deeper still

'Technically', Rene is the masculine form of the name. The feminine form is spelled Renee and if you want to more French, you can add an acute accent to the first e after the n.  So, it can be masculine or feminine.

Men named Rene:

• One of the men who raised the flag over Iwo Jimo during WW2 was named Rene Gagnon, an Amercian of French Canadian extraction. source
  
• the philosopher Rene Descartes source
  
• René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle (November 22, 1643 – March 19, 1687) was a French Explorer. He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. La Salle claimed the entire Mississippi basin for France. source
• Rene Onate - In 2006: (Freshman) Played in three matches...took three shots...named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. In 2005: Red-shirted the 2005 season. source
• René Angélil (born January 16, 1942...) He is the husband and manager of singer Céline Dion. source
• Stephen René Black - He is the Executive Director of First Stone Ministries, a Christian ministry to men and women seeking freedom from homosexuality, sexual and pornography addiction, etc.
  

I usually have difficulty completely enjoying myself at an Exodus conference.  I never really knew why until this week.  My lack of appreciation for forming new relationships based on our common brokenness, my fear of misrepresenting myself to others and my frustration with some workshops that don't appeal to my need for pertinent information all combine in different ways to push me into the usual role of silence and withdrawal.

Not this year!  Coming to the conference, I was well aware of my possibly being attracted to someone--how would I handle this, would I be oppressed by it all week, would I be able to submit this to God quickly enough to enjoy my time here?  I have had those times here.  We are all attracted to various people; it is common to man.  I took my thoughts captive to obedience of God's Word and received prayer and the power of the attraction lost it's power!

In addition to this, I asked Jesus how I would deal with these attractions and fears.  His reply was both firm and loving, "You have to press through and fellowship with those around you."

I found myself at times reverting to sitting alone or just sitting by old friends for my own comfort's sake.  However, Jesus has been faithful to remind me of this and His direction for me.  So both at the cafeteria and in workshops and on the way to places, I am starting conversations with new people.  Some of them have been more trying for me but all have been good for my soul.

I am grateful for God's faithfulness to me!

My ride across Oklahoma from Marietta, OK to Caldwell, KS officially begins Sunday, June 8th.  We'll arrive on Saturday to register, get instructions for the week then head out for a short 30-mile round trip to the Red River and back.  The total trek is over 400 miles averaging 60 miles per day!

bicycle riding

I'm getting more and more excited about this ride!  I've never been physically active all my life and getting on a bicycle has proven to be so much fun  so the benefit of cardio activity has been a major plus for me!

I've been bold enough to ask for sponsorship for this ride;it's been an expensive undertaking for me.  I live on limited income as I'm a full-time servant of Jesus.  From my friends, I have received $335 to date; however, I am overwhelmed by the cost to prepare for such an event so I'm making a 2nd plea for sponsorship.  

I'm estimating that I'll need about $25 per day for food.  I already have a strict diet so I will not be able to eat all that's provided at the meals so I am bringing some snacks of my own to supplement my carb intake.  Twenty-five dollars x 8 days = $200.  That is the last amount I'd like to raise.

Donations may be sent:

• via PayPal to joseph@firststone.org
• via postal mail to Joseph Thiessen (must request address privately)

My friend sends me all kinds of links to videos and fun stuff.  This one is particularly cool!

This is a prank on a "grand" scale.  Over 200 people gathered at Grand Central Station in New York to pull off a 'frozen in place' act.  The onlooking travelers who weren't part of the act were mystified as to what was going on.

Watch Video

Introduction
At least two months ago, I became very aware of the number eleven.  I would primarily notice them on my digital clock  and multiples of eleven on my odometer.  While I did notice and pay attention to them, I was cautious about trying to determine what it might mean, but the number kept coming to me so often I began asking around.

A friend told me it could mean transition (between relationships), intercession/prayer.  Down the road the obvious explanation came to be that this is the 11th hour or the last moment when change is possible.  Several nights I would wake up in the middle of the night, look at the clock and see that it was eleven after the hour.  This past Wednesday morning I awoke from a dream where I know God was speaking to me (I'll get to that in a moment) upon waking up I looked at the clock, it was 3:11.  He had my attention and 3 days later, He still does.

The Dream
I was standing outside a large indoor arena's inner entrance when I heard Misty Edwards' playing one of her best songs--the music filled the arena.  I yelled out, "They're playing Misty's best song.  Let's get in there now!"

The arena was filled with people.  In the stands and on the floor; it was a large gathering.  On the floor near the stage was a piano and worship equipment.  As I approached front and center, I saw a couple of people I'd call dear friends sitting near the piano; one was talking on and on to the other even after the meeting was called into session.  The one was so familiar with meetings that no regard was given for the speaker's urgent plea.  It didn't seem good.  When the meeting begun, I looked to the stage to see my father standing there!  He was calling the meeting to fervent prayer.

From behind me came a woman from my parent's extended family.  She approached me and with great anger and bitterness she complained that she came to hear a certain worship leader play.  Her feelings were intense!  She said her piece and another person was coming from another section to do the same.

The Interpretation
Immediately apparent was that this is a call to prayer.  Some of my favorite songs by Misty Edwards are concerning our beauty before a loving and merciful God.  I believe this is a very serious call to fervent prayer while maintaining the posture of being fully loved by God!

Also vivid is the coming apostasy where church people are faced with God's people's seriousness toward their Creator in being obedient to Him at all cost.  They will want church as usual: nice music, a good message and life on their terms.  If I'm honest, I tend toward that end, but I want what He wants... Change my heart oh God!

The musician was not on stage attending his instrument.  The instruments were among the people.

As I write and think about the dream, now three days later, I realize that my dad being on stage can (and should be) likened to my heavenly Father.  God is calling His church to pray because the hour is serious.

I called my dad that morning and told him about my dream.  It resonated with him as well.  He reminded me of the scriptures that God had given to him last July 4th, 2007 (version is NASB):

Hebrews 11:7 source
By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Proverbs 22:3 source
The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it.

Philippians 2:12-13 source
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 6:2b source
for He says,
"AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
 AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU."
 Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"--

Psalm 91:1-2, 14-16 source
He who dwells in the shelter [secret place] of the Most High
    Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
    My God, in whom I trust!"

Because [you have] loved Me, therefore I will deliver [you];
    I will set [you]securely on high, because [you have] known My name.
"[You] will call upon Me, and I will answer [you];
    I will be with [you] in trouble;
    I will rescue [you] and honor [you].
"With a long life I will satisfy [you]
    And let [you] see My salvation."

Psalm 20:1 source
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
    May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!

Hebrews 2:1 source
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

Ezekiel 33:1-7 source
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

"Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, 'If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman,

and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people,

then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

'He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.

'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'

"Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me.

Final Thoughts
As I reviewed the scriptures God gave my dad, the Lord added to my understanding about a scripture He gave me last fall (2007) from the Song of Songs.

Song of Songs 2:14 source
"O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
    In the secret place of the steep pathway,
    Let me see your form,
    Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is sweet,
    And your form is lovely."

My first reading of this became a challenge to leave my place of spiritual seclusion and join in the life and disclosure with my church community rather than secluding myself away in silence; however, I was not far off.  Just this week the Holy Spirit opened my mind even further.  The Lord wants me to know that He enjoys what I say and how I say it!  Not only that but He wants me to be more vocal with him.  I think this dovetails my previous comment on this scripture; Be more courageous in prayer with the Body around me!

Lastly, I do not want to minimize the importance of the dream and what God spoke to my dad.  I believe it is a call to prayer.  I believe God is presently calling us to humble ourselves, to pray and seek His face.  To repent and ask for His mercy is relevant here.  Our world needs His mercy.  Scripturally, His kids are to seek His help for these matters.

I pray His words will burn in your heart and you will respond to Him in this final hour!

My Side of the Mountain

My Side of the Mountain Trilogy (My Side of the Mountain / On the Far Side of the Mountain / Frightf

Jean Craighead George

Text Link

Allows URL texts written in webpages to be loaded by double clicks.

Without this extension, when you discover an URL text not linked, like "http://piro.sakura.ne.jp/", you have to do following steps to load the page:

1. Select the URI text completely. (It may be a hard work if the page is rendered with a propotional font. This operation always chafes me.)
2. Copy it. (press "Ctrl-C" or use "Copy" from the "Edit" menu)
3. Paste it to the location bar.
4. Press "Enter". Then, Firefox loads it.

OR

1. Select the URL text completely. (It chafes me again!)
2. Drag the selection string to the tab bar and drop it. Then, Firefox loads it.

Double-click on the URL text. Then, Firefox loads it. I'm happy.