I went from 10 hours at Ignite Chicago (a Christian music festival) with the youth Sunday afternoon to the Senior Saints' breakfast today. Concerts help keep me young, but I'm still tired today.
We got our first fruits from the garden last night. A few cucumbers, a mess of beans, and some lettuce. Wanna guess why we harvested cucs, beans, and lettuce? That's what we sowed. What are you sowing?
We're gardening long distance (about 5 miles) so it's hard to keep up with the weeds sometimes. We'll get it all cleaned up and think, maybe it will stay clean this time. Maybe we finally knocked out the last of the weeds and grass. Maybe they'll get the idea. But guess what? They just keep coming back. I think there are a few good spiritual lesson for us there.
-- Weeds grow. Temptation will always be in our lives. It takes different shapes as we move through life, but they will always be there.
--Weeds are best dealt with when they are small and on a day to day basis. Weeding our spirits every now and then gets messy and can be ugly. Walking in the Spirit is a daily cleansing.
--Weeds choke out the good. The best fruit comes from a garden where all the sunshine, nutrients, and water are reserved only for the good seed. Weeds steal our strength and keep us from what could be.
Slip away today with God and do a little weeding.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 22:2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
Scripture of the Day: Psalm 150 1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
Quote of the Day:
do not tell me what I can and cannot do when I rock
original material my crew nonstop
we're keepin' it fly we'll turn it out
ya'll feelin' some of that? no doubt!
John Reuben, chorus of "Do Not" at Ignite Chicago
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Revival
One of the hallmarks of the Assemblies of God and Pentecostals has been revival. The supernatural move of God among His people. We were birthed out of the revival that swept America at the beginning of the 20th century as God poured out His Spirit. From Topeka, to Azusa St, to Hot Springs, God was moving.
Our Assemblies of God General Superintendent George Wood recently put out a video message on revival. It's a good test for us and also a good benchmark for us as we continue to pursue God. Is it feelings? Is it volume? Is it the supernatural? What do we need to focus on as we seek for revival in northern DeKalb County, IL?
Check out this video and let it be a guide for your life and prayers.
Our Assemblies of God General Superintendent George Wood recently put out a video message on revival. It's a good test for us and also a good benchmark for us as we continue to pursue God. Is it feelings? Is it volume? Is it the supernatural? What do we need to focus on as we seek for revival in northern DeKalb County, IL?
Check out this video and let it be a guide for your life and prayers.
VIDEO
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Scripture of the Day: 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Quote of the Day: In the Irish Revival of 1859, people became so weak that they could not get back to their homes. Men and women would fall by the wayside and would be found hours later pleading with God to save their souls. They felt that they were slipping into hell and that nothing else in life mattered but to get right with God... To them eternity meant everything. Nothing else was of any consequence. They felt that if God did not have mercy on them and save them, they were doomed for all time to come. Oswald Smith
Be Refreshed!
Scripture of the Day: 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Quote of the Day: In the Irish Revival of 1859, people became so weak that they could not get back to their homes. Men and women would fall by the wayside and would be found hours later pleading with God to save their souls. They felt that they were slipping into hell and that nothing else in life mattered but to get right with God... To them eternity meant everything. Nothing else was of any consequence. They felt that if God did not have mercy on them and save them, they were doomed for all time to come. Oswald Smith
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Chillin' and Grillin'
A mid-summer break this Sunday night with the Bethel Chill & Grill. We rolled out the big grill to the park for a picnic and softball games. The weather was perfect with the lower 80's and sunny. Just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes away. We had a great kid's game and then let the "big" kids take the field.
Our youth are off at Teen Camp this week so here's your prayer list: Allison A, Lydia Z, Rita L, Ethan M, Isaac M, Zach J, Colby E, Matthew M, Kevin M, & Scott B. Pray that this will be a pivotal week in their life.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 15:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
Scripture of the Day: Galatians 5:16-17 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Quote of the Day: "Such a blessed people should be a thankful people." Cotton Mather
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Good Home Coolin'
"Smoky" Hale (BBQ guru) says that "The best BBQ is cooked in someone's backyard; not in restaurants, not in contests." I think what he really means is that BBQ is much more than just the food. It's friends, family, and the relationships together in the backyard that make it good. While I didn't have time to fire up the smoker today, we did crank up the ice cream machine.
4 cups of heavy whipping cream, 4 cups whole milk, 5 eggs, 2 3/4 cups sugar, fresh strawberries, plus a few other additions made quite the good old fashioned homemade ice cream. My cholesterol jumped a few points, but it was worth it.
I'm trying to follow my own advice of making this a great family summer. We fired up the grill with BBQ pork chops, pineapple, and grilled veggies for dinner on the deck tonight and followed it up with strawberry ice cream. Good Times.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Scripture of the Day: Psalm 150:1-2 1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Quote of the Day: Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time. Charles M. Schulz
4 cups of heavy whipping cream, 4 cups whole milk, 5 eggs, 2 3/4 cups sugar, fresh strawberries, plus a few other additions made quite the good old fashioned homemade ice cream. My cholesterol jumped a few points, but it was worth it.
I'm trying to follow my own advice of making this a great family summer. We fired up the grill with BBQ pork chops, pineapple, and grilled veggies for dinner on the deck tonight and followed it up with strawberry ice cream. Good Times.Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Scripture of the Day: Psalm 150:1-2 1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Quote of the Day: Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time. Charles M. Schulz
Friday, July 11, 2008
No Good Excuse
Finally getting back the the blog after almost a week. No good excuse, just a bunch of little ones. An evening meeting, a couple hospital runs, moving a family, the garden, a waterpark, my family. All those little things:)
Hope you're having a great summer. Next Tuesday is July 15th, so we're about halfway through. Don't let the time slip by and then say where did it go. A great opportunity is this Sunday night's Grill and Chill. Bethel is heading to the park with our new big grill for a picnic and softball games. A great chance to hang out with the family. The weather forecast is 81 and sunny. No excuses.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 11:4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
Scripture of the Day: Philippians 1:3-6 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Quote of the Day: "The bible knows nothing of solitary religion." John Wesley
Hope you're having a great summer. Next Tuesday is July 15th, so we're about halfway through. Don't let the time slip by and then say where did it go. A great opportunity is this Sunday night's Grill and Chill. Bethel is heading to the park with our new big grill for a picnic and softball games. A great chance to hang out with the family. The weather forecast is 81 and sunny. No excuses.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 11:4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
Scripture of the Day: Philippians 1:3-6 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Quote of the Day: "The bible knows nothing of solitary religion." John Wesley
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Blob Blog
A great week at Family Camp. I didn't post much, but here are a few pictures from the last couple of days.
Nothing says love like blobbing your wife. The Blob is a long tube filled with air floating on the lake. One person sits on on end and another person jumps off a platform landing on the other end. The blobee then flies into the air and into the water.
We won our third straight three on three basketball championship. What I've lost in quickness, agility, and speed over the years I've made up for in weight. I'm still hobbling around 2 days later, but we won.
Here's Ethan after videoing the Blob.
Sonya and Elizabeth out for a canoe ride.
Elizabeth and Lily.
Isaac in the pool tournament on Family Fun Day.
Jeremiah also was in the pool tournament.
Elizabeth (right) on the climbing wall.
We ended the week with the traditional Bethel Pizza, Pop & Sparklers at the closing night fireworks show. I think we had 24 Bethel-ites there and some other friends too. Good Times.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 5:18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Scripture of the Day: 2 Peter 1:3-4 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Quote of the Day: You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. Desmond Tutu
Nothing says love like blobbing your wife. The Blob is a long tube filled with air floating on the lake. One person sits on on end and another person jumps off a platform landing on the other end. The blobee then flies into the air and into the water.
Three-Peat!
We won our third straight three on three basketball championship. What I've lost in quickness, agility, and speed over the years I've made up for in weight. I'm still hobbling around 2 days later, but we won.
Here's Ethan after videoing the Blob.
Sonya and Elizabeth out for a canoe ride.
Elizabeth and Lily.
Isaac in the pool tournament on Family Fun Day.
Jeremiah also was in the pool tournament.
Elizabeth (right) on the climbing wall.We ended the week with the traditional Bethel Pizza, Pop & Sparklers at the closing night fireworks show. I think we had 24 Bethel-ites there and some other friends too. Good Times.
Be Refreshed!
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 5:18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Scripture of the Day: 2 Peter 1:3-4 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Quote of the Day: You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. Desmond Tutu
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