Tag Archives: Family

Be Prepared Wherever You Go – What to Keep In Your Car

Proverbs 22:3 (NCV) The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble.

For the next couple of weeks, both Jim and I have decided to focus; really focus on being prepared for emergency situations. As you probably already know, I am someone that likes to be prepared for anything.  My family has teased me about it for years but guess who they come to when we are traveling and they need something that only I anticipated to pack?  For me, the security in knowing that my family is prepared for the unexpected is worth a little extra thought and just a little time.    Continue reading →

Miracle Baby Born Amidst Nepal Tragedy

One baby boy is bringing light to a dark place just by being born.

Two weeks prior to his birth, his mother, Dolma Tamang, was buried under rubble after Nepal was hit by the devastating 7.8 earthquake that struck on April 25. She managed to climb out from the rubble while being “heavily pregnant” and was able to receive help.

“I was so worried about the baby that I did not care about my own health, even though I had wounds everywhere and had trouble breathing,” Tamang told BBC.

On Wednesday, Tamang began labor and was transported to a Red Cross clinic by a mobile unit of Japanese clinicians.

“Even though we lost almost all of our belongings and live in a temporary shelter, I could not be happier and more thankful for this little miracle,” Tamang said. “This baby being born healthy is a sign of hope and second life for our whole family.”

All reports show that both mother and child are healthy.

President Discusses Need For Fathers At Catholic Event

President Obama addressed the Catholic-Evangelical Summit on Overcoming Poverty at Georgetown University Tuesday and spoke of the importance of faith and family.

“Faith-based groups across the country and around the world understand the centrality and the importance of [poverty] in a intimate way — in part because these faith-based organizations are interacting with folks who are struggling and know how good these people are, and know their stories, and it’s not just theological, but it’s very concrete. They’re embedded in communities and they’re making a difference in all kinds of ways,” Obama said.

The President went on to say that impacting youth was vital for society.

“When I think about my own Christian faith and my obligations,” Obama continued, “it is important for me to do what I can myself — individually mentoring young people, or making charitable donations, or in some ways impacting whatever circles and influence I have. But I also think it’s important to have a voice in the larger debate. And I think it would be powerful for our faith-based organizations to speak out on this in a more forceful fashion.”

The President specifically spoke of the need for fathers to stay with their families, especially in the black community.

“I am a black man who grew up without a father and I know the cost that, I paid for that. And I also know that I have the capacity to break that cycle, and as a consequence, I think my daughters are better off.”

The summit had a goal to “make overcoming poverty a moral imperative and urgent national priority.”

Happy Mother’s Day To Our Mom…Lori Bakker

Proverbs 31:28, 29 (NIV) 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Dear Mom,

Years ago, God fulfilled a dream for all of us by bringing you into our lives!  You have always gone above and beyond as a mother and have never wavered for what God wanted for us. We know it has been hard for you sometimes.  You have held our hands when we were hurting, and rejoiced when we were happy. We appreciate so much how you have always strived to do your best as well as knowing when to be loving and when to be firm.   You never compromised when you knew what you felt was the right thing to do and stood strong through every struggle, always ready to share your wisdom.  When we have struggled, it has been your prayers that lifted us up and helped us move forward.  Most important of all, you have loved us, each of us…unconditionally. In so many ways you have shown us how special we are to your heart. Continue reading →

Nepal Family Loses 18 Members in Earthquake

Stories of tragedy from Nepal continue to make their way out of the devastated region.  The latest involves one family that lost 18 members in the quake when a house fell in upon them.

Shankar Pradhan shared his story with the Associated Press as he stood by a funeral pyre for the members of his family.  He had just finished pouring holy water on the feet and lips of his 21-year-old daughter who died in the quake.  She was inside the four-story home of Shankar’s brother when it fell.

“I don’t know why this happened. But I don’t blame anyone. I don’t blame the government, I don’t blame the gods,” he said, struggling to fight back tears. “You can’t escape the rules of this life. None of us escape the fact that one day you’ll have to leave it.”

The family had gathered inside the home to prepare for the start of a weeklong prayer session for peace and safety.

Krishna Lal Shrestha, who was inside the home at the time of the quake decorating a four foot tall marble temple with flowers, said the quake struck violently causing him to be thrown to the ground.  He tried to crawl back to save relatives but a wave of the quake threw him out the door and to safety.

He had to watch helplessly in horror as the floors collapsed one by one on top of each other.

The family said that the death toll would have been significantly higher if the quake struck an hour later when over 100 relatives were expected to be at the home.

Rescue efforts into the region are still being hampered although some of the villages next to the capital were able to get food and water.  One town 40 miles from the capital, Sipa Ghat, was reported by the Wall Street Journal to still be without any relief at all including food and clean drinking water.

“We are trying to send rescue teams. We are trying our best to clear the roads,” said Kamal Singh Bam, a spokesman for Nepal’s national police. “There is a problem with distribution to people who are not in Katmandu.”

The situation is still critical in the capital as doctors say they are running out of medication and medical supplies.

God’s Little Helpers

In my years of knowing the Lord, it has always amazed me how much God loves us. It’s something that, as humans, we can have a hard time understanding. No matter a person’s lifestyle, beliefs, or faults, we are all loved by God equally. So much so, that He gave the whole world His only Son in order to give us all a chance at eternal life! (John 3:16)

But for those who don’t understand God’s ability to love, I always find that one of the best examples of His love for us in dogs. To me, they are truly God’s Little Helpers. I believe when He created these wonderful creatures, He did so with the purpose of reflecting His eternal love for us within each and every one. Continue reading →

Legendary Pastor Robert Schuller Passes Away

Rev. Robert H. Schuller, the founder of the television ministry “Hour of Power” that reached millions around the world, died Thursday at the age of 88.

Schuller had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August 2013.

“My father-in-law passed away peacefully early this morning. He was a great Dad and a great man of God,” said Schuller’s daughter-in-law, Donna Schuller, in a Twitter message.

Schuller and his wife Arvella started a ministry in 1955 with $500.  He would preach from the roof of a concession stand at a drive-in theater near Los Angeles.  The church had a motto of “come as you are in the family car.”  They had their own building by 1961 and began the “Hour of Power” broadcast in 1970.

In 1980, Schuller built the iconic ‘Crystal Cathedral” that was seen in the “Hour of Power” broadcasts.

Schuller is remembered as a missionary who was called to reach people who had distanced themselves from church.  His mission of “find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it” has brought millions help and healing.

Former Olympian Who Refused Abortion Births Triplets

A former Olympic gymnast who had doctors telling her to abort two of her unborn children to make sure the third baby was healthy has given birth to healthy triplets.

As previously reported, Jaime Halsey was told by doctors last fall to abort their children.

“We had our first scan in Northampton at 12 weeks and were immediately referred to specialists at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford,” she told the Northampton Chronicle in January. “They told us one of the twins is 25 percent smaller than the other and there’s a massive risk of further growth restrictions.”

Halsey flat out rejected the calls of their doctors and said that she would give life to her babies no matter what it would cost her.

On February 24th, Halsey gave birth through Cesarean section.

Triplet girls Eden Rose, Amber Joy and Erin Aila are all doing fine.  They will remain hospitalized until they gain more weight as they were born premature.

“We both know that the triplets have a long way to go, and many hurdles to get over before we can bring them home; but we know that we have given them the best chance possible and the wonderful medical staff at the JR have and will continue to give them the best chance possible too,” her husband added.

Teacher Sentenced To 6 Years For Attempting To Join ISIS

A British teacher who was plotting to join ISIS in Syria has been sentenced to six years in prison for his efforts.

Jamshed Javeed came to the attention of local officials after he was turned in by his family.  His sister recorded arguments between Jamshed and his family on her iPad and provided those recordings to officials.

“It was clear from the evidence in this case that the family were absolutely set against him joining this terrorist group in Syria,” Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole said. “They took (what) I consider to be some brave steps in terms of hiding his equipment … And absolutely without doubt they confronted him on his desire to go out and expressed their desire that he does not travel and join this group.”

Police say the family hid Jamshed’s passport so when he attempted to gain a second one authorities were able to arrest him for attempting to join ISIS.

Jamshed claims he was just “trying to help the people of Syria.”

The judge dismissed Jamshed’s claims noting that he wanted to leave even after finding out his wife was pregnant.

The Ultimate Valentine

Traditionally, people have considered Valentine’s Day a time to celebrate romance but I prefer to think of it more as “Love Day”. Did you know that the word” love” or “loved” is mentioned in the Bible over 400 times! It seems to me that every positive emotion we could ever have is tied directly to this all-encompassing love. Without it, everything we do has no meaning.

There is no doubt that God wants us to love each other! In 1 Corinthians 13, He tells us very clearly how important love is and exactly what that one little word means. Anyone who has ever been to a church wedding will have heard this, but have you taken the time recently to REALLY hear what He is telling us? Continue reading →