Video clip

I don't normally post this type of item here but in the heat of the moment I wanted to shine some light on a touchy subject. I am not giving a free pass to any one country and that includes the USA but I wonder how far the pendulum is going to swing before it reaches the end of the arch.

What is that big yellow ball?

After months and months ( okay, weeks..well days) of rain it has finally broken and the sun is actually shining! Quick look before it hides again.

The river that runs through our parking lot is now only two meters wide. Granted it is only three centimeters deep but it runs a lot of water. It is fun living here on the West Coast as it is so easy to laugh at the weather. With a day of sunshine the grass and the flowers are quickly coming to life. The green is brilliant and almost hurts the eyes.

I know that those who read this from the great white North scoff at our "bad" weather and I would not want to trade with them. But the ark jokes are getting old and no we are not collecting animals.

Learn from God? Part two

I have had a request or two for the full content of the sermon on parenting.

Of course I did not take voluminous notes but I did get the ten main points.

1. God is a fair Father. Deut. 32:4, Eph. 6:4
2. God is a loving Father. Ps. 145:17
3. Father God is a strong disciplinarian. Heb. 12:6
4. Father God allows us to chose. Deut. 30:19
5. Father God allows consequences. Gal. 6:7
6. Father God gives us freedom. Gal. 5:1
7. Father God teaches. Ps 32:8
8. Father God understands us. Ps. 103:14
9. Father god is positive and affirming.
10. Father God calls us to greatness.

His final statement capped it all off. The greatest parenting principle: You get the behavior you reward.

Be blessed.

Learn from God?

My Pastor, Ted had a great sermon yesterday. He has been on a series from Acts but has broken it up with sermons from different topics. Yesterday he spoke on the example God the Father left us on how to raise our own children.
Using the way we are encouraged to look to "Abba father", Pastor Ted lead us through a ten point message that had us laughing as well as thinking about our own experiences. Ten points may violate some rule of preaching but not in this case. He presented a very strong case for keeping the next generation hungry for God and a relationship with Him.
It is fun to attend a church that touches the heart of relationships. We laugh together and cry together. We baptize, marry and sometimes even see an elder saint depart for heaven. Life is found at the foot of the cross but is lived day to day in the world. If you are not learning to live life in the world, remaining strong from its fatal attractions, then why do you go to church?

Shalom

Worthy of mentioning!

There are lots of good causes out there wanting your attention and donation. But when the "cause" touches you in a personal way it is worth passing along. My daughter is the oldest girl grandchild on my side of the family. Her paternal Gram had a bout with cancer this year and Carrie is walking in the cancer walk in honor of her. Go Carrie!
Follow the link for more information. https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=202295&lis=1&kntae202295=CCE2F3AF6121403D92802E6B6328DD09&supId=168612878

First came the rain

The rain was followed by rain, rain, and more rain. We were soaked this weekend, roads flooded some partly washed way and the rubble is everywhere today. A bit of sunshine and it feels normal again but we will be several days drying out.

The property to the west had been the sight of several abandoned houses. The whole property is up for development into townhouses and that require removal of the old houses. they started knocking them down Friday and found several "residents" had not moved on to other locations. These modern day squatters are homeless individuals who occupy condemned houses. Two came running out of the crawl space, narrowly escaping injury.

Several of our students have been trying to reach out to them over the last few weeks but they either are too high to talk to or are not interested. We will continue to pray for them as the neighborhood changes. Between CFNBC and the churches that hold meetings here on the weekend the hand of God is being extended to them. The witness is evident.

Shalom

We lost an hour last night.

The changing to Daylight Savings Time occurred again last night. Well technically at 2:00 AM this morning. No one I know understands the reasons any more for making the change. We just keep doing it and adjusting our lives. I think the adjusting part is good, it keeps us from becoming too stale, but I wonder how many other things we do because "we have always done it this way" without really thinking of why.

In our fellowship with our spouse it is important to keep the spark alive. I look for ways to keep it fresh. But do I look for ways to keep my relationship with God fresh too. Or do I just keep on doing what I have always done.

Be challenged in your faith, make it fresh and new every morning.

A differnt view of things.

John Stackhouse has a blog and has written a post recently about the Ted Haggard "recovery." It is an interesting position. Follow the link below:
http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2007/02/27/a-lesson-from-ted-haggard-and-henri-nouwen/

For those who don't know Nouwen, go to Wikipedia.

March first already.

Having been gone for a week and returning just in time for the mid semester reading week means I have not seen the students for almost two weeks. It has gone by way too fast. Top the mood off with three inches of fresh snow for March first and you have the feeling this morning.

Our pastor has prepared a "Lenten" style devotional again this year. We are several days into it and each morning it speaks to us. Today's encouragement was to surrender control of those areas of our life that are still trying to be "like God" and allow Him to be Lord over them. Old theme, but it never hurts to be reminded of it over and over. I know I have areas that need to be re-given to His lordship. How 'bout you?