A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

YouTube

How do we bear one another’s burdens?

By Leave a Comment

You know something?   It’s hard to get used to another churches way of doing things.  The church we are going to for the rest of January doesn’t write down things like scripture passages, sermon titles or music used.   Makes it MUCH harder for me to take good notes.   I know that I missed a couple of songs this morning, but it is what it is eh?   And I made up a title based on the short message presented.

Hymns/Songs: 

Precious Lord take my hand
My eyes are dry by Keith Green
Set my spirit free by Charlotte Baker
Lord I need you by Matt Maher
Follow you by Ed Cash

Scripture: Psalm 31, Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 6

Text Romans 12
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

Sermon Notes:

Our focus this week is on mental health.  We are called to learn and grow.
How do we care for those with mental illness in the church.

How do we bear one another’s burdens?   Galatians 6
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

We need a Holistic approach,  moving toward the person instead of stepping away.

Why do we step away?
. Fear
. Not knowing how to help
. Seeing others as able to help better ie counselors

Romans 12:9-16
Cling to what is good,
Be devoted to one another
Walk with them
Be joyful in hope
Be hopeful for their recovery and let them know it’s not the whole story
What does it look like to welcome the mentally into our hi,especially,  or even going into their homes
Be a blessing to them.
Show them how they are a blessing to you.

You might need to ask people with mental illness how you can help them, what support do they need?

THE REST OF THE SERVICE was taken up talking with health care professions, and having people with mental illness tell their stories and what has been most beneficial to them in getting better.   My notes are included as they may prove helpful.

Holistic care…what does it look like?
People used to treat just the physical and the mental either together or separate, the spiritual was ignored.  More and more the integration is seen as not only as helpful but necessary

Describe what a helpful community looks like
. A lot of advocacy needed, different agencies working together,
. Acceptance

What are unintentionally hurtful ways
. Giving pat answers
    . Instead we should listen with all your skill instead of listening to give an answer
. Forgetting the person and only seeing their illness.
. Giving unsolicited advice
. Trying to fix the person
. Minimizing their pain
. Prayer as a way of stopping the conversation
.
What we should do
. Walk with the person not ahead of them
. Listen with all your skill
. Take in a mental first aid course (like physical first aid)
. Know when you are in over your head
. Let the person do for themselves what they are able
. Show mercy and God’s grace

Sabine’s story
Has schizophrenia
As a youth had a good life
Then at age 19 three people died who where Important to her
Age 20 was hospitalized….psychosis
Age 30 hears voices, telling her how to kill herself and others
World shattered,
Eventually learned how to share it with others
Her world opened up

Suggestion:  to pray for those with mental illness
: to say hi and ask how are you doing as isolation is a big concern for the mentally ill

Sara
Chemically induced depression….as in the chemicals in her brain don’t work together correctly
Clinical anxiety, seasonal affect time disorder

Stress is a trigger

What helps
. Knowing she is not alone, having a mentor
. Doesn’t need people feeling sorry for her
. A good listening ear
. Ask how you can help
. If you don’t have time to listen then don’t ask
. People she can trust
. Be understanding of the struggles.

Damaging
. People saying snap out of it
. Anxiety is stupid get past it
. Not understanding good weeks/bad weeks

Sunday Sermon: On Whom Do You Rely?

By 2 Comments

This is the Official Closing Service of Bethel Reformed Church. 

Pastor preached an excellent sermon at the closing service, you really should listen to it and not just read my sermon notes.    A difficult service, but a great sermon.

 Hymns

A mighty fortress
Amazing Grace
Guide me, o my great redeemer
Oh Lord my God.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 text vv8-10

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who
comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If
we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you
patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Sermon

 

My Sermon Notes:  

Today we come to close the Bethel Reformed Church in Exeter.

It’s easy to struggle with the question of why, why did God let this happen?

Sometimes it’s easy to see things that didn’t go as they should have, but when push comes to shove, it’s all in God’s providence, and we can’t always know why.

In our reading today, Paul writes to the Corinthian church talking to them about the suffering he has gone through.  And not always knowing the why, but being able to see the result.

Paul writes to them …letting them know that he suffers.  Suffering was him.  Beaten, accused,  misrepresented,  imprisoned,  sometimes nigh unto to death.  It was not easy for him.

Paul suffered….and in that suffering was comforted.
And through that comfort is now able to comfort others.

Paul didn’t say what his suffering in Asia was, just that it was beyond them, it was so bad they wanted to die.   They were so burdened and suffering that death was welcome.  It seemed the end was right there waiting.

But God delivered them.

Many now struggle.  Some with the church closing.  Loss of community hurts and burdens. 

See like Paul did.   God was working.  
God was teaching them to rely on him, he the God who raises the dead.   Rely on me God says.

God….
He pushed Paul to see who he should really rely on.
God…
And this is the God who raises the dead.
The God who brought Christ back from the dead.

God brought them through that time of difficulty.
God can bring any of us through this.

It teaches us to rely on him more.

So that we can set our hopes on him, knowing he will deliver us again.

The God we rely on…..is the God that raises the dead.

This God will not abandon us.   In our sufferings he will always be with us.

So ask yourself this.
Just who do you rely on?

For those who answer their reliance is on God.
Know that God’s work in you has not ended.
God’s work in the church has not ended.
He will do things we can’t even imagine as of yet. 

Question of the Day: How Do They Make Pudding Cups?

By 2 Comments

The lad and I have the joy of talking about all kinds of different things, not that long ago this questions came up:  just how do they make pudding cups?

I found this video to explain that process (even if it is with tapioca pudding which my lad would rather not have).  🙂


This of course led me to wonder…. can one do this at home?

So I found this recipe Homemade Chocolate Pudding Snack Packs.   Look good don’t they?   Oh oh.. and here’s another one that I want to try (looks easier with less chance to muck it up). 

Anyways, there we go with a quick answer to “how do they make pudding cups”.

Art Series: Zentangle – anything is possible one stroke at a time

By 13 Comments

Zentangles…I had never heard that term before until I received this book.   The cover made me think of the colouring books that I enjoy doing.   I always thought those were called mandalas though, which of course led me to research that idea.

A mandala is a piece of art made in a circle. Mandala means “circle” in Sanskrit.   In Buddhist and Hindu faith systems they have spiritual significance.  Outside those circles they are just circular drawings that can used to help you relax.

A zentangle is any design made from repetitive patterns.  Does not have to be in a circle shape.

There are some people who use the words interchangeably, but mandalas are supposed to circular, zentangles can be anything.

Good to know eh?

Anyways, all that to tell you about this book I have in my hands here.  Zentangle: the inspiring and mindful drawing workbook.  This workbook has over 70 practice tiles to play around with.  It has been put together by Jane Marbaix.

Zentangles are a way of doodling, it’s making a variety of shapes and designs on purpose.  Mostly done to fill in a space, but sometimes they just become an art form.

What I thoroughly appreciate about this book as it walks you through right from the beginning how to doodle with purpose.   It always amazes me when I see doodles come to life.   Take for instance this video.  Simple lines and shapes, but suddenly they become something.

Just fascinating to me.

Ms. Marbaix provides the space right in the book to practice the techniques that she shows the reader how to do.

She starts with the very basics, how to make the most basic of doodles and what they are called.   Doodles like tipples, crescent moon, static, zander, poke root, hollibaugh and msst.   We then proceed to the use of string and more advanced doodles.

Each step leads to more advanced techniques.

Before you know you it you’ll be filling in shapes and making rubber stamps and all sorts of interesting items.

A whole world is waiting to be drawn and doodled.

Chapters are:

  1. What is a Zentangle?
  2. First Steps
  3. Zentangle Inspired Art
  4. Tanglenhancers
  5. Zentangle Friends
  6. Tangling Fun
  7. Using Stencils
  8. Zendalas
  9. Shapes
  10. Letters and Numbers
  11. Rubber Stamping
  12. Kids Time
  13. Directory of Tangles

 I really like the lay out and the sheer amount of technique in this book.   I like to doodle, but would never call myself an artist.  I love art, but the know-how is often lacking.  If I were to work through all the lessons in this book, I would be able to make my own zentangles.   Perhaps then I could call myself a zentangle artist.  🙂

Of course as I go through this book I keep thinking to myself… wouldn’t this be fun to do with a group of interested youth?   The lessons in the book are straight-forward, they could all bring lots of paper to practice on, ideas to spur each other to doing their doodle drawings better, and can you imagine the lovely zentangles they could come up with?    To have fun deciding which of the more complicated designs they might wish to learn.

 Each of these more complicated designs comes complete with a green box describing it’s name and what the pattern is.  I just love how this book starts with easy and gradually works it way up to tougher designs to create. 

This is a great book to learn the how and wherefore’s of doing good doodling as you learn to draw zentangles.  Well-written, with lots of information and examples to draw from.  Inspiration awaits!

Use it to relax, to focus your mind, to release your creative talent, to refine your doodling abilities and more.   It’s a great book to learn from, check it out today, really.

 Zentangles: the inspiring and mindful drawing workbook with over 70 practice tiles.
Author: Jane Marbaix
Publisher: Thunder Bay Press
size: 9.11 x 10.72
  176 pages

A is for Sidney Altman

By 26 Comments

Welcome welcome one and all.. to the first letter of the alphabet.

The letter A.  You’ll join Amanda and I won’t you?
 

I am so looking forward to seeing what others have to say.   It’ll be fun eh?

For my part, I am intending to be talking about all things Canadiana as we go through the alphabet.   Some will be obvious.. Like the provinces in our fine land, and others I am hoping, will be a bit more obscure.   All in all I hope that we all can learn more about my lovely land of opportunity….. CANADA!   🙂

Today we start with Sidney Altman, a scientist who received the Nobel Prize in 1989 for his work in Chemistry.

Born in Montreal, Quebec in 1939 the son of working class immigrant parents.   His dad owned a grocery store and his mom worked in a textile mill.   Learning from his parents the value of hard work and determination, which served him well in the long run.   As a youth he read anything he could get his hands on.  Reading a book Explaining The Atom by Selig Hecht got him hooked on science.

Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in physics, he later changed his major to biophysics.  He studied chemical compounds called acridines, focuses on how they affected the replication of viruses that infect bacteria.

He had many false starts and job changes over the years, eventually finding himself working in England, which is where he started on the path leading to the Nobel Prize.    His work led him back to the United States.   Working with RNA (Ribonucleic acid)  he, over a period of 20 years, discovers catalytic RNA, thus earning the Nobel Prize.

If you want to know more about this work


 
Mr. Altman remains a Canadian Citizen, though he is dual citizen with the USA.  His work with RNA continues. 
Sidney Altman, Canadian Citizen, winner of the Nobel Prize, Holder of the Letter A for this week of Blogging through the Alphabet. 

 

Feel free to link up your family friendly posts using the letter A this week. 
A Net In Time Schooling
A Net In Time Schooling

Hymn Study: Praise Ye the Lord, The Almighty

By 4 Comments

I LOVE the singing of Fernando Ortega… The way he sings hymns just lifts my spirit every single time.   He occasionally lightly changes the words but not enough to annoy.  🙂

Here he is, singing this lovely hymn written by Joachim Neander

Lyrics:
The verses I am familiar with in red.  
Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
Praise ye the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
 This hymn was originally written in German and was translated by Catherine Winkworth.    It was written by Joachim Neander, who studied theology in Bremen.      He wasn’t a serious theology student until he heard a sermon by a man by the name of Theodore Undereyk.  (source) .   (see…. good preaching changes lives)  🙂   He was a minister only for a year before he died, at age 30, from tuberculosis.

An interesting fact is that a valley was renamed after him, and in that valley the remains of Homo neanderthalensis, or the Neanderthal man was discovered.  (source)   This makes him the only hymnist with a hominid named after him.

 Now for this hymn without singing.  Isn’t the tune lovely?

 

Learning gained from Marking Papers

By 2 Comments

A job I took on this year was marking papers.   For the most part it’s fairly easy work, but lately it’s also been fascinating work.   The students are writing papers on items that interest them.  Tonight I learned about two things (for lack of a better word) that just fascinated me.

Ball Lightning.
a video that teaches a bit about them.

and here’s one in real life

Ball lightning:

The term ball lightning refers to a strange and unexplained phenomenon in which eye witnesses have reported seeing spherical balls of light floating in the sky. They can be the size of a dime or several meters wide. People often compare the brightness to that of a 60-watt light bulb. Though it’s called lightning, it lasts longer than a lightning strike and when it disappears or explodes, it can leave behind the odor of sulfur. There have also been incidents where the explosion was fatal.  They can appear anywhere, including inside buildings. 

Fascinating eh??

 Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

World’s largest Jellyfish.    I find it interesting how the colder the water is, the larger they get.   Smaller ones are found in warmer water.  Aren’t they gorgeous?

 

Large individuals are often red or purple, while smaller specimens tend to be shades of tannish-orange.   Frequent denizens of harsh, Arctic waters, lion’s mane jellyfish are seldom seen below the northern 42nd parallel. Also, they gravitate towards the surface and almost never venture beneath depths of 66 feet.  (source)

I am loving this aspect of writing papers and can’t wait to show my son in the morning!   🙂