Tag Archives: The 70’s

‘Jesus Revolution’

 

I mentioned ‘Jesus Revolution’ in a post a while back. Living in Southern California in the early 70’s there was no way to miss the buzz of what was going on and how the movement started amongst ‘hippies’ and others. I was not a hippy but I was a young believer (I wore bell-bottoms) and the noise attracted me. I wanted to see what it was all about.

Jesus was NOT a hippie. He was NOT a rebel. He obeyed His Father and did all that His Father asked Him to do, even dying on a cross.

Being born again comes with responsibility and at the point of your repentance and regeneration you are justified, yes, but you are also sanctified and continue to be sanctified. You know Jesus is Lord and you are His follower. I didn’t grow in this movement. I enjoyed some of the experience but I couldn’t stay there and I didn’t stay there. I had to find solid teaching (meat) for my journey.

I am not denying that some come to a saving faith during these movements but for continued growth and stability solid Biblical teaching is necessary. You don’t want to be in a constant ‘tossing about by every wind of doctrine’.

It’s not about just who you are it’s about what Jesus did for you and how He can change you to become more like Him.

God can and will save you but He won’t leave you as you are.

From Alistair Begg, Truth for Life (March 10, 2023):

Whatever your preferred terminology, this much is always true: the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ isn’t simply a free pass that excuses us to do as we please. No, the gospel calls us and empowers us to do what pleases the Lord. The key is that the gospel always turns us back to Jesus. As you look to Christ for your righteousness, He will enable you to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” and strengthen you to run the unique race God has set out for you (Hebrews 12:1-2). So today, be sure not to trust in your righteous living to earn you salvation or blessing from the Lord. But equally, be sure not to make the mistake of allowing your salvation to tempt you to be half-hearted in your pursuit of righteous living. You have been made righteous; now go and live righteously.

(I wrote this post in 2023 and never published it so I’m publishing it now)

Look Up Hodgepodge

January at our house is national birthday month! Both our sons were born in January and our daughter-in-law, Jamie was also born in January. Our boys are 2 years apart. Our daughter’s due date was in January but she decided to come early and claim December as her birthday month! She shares December with our daughter-in-law, Laura. Addy shares March with me, her Baba. Dear stands alone in September so far and Andrew is our April son-in-law. Time will tell if we add more members of our family to the calendar and where they will land.

1. January is National Mentoring Month. Have you ever had a mentor? Been a mentor? How would you rate the experience?

Yes. When I was a Junior in high school a Senior took me under her wing to encourage me in following Jesus. When my husband and I were freshly married and attending a church in Huntington Beach the assistant pastor mentored us in a discipleship class which was very helpful. I’d rate both those experiences as a 10. I did some mentoring of a young lady in the alternative education system and I can’t say if it made a difference. My other mentoring experiences were in a group setting, not one on one. I’m never really comfortable in these roles.

2. What current trend makes no sense to you?

Tattooing your whole body. Oh, and ear gauges and body piercing.

3. I saw a cartoon on facebook highlighting a few ‘weird’ things that make you happy as an adult. The list included-writing with a nice pen, having plans cancelled, freshly cleaned sheets, eating the corner brownie, cleaning the dryer lint screen, and sipping coffee in that brief time before anyone else wakes up. Of the ‘weird’ things listed which one makes you happiest? What is one more ‘weird’ thing you’d add to the list?

I do enjoy freshly cleaned sheets. Now if someone would wash them and put them back on the bed for me I’d even enjoy them more. Thanks for the inspiration as I got up after typing this and my sheets are in the wash. I’m sure I was happy when I laid down on Tuesday night.

The one more weird thing I’d add to the list is mowing the lawn, a fresh mowed lawn makes me happy.

4. What’s the last good thing you ate?

Leftover Costco Rotisserie Chicken on top of roasted vegetables (bell pepper, zucchini, onion, broccoli, beets, asparagus). I roasted the leftover veggies from our daughter’s Raclette party then with ten minutes left I threw on the leftover chicken to heat up on top of the roasted veggies. It was delicious.

I have a different kind of salsa posted today over at the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog. Click over to see it.

5. Describe life in your 20’s in one sentence.

A whirlwind of life changing experiences with traveling and singing in the midst of becoming a college graduate, teacher, wife, homeowner and mother.

Photos in the collage are from left to right: Cornwall coast; college graduation; Russian Youth Choir; Best friend and me at the White House; Our firstborn and me; My first car that required a loan; Dear and me engaged; Our wedding day; my first class; roadtrip stop in Chicago in 1976; Our second born with Dear; Our Christian Rock band performing in England. (I’m in the checked long dress beside Dear)

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My twenties were in the seventies and they were shaped and influenced by the Jesus Movement in Southern California. Calvary Chapel, the little country church on the edge of town, and the Maranatha Singers made quite a statement in the seventies. This was also when the New American Standard Bible was first published and I bought my first copy which was hard bound. It eventually replaced my King James New Scofield Reference edition. I’ve added a few more Bibles to my library including an ESV and a New King James Version. Here’s a worship song from the Maranatha Singers from the seventies. It was hard to pick just one. I listened to several on YouTube and it “took me back” but that’s another song by another artist. Okay, I’ll share a verse from Andrae Crouch’s song, Take Me Back, too. Andrae Crouch died on January 8, 2015.

Take me back, take me back dear Lord
To the place where I first received you.
Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I
First believed.

 

A sincere thank you to Joyce From This Side of the Pond for supplying the questions each week for Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Graduations

For my Flashback this week I’m posting my graduation photos from Junior High, High School, College (mine and my sister Kathy’s) and my youngest siblings’ Kindergarten graduation.

Junior HighA formal graduation ceremony from Montebello Junior High. My opinion these days is that this was a little over kill. New dresses for the girls and suits for the guys. I wonder how much money each family had to invest? The photo of me and my dad got a little chewed up. The other photos are me with my little maternal grandmother. Me, my mom and my cousin once removed. Here’s a photo of my junior high school that has since been demolished.

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High School scannedMontebello High School graduation in June of 1968. I think it’s appropriate to have a ceremony for this accomplishment. Again I have a photo with my little maternal grandmother. She really was a dear lady!

Junior High1The photo on the right was taken in the front yard of our home in Montebello. The Volkswagon in the driveway belonged to my brother.

 

img400My brother Fred and me at my sister Kathy’s graduation from Cal State L.A.

Pictures15These are photos from my graduation from Cal-State L.A. My brother Fred graduated the same time as I did. That’s him and me on the right. Dear and me on the left.

img397Aren’t they cute? They are twins, Leonard and Lana, our youngest siblings.

img398I decided to throw this next photo in, too, since it’s in the same time period as the others.

img399We went out to Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour to celebrate the twins. I’m guessing this is for their 6th birthday. So much fun for all of us. Did you ever eat at Farrell’s? We drove miles to go to the first Farrell’s in California.

Our snow is practically all washed away this morning. The rain has been falling hard and steady so it’s a slushy mess out there. I do hope it lightens up for tomorrow as I’ll be traveling up across the line to Abbotsford for a special time with most of the “girls”. How’s your Monday shaping up?

Happy Family Day to our Canadian neighbors to the North! Enjoy your day off!