It's summer in Australia and consequently all educational institutions have been having a lovely long break. My girls are both at university and over the last few summers they have invited their friends over to see a bit of the best part of Australia, Tasmania. They have a great time and we get to know our daughter's friends a little better.
We have lots of interesting conversations too. One day, for some elusive reason, we were talking about babies. One of my daughter's friends, had an extremely interesting experience.
During the year she had heard a piece of music that seemed quite familiar to her. She looked up the title but did not recognise it. It wasn't a piece she had played or sung recently, so why was it so familiar? Puzzled, she went to her mother and asked her about it. Her mother recognised the piece immediately! She said that she had played that piece to her when she was pregnant!
People often say that if you sing to your baby before he/she is born they will be soothed by that particular piece or song afterwards, but to actually recognise it as an adult is pretty amazing!
You can find out more about listening to music while pregnant here. And if you are interested in finding out what you can do after your baby's birth, and don't feel too confident to do things yourself, you can check out Kindermusik or similar programs. Read more about how music helps your child's development and download Kindermusik's free research booklets here.
The year was 1969, Robert and Ramona Nichols journeyed to Sellerstown, North Carolina to conduct a series of revival meetings. The close-knit, small community was very welcoming. The current pastor of the local church was officially retired and it wasn't too long before Robert was asked to take on the job. Robert was a very likeable and practical pastor who had time for individuals, often working alongside them, without pressurising them to come to faith.
One man, however, took a dislike to Robert. He didn't like the way Robert was running things, even though the church grew and prospered under his leadership. This person had a lot of control over the church in the past, but with Robert taking over leadership of the church many things were changed and this man found he had little or no influence in church matters any more. This rankled so much that he embarked on a one-man campaign to rid the town of Robert and his family.
The methods chosen were threatening phone calls (often late at night), anonymous letters, bombings and shooting. All these were intended to frighten and intimidate the family to such an extent that they would leave town. Robert was sure of God's call and refused to go unless God told him to. They had expected opposition but nothing like this.
The resulting emotional trauma to Robert, his wife and two children was horrendous. It reminded me of how families in a war zone might feel: constantly on the alert for danger, living on a knife edge, never knowing if you would be safe in your bed, or dead or alive the next day. And yet, despite allthis, the family continually responded with the love of God. Their constant love and forgiveness towards this man was in no way easy, but was demonstrated regularly as they prayed for his salvation, refusing to become bitter or revengeful.
Rebecca, author of the book, is Robert's daughter. She is quite forthright about how the intimidation affected her, her parents and her younger brother. She explains how she finally came to peace, through forgiveness, and the sustaining and enabling power of God, and the wise counsel of other relatives, particularly her Aunt Dot.
About the author Rebecca Nichols Alonzo is a speaker on betrayal and the power of forgiveness. She has been involved in ministry, including a church plant, youth outreach, and missions, for over a decade. She and her husband live in Franklin, Tennessee, with their two children.
Here is a short video which gives a little more background to the book:
8-year-old Elbina in Bangladesh seeks loving individual to be her sponsor. Desires someone to write letters, send photos and be a life-long friend. Can promise letters, love and prayers in return.
No, Compassion assisted children have not resorted to advertising for a sponsor, but they are praying for one.
“My friends at the project write letters to their sponsors regularly; I want to do it too. They show me the reply of their sponsors and also their photos. Their sponsors love them so much. I want to be like the sponsored children. It will be wonderful when I have my sponsor. I am praying daily for a sponsor friend with whom I can have lots of fun.” —Elbina
Compassion Australia currently has 8000 children like Elbina waiting to be sponsored. Unfortunately, many have been waiting up to 12 months for a sponsor and are now each a 'Priority Child'.
Choosing to sponsor a child is more than choosing to give $44 a month toward adequate nutrition, education or healthcare. The foundation of Compassion's work is holistic child development, which means fostering not only the physical development of a child but their spiritual, social and emotional development as well. A sponsor's love and encouragement through letters, monetary gifts and prayer is essential to such development. And that is what choosing to sponsor a child is about: choosing to invest in a relationship that may change a life forever.
Fortunately, little Elbina has found someone to be her 'sponsor friend', but thousands of other children are still waiting ...
Can you help? Click here to sponsor a child today.
We have a little boy living next door who often comes round to find his ball when he throws it over the fence. In fact, he told one of my students that he makes the ball come over so he can get to know the neighbours (us!). His name is Anthony. The other day he came round to get his ball and Bruce, wanting to make the most of having the child minus the parents, inquired as to the parents names:
Bruce: “And what’s your Mum’s name?”
Anthony: “Judy”
Bruce: “Oh I see, and what’s your Dad’s name?”
Anthony: “Grmmmmd” (well Bruce couldn’t understand what he said)
Bruce: “I’m sorry……what’s your father’s name?”
Anthony: “Grmmmmd”
Bruce: “Oh I see…..um……and I have forgotten your name too!”
Anthony: “My name’s Anthony”
By this time Anthony had decided he couldn’t find the ball and was walking off down the driveway. About halfway down he turned and said, “ Oh and if you forget any of our names you just have to come round and knock on our front door and we’ll tell you all of them!”
During the year she had heard a piece of music that seemed quite familiar to her. She looked up the title but did not recognise it. It wasn't a piece she had played or sung recently, so why was it so familiar? Puzzled, she went to her mother and asked her about it. Her mother recognised the piece immediately! She said that she had played that piece to her when she was pregnant!
