Love Month

Another annual Uth Love Month came to an end last night with The Dating Game. We spend the entire month of February on relationships, dating, etc. and we always end with The Dating Game. We do a fun takeoff on the game and then look at the same scripture and same one point sermon every year. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"

One of the top decisions we will make in our life is the choice of a spouse and yet the criteria for dating for most is incredibly shallow. There are a lot of attributes that are positives, but it all starts in the heart. Who is the King of your heart? If it's not Jesus, it's you. And if you marry someone who is the king of their own heart there will always be a struggle on whom you will serve. If you're both yoked to Jesus the load just got lighter. If you're yoked to someone going in a different direction, you're going to get a sore neck quick. You'll never experience the abundance of life that God had in store. Start smart. Lay down the parameters now. No excuses.


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Scripture of the Day: 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? (New Living Translation)

Quote of the Day: "The Bible opens and closes with a wedding." Selwyn Hughes

Snow Day!

One of the bummers of being homeshooled for the kids is a lack of snow days. Now matter how bad it snows, you can usually make it downstairs for class. And then gym class is shoveling the driveway:) When they got to DeKalb yesterday for their weekly homeschool coop day they found the electricity out at the church they were meeting at, so when I got home from clearing snow at the church we headed to Russell Woods for sledding.

We called another homeschool family and we had the hill all to ourselves for 2 hours. One of the benefits of homeschooling is that after a fresh 4-5 inches of snow you can go sledding while all the other kids are still in school.


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Scripture of the Day: Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Quote of the Day: Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. Anthony J. D'Angelo

Daddy Leads

2 weeks ago on our way home from the Dells we drove into a terrible snowstorm. It took almost 3 hours for the first 45 miles. Cars and semis all over the place. We barely moved for an hour while they sorted out a path through the wreckage. It was getting worse so we decided to get a hotel in Madison about 3 in the afternoon. Fortunately we did because later down the interstate they didn't move till 1 a.m. Semis couldn't make the grade and about 800 vehicles just came to a halt behind them. They had the national guard out, snow mobiles, helicopters. What a mess.

After we got to the hotel we wanted to get some lunch. We either got stuck or almost stuck 4 times just getting to the hotel so we looked for a place to walk to. There was a Perkins a couple hundred yards away so we bundled up and hoofed it. It was a driving snow so Elizabeth (age 8) held on tight as we made our way over. Sonya and Ethan stopped to push out a car. Later Sonya asked Elizabeth how she made it over and Elizabeth said "I had my eyes closed." We asked her how she made it with her eyes closed and she said, "I close my eyes because my daddy leads me."

Oh if we could just grasp that same faith with our heavenly Father. How often we badger and drag our heels wanting to know every single detail and plan as we try to tell God what's best. We looked at King David in Psalm 27 in Bible study tonight. It's a great hymn of faith, trust, and seeking the Lord. After the first 12 verses of bravado, power, and loud faith King David ends with a simple quiet statement. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Or as Princess Elizabeth would say,"I close my eyes because my daddy leads me."

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Scripture of the Day: Mark 10:13-16 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Quote of the Day: "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading." Oswald Chambers

Forward, Together Forward

Just a few more NIU updates. Part of the Huskie fight song is the words, "Forward, together forward. They are using this phrase as a rallying point as the staff meet and as the students return to town next week. Please keep the university in your prayers. Here are a couple of opportunities too:

-The Billy Graham team is hosting a free counseling training event at E-Free tonight at 7 p.m.

-There is a memorial service this Sunday night at the Convo Center at 7 p.m. (doors open at 5). (This Sunday is a Family Night Out at Bethel.)

I talked to Sonya last night and little Alexander and Heather are doing great. They'll all be arriving at O'Hare Saturday morning.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

Scripture of the Day: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up.But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Quote of the Day: "You must GO forward on your knees." Hudson Taylor, missionary

Everywhere!

Everywhere today was Indonesia with the Kemps and Faith Promises. There's a lot of distraction this week with the NIU shootings, but it only strengthens the truth that the world needs Jesus. My prayer is that out of the ashes of tragedy God will bring life and hope. Indonesia or NIU. Everywhere.


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

Scripture of the Day: Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Quote of the Day: "And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives... and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." Nate Saint, martyred at age 32 in Ecuador in 1956

Rescue

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year. It's the crescendo of our annual mission's convention when we challenge people to what they are willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom in the coming year. I say favorite, but a couple of times I've had sleepless nights the night after when I feel we have failed, or should I say, I've failed. It's not a pledge, program, or goal, this is Kingdom and eternity. Are you ready to step out in faith?

I heard a worship chorus that I love last week that I hadn't heard in a while. It's been running through my spirit and especially after the shootings at NIU. It starts slow but builds to a beautiful reminder that we are just sojourners here. Check it out.

RESCUE

The name of the worship band is "Desperation Band". What an awesome name. They were the worship band at youth convention last year too. Are you desperate for Him?

P.S. Sonya called at 1:30 a.m. this morning and made it fine into Vladivostok, Russia. Thanks for your prayers.


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 16:19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Scripture of the Day: Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Quote of the Day: It's not that we don't have the money, it's just that we decided to spend it on something else. Dave Collins (paraphrase)

Huskie Prayers 2

I hope you are keeping NIU and our community in your prayers. Pray for the families of those involved, the student body, and all of the staff and faculty. Here is a list of the 5 students killed by the shooter:

• Daniel Parmenter, age 20, last of Westchester, Ill.
• Catalina Garcia, age 20, last of Cicero, Ill.
• Ryanne Mace, age 19, last of Carpentersville, Ill.
• Julianna Gehant (pronounced Ghee-hant), age 32, last of Mendota, Ill.
• Gayle Dubowski, age 20, last of Carol Stream, Ill.

We are talking to other churches about a response opportunity. We will give you more information Sunday.

Keep Sonya in your prayers too. She got into South Korea early this morning and flies on to Russia tonight.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Scripture of the Day: Colossians 3:12-14 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Quote of the Day: "Civilization has run on ahead of the soul of man, and is producing faster than he can think and give thanks." G.K.Chesterton (1902)

Huskie Prayers

Be in prayer for NIU and the shootings today. All of our Bethel NIU'ers are fine. We have students and staff all the way up to Professor G.C. Here's a link to the NIU site.

NIU

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14:32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

Scripture of the Day: James 4:13-14 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Quote of the Day: "The world is a den of murderers, subject to the devil. If we desire to live on earth, we must be content to be guests in it, and to lie in an inn where the host is a rascal, whose house has over the door this sign or shield, 'For murder and lies.'" C.S. Lewis

Sir, Yes Sir

A neat opportunity and story I thought I'd share with you today. I'm at the minister's winter retreat and our special guest speaker this morning was retired Admiral Vernon Clark
who had been the Chief of Naval Operations (the top guy) for the US Navy from 2000-2005. He was speaking on leadership and since he had been the leader of 850,000 sailors, I thought maybe he might know something I could learn:)

The story side is that his father, E.M. Clark, was an Assemblies of God minister and the District Superintendent here in Illinois from 1960-70. Admiral Clark attended Evangel College and had originally planned to be a minster. It was quite a story of how God moves and directs our lives. Imagine what God could do in your life or the life of your children...

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

Scripture of the Day: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Quote of the Day: Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. Dwight Eisenhower

Spring Break

The Blog has been on Spring Break this week. We met a couple of my old high school friends and their families at The Wilderness up in the Wisconsin Dells for a mid-winter getaway. One of my favorite parts of home schooling is the flexible scheduling. The Wilderness has three big indoor waterparks which are full on weekends during the winter or on holidays, but are a lot less crowded (and cheaper) during the weekdays. We hung out, rode the water slides, went snow tubing, played games, ate, talked, and more. Our kids are all similar in ages and they had a great time too. The three of us went to school together from K-graduation, so it was fun catching up.

I'll post some pictures and tell about the ride home later on in other entries. (Hint... It took almost 6 hours on the road plus a night in a hotel in Madison for the 150 mile drive home)

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

Scripture of the Day: Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Quote of the Day: "To a friend's house, the road is never long." Unknown

Good News

Check out this great article on Pastor Mark & Traci in the Sycamore Journal.

ARTICLE

Be Refreshed!


Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

Scripture of the Day: James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Quote of the Day: "Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened." Billy Graham