Coming soon near you

I haven't done much with this recently, mainly because my computer has been rather tempermental. Actually, I think it's my dial-up. Anyway, my wonderful son-in-law and his beautiful and wonderful wife (Kay) are giving us a much appreciated gift for Christmas. Cable hook-up or something similar so I can actually download something in less than 5 minutes. I get so frustrated. Hubby would probably appreciate more channels to investigate.

I've apparently stirred up some interest in nursing homes through some of my posts. I have been involved in nursing home ministry and visitation for almost 35 years (and have actually worked in nursing homes for 10 years), so I feel I can give some good pointers if anyone is interested. I hope to do that as soon as I have a more dependable set-up. I say that because sometimes I get kicked off the internet without warning. oh no, it ...................................

A Peculiar Blessing

Our church choir performed at one of the local nursing homes last night. I was afraid it would be put off until too late, but it happened! The choir dressed in black skirts/pants and white tops. They looked very nice. I noticed most of them didn't mingle a whole lot with the residents. Some did and the pastor carried his grandson around and his little grandaughters wandered around among the people. I went around inviting people, though the staff did a wonderful job of getting the residents to the dining room. There was a lady I had never met. I tried to converse with her but I couldn't understand her. I asked a nurse about her and she apparently had invited her and the lady was going to come after she changed her dress. I found out the lady is blind and deaf, and doesn't have the use of her right hand. She can see shadows so can see signing if there is a bright light and a shadow. I placed her as close to the music as possible because they said she feels the vibrations. She was signing with her left hand, swaying to the music, and smiling her face off. Apparently she was feeling the vibrations and enjoying herself. I have no idea what she was signing but she certainly was pointing toward Heaven frequently and then pointing to her heart. What a blessing that was to all of us.

'Tis the Season

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but...... Why do people and organizations flock to the nursing homes during the Christmas season, and neglect them the rest of the year? Why don't youth groups go "caroling" up and down the hallways all year round, instead of just during December? Why don't church chorales go sing in July? Why is it so hard for people to go to nursing homes? Are they fearful of getting old, handicapped, senile? Are they reminded that they too will grow old and die someday? When our church started a nursing home ministry about 34 years ago, we had to wait to get a Sunday afternoon anywhere. We eventually got Sunday afternoon at four different facilities. There were so many churches doing the ministry that we had to wait to get those days. Now, some nursing homes in our town have maybe one or two churches coming. Yes, it is a hard ministry, and, yes, people don't shout AMEN and reaffirm the preaching, but they are listening, and they might be lost, and they need people to care that they are one step from eternity. My verse is Jer. 8:20 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." A friend of mine has a Bible study at a N.H. She has been praying for this one elderly lady for two years. A week or so ago that lady accepted Christ, at the age of 97! God is good.