A Moment for Mesothelioma

I was contacted earlier in the summer by the Community Outreach Director for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. She asked me if I wanted to participate in their summer campaign, by taking a moment for mesothelioma, a rare cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos.  I said yes, and then life happened.  We never know when things will occur that keep us from fulfilling commitments we made.  This topic is near and dear to me because my father died from Mesothelioma.  You see he had lung cancer and asbestos was the enemy.  Asbestos is a dangerous material not banned in the US.  You can risk exposure by touching clothing or items that have asbestos fibers on them. Men are four times more likely to be diagnosed with Mesothelioma than women.  Women are becoming victims of Mesothelioma through second hand exposure. It has also been used throughout the U.S. military in hundreds of applications including naval ships, military buildings, vehicles, etc.  We know asbestos...but have you ever heard of Mesothelioma before now?  How did you hear about it?  Why?  I did not know myself until it affected my own little world.  It was then that I began to research this ugly word and found that Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that has a long latency period, and symptoms may not manifest until the cancer reaches the later stages making most diagnoses rather grim. I found myself visiting the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance site because I wanted to know more.  What I found out was staggering.  Every year close to 3,000 people are diagnosed with Mesothelioma and given around 10 months to live.  My father made it exactly 10 months.  My mother's two brothers did not.  Asbestos exposure is the number one cause of occupational cancer in the United States....and this is more than 50 years after the peak of its use.  That is so very sad.  Mesothelioma was difficult to diagnose in my father.  His diagnosis went from asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and finally cancer.  No amount of asbestos exposure is safe.  There are three types of Mesothelioma:  Pleural, Pritoneal, and Pericardial.  Symptoms may not appear for many years after exposure.  Asbestos is the most deadly when it begins to flake off and become airborne.  Do you know where it is?  Most of the areas you find it in are areas you would never think to look.  You can find it in older homes, schools, factories, and commercial buildings.  The house next door to my parents has asbestos siding on it.  The local fire department asked for permission to burn it down for fire training. The owners gave them permission, but once asbestos was discovered it was deemed unburnable.  Burning it would have meant putting asbestos flakes airborne.  So, the house sits and falls in.   US Veterans are at the greatest risk of Mesothelioma.  Navy veterans are at the greatest risk for developing mesothelioma as asbestos was widely used in naval ships and shipyards.  While the soldiers who lived and worked aboard the ships - including gunmen, boilermen, and firemen(this is what my father did in the Navy) - were susceptible to inhaling asbestos, those who built and repaired the ships were even more prone to developing diseases associated with the toxic mineral. They were tradesmen such as pipefitters, plumbers, mechanics, shipfitters, electricians(this was my father's trade), welders and boilermakers to name a few.Mesothelioma can remain dormant for several decades, many veterans who served during the 1950s to the 1970s are just now being diagnosed with the disease. My father was in WWII and was only diagnosed in 2008.  During the campaign the goal of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance is to educate 300 people throughout the summer in hopes that our efforts could help ban the use of asbestos in the US! Want to know more?  I hope you do and will click here and check out their website.  The information is eye-opening.  If you or someone you know suffers with this then please go to this website and find out what you can do.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Add your link at the end of Joyce's post then travel around and see what your blogging friends are saying...here we go-

1. The month of July was named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar.  He's quoted as saying, 'Experience is the teacher of all things.' So, what has experience taught you lately?

 2. Where did you last 'roam'?
Panama City Beach, Florida in May.  This summer has been crazy and travel has been curtailed.  Ah the life of a pastor!
 3. Speaking of 'Rome'...pizza, pasta, gelato...you can only pick one, which would you choose?
I don't want to chose one!  I love them all.  But....The pizza in Italy is phenomenal.  The gelato is to die for.

 4. 'Rome wasn't built in a day', 'All roads lead to Rome', 'When in Rome...' which 'Roman' idiom have you most recently encountered? Explain.
I always do as the locals do.  I eat what they eat (leave foods I can get in the states alone), I go to those out of the way places that they see on top of the traditional touristy things.  I love to travel.

5. What's a movie you've seen or book you've read, that makes you want to book a trip to Italy?
I have to agree with Joyce on this one.  Under the Tuscan Sun made me visit Italy to start with.  It has also made me want to spend a summer in the Italian countryside and eat food from the local markets. 

6. Walt's original Disneyland opened almost sixty years ago this week, on July 17, 1955.  Have you ever been to the California park? How about any of the other Disney parks around the world? What's your favorite amusement park ride or attraction?
I've never been to Disneyland California, but I have been to Disney World in Orlando several times .  I love it.  I love the tea cups.  I am not real big on rides that are frightening. 

7. It's that time of year...when were you last bitten or stung?
In January I was bitten by a brown recluse spider.  It was very painful, made a terrible sore, and is still healing.  The doctor said there would always be a scar there.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The Story

About The Book:  “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD” IS MORE THAN JUST A CLICHÉ. God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the clear, accessible text of the NIV Bible, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel. And like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption; and this story’s true! From the foreword by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee: “This book tells the grandest, most compelling story of all time: the story of a true God who loves his children, who established for them a way of salvation and provided a route to eternity. Each story in these 31 chapters reveals the God of grace—the God who speaks; the God who acts; the God who listens; the God whose love for his people culminated in his sacrifice of Jesus, his only Son, to atone for the sins of humanity.” Features: • The story of the Bible—in its own words. Selections from the NIV Bible with short transitions to connect the reader to the continuing story. • Events, characters, and teachings of the Bible arranged chronologically • Timelines of Bible events • New International Version (NIV) Bible text Church families around the globe can now embrace The Story for a full ministry year through worship services, small group studies, and family activities. Learn more about this whole-church experience at TheStory.com. An excerpt from The Story: After Judas left, Jesus gave the disciples a glimpse of what was to come. He foreshadowed the fact that he was going to be “broken” and “poured out”—he was going to take humanity’s punishment for sin on himself. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Jesus warned his disciples that he would be with them only a little while longer. He went on to comfort his confused followers. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
My Thoughts On The Book: As a Christian, someone from a Christian home, a pastor's wife and a pastor myself I have read the Bible cover to cover many times over my lifetime and fall in love with it each time.  I have never been a fan of the Reader's Digest Condensed books and this read like that to me.  I want the whole story and not just part. This book would be on for someone who does not want to take on the task of reading the whole Bible ( I admit some of it can be rather overwhelming), or is a new Christian and has no experience with the Bible.  It was easy to understand and is a great as an additional read.  I don't know what I was expecting, but when I finished reading it I felt as if I had been short changed somewhat.   
Disclaimer: This book was given to me to review in exchange for an honest review.  The thoughts are entirely my own.  Thank you Zondervan for this opportunity.

We're All Just Seeds Aren't We?

Today I want to talk to you about  Four attitudes of receiving the Word.

My scripture text is from:  Mat 13:1-9 and 18-23

This parable of the sower always reminds me of the garden in my dad’s backyard. I remember how I spent hours there preparing the ground. Sowing the seeds, chasing the dog, the cat, the birds – you name it—and then in the end how my mother would come pick the veggies and share them to the neighbors. I never could understand why…..we raised it…..for us to eat…..but then years later it become more clear to me that the joy of giving outweighs the joy of receiving.  Jesus uses the parable of the sower to teach us a valuable life lesson.

So we have heard the word now let’s study this parable and trust the Lord to help us to be honest with ourselves when the Word speaks to our hearts.  So now let’s look at possible the attitudes:  I have come up with four of them: 

1. The Wayside attitude

2. The Stony attitude

3. The Thorny attitude

4. The Good attitude

 1. The Wayside Attitude is shown to us in Matthew 13:4 “And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up”:

So what does a wayside attitude look like? 

These kinds of people never grow in their Christian life.

Notice: There is no mention of growth here.

They are drifters, jump from one church to another.

Always looking for new sowers.

You can’t satisfy these people.

They’ve got their own plans and agendas.

What kind of General remarks would you likely hear from Waysiders:

“I know the Word”

“I’ve tried praying but it takes to long”

“The Bible is to0 difficult”

“I don’t like your kind of worship”

Waysiders even have biblical views….:

Matthew 13:19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understand it not, then comes the wicked one, and catch away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side.

A Waysider’s biggest excuse: “I can’t understand it!”

Well….let me tell you waysiders…..You can only understand it if you spent time with it.

I understand Frank better than 11 years ago (I hope so!) because I’ve spent time with him. Midway…let me tell you…..It’s your duty to understand the Word.

The second attitude is The Stony Attitude:

Matthew 13:5-6 says, “Some fell upon stony places, where they did not have much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth”:

[6] “And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”

Notice: Where they fell?  They did not have much earth

There was some earth but not much!  Not enough for them to take root and grow.  There are too many stones that occupied the land.

They did not take all the stones out like:

Isaiah 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

It hurts to take stones out and they leave these big holes in the ground.  Every Thanksgiving my husband’s family would gather for a big feast…..but before we could eat….we had to all go out into his 60+ acres of pasture land and pick up rocks.  I hated this job….but it was necessary….but it would hurt.  Today I am not talking about “real” stones.  I’m talking of stones of unforgivness, anger, and jealousy.  Stone Hearts are so full of other stuff that there is no place for the Word of God.

General remarks from Stone hearts;

“I forgave them but I can’t forget”

Biblical view of Stone hearts:

Matthew 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy received it; [21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but duress for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.

God does not want Stone hearts:

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Our third attitude is The Thorns Attitude:

Matthew 13:7 tells us, “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them”:

General remarks from Thorn hearts:

“Holiness is an option”

There is too much fun to miss in the world”

Biblical view of Thorn hearts:

Matthew 13:22 - He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.   The sad part is that Eventually the Word will choke.

Our last attitude is  The Good heart attitude:

Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.

Identification Good ground - They bear fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”.

They hear Word,  spend time in it, and most importantly they understand it!

General remarks from Good hearts

“I can do all things through Christ”

The Word is a mighty tower for me.

Their Biblical view:

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

This is someone who hears, understands and does what the Word teaches.

So my question for you this morning….which attitude do you have? 

Five Minute Friday: Belong

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. (On your own blog or in the comments on Lisa Jo's blog).
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!
OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::




Belong




I love the word belong.  To me it means to be a part of something bigger than one, bigger than me.  In my life time I have belonged to many organizations, sororities, bible and book study groups, you get my drift.  I am a belonger.  I belong to a family that is large.  I have 96 first cousins.  I belonged to a family that was just my mom, dad, and me.  I belong to a family that consists of myself, my husband, my son, his wife and their four children; my daughter and her husband and son; my daughter and her husband; our daughter and her husband and daughter.  Pretty good amount of people who belong huh?  The most important aspect of the word belong for me is that I belong to God.  I am a child of His.  I belong to a church. John 8:47 tells me, Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”  Yep I think that pretty much covers belong.  I belong to groups, family, and God!

Hodge Podge and Porch People

Welcome to this July edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Add the link to your answers at the end of Joyce's post, then grab your ice cold lemonade and go say hey to all your friends neighbors.

1. July is National Anti-Boredom Month. When was the last time you were bored? What's your go-to cure for boredom?

I am sure it was an inservice sometime before the beginning of school.  I think it was the Growing Dendrites one.  I am rarely bored.  Even when I am in a meeting and feel that bored nemesis rising it's ugly head I always have a pad so I write.  I also always have a book on me so I read.  I never sit in the front of anything so I can do these without distracting the speaker or calling attention to myself.

2. What's the last thing you made a reservation for?
Last reservation was made for the Driftwood Lodge in Panama City Beach for our annual Porch Peoples Memorial Day Blowout!  I also made one that same week for Hotel Smith in Mary Esther, Florida for our annual girls trip.  This year it will be Labor Day weekend.  October 7th I will have reservations in West Palm Beach for the Forest Hill H.S. class of 72 big 60 birthday bash. 

 3. What's one thing on your summer bucket list? Any plans to make it happen?
A trip to Scotland and Alaska.  I am shooting for the year I retire.  It will be a retirement treat.  
Any plans to make it happen? Absolutely.  Look out 2015.

4. What's your favorite summertime sip?
Homemade lemonade or a cold glass of unsweet tea.

 5. What do you find is the best way to handle another person's hostility and hopefully ease the tension?
Walk away. I am a natural born peacemaker and hate conflict.

6. Your favorite film set in summer?
I love Parent Trap too.  I also love Pollyanna.  Current I would have to say Love Song with Miley Cyrus.  It is not her....it is the fact that it is a John Grishom story. 

7. What's a word you're using too much of lately.
It is summer for me and I don't use anything too much right now?  Mail? would be my word to see if another book to review has arrived. 

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.  I am a porch sitter from way back.  There is nothing I love better than sitting on the porch with friends and talking about the world's affairs, or playing music and singing.  In Rock Mills I am part of the Porch People and there is nothing I love better than Marcie's or Sherry's porch gatherings.    What are your thoughts of sitting on a porch?  Good memories?



Porch sitting with Mary Jo Guillory about 20 years ago in Monroe, LA.  Below are two of the many Rock Mills Porch People at the Welcome Home Kruze ride.  Marcie has a front porch full of chairs, a swing, and great times.  You always feel welcome there and can stop in without an invitation and set a spell.  Sherry has a back porch full of comfortable rockers, plants, a good breeze, and you get a warm welcome anytime.  I love being a Porch Person.

A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise

About The Book:  USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne brings readers back to the ranch for an emotional holiday visit with The Cowboys of Cold Creek.  Hardened rancher Ridge Bowman has long told himself he has no need for love—just work and his little girl are enough to get him through. But when his "cleaning lady," Sarah Whitmore, gets injured on his staircase, well, of course he has to invite her to spend the holidays with him. It's only the responsible thing to do.  Only, Sarah isn't really there to work on his house. She came bearing precious artwork belonging to Ridge's late mother, and possibly a secret that could devastate them both. But as Christmas draws closer, so does Ridge—and Sarah convinces herself that she will tell him what she knows as soon as the holiday is over. She might be the key to his past—if only he could be a part of her future….

About The Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including four RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

My Thoughts About The Book: I  enjoyed the story because it was about love and the holidays.  I am a sap for Hallmark movies and this would make a great one.  I have not read any of the other Cold Creek books and read this without having character prior knowledge.  Was it my favorite book ever?  Most certainly not.  Was it my least favorite book?  A resounding no goes there too.  It was a sweet story about interesting characters with a fairy tale ending.  I read it in one sitting. 

Disclaimer: This book was given to me to review as part of Netgalley Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  The thoughts are entirely my own.