How's Your Hearing?

"If we do not listen to God's Word and really HEAR it, we will start to DRIFT.
Neglect always leads to drifting, in things material and physical as well as spiritual.
As we drift from the Word, we start to DOUBT the Word, because FAITH comes by hearing the Word of God. We start to get hard hearts, and this leads to spiritual sluggishness, which produces DULLNESS toward the Word. We become "dull of hearing" --- lazy listeners! This leads to a DESPITEFUL attitude toward the Word to the extent that we willfully DISOBEY God, and this gradually develops into a DEFIANT attitude --- we almost "dare" God to do anything!

Excerpt from "Be Confident" Live by Faith, Not by Sight commentary by Warren Wiersbe

SignificantForm Studio

I know I said I wouldn't be posting for awhile, but my holidays are not as crazy as they usually are (praise God!!). Anyway, I recently launched my studio website and wanted to share. Enjoy and visit it often :)

www.significantformstudio.com

A Dulin Update - And Last Post (for awhile)

Happy day-after-Thanksgiving!  We had a lovely QUIET day with Danny, Lauren and me. We did not have to travel. We didn't even cook. Yeah, I ordered the turkey dinner from Harris Teeter. Ordered it from the wrong Harris Teeter and had a moment of "Oh, no....." when I went to pick it up. Anyway, I DID make my yummy cornbread and chesnut dressing. It was so relaxing. NO STRESS! And there was a lot to be thankful for. Early that morning, Danny and I had devotions together and reviewed how much our lives have changed in the last year. Again, lots to be thankful and praise God for.

Well, keeping up with the blog has proved to be low on my priority due to lack of time. Life for us is on a constant ..... what's the word?.... We are in a constant state of experiencing life :)  Our lives are so full ---- full of many good things and it bums me out that I don't have time to record it for myself (not so much for any of you!!! :P )

So here is one last post for awhile......

THE BITTY. (1996-2011). Well, we had reached our limit. She was losing lots of weight and continuing to urinate in places not designated as "catbox" and we just could not deal with her smelling up our house any longer. In the end she was confined to the basement, but mostly to the storage room. What kind of life is that?

Danny bravely made the decision to put her down (last week) and after feeling the relief of finally being rid of her, I am a little sad. I will never get another cat. And I am more happy she is gone than not simply because she had pushed us to our limit and that was 2 years ago and yet I kept hoping she would change her ways. She was a great cat for the first 10 years of her life. But then she was a serious and expensive burden and ...... ahhhhh..... after serious bleaching and cleaning, the basement smells clean! 

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LAUREN turned 20 on November 19. I don't even know what to say, except that every year I am in a state of shock that she is this old. I told her, "Welcome to your 3rd decade." Again, I am so freaked out that I've been a mother for 20 years. Oh... to redo so many of those years. But a post for another time (as if).

She chose to come home for the weekend. We had fun family time, sushi Friday night, birthday brunch on Saturday, and then she had a poetry slam in Durham that night. We went to the slam and she was awesome! If you've never been to a poetry slam, its a ton of fun. Of course you have to be forewarned about the content you might hear. But the Dulins love the arts and love to show our support of it in our community.

Lauren performed a clever and witty poem about her period. Many of you ladies out there, would have appreciated it :)  She has grown a tremendous amount as a poetry performer, but was no match for a seasoned group of more mature women who have been doing this for years. So, it was a huge step out of her comfort zone to perform in this venue and we could not have been more proud of her.

She is a completely different woman then I was at 20 and yet there ARE similarities. I'm not the mother I should've, could've, wish I'd be and she is not the daughter I expected her to be. I am grateful and ultimately, she is exactly who God has created her to be and He in His strange sovereignty gave Lauren ME to be her mom.

BTW, Michael turns 20 December 11 so Danny will have his moment of "I can't believe my son is no longer a teenager" moment....

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DANNY continues to focus most of his time on his studies with his seminary class. He is doing well .... A's left and right on exams and papers! Good job Dulin! He has been very disciplined in reading and regurgitating what he's reading to me. I've (we've) decided John Calvin and Martin Luther were lunatics. Who knew!! But we will still keep some of their theology they developed :)

He has one last exam early December and then will be finished. He will take another class in the spring, possibly 2 classes. But he's still making plans to take us back to Guatemala...... Aye caramba!

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JASPER continues to grow. Grow on my nerves too. I like to look into his pretty little eyes and say, "You are such a good boy! Except for when YOU ARE NOT!"
He is seriously looking more like a dog and less like a puppy. He has not destroyed anything in the house except for every single one of his toys. That dog can chew through ANYTHING made for dogs. And momma don't buy cheap dog toys! He is also a serious snorer. He snores louder than Danny.

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And JACQUELINE. My husband decided that my painting was important. He decided that I deserved a studio of my own and one where I could take Jasper and he could hang out in to study while I painted. So, I moved out of the first little studio I was suppose to share with the other artist and am now in a space we have affectionately called "Our city pad."

I am painting full-time. There are days I spend 8+ hours there. Someone pinch me because I'm sure my husband might be misguided and figure out I have done nothing to deserve this. But as my sweet friend wisely said, "We don't do anything to deserve God's blessing. We are blessed because of Him, not because of us."

I have spent my entire life putting my art last, or being grateful for the other ways God has provided for me regarding a creative outlet like my design career and work in museums. Life just isn't fair. Its not fair I have the husband of my dreams who has given me the studio of my dreams. How wonderful, wonderful life isn't fair and that God is the one in control.

We eat meals there, we make coffee there, we are becoming a part of this downtown community in the heart of the city because of it. Artists, they are a special group. (Do I hear an "Amen!" from my fellow artists friends in Bowen Island?). My prayer is our (yes, its Danny's too) studio and my art will be more than just about me. God has blessed me, how will I be obedient and intentional about blessing others with all this? I confess, I have no idea what that looks like.

I won't be completely silent. (We know that is not possible!) I will be here now and then. Please continue to keep in touch via email.  Jakwalin@gmail.com

I'm at 22 Glenwood Ave, Studio #8. Its SignificantForm Studio. Stop by... :)

Here are pics of the studio

Guatemala Trip :: Part 2 :: The Video

One of our team mates, Stewart is a professional photographer/videographer. It was his job to do just that. I was often taking pictures of him because he was never in the pics and I would say, "Trust me, your wife will thank me later!"

Here is a video Stewart put together for Barcroft Bible. For those of you McLean people, guess which one is Rachel Miller (Brijet's daughter)!

Click here to see video (about 5 min -- takes a little time to load)

Guatemala Trip :: Part 1

Sunday morning before church.

We arrived home last Saturday around 7 pm. After finally settling in, we laid in bed staring up at our ceiling fan.

"I can't believe this morning we were just in Guatemala," Danny remarked mournfully. He was not ready to come home.

I did not want to leave Guatemala, but I did want home.

"I think we should go back in April for a month," he said hopeful.

"Of course you do," I thought. And next time, next time I'm packing my hairdryer and diffuser.

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HERE ARE SOME "TOURISTY" SNAPSHOTS.

HARD-CORE PICS TO COME.

Friday - shopping in Antigua

Shopping in Antigua - notice volcano in the background!

I would go back for the papaya alone! And to do God's work, of course.

Camping in the mountains meant convenient gourmet.

What kid didn't want to play soccer with this gringo?

The only cloudy day.

Up in the mountains. I'm taking a break from dental assisting for a nice walk with my Danny.

No, really I did assist Kelly Richardson. I don't just wear scrubs in OSHA training videos.

How cute are these scrubs from Walmart? Diagnosis: Extraction, again.

I specifically asked not to do any kind of children's ministry, but if you have stickers to give out, you are popular

Wordless Bible soccer ball. Again, whether in the mountains or the city, Danny had the moves.

First morning in the mountains before breakfast, getting some time in with Jesus.

I know, I look so cute for a missionary. No worries, I left this outfit for some lady up in the mountains to enjoy. I want to share Jesus and well, a good find from Tarjay.

Off We Go to Guatemala - Our Prayer Requests

Dear Family, Friends and partners in our trip!

Here are our itinerary and prayer requests. Thank you for all your prayers and love and support. We are humbled by how so many of you have come along side us.

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9-12)

In the joy of Christ,
Jacqueline and Danny

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Saturday, October 22  Team members arrive in Guatemala City at various times throughout the day. Pray for coordination in pickup and transportation to the team staging area.  Pray also that all the dental supplies team members are transporting in their luggage will clear customs without any problems.

Sunday, October 23  Worship in Guatemala City at La Iglesia Camino Y Verdad, pastor Andy is preaching. The team will travel 4 hours into rugged highland terrain (6,000+ ft elevation) to Piedras Grandes, a village area.  Pray that there will be no rains and that the roads will be passable.

Monday-Tuesday, October 24-25  Dental clinic evangelism in Piedras Grandes. Pray for physical endurance for the dentists, patience for the team members supporting them, and wisdom and enthusiasm for the team evangelists. Pray that many people will respond in faith to the gospel.

Wednesday, October 26  Travel back to Guatemala City... safety.  Pray for Andy and Tom as they engage in pastoral counseling for an on-going situation for a local family in the church.

Thursday, October 27  Convoy into Ciudad Quetzal, a drug-gang controlled area of the city that is very dangerous.  The team will set up a dental clinic in a new church (Casa Mana) starting with mostly women and children.  Pray for a good response to the gospel and for safety coming back out at night

Friday, October 28  Convoy back to Ciudad Quetzal and the team’s preparations for a large children’s concert in the afternoon with Chochy Ruano, recording artist.  The team will canvas the neighborhood extending invitations to children for the concert, which could be both the most exciting and dangerous part of the whole trip.

Saturday, October 29  Pray for a safe return to the USA

Aspiring to Be More Than a "Hobby" Painter

I think I mentioned earlier this fall that I was taking my painting class again.
My motivation, focus, and some inspiration I think has come from spending the past year looking at and talking about the art in the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Being a docent is a wonderful experience, but it left me empty, and hungry to paint. It has been a real force in making me once again try to be courageous to paint seriously.

I have had some of the best hours painting that I can remember and find myself staying late after class because I can't tear myself away. It is almost painful to have to clean up and know I have to wait a whole week before I get to paint again.

I have described the experience of painting/creating -- when you're in the "high" of it, it is like communing with God. I know, that sounds over the top, but think about a runner's high. When you're in the "zone" --- its a time when I think God connects some of the deepest parts of my heart and spirit and mind.

Last week, I was scanning Craigslist for a used easel with no success, but came across an ad for a "Studio Roommate." So I checked it out and its not only affordable, its 10 minutes from our house in downtown Raleigh. Known as the "Carter Building" it is a space specifically for artist studios in Raleigh. This is PRIME real estate and these studios get LOTS of public traffic during First Fridays each month.

The other artist I will be sharing the space with is in her mid-twenties to early 30's(??). I hope to move in this weekend and start to spend some significant time there after our trip to Guatemala. My hope is to be there 3 times a week at least.

What an amazing blessing from God out of no where! Danny's excitement and encouragement has also given me the courage to further pursue all this.

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This is a piece I started a couple of years ago and in fact, posted the beginnings of it in a post. Click here to see.

Here is the finished painting: "Three Graces: Yellow"

What Happens When the Gardners Descend.....

Labor Day weekend was a full weekend as the Gardners, YES all 6 of them came for their first full family visit! In the past, its only been a couple of Gardners here, a lone Gardner there, but this time it was the entire village. It was a full weekend that was filled with the start of college football season, "guy" time, "chick" time, wear-out-Jasper-time, and culminated with birthday festivities for Bear, who turned double digits, 10 on Sunday.

Stuart, Zoe, Danny and I met met up with Bill and Sue in Chapel Hill for the UNC vs. JMU game. You did not have to be there to know what the outcome was going to be. It was most convenient for me as I wore my JMU t-shirt and my Carolina hat and earrings and purse! The weather was nice but HOT in the sun and even Lauren was able to join us near the end of the game. UNC kicked some Duke dog butt with a final score of 42-10. The worst part was when JMU finally made a touch down and the cheerleaders ran around the stadium with the flags to celebrate. Each flag had a letter: "J"  "M"  "U"
Problem was the cheerleaders got mixed up or didn't know how to spell and ran around the stadium in spelling "JUM" ...... The Carolina fans had a field day with that one!

The rest of the weekend Zoe and I joked about how we couldn't do this or that because we graduated from "JUM." Oh dear. I have higher hopes for UVa when they visit in a couple of weeks.....

Sunday we met up with Lauren for church in Durham so the Gardner kids could see her for a wee bit.
After lunch the men all went to get snow cones (flavors to include 'grenade' and 'dill pickle' and 'sour tsunami') and play some putt-putt. The ladies headed to see the movie The Help which lives up to the hype, I recommend it.

We all met up again for birthday dinner for Bear at Five Guys. After that Bear wanted to play tennis with Uncle Danny so we all headed over to our neighborhood courts and played some sort of activity resembling the simplest forms of "tennis" :)  Jasper and the Gardner kids were all terrific ball boys.

I got some much needed best friend time during walks with Zoe and before we knew it, they all left the Dulins as quickly as they arrived. Monday I not only took a nap to recover, but went to bed by 8! Whew!

I have to say that the Gardner kids are truly some of my favorite kids to hang out with. They are all so different but each are eager to engage in a relationship with Aunt Jacqueline and Uncle Danny. Let's face it, having 4 kids in my townhouse could have been a stressful thing, but not with these kids. They are helpful, kind, respectful of our home, willing to serve others and always, always thankful. They aren't perfect kids, but they make being around kids FUN!

More Missions

As you already know, we are headed to Guatemala October 22-29 for our first missions trip together as the Dulins. We are also super excited because we were just connected and invited to go to Kenya in February for another missions trip. This one will be through our church here in Cary and its with the organization "Build The Village." They are having a soccer camp with an 1,800 Kenyans expected to participate. Needless to say, Danny Dulin did a soccer dance when he was invited to go. Perhaps I will be invited to hold a Fashion camp .....

Speaking of soccer, Danny has ordered and received 100 "Wordless Bible" soccer balls for our Guatemala trip. For those of you still interested in supporting our missions trip to Guatemala, there is still plenty of time! Since God has blessed Danny and I with the finances to fund our travel expenses, any support we raise goes directly to the dental/medical supplies and the Guatemalan partnering churches and people. So you are not funding the Dulins, you are giving directly to the Guatemalans we are serving. I pray that God leads you to much generousity.  THANK YOU to many of you who have already given!!

Here is where to write/send the checks to:
Barcroft Bible Church
c/o Andy Richardson
9401 Little River Turnpike
Fairfax, VA 22031

Memo line: "Guatemala Short-Term Missions"
Please do not write our name in the memo line.
So here's a fun fact about the trip for all of you old McLean Bible people out there. Brijet's oldest daughter Rachel will be going on this trip too. WEIRD, huh? Or actually, yikes! Feeling old! Its gonna be fun telling Brijet stories to Rachel. And yes, I've already gotten permission!

Student Dulin

Danny started  his Historical Theology class last Wednesday. It is an introduction to the history of the Christian church from the Apostolic Age through the Protestant Reformation. His textbooks include:

The Story of Christian Theology
by Roger E. Olson

Confessions
by Augustine
(I keep wanting to say "Augus-teen" instead of "Auguston").

Imitation of Christ
by Thomas a Kempis











Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life
by John Calvin










Since he got his syllabus early, he has been faithful in reading ahead and we have so far managed to be disciplined about blocks of time for him to read. He will tell you he is a slow reader and it takes a lot of effort for him to comprehend/retain what he reads. This is not because he is thick-headed, but mostly due to his ADD and being out of school for so long. Its too bad I don't have the desire to read like him and he doesn't have the ability to read as fast as I can. We'd make a wonderful combined seminary student!

One of the things Danny told me he heard at orientation for new students was that if you are married, never say "I'm going to seminary, but say 'we' are going to seminary. You will not be able to accomplish this without your spouse's support and sacrifice."

And although right now with just one class, the sacrifice of "together time" has been minimal. I have enjoyed hearing about everything from the Apostolic Fathers to Gnostics during our walks or whenever. I am enjoying falling asleep to him reading to me from his textbooks. I am enjoying learning from him as he learns. I am a wee bit jealous too!

I have seen an excitement and a hunger being fed in Danny that I have not seen in awhile. Although most the students in his class are young single dudes (there is the first international student from Sudan and an older woman), he is connecting with many other students who are his age. Men who have already been a tremendous encouragement and challenge to him.

Last Friday we got to "meet" the whole student body and faculty at the Convocation. It was a meaningful time where the speaker admonished the students to be about the business and habit of praying NOW before the "work" gets started and how if you don't learn to work hard at praying, its not going to happen when you start full time ministry. It was a convicting message about how we take for granted the privilege of approaching God and calling Him "Our Father" -- that this was a blood bought privilege and yet so many of us don't think twice about ignoring our prayer lives. It was some good and in your face stuff.

I am so utterly thrilled for my husband, who for so long has prayed and begged God to send him men to feed him, teach him, mentor him and be the "Paul" in his life as a "Timothy." And now he is in an environment of godly men passionate to do just that. I am praying that he not only retains the stuff he learns, but more importantly applies what he learns and is more equipped to live out the Gospel fully as he is called.

Good stuff. I'm giving him an A+ already :)

Superficial Cute Cuddly Puppy Pix

Yes, I've become one of those people who are constantly taking pictures of her dog. But my puppy is so cute! I can't stand it! In fact, he is such an easy puppy, if every puppy was this good and chill, I'd tell everyone to get a puppy!

He is 99.9% potty trained. Loves walks and we are now doing 2.5 miles twice daily (it is good for me to get back into exercising!), sleeps through the night, sleeps a lot during the day, terrorizes Bitty without fear, waits to receive permission to eat his food, 100% crate trained, 85% obedient, and still enjoys snuggling.

Jasper has not quite grown into his ears, but his coat is a gorgeous deep chocolate brown and he looks like a real chocolate lab!

Here is a pic from several weeks ago.

 

Now look how big he is!

 

 Clifford has no chance. He's already "lost" both ears.

Year Two

We treat Lauren to dinner the night before -- SUSHI!

Last Friday, Lauren returned to UNC for her 2nd year. It was with little fanfare (unlike last year) and the logistics all went so smoothly it felt pretty uneventful. In about two hours, we were able to unload, unpack and organize her stuff and we were gone.

Her "home" this year is a considerable upgrade from last year's dorm room -- same layout but newer: fully air-conditioned, nice bathrooms, great views from her window and balcony. Her new roomate Elizabeth was not there (but had already moved in). We continue to pray that Elizabeth might be a Christian; as of now her similar "lifestyle" to Lauren's is something we are very grateful for. We did notice a book she is reading titled: "God's Promises for the Graduate."

Lauren is also excited about her suitemates two of whom she knew and one she was pretty good friends with. From what we heard, its quite the "diverse" suite even with a Vietnamese girl too!! :)

After unpacking, we all held hands and Danny prayed over Lauren. There were sweet hugs and off we went. Danny and I were looking forward to our "empty nesting" again. It has been a challenging summer with Lauren. That's not to say she was always challenging. I have struggled in my methods of parenting for sure -- parenting adult children who are still dependent on you is by far the most difficult "phase" of parenting I have experienced. Thank God Danny is doing most of it for me!

I found myself surprisingly sad or bittersweet as we drove home. The idea that my impact, influence, and the need for me in Lauren's life continues to slip away and I know its suppose to be that way or rather those things "shift." I struggle with thinking, remembering all the ways I have failed my daughter, even as recent as this past summer.

Please pray for my Lauren. Pray for her to not only hear the truth regularly but to live it. Pray for her to live out the Gospel daily whether studying, hanging with friends, or whatever. It is a big, scary, ugly, mean, broken, destructive world out there and Satan would not have it any other way. Pray that I remember He who is in her is greater than he who is in the world......

Master packer Danny Dulin

Master organizer, Jacqueline Dulin

Master Put-Together-Weird-Dorm-Furniture-Man, Danny Dulin.

Sportin' the UNC Ram. Go TAR HEELS!

They grow up so tall and so fast.

God is FOR You

Another great Fresh Start from Andy Richardson:

God is for you today.  The Bible puts it this way, “a good man’s steps are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23).  You may not be where you want to be yet, but God is getting you where you need to be.  The temptation is to look at the things that are wrong in your life, rather than to magnify God and the things that are going right.  If you focus on the things you don’t have control over, or the things that aren’t fixed yet, you will lose sight of the One who is busy at work ordering your steps.

• Ask for a renewed perspective on what God is doing in your life today.

Joseph almost lost sight of the fact that God was at work in his life.  His brothers had betrayed him.  He was unjustly accused and thrown in jail where he waited for years.  He felt forgotten and was filled with despair.  But God was at work ordering the steps of his life even when the darkness of a jail cell was his constant circumstance.  Years later, after rising to the most powerful position in the land, he was able to say, “you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).  Don’t forget that God is for you too today.

Kill Anger Before It Kills You or Your Marriage

"In marriage, anger rivals lust as a killer. My guess is that anger is a worse enemy than lust. It also destroys other kinds of camaraderie. Some people have more anger than they think, because it has disguises....."

A friend recently sent me this excellent article about anger by John Piper. I have only included the "snippets" but it is well worth reading the full article.





 

1. Ponder the rights of Christ to be angry, but how he endured the cross, as an example of long-suffering.
   
2. Ponder how much you have been forgiven, and how much mercy you have been shown.
   
3. Ponder your own sinfulness and take the beam out of your own eye.
   
4. Think about how you do not want to give place to the devil, because harbored anger is the one thing the Bible explicitly says opens a door and invites him in.
   
5. Ponder the folly of your own self-immolation, that is, numerous detrimental effects of anger to the one who is angry - some spiritual, some mental, some physical, and some relational.
   
6. Confess your sin of anger to some trusted friend as well and as possible with the offender. This is a great healing act.
   
7. Let your anger be the key to unlock the dungeons of pride and self-pity in your heart and replace them with love.
   
8. Remember that God is going to work it all for your good as you trust in his future grace. Your offender is even doing you good, if you will respond with love.
   
9. Remember that God will vindicate your just cause and settle all accounts better than you could. Either your offender will pay in hell, or Christ has paid for him. Your payback would be double jeopardy or an offense to the cross.

READ the full article by John Piper here

Less Like a Rat and More Like a Puppy

 Snuggling buddies....

 

 Bitty says, "I turn my back on you."

"Look Ma, I is Asian too!"

 

"Look Daddy! I'm a Dulin!"

 Jasper - 12 weeks old