One of my favorite holidays is just around the bend... the Fourth of July!

I cry at Independence Day celebrations more often than I cry at weddings and sappy movies! When "America the Beautiful", "God Bless America" or "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" are played I swell with gratefulness and patriotism. When I consider the soldiers separated from their families, enduring great hardship in hostile lands, fighting to protect our freedom, I again shed tears of deep respect and patriotism.

The clamour of fireworks begin to sound in my neighborhood in mid-June and by the Fourth of July, the sky above our home is smoky and bursting with light! Our family pulls out the lawn chairs and joins the gathering neighbors in the front yards to gaze heavenward at the brilliant display. With each sonic blast and burst of light, my mind races back to places like Bunker Hill, Gettysburg and Normandy. When I consider the valor and commitment of our veterans, my eyes moisten from the reality that I should be no less than fully grateful and patriotic.

So, for this Fourth of July, I thought I would give you my top ten quotes to inspire your patriotism and give you ten more reasons to be grateful!

1. "True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else."
~ Clarence Darrow

2. "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
~ Abraham Lincoln

3. "Yesterday, the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."
~ John Adams Letter to his wife, July 3, 1776

4. "... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy

5. "Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country."
~ Calvin Coolidge

6. "A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle."
~ George William Curtis

7. "A man's feet must be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world."
~ George Santayana

8. "It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism."
~ J. Horace McFarland

9. "God has given you your country as cradle, and humanity as mother; you cannot rightly love your brethren of the cradle if you love not the common mother."
~ Giuseppe Mazzini

10. "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
~ Thomas Paine

I know I said "Top Ten," but, I just had to throw in one more from Benjamin Franklin to make you chuckle... "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"

A few weeks ago I was sent an email full of fun ideas from a church in Spokane and there was one particular idea that caught my eye. They called it "Speed Connection" and it is just like speed dating, but used for women to get to know each other better.

That sounded like fun to me, so I asked them for more information on the event and they very graciously sent in the following...

Speed Dating during women's study! What? Have you ever wanted to try speed dating, but you're married or just not into that sort of thing, well how about Speed Connecting!

We decided it would be fun to get to know the women in our new women's group at church, and this sounded like a fun, quick way to get to know a few women on a deeper level than "hello, my name is..." Personally I forget that name quickly if it is just a handshake and that's it. However, if that name is attached to a story or a favorite memory then it becomes more permanent in my brain.

So here is what we did...

We set up long tables all around our room and instructed the gals to take their chairs and sit across from someone they didn't know, we also asked that they didn't sit anywhere near their friends whom they came with. Then we started fun music and let the questions begin! We were afraid of awkward silence so we had provided a list of optional questions, but instead we were thrilled to hear the roar of conversation, accompanied by laughter.

We saw women exchanging phone numbers, and at the gong of the bell (move to the next seat please) we had to actually repeat numerous times that it was time to move, they were so engrossed in conversation in just those few short minutes.

(Note: The women on one side of the tables stayed put and only the other side moved with the woman at the end moving to the head of the table.)

As women we are gifted with language, some of us can converse easily and others need a gentle nudge to engage in real conversation. This speed connecting provided an outlet for some, and a relaxing, fairly non-intimidating situation for others.

We need each other, and we need to know one another, and to be known by others. We should do whatever it takes to find ways to connect and really get to know the women from our community.

Submitted by Kathi Jingling and Ruthy Allen of the Life Center Church in Spokane

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For Such a Time as This

Event Type: A retreat or a seminar in 3 sessions. The seminar could be held over a course of two or three days (Thurs, Fri and Sat. evenings, or Fri evening and two meetings on Sat.) or as an all day Saturday event.

Area of Emphasis: Esther chapters 4 - 7 Esther stood up for her religion, her people and her God when it wasn't a politically correct thing to do. Edmond Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Today in America we have gone far beyond an argument of separation of church and state. Christianity in America, indeed around the world, is now in a battle for its life against radical Islam and atheism. We must know how and when to stand up for our faith. We Americans have been so blessed with the freedom to worship as we please it is hard for us to grasp that we are precariously poised to lose that freedom.

Type of Program: A mixture of styles works best for not everyone learns in the same manner and listening to a speaker for an extended time bores some people. How each session is handled should be determined by the resources and talent to which the congregation has access. Below is a suggestion.

1. First Session: Using a film, or Power Point slide show (search the Internet for available products), lecture and question & answer period. This session should cover the problems Christians face as a nation.
   
   Many colleges and universities have a class on Islam. Ask if the person teaching such a class would be willing to speak for you. Carefully investigate the person's perspective and the material taught in the class before asking them to share. If you choose to use a speaker from your church, there are good books available in Christian book stores that will help a speaker prepare a good lesson on these topics.
2. Second Session: Examine our biblical rights and responsibilities as Christians toward our government, the Church, our family, and our selves.
3. Third Session: Examine the fears and qualities of Esther that allowed her to step into the gap for her God, religion and people. Also look at the process (i.e. within the established laws) she used to accomplish her goals. End by making application of Esther's qualities and methods to Christians today emphasizing the need for each of us as individuals to "stand in the gap."

Food: Google "Arab Food" and many choices will come up. Pick the foods that will fit your kitchen, budget and tastes. In my congregation I would serve tabouleh salad, a pita sandwich (choice of two fillings) and baklava for dessert.

Tabouleh (Parsley and Cracked Wheat Salad)

85 grams (3 oz., 1/2 cup) burghul
2 bunches flat-leaf parsley (about 30 gr. before washing, or 1 1/2 cup chopped)
1 bunch fresh mint (about 10 gr. before washing, or 1/2 cup chopped)
3 green onions or 1 small onion
1 large tomato
90 milliliters (3 oz., 6 Tbs.) lemon juice
60 milliliters (2 1/2 oz., 4 Tbs.) olive oil
salt
1 head romaine lettuce (optional)

Leave the burghul in water for about 2 hours, then wash and squeeze out. Wash and chop the parsley, mint and green onions very fine. Dice the tomato. Combine all ingredients including burghul. Add salt to taste, lemon juice, olive oil and mix well. Serve in a bowl lined with lettuce leaves. This salad can be eaten with a fork, but the traditional way is to scoop up a bite of the mixture in a lettuce leaf and pop it into the mouth. (From "Aramco World" magazine, March - April 1988)

Decorations: My first choice would be using the sign of the fish, because it was used in a dangerous time as an underground code by 1st century Christians. Other ideas would be to use palm trees to set the mood of Persia. Clocks encircled with a crown to illustrate Esther being in the right place at the right time. Lamps and lanterns sitting atop Bibles, & the Bibles sitting on maps could also be used as table decorations. This would illustrate Christians being the light of the world in this approaching age of darkness.

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Women often ask me (Robyne) what Bible I use to study ... Honestly, this is a really tough question to answer because there are several that I use and each has a specific thing that I love about it. I am a self admitted Bible study books and tools junkie, (Hey, if you are going to have an addiction, this isn't a bad one!), but if my house was on fire, I would grab my pink fuzzy slippers, my laptop and these:

My first Bible is a New American Standard Version (NAS) New International Inductive Study Bible from Precept Ministries. I was first introduced to Precept Bible Studies 13 years ago and really "clicked" with the the inductive study method. I love this Bible because all the notes are mine! I have had it for ten years and this is one scribbled- in, marked-up, color-filled Bible and it is the one that I carry with me to church on Sunday. The Bible has a lot of great tips on how to study your Bible, blank charts to fill in with chapter/book themes and titles, a super concordance, and a Bible/history timeline that I love.

Right next to that one is my Key Word Study Bible New International Version (NIV) from AMG publishers. This is a really unique Bible and a great tool for original language lovers, because ... there is a mini-dictionary and lexicon packed in with the text. Key words are highlighted with the Strong's number that link to the tools in the back. It also has definitions for verb tenses and grammar use. It is available in King James (KJV), and NAS versions. This Bible is a great tool for word studies and seeing where words are used and how they are interpreted throughout the text.

A newer Bible that I am enjoying is the Archaeological Study Bible, also in NIV. It has a lot of great information on places, people and "old stuff" that I find fascinating. It is all in 4-color print with photos and social, historical and cultural information in over 500 different articles and a ton of charts. Sometimes I catch myself "rabbit trailing" off through the information because it is so engrossing. This one also has a ton of cover color options. My husband bought me the snappy red one!

I also like to look at different versions side-by-side and use the Comparative Study Bible with the KJV, NIV, NAS, and Amplified Bibles. I have this one in a hardcover that has held up well through the years. Sometimes when I am struggling "wrapping my brain" around a passage, reading these different versions gives me a better understanding and helps to direct my study. There are a few different translation combinations available.

I feel blessed to live in a time and culture where I can have the luxury of several different Bibles. I realize that this is not the case for everyone. One of my favorite charities is the American Bible Society. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to worldwide translation, publication and distribution of the Scriptures. Through them we have purchased boxes of Bibles to take on mission trips and to send to missionaries on the field.

Immersing in the Word.... Robyne Beaubien, Editor
Email: robyne@womensministry.net

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