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August 19, 2018 LifeLife vol. 15, no. 31 every one of which bears twins Every time I saw them, (and I saw them ev- Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you erywhere, a lot), out in the fields, on the side of a are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your mountain, beside the road, in the road, I couldn’t veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, Going help but think of the line in the Bible which says down from Mount Gilead. “every one of which bears twins.”

I am not a person. Chris is. She thinks Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep they are “cute”. Which is generally true for the Which have come up from the washing, offspring of most mammals. In , sheep are Every one of which bears twins, And none ubiquitous, which is a is barren among 64 dollar word for what them. Song of Solo- I said above: they are mon 4:1-2. everywhere. Icelandic sheep There are far more serve a triple purpose sheep in Iceland than for Icelanders, for Icelanders, about meat, dairy, and fiber. 800,000 sheep and But they are primarily about 323,000 Iceland- bred for their meat, ers. The isolation of the which has a fine grain, island of Iceland makes a distinct, light, and the Icelandic sheep one delicate flavor. I cannot of the purest breeds recall a single restau- of sheep in the world rant we ate at in Ice- and fiercely protected land that did not have by the country. Icelandic sheep are a hardy short- some kind of lamb dish on the menu, although tailed mid-sized breed, typically short-legged and beef was often absent. I ate more lamb in Iceland stocky, with face and legs free of wool. The fleece in two weeks, than I have eaten in my entire life, is most often white, but there are other colors, in- and it was incredibly delicious. cluding various blacks, browns and grays, display- ing more variety in color and pattern than most But the breed not only produces meat for other breeds, Icelanders, but a very high quality on pas- ture feeding alone, and the wool fiber is versatile, The sheep are hardy, strong with a strong prolific, and in high demand. Their fleece is dual- immune system after 1,000 years of breeding in coated, with fine internal coat and long fibers of the extremes of Iceland have shaped them that an external coat. Separated, these coats are used way. Part of their hardiness and economic value is for different woolen products. The fibers of the that the ewes usually birth two lambs in May, and outer coat are long, shiny, hardy and waterproof. triplets are not uncommon. As we drove around The internal coat fibers are soft and great insula- Iceland in June, we saw the bigger ewes grazing or tion for Icelandic sweaters. resting with their twin lambs not far behind. The Biblical passage describing twin lambs, kept com- During the winter sheep are kept inside ing to my mind: stables, protected from the winter weather. When the lambs are born in May, they are quickly up -61- -The Extraordinary Life- and about running and jumping around their mother. All the ewes and their lambs are freed to Upcoming Messages roam and graze the hillsides and mountain pas- tures all over the country. They run free until the We invite you to come and be our guest at the middle of September when they are gathered and Connersville church of Christ. You and your loved driven down from the mountains to be sorted and ones will want to hear these messages on the fol- separated to their various owners, as identified by lowing Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. their ear tags, at large sorting corrals.

As we watched the ewes with their twin lambs, “Questions You’ve Always we noticed that when the lambs wanted milk they Wanted To Ask God, would aggressively and quickly butt their heads (But Were Afraid To Ask)” under their mother’s udder as she continued to graze. Then their short little tails went to wagging God, How Can You Say You Love People, at a high rate of speed. The mothers were always protective of their lambs never letting us get near, Yet Send Them To Hell?……Today without moving away. On one occasion, as we sat in the car just watching, a mother ewe decided Next Sunday: God, Will I have Life After Death? we had been there long enough, and started to He makes me to lie down in green pastures; get aggressive, she fiercely stood stiff-legged with He leads me beside the still waters. her head up, stamping her front hooves with her He restores my soul; lambs behind her. He leads me in the paths of righteousness Like Icelanders, the people of God in the Bible For His name’s sake. depended heavily upon sheep for their food, their Yea, though I walk through the valley of clothing and their very lives. And, they cared for the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; and protected their sheep. The psalmist uses this For You are with me; to portray our relationship with the Lord: “Know Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, You prepare a table before me in the pres- and not we ourselves; We are His people and the ence of my enemies; sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3. David paints You anoint my head with oil; the picture of the Lord’s plentiful provision, pro- My cup runs over. tection, and preservation of His people: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23

Connersville We Recommend… Come Join Us! church of Christ Do you feel sermons are boring and don’t relate meets at Waterloo & Erie to your real life? Are too many churches more Worship Connersville, Indiana interested in your checkbook than you and your Sunday Morning family? Do you feel like a stranger among church people who are just not very friendly? 10:00 am We would like to recommend to you the Connersville church of Christ which meets on the north side Sunday Evening of Connersville just off Waterloo Road. We are a 5:00 pm friendly spiritual family who enjoy worshipping God and welcoming guests to join with us. Bible Classes At the Connersville church of Christ you will: for all ages Ministers • Meet friends and get to know good people Sunday Morning Wayne Greeson • Hear positive practical encouraging messages • Enjoy uplifting songs, powerful prayers & worship 9:00 am Evan Guldenschuh • Find help for your family, your marriage & yourself (765) 825-7211 Come and be our special guest this Sunday at 10:00 am. Give us a try! Wednesday Evening 7:00 pm connersvillechurch.com Wayne Greeson & Evan Guldenschuh

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