My husband sent this email out to friends and family. I thought I’d share it here.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (Meaning “God with us”). Isaiah 7:14

Dear Friends and Family,

I bring you good greetings in the way and name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on this day we commemorate God became a man; And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

This day is not a day about giving or family. This day is not about a baby in a manger or of wise men and silent nights. This is a day about God becoming a man to save us from our sins. Yes, our sins. What will you do with this Savior? This is a day about the eternal gospel found in Revelations 14:6-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment (deciding between) has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” This is a day we say: ” Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips (sinner), And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5 This is a day when we must consider the words of John the Baptist: The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance (Change direction) for the forgiveness of sins; (Luke 3) And also: “Repent (Change direction), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Matthew 3:2 And: The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 This is a day we consider the words of the apostle Paul; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Romans 3:23 And “For the wages (earned payment) of sin (Rebellion against God) is death (Wrath of God), but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus(Lamb of God) our Lord.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 What will you do with Jesus Christ Crucified, Resurrected and Glorified… today?

God Said:

“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me (Moses) to teach you… Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! ” You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6

… He (Jesus) took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem… a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” Luke 9:28ff

Jesus Said:

“THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:16-17

He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.” Matthew 13:31-32

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:44-50

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, `Look, here it is!’ or, `There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Jesus IS the Kingdom of God) Luke 17:20-21

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. Matthew 16:24-27

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

What would you give for the Kingdom of God?

As John the Baptist said: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; Matt 3:7-8

With all love and sincerity,

Dennis & Ruth and Family

Tags: Bible Truths, Dennis, Family, selflessness

My daughter, Anne (pronounced Annie), has toiled over a very long post, which includes many pictures of our family’s first hunting trip of the year. There will be another soon.

Click on the link below and enjoy! Don’t forget to view the video of the moose!

http://www.allanne.com/hunting-2008-part-one

Tags: Anne, Ben, Bethy, Dennis, Elle, Emily, Eric, Family, hunting, Joe, Katie, Photos, Vehicles

In lieu of our 24th wedding Anniversary, I thought I’d share something my husband wrote a few years ago.

Once upon a time, there was a mighty King who had dominion over a vast estate. This King was most terrible and handsome and had little need for armor in battle, because of his great strength and strength of his purpose.

As time went by, he became lonely. He realized he needed a companion. The Great King reviewed all the creatures of his estate and while he tried out different creatures for a companion, none were found to be adequate. While he was in this miserable condition, the Emperor beyond the sea, beyond the mountains, beyond space and time, who made the Great King, saw the sadness of the great king and decided to make a companion of the truest metal that could be found. Not hammered from dirt and steel as he did with the King, but fashioned and shaped from precise ingredients. The Emperor caused the Great King to fall into a deep sleep. Once the king was asleep, the Emperor reached across space and time, mountain and seas, and pierced the great king’s solid breast and brought from it a single rib and attached to this singe rib, was soft tissue from the inside of the Great King’s steel breast. From this soft tissue, the Emperor fashioned a queen, a high queen. Beautiful in form, ingenious in functionality, endowed with intelligence equal to the Great King, but soft to the touch, to compliment the Great King’s strength and mass.

Time passed and the Great King awoke from his deep sleep. Lying on his back, he stared into the sky and felt his great loneliness; he also felt an ache in his side. He now knew the ache of loneliness. The Great King arose from his repose and went to his house. As he approached, all the creatures were lined before him, watching with knowing looks, and hidden smiles upon their faces. But because of the ache of loneliness of a true companion, the great king did not notice. As the great king entered his hall, the creatures crowded after him so that all could see as he entered his throne room. And there, to the right of his throne, stood a creature so fair, so beautiful of form, with a look of high intelligence in her eyes. She looked to be chiseled from stone, but no, this was no stone, this was much softer, and from the area in his great breast, where there was once the ache of loneliness, his heart gave a great leap. And from beyond time and space, from beyond the mountains and seas, came the voice of the Emperor to the Great King.

“I knew your loneliness, because I understand it. And from your breast I took a rib and fashioned for you a Queen. But as I tore the rib loose, with it came a piece of your heart. And because the Queen I made for you were made of softer stuff, that piece of heart grew. And because your Queen’s breast does not have the strength out of sinews, as yours does, her heart has grown large, and with it, she feels deeply and understands. She understands love, compassion, and care. She sees beyond the exterior and instinctly looks to your heart. My son, love her, understand her, protect her. Cherish her, hold her in high esteem, and seek her best. Although you are her king, she is not your servant. And although you are her king, she is your equal. I have already charged her to love you and obey you; to be dignified, quiet, and respectful. She has a full share in my kingdom beyond the sea, beyond the mountains, beyond time and space, for all eternity. And to this I will hold you account.”

And when the Emperor, the great king’s father, had left, the queen came before him and knelt with her face looking to his feet. The great king reached down with his battle-scarred hand, hands that had done great things, and within it, the power to do great things, he gently, lightly, touched the new Queen’s chin and gently lifted it until he could see into her eyes. He saw the love and adoration shining in her eyes and then she spoke aloud in a quiet, beautiful voice.

“My lord, my king, command me.” And with wonder and pride on his face, the Great King, before all the creatures, rose her up and said, “You are my Queen. Stand beside me.” And as they turned to face the creatures, he put his arm around her, and he realized the ache and the loneliness was gone. And because she stood beside him, he was now made whole and complete: And better than that, what was missing from him had grown more in his Queen than it could contain in his breast of steel. The creatures, for their part, were struck with awe. For their King, who before this was quite noble, now looked satisfied and complete; and if it were possible, even more noble.

And the Great King and his Queen went out, and ruled with steel and velvet and the Great King never tired of learning the complex nature and character of his Queen. For this he knew, his Queen was not a conquest to be won easily, but a companion to be won again and again.

By Dennis McLean, 2002

Tags: Dennis, marriage

Okay, my title isn’t exactly like the oldies song, but good enough for today! Yup! Today is my Birthday. That means a free Blizzard from DQ and a free scoop from Baskin Robbins!

Ice cream does have a warm place in my heart. I don’t know. Is that possible? Sounds obscure.

I thought I’d share with you something my husband, Dennis, wrote for me when I turned 40. Since that was such a lonnnng time ago, and since it was only posted on my forum, not on my blog, I thought I’d share it with you here today.

A Paean to Honor Ruth on Her 40th Birthday

Proverbs 31:10a
An excellent wife, who can find?

I have! Her name is Ruth.

Proverbs 31:10b-12

For Ruth’s worth is far above jewels. My heart trusts in her, And I have no lack. She does me good and not evil All the days of her life.

1Timothy 2:9-10
Ruth adorns herself in proper clothing, modestly and discreetly. Her intimacies are reserved for me. While there are many women who stand around pretty naked, her fashion statement is to adorn herself with good works as all women of Godliness do; and with these, she is well covered.

Genesis 2:14-15, 3:6
My beloved has eschewed the way of Eve and has taken the path of righteousness founded by God. She hotly pursues His plans for her and her family so that she appears to the world and to the worldly as strange and different, even weird. Culture is rushing to destruction with its pleasures and entertainments, it’s acceptances and peer pressures, it’s self importance and self plans; with this she has no identification. In fact she has cast those aside as the used, objects of disgust they are! Her identification is with God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Her desire is pleasing Him. She serves her family and friends because she loves to please Jesus.

Titus 2:3-5
Today is Ruth’s 40th birthday. As she has matured she has become more beautiful because her outward beauty is a product of her inward radiant character. Many women have endeavored to perpetuate and prop up their fading youth… and it’s foolishness’. Ruth, far beyond her years, has abandoned the foolishness of youth and has embraced wisdom and righteousness and sanctified herself to God and has become the older woman to those who are senior to her in years. Daughters, I implore you, listen to her and learn from her. She will point you to the Savior. She will talk about and demonstrate what pleases Him. My testimony is true. I am a witness.

1Corinthians 7:3-5
My wife, my beloved, my Ruth, cares for all of my needs, with liberality. She don’t ask for nor does she hint at concessions. She does not act as a sacrifice or a noble Joan of Arch, rather, Ruth acts in selfless love because it is her pleasure to give me pleasure. I smile to myself when I hear the men at work complain about their wives… I have nothing to complain about, but I have much to brag about. (not unseemly topics, I just keep that wide grin private!)

Philippians 3:17
Be imitators of Ruth as she is of Christ! She wants nothing more than for Him to be glorified in her and in you. She glorifies Him in what pleases Him; obedience to His commands. When she gave up identification with the world and with the worldly she looked to, and still looks, to the Lord God for her value and for the things He values because the world does not understand what is truly valuable.

(They choose filth and say truth is relative!)

2Timothy 3:12, 1John 2:29-3:1
Ruth has taken up her cross to follow in His steps, so the world and the worldly despise her. What the world does not understand is what they despise in Ruth is Jesus. For her part, she loves and ministers to her enemies because Jesus loves her enemies. She encourages and strengthens the weak because Jesus loves the weak. She stands with and encourages the strong, because Jesus is the inspiration and strength of the strong. Truth is always on her lips, because Jesus is truth! AMEN!

A 40 year old woman, today in my bed I’ve found,
Wisdom and righteousness have been perpetually her crown.

Wisdom before youth is much to be preferred,
She is your example, you can, and should, all be as her.

As she ages her beauty becomes ever greater,
Even though her skin may shrivel, just like an old tomater.

Joking aside, men of the earth would be grateful,
If their wives were like her, if even just a cupful.

Sarah’s daughter is Ruth, Abraham and I are both wealthy,
Of this she’s been accused, charged and praise God, righteously guilty.

A Venus I have in Ruth, for she sets the pace,
When most the women ’round, haven’t even started the race!

Made for my side, She is my helpmeet,
The two become one, and now we are complete.

Proverbs 31:25-29
Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; and I Her husband also praise her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you, Ruth, excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Song of Solomon 2:2
“Like a lily among the thorns, So is my Ruth among the maidens.”

Happy Birthday Ruth
Thank you for being a woman beyond all compare.
With all my Love,
Dennis

My favorite line is, “As she ages her beauty becomes ever greater, Even though her skin may shrivel, just like an old tomater.” Thanks for letting me share!

Have a great day as you serve your family!

Tags: Birthday, Dennis, Family, Mama

A few photos from this past week (Recognize anyone?)

Tags: Abby, Anne, Ben, Dennis, Elle, Emily, Family, hospitality, Jay, Joe, Katie, Photos, Rase