Rain or Come Shine, and I Could Write a Book. Then I'll be dancing in a Dance Recital June 6&7th...but that info is more classified. Not sure I want to give the details about this 46 year old body who is dancing in her first recital.

Spring News from the Creasmans in Pasadena

The highlights of our Spring

* Tyler's still carrying his football everywhere.
* Cameron's moved on to shooting hoops everyday.
* Kimberly's living a heaven on earth teaching, performing, taking dance, theatre, vocal music and set design classes.
Also, being part of a major donor event in San Francisco last weekend was altogether inspiring! If you're one of our friends who fit that profile, we'd love to invite you to the next one they have. We're so very blessed to be part of this mission organization, and surrounded by such passionate, Godly colleagues.
* Jim continues his work on a ThM. Courses with Bobby Clinton, in this last year before he retires, has been Jim's highlight.

Oh YES!!
Jim's February trip to Singapore was terrific. Thank you for praying about that! Read more about it.

April: Hello Dolly at Maranatha High School, Tyler's the blonde on right, off Dolly's left shoulder.
How did he get in the show?
I enjoyed teaching Playback Theatre to the drama classes during tech week for the show
(it was my spring break so I had some extra time)

It's been a terrific year surpassing our expectations in what we're taking away from it.
The only down side is that there is still a long list of what we haven't had a chance to do.
(Most of it being the names of friends we've not yet had a chance to see.)

Last week the four of us sat around the living room before bedtime and started having the discussion:
What do we need to do to have good closure on the year,
and prepare well for our return to Singapore?
We've not settled on a date to purchase the tickets back to Singapore, but are still looking at dates in later July.

Three months!
All four of us have reasons to look forward to our return, and to feel sad about having to say goodbyes again soon.

If you pray for us in the coming weeks, here are some requests...

May 9-16
CRM Women of Influence Conference. Kimberly travels to Austria for a leadership meeting with 28 other CRM women from around the world. It's part of a mentoring series of three gatherings over 2 years. Besides the opportunity to be getting to know these other women, we'll be joined by Dr. Betsy Glanville who leads the Intercultural Studies PhD students at Fuller, and one of my favorite Biola professors, Dr. Judith Lingenfelter. I'm especially spoiled to travel with both of them on the 4 flights to get to and from our castle in Klagenfurt! I know what you're thinking..."there are sure some unusual 'perks' to being a missionary!" Lord, I pray that the connections we make, the prayers we offer, and the learning we do this coming week in Austria will serve to strengthen us as your daughters. I pray it will reverberate through women's lives around the world as we all return to our places of ministry and apply what you've taught us through these terrific mentors, and this blessed time together.

During May, Kimberly will be on stage a number of times for various performing arts classes. This spring semester has felt like one long but thrilling full-court press. Spiritually, Relationally, Academically and Artistically very rich and rewarding! Details will follow here! (and through Facebook)

May 23
Tyler's last day of school. He's had a great year (and will continue practicing with the football team until we leave). Lord we pray for Tyler and Cameron that they'll know your care as they make another transition back to Singapore. Thank you for the opportunities you've given them this year, and in this unique life they have as missionary kids. Lead Tyler and Cameron in their activities these last months here.

June 10-13 Christians in Theatre Arts, National Networking Conference, Azusa Pacific University
With two other inspiring/experienced dramatists Lin Sexton and Gil Elvgren, Kimberly will be facilitating the Theatre in Missions track. A first for this annual conference. Lord, may what is shared here inspire participants to fruitfully using drama in cross cultural ministry. May our tools and ideas inspire more, and be multiplied around the world as we use theatre arts to share your good news.

July 18
Jim's last day of school. This quarter he has classes in mentoring, cross-cultural leadership issues, and forming healthy relationships cross-culturally. When we head back to Singapore, he will still have two courses to take long distance and then a thesis to work on at his own pace. Father, please use the insights Jim has gained in his studies this year to make him a more fruitful mentor to Christian leaders in Asia, who will multiply their influence through their churches and societies.

Also Pray with us about...
The cost of living in Singapore. Housing costs, which were about = to LA prices when we left, have doubled this year while we've been away. That, plus the drastic devaluation of our dollar gives us reason to be concerned, and turning anxiety about that over to Jesus! Lord we pray that your will be done in this economy! We trust you for your continued provision, but we also dare to ask that you turn the tide on the cost of living in Singapore!

Join me in praying for the opportunity to talk with classmates and teachers about their spiritual journey and an appropriate chance to ask them if they'd like to know and follow Jesus. Cameron has one friend who's going to come to church with him in 2 weeks, and I've peppered my music lessons (with the 5th graders) with many stories about faith in my loving Lord. I've had the MOST interesting conversations with faculty at PCC, and have had many opportunities to pray with students. As we end our year, please pray that Cameron and I (the ones who are not attending a Christian school) will make the most of opportunities to show our new friends how they can have a relationship with a personal God, Heavenly Father and Savior.

from a cozy apartment in Pasadena,
jim@worldcreasmans.com, 626 688 1578
tyler@worldcreasmans.com 626 348 3363
cameron@worldcreasmans.com 626 584 9076
Kimberly@worldcreasmans.com: 626 688 1581
www.worldcreasmans.com
Address: 627 N. Mentor Ave. #205, Pasadena, 91106
CRM Charitable Giving www.crmleaders.org -

More photo highlights from our Spring in California
March: U of Hawaii campus tour with prospective students Cameron & Tyler. Spring Break


March: Cameron reads to the neighbor boys, MKs from Uganda, China and Nepal


April: Backstage OC Performing Arts Center, Cameron is Alvin Ailey's great grand-nephew and he's posing with dancers & 2 from his birthfamily



April: Jim's 51st. Fun to celebrate all our birthdays this year with our families!

April: LA Arboretum. Kim's family from Georgia & Grandparents came out for Tyler's show.









School Show: Hello Dolly, Tyler's on the right, in the olive coat and dark pants.

April: a "white model" of the set for PCC spring show BUS STOP, Designer: Kimberly C.









April: Pepperdine
Graduation. Good friends from China, and dear friends from Singapore both had daughters graduating.













April: UCLA spring scrimmage. Afterward, the 15,000 fans were invited on the field of the RoseBowl to get autographs from the players.

Hello Dolly Men's Chorus

Hello Dolly Men's Chorus 2.jpg
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

Posted to Flickr a few other moments from the show last weekend. See the badge at the sidebar.

Easter in Honolulu

We had an interesting Easter in Honolulu...were planning to go to this big church, jim had looked it up and got directions online, etc, but then we changed our minds on a "whim" while driving through town beforehand. We saw this little church that meets in a converted movie house in Chinatown, and Jim pulls over a few minutes later and says, "hey guys, I think we should go to that church now instead of waiting for the other one later."

It was a great decision. A totally LOCAL experience. Women were wearing long floral mumus, and wore flower leis or plumeria blossoms in their hair. They even sang some of the worship songs in Hawaiian!

We met 2 Singaporeans there, and one of the pastors has a daughter who lives in Singapore. Wild! What an adventure life is!

But that's not all. You know, i'm studying vocal jazz this semester? Well, i was sitting in the worship service and after the singing, I wrote in my journal: "wouldn't it be kinda cool if there were a worship leader who had a jazz groove? you know, something like skatting in the Spirit?" (ha)"

And do you know what?!!?? At the end of the service, the last song had a jazz/blues feel to it. and THEN this combo -piano, bass, guitar, drums...starts playing...no, JAMMING in jazz after the service. It was like God's special Easter gift for just me!

As if he said, "Yes, it is amazing that I could rise from the dead to prove my love for you, and my right to reign as King of Kings...but I also have to power to lead you to a church with musicians who will play some of the music you don't even know (yet) that you're longing to hear!"

Link to photos from Egypt Drama Conference

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spicetolife/sets/72157604042726472/


uploaded photos from the Christian Drama Conference this last weekend in Upper Egypt. 120 attended. It was really amazing. I loved my students (taught playback), and had fun learning Arabic and EVERYTHING. It was also a great time getting to know the 3 other trainers who are friends and theatre colleagues from CITA (Christians in Theatre Arts). The only sad part: Leezibet was supposed to join us to do the stagecraft class and Emirites didn't give her the week off work. We missed having her!

February eNews from Pasadena

January 2008 brought new experiences for all of us on our year in USA.
Both boys enjoyed their Winter Camps. Jim and Kimberly spent relaxing 2 nights at Lake Arrowhead. Tyler picked his guitar back up again and was cast in the school musical. He is learning to sing and dance for Hello Dolly while he continues to champion the idea of being 'adopted' by an MHS family so that he can stay through football season next year. Kimberly couldn't be happier as she dances her way through interterm at Pasadena City College, gets practical experience being the set designer for their spring show, and sneaks in the Gospel as a music teacher in Cameron's public school. Jim continues to enjoy and digest his classes at Fuller Seminary with Dr. Robert Clinton. We are feeling refreshed by the things we are learning and the opportunities to visit with old and dear friends and family. Thank you Lord that with each new year brings new hope and expectation for what you will do. Even though we're a bit transplanted this year, thank you for giving us these chances to enjoy USA, and point people we meet here to a closer walk with you.

3 - Jim preaches in "Encounter" at Fullerton Evangelical Free Church, the church he attended after becoming a Christian. I've posted his notes up on Google pages: HOW GOOD IS YOUR NEWS? Lord we ask that you'll use his words to encourage people to a closer walk with you. We pray that it will inspire those there to greater faith and that some will respond to your call to bring your good news across cultures.

6 - Lent begins. Christians around the world commemorate the Lenten Season by setting aside focused time for prayer, reflection and fasting. Join us in remembering Christ's final days, death and resurrection by going through the devotional book (if you didn't get one, you can order through CRM), or receiving the daily emails written by CRM staff around the world.

7 - Kimberly leads the women's fellowship from New Heart Foursquare Church, Altadena in learning Enacted Prayer. Jim's cousin El Clark pastors the church and we all enjoyed meeting the congregation when Jim preached there in January. Thank you Lord for the joy of being able to worship, praise and bring our requests to you with our bodies.

8 - Seasoned Sisters meets again, a chance for Kimberly to have sweet fellowship and grow in grace with her friends and peers from our home church Rolling Hills Covenant.
This time we consider the challenge to T.H.R.I.V.E.: Turn up the truth, Hang our hearts on hope, Reframe the past, Inhabit praise, Victory think, Embrace the future.

9 - Kimberly sings a new song "Gold" from a musical Camille Claudel, for the FEFC Women's Tea. To me, the gold is what we have when we know we are in God's will, and in doing it, we sense his great delight, are filled with joy and get a taste of "heaven on earth." K!M may even sing her new parody of Little Mermaid's "Part of Your World," which emerged as she re-engaged American culture. Being a woman in USA seems tougher than my life as a missionary in Singapore! Lyrics for both I pray Lord that you will use my voice as an instrument of encouragement and inspiration for those who are there.

14-23 - Jim travels to Singapore and Dale Burke, Senior Pastor of EV Free Fullerton joins him for 3 days of CRM events (an introduction to a week long visit planned in Feb 2009). EV Free is the church where Jim got saved and first began pastoring. Dale's passion beyond his great pulpit ministry and leading the church in Orange County, is to help pastors around the world "lead and still have a life." He will be a great encouragement to Christian leaders, will be a terrific boost to the visibility and credibility of CRM Singapore, and through his teaching will promote our core values spiritual and character growth. While there, Jim will have the opportunity to spend time with his CRM staff who have been advancing this mentoring ministry in his absence. Lord of Heaven and Earth, you are also Lord of Singapore. Thank you for the privilege we've had to serve you there and point people to you and helping them discover and live out the calling you have for them too.

24 Jim's back, and Kimberly turns 46. We'll celebrate with family, parents and in-laws with a trip to the Pantages Theatre.


Feb 25-March 6 Kimberly leaves to teach in a Drama Conference in Cairo, Egypt! (AWEMA). I'll be teaching alongside people I've known of and respected in CITA (Christians in Theatre Arts) Julisa Rowe the organizer teaches theatre at Daystar Univeristy in Kenya (pray for Kenya!), Chuck Neighbors who's made a career of using theatre as ministry, and Mark Eaton who has an MFA in scriptwriting). I'll be teaching a track on Acting, Playback Theatre and Enacted Prayer. PLUS, a dear Singaporean friend, Leezibet Heinz-Raiden (former Mslm and theatre practitioner) is now stationed in Dubai as tentmaker. She's going to hop over to Cairo to teach the technical theatre track! So I'll get to be with her too! Thank you Lord for this dear sister. I am humbled that she calls me a "spiritual mentor" when she has been such an inspiration to me. Thank you that when I was worried about the cost, this generous sister offered support for more than 1/2 my trip!

If you'd like to make a special contribution to CRM to help us with the travel expenses of these two trips, see the link below!

Until next month, do let us know how we can be praying for you too!

Kimberly, Jim, Tyler & Cameron

Contact info:
jim@worldcreasmans.com, 626 688 1578
tyler@worldcreasmans.com 626 348 3363
cameron@worldcreasmans.com 626 584 9076
Kimberly@worldcreasmans.com: 626 688 1581
www.worldcreasmans.com
Address: 627 N. Mentor Ave. #205, Pasadena, 91106

CRM Charitable Giving
Donation questions? 1 (800) 777-6658
You can sign up for Direct Deposit from your bank or credit card through CRM
or send individual gifts by mail.
Your tax-deductible checks should be made out to CRM, in the memo you can designate:
"Creasman-acct 5651." CRM will mail you a receipt.
CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

International Worship Symposium

A little church in Pasadena has been doing this conference for something like 33 years. Taking it all over USA and to a few countries too, they now just stay at home and let the 700+ delegates come to them every year. This time around I got in on it. Went all by my lonesome to experience loads of dancing and flags and mime and banners and artists doing paintings during worship. My favourite quote from my notes is: "The main event of church is not the 'worship' or the 'sermon,' but is is the presence of God among his people." (Vivien Hibbert) and on John 4 regarding worshipping in Spirit AND truth, "Some 'prophets' are not much more than wandering fortune tellers in the name of Jesus. But on the other side, there are others who are so afraid of experience, and that they might do something wrong, that in their worship and life of faith, they've turned to stone." (Jim Gilbert)

I met Charlene Rice, a visual artist who was exhibiting her Worship Thru Art there. She was one of the highlights. After talking to her the first time she started calling me "Singapore Jazz." She has an interesting new ministry: she posts videos of her process in painting - with a fun a quirky message about following Jesus. Bought one of her posters and she threw in this one, "On a Mission," for free:

I went to sessions to learn Messianic folk/praise dancing. Loved the couple who were teaching! Bought a couple of their training videos and they threw in one for free. Met up with the couple who now run the school started by Todd & Marilyn Farley called Mimeistry. I've showed some of their pieces (via video) in classes I've taught before. Very disciplined and skilled in their craft, they have students who come study with them for 3 years full time!

All in all it was pretty amazing and refreshing and a little weird. Many of the participants were like hippies...free spirited types, if you know what I mean. Lots of people walking around in layers of flowing skirts or trailing vests with wreaths in their hair. Some of it was a little goofy for me to join in with them. But that's what's beautiful about it - they can just be like children before the Lord and not worry about looking foolish - so I admired it). Since i had gone on my own alone, and most of them seemed to know one another for years, or came with friends, I was still more of an outsider and observer. Many times I watched the flags and people down front dancing freely and it felt like heaven.

I went the last day to have some "healing prayer," which was really sweet. I was really ministered to by these strangers that would pray in the Spirit for my needs and specifically my request: to completely trust without doubting in God's goodness from the core of my heart. The themes that came out of their prayers were "Declaring the positive things God has done." "Labor to enter his rest." and "Sing to me, Dance with me."

Then another that was most amazing: "He will give you a nugget of Gold that will be the revelation or remembrance you need to surrender to knowing his love without a doubt."
The very same day I was choosing a song to sing for a missions event. I had decided to not sing a Christian song, but a showtune called GOLD, from "Camille Claudel." To me, "the Gold" is what we have when we know we are in God's will, and in doing it, we sense his great delight, are filled with joy and get a taste of "heaven on earth."

I've changed just a few words, but here are the lyrics I hope to sing in two weeks:

I wonder if when all is done
Anyone heard my voice
But from the start we have no choice
Our journeys just begin

Lord tell me did I do what's right?
Did I fight hard enough?
When the battles grew too rough
Should I have given in? (No)

So here I stand and swear to you
I did the best that I could do...

I know my voice was just a whisper
But someone may have heard
There were nights the moon above me stirred,
And let me grab a hold
My hands have touched the gold

My hearts been driven by extremes
Blind with dreams, tight with fear
But still God knows he put me here
And I've been so alive

And I can lay the past to rest
And in the end I'll do my best

You have to live the life you're given
And never close your eyes
You hold on, and stare into the sky,
And burn against the cold
For any moment, you might find the gold!

And there was joy
Through it all
And I am standing tall

I know my voice was just a whisper
But someone must have heard
There were nights the moon above me stirred,
And let my light take hold
I rode across that sky
And once I touched the gold

Here in my own two hands
I have held the gold

here's a YouTube promo video for Mimeistry:

Singing Soon...but what?

What an honor to be asked to sing for a women's tea! But what to sing? The topic of the morning is missions. GLOBAL WOMEN OF PURPOSE! Nevertheless, it's always a difficult choice for me. What's on my heart? Trying to assimilate into USA culture this year, I'm realizing how tough this American lifestyle is. So many demands! It's just one big guilt trip after another for not being able to keep up with it all. So, in empathy for the women of Orange County (O.C.), I've composed to the tune of "Part of Your World" from Disney's Little Mermaid. Press play below and you can sing along!


Look at this stuff. Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think that my world is complete?
I am the O.C. [PV] mom who has everything.

Look at this stuff, treasures untold.
How many credit cards can one wallet hold?
Just one payment away from bankruptcy.

I've got Brighton & cell phone jewelry.
Colored hair, I'll admit is a chore.
Collagen and Botox? I've shot plenty.
But who cares. No big deal. I need more!

I need to live where the best schools are
My children are busy with sports and dancin'
There’s so much to do
I’ve no time for reflection or friends.

Walkin' around you don't get too far.
SUV's are required for trips to COSTCO. (Sam’s Club)
Buying bulk is so cheap,
I don’t mind when I throw out the waste.

I'm up early to walk, and then on the run,
I must make sure to keep out of the sun
Here in OC [PV], wish I could be
Not quite so busy.

What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day just doing "Soul Care"?
Betcha my Land(rover), you understand,
We're the proud and perfectionistic Daughters.
Tired women, always grinnin’
What? You want me to “share?”

Yes! I want my life to have lasting value.
This stuff it will burn and I can’t take it with me…
But I want to fit in,
and really like super nice stuff. [groan]

Sometimes I just think
Wish I could just run.
Every week I don't need my nails done. [sigh]
Here in O.C
Wish I could be
A missionary....

Prayer of Consecration for the New Year

from Hannah Whithall Smith's, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (1872).

This classic is just what I need to be reading at the beginning of this new year, at this point in my journey of realizing that there is still a part of my heart that is guarded against trusting implicitly in God's goodness. All around me is a world full of Christians she describes:

"You have found Jesus as your Saviour.... You have carefully studied the Holy Scriptures.... but in spite of it all, your souls are starving and dying within you, and you cry out in secret, again and again...." ch 1

But she insists this is not the way it has to be.

"...the Scriptures do set before the believer in the Lord Jesus a life of abiding rest and continual victory, which is very far beyond the ordinary run of Christian experience; and that in the Bible we have presented to us a Saviour able to save us from the power of our sins as really as he saves us from their guilt."

And here's what it boils down to:
1. Entire surrender to the Lord and
2. Perfect trust in him.

(so simple, and yet, so very difficult!)

"He made you, and therefore he understands you, and knows how to manage you; and you must trust Him to do it. Say to him,

'Here, Lord, I abandon myself to thee. I have tried in every way I could think of to manage myself, and to make myself what I know I ought to be, but have always failed. Now I give it up to thee. Do thou take entire possession of me. Work in me all the good pleasure of thy will. Mold and fashion me into such a vessel as seemeth good to thee. I leave myself in thy hands, and I believe thou wilt, according to thy promise, make me into a vessel unto thy own honor, 'sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared for every good work'

"Next, you must lay off every other burden....everything that concerns you, whether inward or outward....We know we are helpless as regards the future, but we feel the present wa in our own hands, and must be carried on our own shoulders.... Most people...take their burdens to Him, but they bring them away with them again, and are just as worried and unhappy as ever. But I take mine and leave them with Him, and come away and forget them. If the worry comes back, I take it to Him again; and I do this over and over, until at last I just forget I have any worries, and am at perfect rest."

Oh, this strikes me first as pollyanna. But I read on about what it means to become like a little child as Jesus spoke of and in my heart of hearts, and as a mother of two boys I adore and would do anything for, it makes sense!

"He is our Father, and He loves us, and He knows just what is best, and therefore, of course, His will is the very most blessed thing that can come to us under any circumstances. I do not understand how it is that the eyes of so many Christians have been blinded to this fact. But it really would seem ais if God's own children were more afraid of His will than of anything else in life, --His lovely, lovable will, which only means loving-kindness and tender mercies, and blessings unspeakable to their souls!....Heaven is a place of infinite bliss because His will is perfectly done there, and our lives share in this bliss just in proportion as His will is perfectly done in them. He loves us, --loves us I say, --and the will of love is always blessing for its loved one."

So, there it is, the secret: Entire Abandonment and Absolute Faith.

"No matter what may be the complications of your peculiar experience, no matter what your difficulties, or your surroundings, or your "peculiar temperament," these two steps, definitely taken and unwaveringly persevered in, will certainly bring you out sooner or later in the green pastures and still waters of this life hid with Christ in God. You may be perfectly sure of this."

She closes ch 4 with another prayer of consecration:

"Lord Jesus, I believe that thou art able and willing to deliver me from all the care and unrest and bondage of my Christian life. I believe thou didst die to set me free, not only in the future, but now and here. I believe thou art stronger than sin, and that thou canst keep me, in my extreme of weakness, from falling into its snares or yielding obedience to its commands. And, Lord, I am going to trust thee to keep me. I have tried keeping myself, and have failed, and failed, most grievously. I am absolutely helpless. So now I will trust thee. I give myself to thee. I keep back no reserves. Body, soul, and spirit, I present myself to thee as a piece of clay, to be fashioned into anything thy love and they wisdom shall choose...I trust thee utterly, and I trust thee now."

Can you pray this with me for 2008? WIll you? I dare you!

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Chinese with the Creasmans...and Chinese Pod from Shanghai

We've been saying for months that Thursday night is CHINESE NIGHT in our family. But we've been slow to put it into action.

Last week Jim invited a Fuller classmate from Taiwan over for dinner. He used Chinese mostly and we were all a bit glassy eyed by the end of the evening. We're in serious need of "revisions," as we call it in Singapore.

So, last night for the first time I used lessons off of the web @ http://chinesepod.com
For more than a year I've been listening to their podcasts of chinese lessons (from Shanghai)
but yesterday I finally went to check out their on-line resources to use with the family after dinner.

You can get the podcasts without signing up, but it's free to sign up to get the extras.
There are 4 levels and dialogues, words, expansion material for each lesson.
I told my kids (who've been reluctant to keep up with Chinese) that I'll give them 10 cents each time this week they use a sentence from the lesson!

Last May, while in Shanghai, we played a game that was the ultimate in bribery. While we were walking around town, anyone caught speaking English had to give the 'catcher' a kuai!

Tyler CAN Sing! Teacher Proves It.

Tyler and I discussed HELLO DOLLY auditions last Wednesday. He said,

"Absolutely not."

I said all my wise reasonable reasons why he should at least try, I said,

"You'll never have an opportunity to do it again. If you enjoy it, then you'll have it as a great memory of High School, and if you hate it, you never have to tell anyone later in life that you were in Hello Dolly. I've half a mind to MAKE YOU."

But I was reasonable. I finished by suggesting,

"Let's agree to both have an open mind and heart and pray about it between now and Friday."

on Saturday I brought it up again by saying, "Have you picked out what song you'll sing for audtions?"

He refused to speak to me for awhile.

But today, on Monday, he comes jabbering through the door after school. JABBERING non-stop about what happened in Drama Class. His drama teacher in asking students if they were going to audition. Tyler said, "NO. I don't sing." The teacher argued with him and said, "Yes you do." Tyler stood firm until the teacher sent the entire class out the door to force Tyler to sing. This resulted in bringing home a sheaf of audition information and an official audition at 8:30PM.

I threw my head back and laughed and then I threw my arms around Tyler, praising God and saying,

"The Lord heard my cries! Through Mr. Martinez your will, Oh LORD, has prevailed."

Tyler laughed at me, and went and had a good time at the audition tonight.

(It also helped that there were 3 other guys from the football team auditioning and that he used this picture from summer camp on his "resume." On the audition form asking "would you be able to help in other areas?" He checked "Other:" and wrote, "Willing to be a sniper, or the director's personal Ninja.")