Note the Archives are presented chronologically.
Scroll right for iona's E-Mail & Links

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Party On and Praise the Lord!
Sorry, no blog yesterday. We hosted the SCT company Christmas party last evening. I was not sure how I would handle it since I don't usually do well with a lot of  people and stimulation. It seems that since my head injury, the processing speed of my brain is inversely proportional to the speed and amount of input it receives. I prayed about it for days, and then just left it with Jesus... and it worked out well. Even so, by the time it was over I was ready for sleep and probably would not have written anything coherent.

We had everything set out and ready when the food arrived, so everything was completely self-serve,; I didn't have to do a thing. Richard greeted our guests as they arrived, and they arrived a few at a time over about thirty minutes. I visited with one or two at a time and tried to tune out everything else. Although I did "slow down" a bit I don't think anyone noticed, and since I didn't actually have to do anything, it all worked out fine!

Proverbially, company Christmas parties can include overindulgence in alcohol, noisy revelry, questionable language and jokes, etc. and leave the place trashed... well, let me tell you, the folks at this "bash" partied hearty and had a great time! We started the party with a prayer. I never heard any language or story I was uncomfortable with, and although several brought wine and other alcohol, no one drank too much. There was lots of talking (much of it about the Lord!) and plenty of laughter... I love that! And the place was clean when everyone left.  What a gracious group!

Then today after church, which was wonderful as usual, we had 12 family members (some of my brother's kids and their families) over for dinner and gift exchange. Most of this group are believers but not all, so we were able to really present a case for the Gospel. The food turned out well and I was so blessed to have this group all together. I am praying to get together with my other nieces before the end of the year, too.

It's so good to fill the house! We had two parties in two days... and got to witness at both of them. Everyone seemed to have a great time and I believe they all felt welcome and comfortable here. My brain continued to work most of the time, too. Best of all, the Lord was honored in word and deed.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Party Pooped
I guess all the activity of the last several days has caught up with me. I was really tired today and sort of brain dead... just could not think well. I meant to get the house all cleaned after so much company, but ended up doing a dab of this and a little of that and getting nothing really done at all.

Yesterday, when we had family over, I showed them how to make pastry purses, a recipe I adapted from the Food Network. Mine are a bit different in that I use all fresh fruit and make them with various fruits. After our relatives were gone last night, I baked purses to give to our deacons, and we delivered them today when Richard got off work.

I was tired, but it was good to get out. We went on in to Elk Grove and picked up Richard's new cell phone... He had run over his other one. It was almost a hit and run, but when he realized his phone was gone, he turned around and drove back to the house... and there it was, laying half dead in the gutter. Pitiful thing with its little screen all fractured... looked like a monochromatic kaleidoscope.

Our daughter, Kim sent me a Chili's gift card for Christmas, so we used it and I had a nice big juicy rib eye steak. No, I didn't cheat... It wasn't gift wrapped, lol. I thought I would enjoy the steak now (I brought home about half of it) because with the start of 2006 I am going on a sensible diet. I need to put in effect some (or all) of the things I learned at the pre-diabetics class. I'll let you know how that goes... Accountability!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Legal Questions
I am doing my blog early today. I see I forgot to publish yesterday's work. I was really tired. Went to bed about seven and slept 12 hours! I feel good now.

My planner list never got close to finished yesterday, but I didn't have much on for today because I was supposed to talk with a lawyer this afternoon. He cancelled to do a big trial, so maybe by the time of the next appointment, God will have it all worked out and I won't have to see a lawyer after all. I really don't want to!

I am under workmen's comp who have denied further treatment and denied it again when my doctor and case manager asked for reconsideration... then again when I (with help) filed an appeal. Then they sent me papers to sign which I didn't understand. The cover letter said if I had questions to ask my adjuster. So I called... and called... and called! Always got voice mail, never a return call.

Finally, I called and got an operator who connected me with someone who said my adjuster was no longer my adjuster... now, I have been switched ten times! Each new adjuster has to start from square one... and I am no longer getting medical record copies nor do I know to whom I should send my expense claims.

I finally did get to ask two people about the forms I was sent... One said they were needed so they could pay my doctor, which is not the case at all since the form says something about a Medicare Set Aside. The other lady said just to sign them and send them in because they wouldn't send it if it were not needed.

So I signed them and sent them still not knowing what they are about. How stupid is that!? Richard was not pleased. But neither of us understand what our rights are or even the coverage, and we can't get anyone from the comp carrier to explain it to us.

So, why am I writing all this here? Because it is part of my life and I committed to be transparent... also because others may be in similar situations and it may help them. I will keep you informed as things develop.

Ah, "Should Christians use lawyers and the court system?" you may ask. I'll talk about that tomorrow.

On a much brighter note, I have so enjoyed Eva's e-mail and blog. It is great to know they should be in their new home by this afternoon! Keep them in your prayers, they are sure in mine.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Legal Questions for Christians
Yesterday, I posed the question, "Should Christians use lawyers and the court system?" Today, I want to touch on that... very briefly. Jesus is quoted in Matthew 5:25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison." and Luke 12:58 "As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison."

In both quotes about the same scenario, it would seem that the adversary has something against the advisee (hearer or reader of this advice) and settlement is best made prior to judgment. He is talking reconciliation. The gist of it is, we are not to be litigious but seek agreement through Godly compromise. It does not preclude our seeking protection under the law nor citing our rights before the courts as did Paul.

Several times, Paul evokes his rights. For example, we read in Acts 25:10-11 ¹⁰Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

The truth is, when we look at Scripture as a whole, considering the guidelines set down for the Christian (under the New Covenant) we find no mandate against legal recourse. Sadly, I have seen believers harshly judged by other believers as well as the unsaved for resorting to the court system to recover damages, settle child custody or support, etc. I believe in matters such as this, that it would be good for us all to refer to Romans 14.

As for today's events - some most disturbing, some most uplifting, I'll talk about that tomorrow...

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Will the Real Iona Please Stand Up
For the past two days I've been trying to prove I am me. Seems that my address and phone info has been changed on at least two of my credit card accounts. I didn't make that change.

It all started when I stopped receiving statements on these accounts. At first, I was not concerned because they had zero balances and I figured, no activity led to no statement. But we used these cards in October... still no statement. Now, by November, most folks would be checking... I, on the other hand, assumed I had lost the statements (I lose a lot of things)... I figured December statements would show up. Meanwhile I sent a payment in to one along with a letter saying I know I owe this much, giving my account number, address, etc.

Then I began to be concerned. Late fees might be piling up... it looks bad and is bad not to make payments on time, and how could I be sure my payment would be properly credited if accompanied by a letter instead if the payment coupon... I called.

I called over and over. Each time the automated voice asked for my 16 digit account number and my billing zip code. Each time, the same recorded voice would inform me I had the wrong info. Frustrating!!! Finally, I called but didn't respond to the zip code and was given options by the mechanical voice, if you want this, press 2  or that, press 3, etc. None of the options matched my problem. I tried punching zero...

I got a real person! I told her of my plight and she wanted to know all sorts of personal info, some I had no idea they even knew! My head injured brain began to bog down. I was getting the answers mixed up. She, no doubt, was then convinced I was bogus, and transferred me to another person who said "We are having trouble with our phone lines, please call back in thirty minutes."

I called back... all afternoon. Never again was I able to reach a real person! The whole matter is more than frustrating! But it got me thinking... I always get straight through to my Lord, and He has power over all. Not only that, He knows exactly who I am... more than even I do!

Perhaps the reason I have been unable to get through to a real person is that my own frustration with the matter was so great I let it become my primary focus, masking my faith in Christ, thereby dampening my ability to reflect His love and His light to others. I am a child of God and my conversation should reflect Him in all circumstances... I doubt it did when I was trying to convince the credit worker I was me.

Last night, in Bible Study, we spoke of evangelism... one of my passions. I think all believers have a call to be evangelists. No, not all are following in Billy Graham's footsteps, but we are a missionaries to the people around us. We may evangelize with our words, but the life we live and deeds we do may present an even more effective Gospel message. Folks may not choose to hear our words if they don't mesh with our deeds.

I was especially blessed with the fellowship and teachings of last night. Today, I will call Capitol One again... but this time with the knowledge that there is a reason I speak to that particular person (God already knows) and the reason has nothing to do with credit cards. With God's help, I will be gracious and patient and somehow, when He presents the opportunity, I will speak of Jesus' love.

To be continued...

Friday, December 23, 2005

Going World Wide
Well, as we with leaky brains are wont to do, I have been off on a rabbit trail all day. I've been learning some of the wonderful things that can be done with blogs. In doing so, I had a mishap or two... I prefer to think of them as learning experiences.

I am more convinced than ever that blogs are the next big breakthrough on the internet. Their potential to categorize and reach mutual interest groups is growing boundlessly. What an amazing tool for the Gospel. Below are today's entries using blogger which publishes to a page on ionanet as I learn so as not to "damage" anything here. Pages can be hosted free on Blogger, but I prefer more control.

The system at blogger allows for comments after each post, sets up and automatically updates the archives, etc. Plus you can syndicate your blog... excellent idea. blogger is owned and operated by Goooogle, a name I trust to be around for a while... but if they aren't, I have all my blogs safely stored on my own server.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Saturday, December 24, 2005

See Archives 19 for Previous | Future Archives are linked from main blog Pages
Blog Archives Home

Author: Iona Hoeppner | Copyright © 2005 | All rights reserved
Revised: Monday September 01, 2008