One-Another

End of the Beginning ~

2007-05-17T13:21:00.000-05:00

Looking for the new One Another Ministry Blog ???
Click Link Below

http://oneanother.wordpress.com/

Later Friends ~

Pics

2006-12-19T22:08:00.000-06:00

I don't know if anyone even checks this anymore, but I finally got some pictures posted on the web, so thought I'd share the small group link. Enjoy!

(removed--email Heidi if you want it)

Hibby and Heidi ~ Quote(s) of the day ~

2006-10-27T10:38:00.000-05:00

Huey:

Hullo?

Hullo?

Hullo?

Hibby:

“Hey hey….. I’ve been here……”

Huey:

“True. But I think our friend Duey is in another wing of the cave.”

Hibby:

“Holy echo, Batman; I think you may be right!”

Huey:

“Good one, faithful Robin.

ZWAACK!!!

POW!!”

Hibby: “

"Ouch! That was me, Batman!! Would someone please turn on the lights in here…”

Huey:

“Lights are for the weak.

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
Chuck Norris sleeps with a pillow under his gun.
The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Chuck Norris out. It failed miserably.
Lightning never strikes twice in one place because Chuck Norris is looking for it.

Buck up, Robin.

BIFFF!!!!!!!”

Quote of the Night

2006-10-18T21:45:00.000-05:00

BEN: "So I ran into Michael T the other day and I told him that I was hanging out with his cousin, ......................... blink, blink ......................"
YEN: "..........Jennifer?"
BEN: "Jennifer!"

Project Night II

2006-09-21T19:21:00.000-05:00

Hi female-type friends,

Please be aware that this coming Thursday night (September 28) will be the second Project Night at our house. 7:00 p.m., bring friends, treats & beverages provided. Hope to see you then! Email me with any questions.

Heidi P.

2006-09-12T10:30:00.000-05:00

The Realities of the Spiritual Realm ~

I've posted this on my own blog, but felt that I should put it here too. This is about last night.... Sept 11, 2006.

This may make me out to be a complete nut......but so be it. Yesterday I had to drive quite a ways to a closing. (I'm a lender) I hadn't a clue that I would arrive 40 minutes early....so I decided to pull into a parking lot and perhaps take a nap. But I just felt like that would have been a waste of time. So I pulled out my bible......well, not too long after reading, I got to thinking about all of the unbelievers that I pray for and care about....and my muslim friends came to mind. They had given me a Qu'ran in english a few months ago, but I had not opened it to date. Well, in listening to Pastor Piper's morning DG message about Islam and what led the terrorists to murder people and truly believe that it was a good and pleasing thing to Allah.......I decided to get the Qu'ran out of my trunk and figure out how they could come to such a conclusion. The scripture tells us that Satan is both a liar and a murderer........and what else could lead people to such a grievous thing as what happened on Sept 11, 01 ?
Believing lies so much so that it leads mass murder in the name of God.

As I sat and read the book, there are many things that I notice right away......like how the Qu'ran continually refers to the People of the Book. (meaning us, Christians and I believe it includes the Jews as well) The funny thing is that there is some truth in their book.....half truths. They believe that Muhammed was the one that Jesus promised would come after Him, but we know that to be the promised Holy Spirit. (they mention the Holy Spirit, but it seems they think that to be the angel gabriel.....this is just an assumption that I need to look into further)Anyhow, the crux of the matter, is that they reject that Jesus is who He said He was. They flat out deny His deity.......just as the Jews do. They mention how the Jews are blinded by God, but they cannot even see where they are a miss. The Qu'ran definitely has a high view of God's sovereignty, but the fact that the book spends much of it's time saying that Jesus is not who Christians say he is.......is just satanic. As I read I felt an immense weight of the truth of Christ Jesus......and that satan has started these false religions that are half truths....but deny the only part that matters for salvation, the deity, the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and his resurrection. Muslims acknowledge the divine virgin birth, that Jesus was sinless, and they call him the Messiah even. Oh, how surprised must those men be that have given their lives to suicide/homicide missions in the name of God. Their torment is immeasurable I'm sure.

So last night, I had a delightful dinner with my dad, (PPD) and arrived at home around 10:30 or so. I sat down on my bed excited to learn more about what exactly triggers the mindset of radical Islam. I grew tired, as usual, and just left the book on my bed, open, as I fell asleep.I remember looking at the clock at 11:03 or something to check that my alarm was set, just before falling asleep. I woke suddenly and with confusion and looked to the foot of my bed and without a doubt saw a spiritual figure....I believe with my whole heart to have been a demon.
I noticed that my reading light was off......which was odd, as it was on as I was falling asleep........I stared at the terrifying being for at least 15 seconds before it disappeared. I rolled over to look at the time and to turn my little light back on. It was only 11:38pm. I prayed and prayed in the Name of the One that demons must obey.....the Living Christ.All in my heart calmed down, and peace came over me.......I was like "what am I afraid of?"God reigns!

So, today I keep thinking - what happened and why? I know from talking with muslims that dreams are very important to them......and can it not be that in reading the Qu'ran and then having this experience would cause someone to feel validated in the belief of the Qu'ran ? Satan is a beautiful demon....we all know this.He loves to deceive.....and he knows how to affect the unregenerate heart.But the flock of God, the sheep of Christ know Him and follow Him.....and will never follow another. We run when we do not recognize the Father. I ran to my Father last night.....and I fear for the muslim people like never before. Had I not been given the Holy Spirit, I believe that I could have been deceived by that experience last night. I will never question a muslim who claims to have had a vision ever again........but I now feel the weight of what we are up against.

Eph 6:12"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

May the Lamb that was Slain receive the honor and glory and praise due His Name!!All Hail the Power of Jesus Name!!!Wrestle well dear brothers and sisters ~ Heaven and Hell are at stake everyday.

In Christ Jesus, and more grateful than ever before,
Jen2

Go Lamplighters!

2006-09-10T01:25:00.000-05:00

Hey guys ~ I just had to post my first team picture. This was just taken at last Thursday practice. We took it after practice so we all have serious helmet hair!! Gotta love it...

Not pictured, but has recently joined the team: Jamie Koronkiewicz.

Happenings Book

2006-09-08T22:02:00.000-05:00

Hey... not too spiritual of a post here, but just shooting this out at a trial...

Anyone know what a Happenings Book is? A book full of half off and buy-one-get-one-free coupons for places all over the city area! It sells for $30. It's a fundraiser for my girl's soccer team that I coach at the high school I teach at.

Any takers? If you want to ask at work, people might want them there, and I could take orders???

Anyway... if I am out of line posting this, let me know!

Don't abandon one another!

2006-09-01T15:13:00.000-05:00

Dear friends from small group (past and present),

There has been some confusion about what to do with this blog now that we have multiplied. After discussing it with a few of you, I propose that both groups use this common site to share thoughts and photos and stories so as to maintain the connections we had formed previously. Both groups will probably have their own blogs for communication purposes and to give some ownership to the new people we're picking up along the way, but we old-timers can still enjoy e-fellowship with each other (and real fellowship too, I hope). So blog away! Sound good?

Jess

Reminder - Project Night

2006-08-21T21:03:00.000-05:00

Ladies, this Thursday night (August 24) is the first ever Project Night! Bring yourselves, your projects, and your friends. An email should be coming out from our leading ladies shortly with my address. Hope to see you there!

When: The 4^th Thursday of every month, 7:00 p.m. (first one is in 3 days!)

Where: Preislers’ home

What: Time to work on whatever you’re working on while enjoying the company of other women, plus treats!

Why is it that you believe?

2006-08-14T20:51:00.000-05:00

Dear brothers and sisters,

In the interest of answering the questions of a friend, I am looking for your responses to these questions. Feel free to take time with them--I really want to know!

1. Why DO you believe in the centrality of scripture? Why is the Bible true?

2. Why DO you trust that, even though God predestines people to go to hell and be objects of His wrath, He is a good and righteous Being?

Thank you in advance for your prayerful responses.

Get-together and "recreational" fire

2006-08-09T18:50:00.000-05:00

Hey. I'm new to the blog, not as new to BBC and even more not as new to the Twin Cities area. I grew up here, in Mpls, and just recently bought a home (a fixer-upper) in Vadnais Heights, way "up north" compared to where most of you are from. I rent a room to my sister and she throws parties for her small groups from her churches, Emmanuel Christain Center and the Rock, an Evergreen church-plant. Here is her [edited] invitation... and I am inviting you all as well. Come mix with believers from other churches as well as unbelievers! The fire starts around dusk (8pmish)

==========

Hi Y’all!

Just wanted to invite you all to a final summer bonfire at my bro Adam’s place where I live! Shortly after this, I begin a full load of my senior year of college, and will have barely any time for hanging out until my winter break around Christmas. I’ll be buried in books, work, able to make it to church and small group once a week, and limited extra time will be spent with family and a few close friends… So needless to say, I really hope you can come to this bonfire so I can spend some time with you before I “disappear” for about 4 months – and have fun with old and new friends!

This bonfire will be on Saturday, August 26, and you can come anytime after 5pm. We will again have volleyball/badminton and other games – bring any if you have some cool outdoor games! We’ll also have an awesome time of worship and fellowship around the bonfire, so bring your voices and instruments if you have any [instruments, that is]!

Please bring a light dish or snack to share Drinks [non-alcoholic] and S’more-[making materials] will be provided.

Directions:

3731 Edgerton St.

Vadnais Heights, MN 55127

Take 694 to Rice St. Go north [for those non-magnetic types, that means, from 694 E, go left; from 694W, go right]. Take a quick right onto the frontage road (Vadnais Blvd). Follow the winding scenic Vadnais Blvd until you come to your first stop sign. Take a left onto Edgerton St. Go about ½ mile. Take a Left onto Koehler Rd ( ½ block after Right Koehler Rd). The first driveway on your right is where I live. Park either in the driveway, or else on the street if you don’t plan on staying long and getting blocked in.

Hope to see you there! Please RSVP so I can be better prepared for you [you can email or call me, Adam, to RSVP, ask for directions, chat, etc. at adamsands@agacademy.com 612-202-7254. You can also let your fingers do the walking for directsions at maps.google.com... no spying please.]

Liz

763-229-3736

"is yer refrigerat.. uh, I mean, chimney running?"

2006-08-07T12:52:00.000-05:00

Aunt Joyce: "yeah, Becky, um, there's a bunch of guys on your roof. They're taking your chimney off."Aunt Becky: "yeah right, leave me alone, I don't have time for practical jokes..."Aunt Joyce: "Ok, whatever."
And as she pulled in her driveway after a long day of work, she shockingly looked up to see her chimney gone... My aunt called the police to tell them she'd been robbed... The cops pulled up, had her sit in the back of the squad car to describe what had happened... The officer finished the report and picked up the CB "Um, yeah, I don't think we've got a code for this one Missy. You got anything there for a stolen chimney?"
Two weeks later while sipping her morning coffee, my aunt looked out across the street at her neighbors house to see a bunch of guys removing her neighbor's chimney... Apparently, they'd had the wrong address two weeks earlier and thought my aunt wouldn't notice!

kids say the funniest things

2006-08-07T12:42:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine was returning with her parents, children and grandchildren from a week long vacation in Florida. Everyone was exhausted and simply wanted to get off the plane, get their luggage and get home to the bed they were used to. As they were approaching the security exit, little Bobby yells out, "Jimmy has a gun!"... The next thing they knew, the whole group of them were standing in a guarded room and officers were interrogating little Bobby. Bobby's mother was trying to explain that Jimmy was bobby's blanket, but the officers wouldn't leave it at that. ... When the family had left to go on their vacation a week ago, Bobby had asked his grandpa why they were putting Jimmy on the conveyer belt and made it disappear then reappear on the other side. Grandpa said, "they want to see if Jimmy has a gun." The poor kid simply wanted to see his blanket disappear again!

Shallow and Profound

2006-08-07T11:54:00.000-05:00

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

"Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow concerns of life are not ordained of God; they are as much of God as the profound. It is not your devotion to God that makes you refuse to be shallow, but your wish to impress other people with the fact that you are not shallow, which is a sure sign that you are a spiritual prig. Be careful of the production of contempt in yourself, it always comes along this line, and causes you to go about as a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than you are.
Beware of posing as a profound person; God became a Baby.
To be shallow is not a sign of being wicked, nor is shallowness a sign that there are no deeps: the ocean, with it's deepest of deeps, has a shore. The shallow amenities of life, eating and drinking, walking and talking, are all ordained by God. These are the things in which Our Lord lived. He lived in them as the Son of God, and He said that "the disciple is not above his Master."
Our safeguard is in the shallow things. We have to live the surface common-sense life in a common-sense way; when the deeper things come, God gives them to us apart from the shallow concerns. Never show the deeps to anyone but God. We are so abominably serious, so desperately interested in our own characters, that we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Determinedly take only God seriously, and the first person you find you have to leave severely alone as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself."
~ Oswald Chambers

I said it before and I'll say it again ----- ouch.

Have you ever been led to Kiss someone?

2006-08-07T10:55:00.000-05:00

My sister slipped me some money one time to give to a friend of mine, Jenny. My sister had broken Jenny's hand held mirror and she wouldn't take my sis's money for it. I was at a conference with Jenny and grabbed her bible on my way out without her seeing, cracked it open, placed a small envelope holding $5 in it, looked at the top right corner of the right hand page, looked up at Jennifer and said, "You should read 1 Peter 5:14 sometime. Let me know what you think!" I had no idea what the verse said, I was in a hurry to leave and wanted to make sure she got the 5 bucks... The next time I saw her she had this bright red glossy lipstick on... "and now, this message from our sponsors."

Project Night

2006-08-02T20:45:00.000-05:00

Hello sisters (yeah, sorry guys—you’ll have to come up with something to do on your own). As promised, a posting on “Project Night.” I see this as a great place to bring friends (including non-Christians); we can be salt and light while crocheting, quilting, scrapbooking, painting, making cards, writing, etc. And like I said at small group on Sunday, even if you don’t have a current project, just bring yourself!

When: The 4^th Thursday of every month, 7:00 p.m. (first one is August 24)

Where: Preislers’ home (address forthcoming via email)

What: Time to work on whatever you’re working on while enjoying the company of other women, plus treats!

Are you lonely, or are you alone?

2006-08-02T07:41:00.000-05:00

What is the difference in being lonely and being alone? Being lonely is an external experience. We can change our surroundings to correct this problem. How do we do it? By being busy, by adding as many relationships, goals, or gathering of possesions to our life as possible. Yet the problem with all the activity and such is that a person can still be alone even though they've fixed their state of being lonely. Is it possible that in addition to the wealth, greed, and the gathering of 'things' in life we also may be too busy and too distracted by religious activity which looks great to others, yet at the end of the day we are still alone? Some have said that being alone is being separated from the POWER the PRESENCE and the PLEASURE of God. As this metamorphasis takes place with our small group, will we be careful no to substitute holiness for religious activity to wash away our state of being lonely? Will you desire His Presence, His Power, and His Pleasure over being 'religiously busy'? Mary? Martha?

Pictures!

2006-08-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, here are some of the pictures - this blogger is crazy - it kind of messed up the order... Hope you can make sense of them all!

These are only a few of the pictures from Sunday night; I would have loved to post more...but I, uh, took 50 pictures...who knew there were so many photo ops?? :)

By the way, I had to include this one - sorry, Jon...

Ahh, the joys of flossing in public - it is liberating...

2006-08-01T22:06:00.000-05:00

This one was the goofy picture...

Multiplying kick-off night

2006-08-01T22:04:00.000-05:00

My picture-taking got in the way of projector set-up... Thanks to Ben, Nate and others involved in setting the slide show up!

All the girls got packages of cute tissues...for us teary-eyed ones.

Practicing or demonstrating...

We've been together for 10 months!

Jon, showing how short he's going to keep it.

Guys, I'm totally up for making this "Tradition!"

Some of the women-folk in the hallway. (Welcome Stephanie!!!)

And some of the men-folk in the kitchen

"Whoa. Grace, you have crazy eyes." -Meg

"Yeah, it's called cross-eyed." -Grace

Evidences to God working in our lives... Yay!

Everyone...with Frank, a south, south addition to our small group.

2006-08-01T21:45:00.000-05:00

Frank doing the honors - signaling the beginning of our candlelit dinner.

We are enjoying the evening and company immensely.

Brad was able to join us!

The end.

Smoothie Expedition

2006-08-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

Pacing the aisles. "What else should we get?"

The contents of our basket: three bags of frozen fruit, bananas, frozen yogurt, rotisserie chicken, steak fries, orange juice, ...

Three bags of frozen fruit??? C'mon; for four people?

(Yeah, we needed it.)

Unfortunately an surprisingly, we have no pictures documenting the actual making and consumption of said smoothies...you'll just have to believe when I say they were great! Thanks Jon and Oatmeal for making them!

Fun at work

2006-07-31T21:37:00.000-05:00

Exhibit A

Today a garden hose was used to do some work on the air conditioner on the roof of Bethlehem. The hose ran from a closet in the hallway, past my desk, into the stairwell, and up to the roof (Exhibit A). Whenever there is an oddity in the reception area, I tend to get questions about it all day long, and hey, sometimes I make up answers. Today's question was phrased differently by each individual, but the essence was "Hey, what's with the garden hose?" I came up with a smart answer which evolved into a sign (Exhibit B) created by Ben Piper.

Exhibit B

I realize that this has nothing to do with small group; perhaps I should get my own blog.

A Bit of Good Poetry

2006-07-31T15:30:00.000-05:00

Here's a sonnet by English metaphysical poet John Donne. I hope you enjoy it.

HOLY SONNETS.

XIV

Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

Thoughts on Postmodernity and Popular Culture

2006-07-28T09:13:00.000-05:00

Here's a thought-provoking article from "Americana", a journal on American popular culture. The article is a critique of Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho. You may or may not have read the book (or seen the movie) but, regardless, this critique is well worth the effort required to read it. Alex Blazer (the author) uses Ellis's book as a representation of the logical terminus of postmodern philosophy as it plays out in popular culture. American Psycho is what happens to a man who has immersed himself fully in popular culture and its underlying postmodern philosophy. To warn you, the article contains material that is offensive. Also, please do not assume that I support every opinion offered by Mr. Blazer. However, on the whole, I agree with Blazer's assessment. I hope the article will effect in you a better informed awareness of the desctructive ideas latent in postmodernity and popular culture to the end that you will be more vigilant and grateful for the truth found in God alone.

http://www.americanpopularculture.com/journal/articles/fall_2002/blazer.htm

I'm a Christian and I Still Sin. What's the Deal!?

2006-07-28T08:15:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody,

In light of Nate's helpful posting about dealing with the guilt of sin, I thought I would continue on that topic by posting some comments I made in response to one of Heidi's comments to a posting by Jen Daas about struggling with ongoing sin in light of John 3.9-10. (How's that for a run-on sentence!!)

_______________________

I hope you don't mind me chiming in on the conversation Heidi (and Jen). I feel the struggle that you're talking about. I continue to wrestle with tension between God's call for holiness and the sinfulness that is still resident within me. And of course, we're not alone. The apostle Paul had the same experience--"O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?" As you mentioned, the problem becomes particularly acute when we read passages like 1 John 3.9-10

"No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. ".

John seems to be saying categorically (depending on which English translation you read) that all who keep on sinning are not children of God. If that is the case, then no one can be a child of God unless God decided to miraculously and instantaneously make us perfectly sanctified. But, as you know, it has been the unanimous testimony of Christians throughout the history of the Church that God does not work this way. We struggle with sin all of our lives. All the great saints (Augustine, Luther, etc. . . .) confess to this experience. Since this is the case I think we need to ask two questions. First, what did John mean when he said "whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God." Second, we need to inquire as to why God has allowed our tendency for sin to remain within us, even after regeneration.

With regard to the first question, I'd like to make a few observations about John's letter that might help us understand what he was getting at. First, John is essentially writing to two kinds of people. The first kind are those who claimed to know God yet persisted in repeated, willful, unrepentent sin. They were the advocates of what has often been called "cheap grace." They believed that one could love God while freely indulging in sinful behavior. In fact, they even went so far as to say that they didn't sin at all. The second group were those sincere believers who, though the earnestly desired to obey God, they still found themselves committing sin. The difference between this group and the first was their attitude toward sin and, by implication, the frequency with which they committed (or did not commit) sin. This second group earnestly desired to avoid sin and please God. They took sin seriously and were very concerned about their standing before God because of their sin. In fact, they were probably fearful that God would not forgive them. As well, by implication, they sinned less than the first group because they hated sin and wanted to keep themselves from it.

With these two groups in view, we are in a better place to understand John's letter. Notice those comments to the sin-sensitive second group:

1.9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us oursins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2.1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins. . . ."
3.19-20 "By this(loving the brothers by our actions) we know that we are fo the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."

I think these verses make it clear that John wants us to know with certainty that there is forgiveness and advocacy for our sins through Jesus Christ. Further, when our heart condemns us for our sin, John encourages us by reminding us that our hearts are not the final judge of whether we are righteous or not--God is!

But John also has something to say those sin-hardened heretics who were claiming sinlessness, a loveless, libertine lifestyle, and may have even taught that Jesus was not the Messiah. In light of these heretical assertions, John responded by reaffirming certain key truths--particularly that it is impossible for someone to claim a relationship with God while living in habitual, unreptentant sin. Hence, he makes statements like: 2.4 "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. . . ." He further clarifies what he is getting at in chapter three by stating "no one born of God makes a practice of sinning. (greek verb is in the present tense, suggesting repeated action without respect to time)" John's point is that a genuine believer will not be characterized by a lifestyle of sinning (continually practicing sin). This is considerably different from sincere believers who yearn for holiness and fight temptation, yet still sin, though with less frequency.

I hope some of these observations help a bit. It's good, in light of the above, to understand that John's statements, like 3.9-10 are not inclusive of all who sin. He is not saying that anyone who sins is not a Christian. Rather, he is refering to a particular kind of person who sins. He is pointing at those who make a lifestyle of unrepentant sin. These people are not Christians. All that being said, I don't want you to mistake my comments as encouragement to go easy on sin. On the contrary, the very fact that we could become habitual and unrepentant sinners should cause us to fear and run to Christ for forgiveness and ask the Spirit for grace and power to resist sin. On the flip side of that coin, we ought to rest in God's commitment to provide us with full forgiveness in Christ. We live with a Biblical tension--always fearing the danger of sin yet contiually trusting God for grace and final salvation. (Romans 8.23-25 "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.")

With regard to the second question: why does God allow us to continue struggle with and indwelling tendency to sin, perhaps we should tackle that at another time.

Increase our faith !

2006-07-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

Don't know how you might react to this, but last night the Lord was kind to Kristin and I in a seemingly small matter......but with huge blessings of worship and encouragement that we are His, and He cares about all things regarding His children.

Kristin and I were having a smoothie after rollerblading and it began to rain pretty hard. So we took cover under a canopy next to a building, and in not wanting to get our bibles wet I asked the Lord if He would do what he had done in changing the weather another time a couple years ago. (praying with thoughts of James 5:17 "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.")

It kept raining, and Kristin said, "let's just make a run for it" but you know me, I wanted to wait and so I just kept talking. :)
THEN - just as I was finishing telling Kristin a story about how the Lord had granted a prayer a couple years ago and changed the weather - the rain stopped abruptly.
(from a down pour to a very light drizzle)
We ran to our cars and said goodbye, and as I began to drive away, the rain began to pour down again.

The Lord filled my heart with worship and adoration and thankfulness that we waited after praying about it. If we hadn't waited, we would have missed out on seeing what God was going to do!!! Oh, how many times have we felt like we were praying and He wasn't listening.....and then He gives a nudge of encouragement that He hears even a small request such as this, so that I wouldn't get my bible soaking wet.
"Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend thee."

I hope that these verses will encourage your hearts as you pray without ceasing.

Ps 38:15
But for you, O LORD, do I wait; It is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

Is 30:18
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for him

Is 49:23
Then you will know that I am the LORD; Those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.

Lam 3:25
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to the LORD;I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.

Worship exists because...

2006-07-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

“This is God’s design in world history—that people from all nations and tribes and languages come to worship and treasure Christ above all things. Or as Paul put it in Romans 15:9, 'that the Gentiles [all the people] might glorify God for his mercy.' There can be no weary resignation, no cowardly retreat, and no merciless contentment among Christ’s people while he is disowned among thousands of unreached peoples. Every Christian (who love people and honors Christ) must care about this.” –Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

Ben and I read these words this evening and they cut to the quick. I have nothing that I can add that will make them more relevant to you. I think that of the three weaknesses he mentions, I err toward the “cowardly retreat” side. But no matter what side we err toward, it is not acceptable as God’s children who are supposed to “love people and honor Christ.” Pray with me that God will work solemnly in my heart to give me increased passion for the peoples. And let’s also remember to pray for our sister Michelle as we send her out.

"DING! YOUR TIME IS UP!"

2006-07-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

Do you remember those timed exams in school? Sometimes I would have 5 questions left as the prof would say, "your time is up". Or what about putting a frozen pizza in the oven. You set your timer and then you hear it go off telling you your cooking time is done. What about a man in prison who has his opportunity to leave, his time is now up. Sometimes I find that after I sin, I have a tendency to think I need to set my guilt timer for a certain time before I approach God. For some of us it may be an hour or so, or depending on our perspective of the severity of the sin, we may feel as though we must feel guilty for days or weeks. Why do I do this? I find that I have the tendency to believe that if I feel guilty long enough, the discipline for my sin may be less. Sometimes after my guilt timer goes off I have this mentality... 'Oh Lord, I've felt guilt of that sin for x amount of time, I know I've not talked to you about it but, I need you in this other area of my life right now, please help.' I even side step the fact that I'm out of fellowship with Him because of my sin and think that since I put in my time feeling guilty that I can now come back and request His help. Let me encourage you to come to Him quickly after your sin. Do not set that guilt timer based on your opinion of severity of the sin and get back in the game as quickly as possible. We cannot pay for our own sin with our gilt, when we attempt to, we eliminate the value of what was done on the Cross. THROW OUT YOUR GUILT TIMER! May we quickly come to Him with remembrance of why we can even speak His name and, with humble, repentant, confidence in the overwhelmingly sufficient price that was paid for the particular sin we've committed.

Scott LeRoy Swenson

2006-07-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for your prayers for me and my family as we grieve. For those of you who never met my dad (which is almost all of you), here's a link to his obituary.

http://crookstontimes.com/articles/2006/07/21/obituaries/13obit1.txt

I miss him a lot, but I believe the words he sang (pre-recorded) at the Celebration of Life:

NO MORE NIGHT

The time is near;
earth and heaven will pass away.

It's not a dream.
God will make all things new that day.
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell.
Evil is banished to eternal hell.

No more night, no more pain!
No more tears...never crying again
Praises to the Great I AM
We will live in the Light of the Risen Lamb.

See all around, how the nations bow down to sing.
The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King.
Slowly the names from the book are read
I know the King, so there's no need to dread.

See over there, there's a mansion prepared for me
Where I can live with my Savior eternally.

No more night, no more pain !
No more tears, never crying again !
All praises to the Great I AM
We will live in the Light of the Risen Lamb.
We will live in the Light of the Risen Lamb !!!!

Pool Party Reminder

2006-07-21T00:08:00.000-05:00

Since we have so many posts on the blog, I figured I'd send out a quick reminder that we are hosting a pool party THIS Saturday! Come and enjoy some food!

What: Pool Party/BBQ including the following: burgers, pork chops, brats, and games
Where: Ben's parents' home in Coon Rapids (please comment if you want to come but didn't get the address through e-mail)
When: This weekend!! Saturday, July 22, 1 p.m.--whenever

NOTE: Please remember, for the sake of others, to dress modestly. Thanks. :)

Apartment Warming Party

2006-07-20T12:10:00.000-05:00

Okay, hope this works this time! I tried to post on the blog and accidentally made a blog of my own! I'm not trying to break away from the group, really!

If you did not receive the evite concerning Missy and my apartment warming party, my deepest apologies. I know I am still working on getting all your e-mail addresses. Here are the plans for the party:

Hosts: Missy Titrud and Kristin Nordvold

Where: 250 Grandview Ave. W., Roseville, MN 55113

Why: We are celebrating moving into our new apartment which God has blessed us with, and we love our new place!

What: Here's the tentative plan:

1. play lots of various activities from volleyball to badminton (spelling?) to swimming to frisbee
2. have a BBQ
3. have a time of praise and worship around the campfire, er..um...the grill.. (we'll work it out)

Bring: swimsuit, frisbee, volleyball, (we have 4 badminton rackets already), BYOM (bring your own meat), and some food item to share. Please sign up for a food item on the evite, or call or email me about what you'd like to bring.

Directions (for most of you):

35W North
36 East
North on Rice St.
Left on Grandview Ave. (careful, it's hard to spot! It's after Minnesota Ave. stoplight and before County Rd. B2 stoplight)
Left into parking lot of Hillsborough Manor.
Dial 162 on the dial-up box, or call Kristin (651)-206-3798

Blessings on your week! Persevere until the end!

Kristin

Love Song to a State

2006-07-19T11:53:00.000-05:00

To draw attention to the fact that I am going on vacation, I thought I'd take the opportunity to share with you the Montana state song. Do any of you know the song for your home state?

Montana, Montana,
Glory of the West,
Of all the states from coast to coast,
You’re easily the best.
Montana, Montana,
Where skies are always blue,
M-O-N-T-A-N-A,
Montana, I love you.

I also know "My home's in Montana, I wear a bandana..." and the 4H pledge, if anyone is interested.

4th of July pics, part 2/2

2006-07-15T23:24:00.000-05:00

I was blown away by Jordan's sermon this evening. "Apart from Jesus Christ, let nothing dazzle you."

But still, I wanted to share pictures of the fireworks at Stillwater. Thanks to Jenn Daas for organizing! (I still owe you $6 for food, Jenn!) I suppose heaven must be so glorious that fireworks would only pale in comparison!

After the fireworks, Kurt, Kristin, Nate, and Linnea drove through the Dairy Queen in the super-secret, invisible Hanesmobile.

Pool Party Next Saturday

2006-07-15T12:40:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,

You're invited to a pool party and barbeque! My parents would love to share their pool and grill with all of us, so let me know if you can come.

What: Pool Party/BBQ including the following: burgers, pork chops, brats (leftovers from the cabin weekend), and games

Where: My parents' home in Coon Rapids (I'll send out an e-mail with the address)

When: Saturday, July 22, 1 p.m.--whenever

Please reply to me or comment if you're planning on coming. Thanks!

You read my mind, Nate!

2006-07-14T07:50:00.000-05:00

Here are the sparkler pics. I'll follow with the actual fireworks, etc. I think Grace's family provided the sparklers. Thanks, Grace!

This sparkler ran out before I could spell "HOM." Perhaps I should have said that I wrote that for my friend Kelvin Ho, who is getting married on the 22nd!

I was trying to write an "H" or "M" here, but the sparkler got the hiccups. Isn't that cool?

These look like scenes from the next "Harry Potter."

Where in the world is... Geoffdiego?

2006-07-14T07:41:00.000-05:00

Geoff, where are your 4th pictures? We want to see your name written with a firecracker! By the way, I am very excited for your new venture out in Cali. I'm sad to see ya leave, but it's a blessing from God to be doing something you enjoy for work. I'll speak for the group and state that we've been blessed by your presence!

The staring game

2006-07-14T07:27:00.000-05:00

We were visiting Pete's grandparents, and Jenn and Meg start playing this game. The object of the game is to make the other person laugh by doing stuff to them. In this action shot, Jenn tries to make Meg laugh by lightly slapping her. It sort of worked: everytime I remember this scene, I almost fall out of my chair laughing.

Tribute to Our Friend

2006-07-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

Geoff...a man of MANY hidden talents. It has been a privilege to know Geoff in the time that he has been living in Minnesota. From whatI understand, this will be his last Sunday. We are sad. Geoff has enlightened us and entertained us with unexpected quips and surprising successes. God's blessings and peace to you, Friend!

2006-07-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

I believe Geoff looked just like this mid-shot as he lobbed the basketball over his head resulting in a nothing but net shot from downtown. Holding ice cream seems to be a little more exciting.

2006-07-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

Geoff is being awarded a Buster Bar for his outstanding performance on the Anderson's driveway basketball court. His accomplishment: A 3-point shot standing with his back to the basket. Simply Amazing. Congrats, Geoff...and we'll miss you!

Are We Really Ready for The Return of the Bridegroom?

2006-07-12T11:13:00.000-05:00

In thinking about Christ returning today.....I wonder often - will I shrink back? How do I know that I know Him? What condition does He expect to find us in?

Of course, the meditations that usually take me down a rabbit trail usually start with Edwards. This quote has had me spinning for weeks..... you might echo my "yikes" as you read.

"Slothfulness in the service of God in His professed servants is as damning as open rebellion; For the slothful servant is a wicked servant, and shall be cast into outer darkness among God's open enemies; For sins of omission are as much breaches of God's commands as sins of commission. Christ, in Matt 25:41 represents those on the left hand as being condemned and cursed to everlasting fire for sins of omission: "I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prision and you did not visit me." Then they also will answer, saying "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?" Then he will answer them, saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Knowing that Christ expects to find His bride ready, watching, and wearing her "wedding clothes" I had these scripture and thoughts come to mind:
* Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
AND later in Titus 3:8b ..."so that those who have believe in God may be careful to devote
themselves to good works."

* In Matt 22:11, there was a man who got to the wedding feast, but was thrown out as he was found to be without his wedding garments.

I'm thinking that our "wedding clothes" are the good deeds that Christ brings about through us as evidence and assurance of our sincere faith. Should there be those deeds that we do while our heart is not engaged in the midst of doing them, we can repent and ask Jesus, our High Priest, to make our sacrifice Holy and acceptable and pleasing to the Father. What a place to be!! I'm assuming that we all know that salvation is by faith alone through God's grace alone.......but how do we gain that deep deep assurance that we are in fact - His, and so avoid the shock and pain of rejection on the Last Day??
We plead with the Father for grace to love as He loved and walk as He walked......and as Jonathan Edwards exorted His 8 year old son upon the death of a playmate "Let this be a loud call to you from God, not to give yourself any rest until you have good evidence that ye have been converted and become a new creature."

Watching & Waiting with joyful and earnest expectation of His return for us, and active in that which pleases the Father, we press on in the strength that God supplies ~
With Love from Above and In All Truth,
J2

Prayer extravaganza

2006-07-10T10:47:00.000-05:00

It all began when the guys and girls split for prayer time. The guys maintained their position in the livingroom and the girls decided to enjoy the great outdoors in Jess's backyard. Blankets in place, we all firmly planted ourselves and began sharing prayer requests only to be rudely interrupted by an incredibly loud hissing noise. Like someone was letting the air out of a tire but much, much louder. We ignored the noise and kept going until our nostrils were filled with what appeared to be the smell of doom - sewage? gas? a dead animal? None of us knew, so we gathered our blankets and journals and moved around to the front yard where, hopefully, the smell wouldn't find us. After settling in nicely and picking up where we had left off, we were once again interrupted. This time by loud sirens which seemed to be getting closer and closer. And when the firetruck arrived and blocked the intersection of 23rd and Buchanan we realized that our assumption was correct. Enter 4 firemen, inconspicuously walking past all of us to the neighbor's house, where a gentleman yelled out something about his propane tank...ah, the pieces were all fitting together. Shortly after the firemen had gone we all attempted to remain focused, only to be interrupted, yet again, by a gentleman who upon driving past Patricia's car felt the need to yell out to our group, "Who's from Maryland?!".....He and Patricia had an awkward transaction about the fine state and then he drove off. Eventually we started praying, but were derailed, distracted, you name it, again, by a very large airplane flying directly overhead, a young man who thought it would be nice to whistle at us as he drove past, the neighbor's loud and long piano concerto, a small firecracker show one block over, and the countless number of bugs crawling all over us.

And all God's people said, "Amen".

Baby Names, Anyone!??

2006-07-09T23:48:00.000-05:00

Surprise!!! Ben and I found out yesterday that I'm pregnant! Yay!

So, if that wasn't enough of a change in our lives, today, one day after finding out, we bought our first home! We'll be living in a Hopkins 2 bedroom condo. It's about a mile from where I grew up for half of my life. Crazy, huh? Yeah, we thought so too.

We really felt led through these 2 days of chaos, and God kept giving us peace, particularly through how He worked out all the details ("coincidences"). We're trusting that He'll provide for our needs, and we're thanking Him for His faithfulness and timing.

Furniture Shopping Moved to 17th

2006-07-09T14:59:00.000-05:00

Hey friends,

I received a call today regarding the Healing House furniture, and the move-in process has been delayed a week or so. Touching up paint took longer than expected, so the carpet has not been installed yet. This week they will install the carpet, and next week we can move furniture in (at least that's the plan at this point!)

Because of the change (and my super busy week), I propose that we move our shopping date to Ikea back a week. It was supposed to happen tomorrow, Monday night, at 6:30 p.m. Let's keep the same time, but do it next Monday the 17th. Please comment on whether you think you can make it or not. Once I know who can come, I'll figure out the best place for us to meet.

Sound good? Hope so, and sorry for the last-minute change. Ben and I will miss you guys tonight, but we'll see you next week. Tonight we have a meeting with the Delk's. May you all have a joy-filled week!

Oh, Jonathan Edwards!

2006-07-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. — To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows. But the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean. — Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking of our highest end and proper good, the whole work of our lives, to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness?
(Edwards, "Christian Pilgrim," in The Works of Jonathan Edwards)

Not much more anyone can add to that, eh? I read this this morning and I liked it, but I keep reading it and every time it becomes more and more striking. Even as a "basic" concept, the reminder is daily needed.
Are we loving shadows, or taking pleasure in the substance of God? Are we delighting in strewn shafts of light, or basking in the sun?

A major loss!!!

2006-07-06T08:58:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 23:17 “do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in fear of the Lord always”

For those who are not in touch with the world of finance, a few years ago a company named Enron, was at the center of every newspaper. The company was fixing their books so the top dogs in the organization could get rich. When the scandal came out the company stock tanked, and people who had worked there for 15-30 years watched as their retirement accounts were brought down to nothing in what seemed like a matter of moments. I remember working in the banks and seeing client's accounts shrivel from $250,000.00 down to $30,000.00, and some came down even lower. Those are huge losses of gains that have been built up over YEARS!

Hang with me here. Lets say you were working at Target corporate headquarters and you had a neighbor working for Enron. Lets go back 10 years before the scandal surfaced. Every day when you come home and pull your mail out of the mail box at the same time your neighbor does, you look over to greet him and he reminds you of how well their company stock is growing.

Imagine me coming to your house with solid information that tells you that Enron is going to implode in 10 years and forcing you to remain silent about this until it happens. How would that effect you as you see your neighbor coming home with a new BMW he bought from his stock options with Enron? How would that make you feel when he reminds you each day that his financial accounts are skyrocketing? You know it is going to all fall apart for him in 10 years, yet look at how he’s reaping the profits right now…

“do not let your heart envy sinners…” It is hard to look around at people who sin and not envy them. God has granted us the ability to NOT envy them. He has also given us insight into the future of those who live and die in sin. We know that the end result is fatal and brutal. There is no hope, there is no peace for them, therefore every second of this life becomes a moment of fulfillment for them. Rarely do we immediately see the consequences of sin, yet they will come in time. We know the emptiness that will continue to permeate the life of those who don’t know Christ, 3,5, and 10 years down the road.

As we observe sin now, in the lives of those who don’t know Christ, and even in our own lives, lets remember all the way back to the initial sin. Let’s remember that temptations are meant to separate us from true peace in Christ and that the consequences of sin are all too often delayed. Today, let us guard our hearts from envying those who sin without Christ and remember to ‘live in deep respect for the Lord always.’

Oh, and by the way...

2006-07-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

*the note left at the scene of the crime

Girls Night Out

2006-07-01T14:03:00.000-05:00

The small group girls really bonded Thursday night...

The Plan: To meet up at The Flat and "post-it note" Jon's car.
The Execution: Upon arriving at The Flat we noted Jon was gone on his motorcycle - perfect! As we convened by his car about to break open the pack of post-its, he pulled up on his bike! Ellie (holding the pack of post-its) and few other girls took off down the street towards 11th. A couple met Jon as he got off his bike and came over to us. We informed him it was Girls Night and we were using his parking and then walking over to Dunn Bros. When Lisa showed up, she, Meg, and Gretchen, and Jon went up to his place and were talking (props to them for detaining the victim beautifully). :)
That's when we made our move! We broke down the street (from where we had congregated in an alley). Everyone grabbed a couple pads of post-its and started slapping them on - some methodically, some haphazardly. Not knowing how much time we had, we worked quickly. When we finished, some girls left, but some girls had to retreive their rides from upstairs. So a few of us walked up - asking the girls where they had been!!! The others at Dunn Bros were waiting! :) As we walked towards the top of the stairs to leave, we were all thinking the same thing...He could not walk us down the stairs to the door! His car, covered in several thousand post-it notes, sat straight out the door right under the street lights. So we all start walking down the stairs and it looked like Jon was staying at the top, but then he decided to follow us down...
The Suspense: When some girls saw he was following us down the stairs, they burst out the door trying to get it closed quickly and ran out to the street. Kristin and I stood at the door, with Jon sticking his head out. We discretly shifted to the right, so the direction he faced while he was talking would be facing away from where his car sat. It was hard to concentrate on the conversation, when all Jon had to do was glance out past us to see his car. We finished up the conversation and casually bid him farewell and headed toward the gate. He turned to go back in and - he turned away from his car! Yes! He wouldn't see it 'til the morning. We made it!
The Wrench: "WHAT ON EARTH??!!" we all heard shouted behind us. We don't know what happened, how he happened to see it... (We thought we had cleared!) But we screamed and all started running away down the street as Jon, shocked and stunned, walked out towards his newly-mosaic-covered VW. Then we realized, well, he knew who did it, and we wanted credit for our work of art, so we all started walking back. And some of the girls who had left, drove back to witness The Reaction. Bikers riding by, stopped and admired the car and tried to take pictures with their camera phone. While other cars, driving by, slowed and marveled at the sight.

All in all, it was a wonderful time getting to really know the other girls.

Would anyone like to go visit Wooddale Church, Sat. evening?

2006-06-30T11:15:00.000-05:00

Quick news: I got my first new car! It's a Scion xB. Now I've got a snazzy ride!

Sat. (7/1), 5:15 pm: I'm going to attend the service at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie. If anyone would like to go, I'd be happy to pick anyone up and give them a ride. (The xB seats 5.) I think Wooddale is a big church, like BBC size.

At the service we'll meet my friend Phil, and after service he's invited us to his house for hamburgers. Phil's been a Bible study leader for many years; I forgot the name of the Bible study, but I think it's a global one in which you go through the Bible every seven years. I promised Phil I would visit at least once before I left Minnesota.

So, yeah, if anyone would like to visit Wooddale with me and be treated to dinner, just let me know. (geoffhom@gmail.com; 612-481-0735) You can drive the xB, too. :-)

A sticky Situation...

2006-06-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

How many licks does it take to get to the center of... oh, I mean, how many Pollock does it take to screw in a ligh... uh, I mean, How many post it notes does it take to cover Jon's car? Does someone have a photo to share? I think the whole small group would like to see this...

Intergenerational Gathering

2006-06-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

Here is an invitation to an upcoming event at BBC. I hope that many of us from small group will go.

You are invited to a gathering of the Senior Saints at Bethlehem and the 20-somethings—and anyone in between.

Date: Sunday, July 16^th

Time: 11am-1pm; a light lunch will be provided

Place: BBC Downtown

Guest Speakers: Dr. and Mrs. Wilfred fon (President of Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary).

Dr. Fon will address the Biblical example of elderly, the place seniors have in African culture, and the special role of the senior saints in the church.

RSVP needed: Contact Amy Anderson at (612) 338-7653. You could also let Jess know via email or comment, and she will pass it on.

Arrr!!!

2006-06-28T20:52:00.000-05:00

My pirate name is:

Captain John Flint

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

I took the liberty of taking a "What's My Pirate Name?" quiz on Jon's behalf. How'd I do? My pirate name, oddly enough, was Dirty Prudentilla Vane. The description insultingly insinuated that everyone wants to throw me in the ocean because I smell bad, and that I sneak up on people to disembowel them. What's your name?

J. Crew

2006-06-28T20:27:00.000-05:00

Aaron, Lisa, Meg and Michelle pose for the J. Crew catalog.

Obedience ~ Continued

2006-06-27T13:34:00.000-05:00

Feeling rebuked and challenged after reading Edwards is almost a "given" for believers it seems - and I think that Jonathan Edwards hit the nail on the head with this observation:

"The people manifested that they had a heart to intend to keep God's commandments, and to be very forward in those intentions; but God manifests, that this was far from being the thing that He desired, wherein true godliness consists, even a heart actually to keep them.

It is therefore exceedingly absurd, and even ridiculous, for any to pretend that they have a good heart, while they live a wicked life, or do not bring forth the fruit of universal holiness in their practice. For it is proved in fact that such men do not love God above all. It is foolish to dispute against plain fact and experience. Men that live in ways of sin, and yet flatter themselves that they shall go to heaven, or expect to be received hereafter as holy persons without a holy life and practice, act as though they expected to make a fool of their Judge. Which is implied in what the apostle Paul says Gal 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." As much as to say "Do not deceive yourself with an expectation of reaping life everlasting hereafter, if you do not sow to the Spirit here; it is in vain to think that God will be made a fool of by you, that He will be shammed and baffled with shadows instead of substances, and with vain pretense instead of that good fruit which He expects, when the contrary to what you pretend appears plainly in your life before His face."

Excerpt from: The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

Alternative Fuels...

2006-06-26T07:54:00.000-05:00

In your moment by moment journey toward obedience, are you pulling over to the rest area in Romans 7? Are you pulling over, and idling in Romans 7 so long that the sun goes down, and you almost run out of gas? Does it get dark there and discouraging because there are no lights and you cannot find the exit to get back on the interstate to Romans 8:3-4?

After the sermon yesterday I asked, "Dr. Ware, if we are to daily take this journey to obedience, and the vehicle God has given us is this body, and the fuel we are to use is the Holy Spirit, then what other fuels are we most tempted to use as alternatives, like we do today with our cars?" (Ethanol, Hydrogen, electricity)
His immediate response was, "oh there are innumerable alternative fuels we try to use. There truly are such things as legalistic obedience and hypocritical obedience."

I think of a group of people in the N.T. that were convinced their obedience was the correct type. Even as they lifted Him up on the Cross they BELIEVED they were doing what was right. Paul assumed he was doing what was right when he was following the law to such perfection. And so I challenge you, to ask some questions of yourself:
1. What fuel are you using to reach the destination of obedience today?
2. When you sin are you more upset that you have failed the standard of perfection, or are you more concerned about the ramifications to your relationship with the Almighty?
3. Does your guilt of failure drive you to repent, or does your need of His strength and the enjoyment of His presence draw you back into fellowship?

As you take that trip to the town of obedience today, I challenge you to stop, go remove your personal gas cap, and take a sniff to see what kind of fuel you're using. Some of us may need to get a garden hose and siphon out the fuel in our tanks so the Holy Spirit can get in there and do it the right way. May we not be as those who honor Him with our lips, yet our hearts are far from Him.

N

Update on Healing House

2006-06-23T13:36:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,

I have some updated information on the Healing House Adopt-a-Room project. For those of you who don't know what the Healing House is, here's some quick info.

What is it? A Christ-centered recovery center in Minneapolis opening soon!
Who is running it? Metro Hope Ministries--they're in their 80th year of ministry--they run the oldest recovery center in Minnesota .
Who is it for? Women (and their children) who are healing from:

Prostitution
Time spent imprisoned
Chronic poverty
Addiction of all types

What do we have to do with it? A group of us ladies are decorating one of the 20 rooms. A couple people from Bethlehem are donating the money, and we're doing the shopping and arranging.

Go to http://www.metrohope.org/index.php?id=11 if you'd like to watch a video on the Healing House.

THE UPDATE FOR THE LADIES

The director of the project died a week or two ago, so everything's been a bit chaotic. But now a schedule has been set, and there's a LOT to do QUICKLY. They're hoping to open August 1.

First, we have to paint. Painting has to be done by Wednesday, June 28th, and can only be done from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Yuck! So, I'm planning on probably doing it on my own, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday the 26th. I have that day off of work. If anyone else is NOT WORKING that day, let me know!! It's a big room!
Next, we need to furnish the room. On Monday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m., let's meet downtown at Bethlehem. From there we'll go shopping! (Does Ikea sound good?) We need the following: 1 twin bed, storage items, a desk/table, and 2 chairs. Does anyone have or know someone with a truck that we could use to transport the furniture??
Third, we should go on one final shopping trip. We still need lamps, curtain rods, and bathroom accessories. How does Saturday, July 15, at noon sound? We could meet at my place and go from there.
Lastly, we can go to the prayer and dedication service. It's going to be on Sunday, July 30 at 3 p.m. This will probably be a pretty special event, so it would be great if we could get a group to go! (Guys, you're invited, too!)

Please note these dates, and comment on the blog regarding what days you can help. Thanks!

Leaders in a Blanket

2006-06-23T10:43:00.000-05:00

Sorry; I don't remember if this picture had been previously posted, but I had to throw it up here. I'd have to say it is one of my favorite pictures! :)
It's from our potluck in the park (at Minnehaha Falls).
Love it!

Quote Board Episode III

2006-06-23T08:24:00.000-05:00

QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE CABIN:

FIRST FUNNY
Geoff echoing Aaron's excitement about the luxurious pop-up camper he, Aaron and Devin were sleeping in. After Aaron exclaimed about the camper: "It's Jammin'!" Goeff, plain and clear chimed in, "It-is-jammin'."

I think Geoff is converting. Aaron's irresistable ghetto vocab has been influencing and re-forming even the most un-ghetto of the small group members. Way to go, Aaron for setting the example, and props, Geoff for being open to change. :)

SECOND FUNNY
In the car ride back from the cabin, Nate Hanes was heard humming a familiar tune by the Beach Boys ("Wish they all could be California girls")--but with some slight variations on the words: "Wish they all could be BBC girls..."

I think the words koolats (you know...the shorts that look like a skirt) and bonnets came up. Personally, I was thinking of adding the phrases "braids in their hair" or maybe even "know their theology..."

Anyone else think of some catchy lines that would describe what every male (*disclaimer: unmarried male) BBC small-group attendee wishes for BBC girls to be?

Sneak Preview

2006-06-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

So, lots of us have many more pictures than this...the following are simply to add the memories to our blog. Enjoy the sample and hopefully soon there will be a link where you can see everyone else's, too!

2006-06-21T10:54:00.000-05:00

Happy...um....Thanksgiving? The grilled turkey was scrumptious and props to Michelle and her kitchen help who provided mouth-watering menu items all weekend!

2006-06-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

Jon and Meg work on the Cat...ask Jon how his hands feel after sailing in the near-hurricane gusts that day...

2006-06-21T10:49:00.000-05:00

Jen2 and Jess were state park kayak queens. An adventure through the reeds and weeds. Ah, memories!

2006-06-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

Lisa's berries. What a great fruit salad that was! The essence of summer, for sure!

2006-06-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

Grace, Meg, Jess and Nate

2006-06-21T10:44:00.000-05:00

Geoff, Jess, Meg and Aaron enjoy a gorgeous Pelican Lake sunset.

Cabin Pictures!

2006-06-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

Ok everyone - post on the blog all the cabin pictures you took! Whoops. I don't think I got that quite right... :)

Because some people are a tad picture-crazed (*ahem* - Tamara, me, anyone else want to claim picture obsession?), there are a few of us that would love to get a copy of the pictures that others took. It would round out our Cabin Collection quite nicely.

So, I think the going trend for exchange of cabin pictures is via CD-ROM. Would it be possible to exchange CDs by Sunday? (Ok, I'm just very anxious to see the "rest" of the pictures!) I know a few of us even took video clips!

So I think if you are interested in copies of CDs, just comment back to gauge the interest... This is my notification.

As for the copies of available CDs, (correct me if I'm mistaken) it's Jess, Geoff, Ben/Tamara, me; did anyone else have a ready camera and a trigger-happy finger this past weekend that you'd be willing to share the captured-moment goodness?

Thanks guys! See you soon!

TULiP...rrrriiight

2006-06-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

Take me out to the ballgame...

2006-06-14T22:58:00.000-05:00

What we know:
The Twins will be playing the Cubs at the Metrodome on June 24th at 6:10pm

What you ought to know, but may not know, until now: The Twins and the Cubs are two major league baseball teams, the former representing Minneapolis/Saint Paul and the latter hailing from Chicago

What we would like to do:
Get a group of friends to go to the game

What we will do: Give you more details ($$)

What we might do, if we have time: Come up with creative ways to make even non-sports-lovers enjoy the game

What you should do: Mark your calendars and plan to come

We are the Major League Coordinators of aforementioned event: Mike L and Jess T

One Another

2006-06-13T10:05:00.000-05:00

One Another
Good Morning friends !
I'm thinking that it's pretty rare to find something written in recent days that rouses the soul to become more desperate for God and gives us a stronger desire for a more Holy heart .......wellp.......this poem has stayed with me since I heard it shortly after my conversion, and I thought that I'd share it with you.
It's called "The Vision"
I hope that it encourages your heart as it does mine - every time I read it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So this guy comes up to me and says "what's the vision? What's the big idea?"
I open my mouth and words come out like this…The vision?
The vision is JESUS – obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.
The vision is an army of young people.
You see bones? I see an army. And they are FREE from materialism.
They laugh at 9-5 little prisons. They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday -
They wouldn't even notice. They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won. They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations.
They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying. What is the vision ?
The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes. It makes children laugh and adults angry.
It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars.
It scorns the good and strains for the best. It is dangerously pure.
Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games.
This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause.
A million times a day its soldiers choose to lose that they might one day win the great 'Well done' of faithful sons and daughters. Such heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night. They don't need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: "COME ON!" And this is the sound of the underground. The whisper of history in the making, Foundations shaking, Revolutionaries dreaming once again, Mystery is scheming in whispers, Conspiracy is breathing…This is the sound of the underground....And the army is discipl(in)ed. Young people who beat their bodies into submission.
Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms.
The tattoo on their back boasts "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain".
Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in their upward eyes. Winners. Martyrs. Who can stop them ? Can hormones hold them back? Can failure succeed? Can fear scare them or death kill them ?

And the generation prays ~ like a dying man with groans beyond talking, with warrior cries, sulphuric tears and with great barrow loads of laughter!
Waiting. Watching: 24 – 7 – 365.
Whatever it takes they will give: Breaking the rules. Shaking mediocrity from its cosy little hide. Laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs, laughing at labels, fasting essentials. The advertisers cannot mould them. Hollywood cannot hold them. Peer-pressure is powerless to shake their resolve at late night parties before the cockerel cries.
They are incredibly cool, dangerously attractive ~on the inside.
On the outside? They hardly care. They wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate but never to hide. Would they surrender their image or their popularity?
They would lay down their very lives! - swap seats with the man on death row - guilty as hell.
A throne for an electric chair.
With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights and fruitless days, they pray as if it all depends on God and live as if it all depends on them. Their DNA chooses JESUS. (He breathes out, they breathe in.) Their subconscious sings. They had a blood transfusion with Jesus. Their words make demons scream in shopping centres.
Don't you hear them coming? Herald the weirdo's! Summon the losers and the freaks.
Here come the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes. They walk tall and trees applaud, skyscrapers bow, mountains are dwarfed by these children of another dimension.
Their prayers summon the hounds of heaven and invoke the ancient dream of Eden.And this vision will be. It will come to pass; it will come easily.. it will come soon. How do I know? Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of the Spirit, the very dream of God. My tomorrow is his today. My distant hope is his 3D. And my feeble, whispered prayer invokes a thunderous, resounding, bone-shaking great 'Amen!' from countless angels, from hero's of the faith, from Christ himself. And he is the original dreamer, the ultimate winner.
Guaranteed.

Small Group Therapy

2006-06-12T21:30:00.000-05:00

As Dr. Pete struggles to pull layers of repressed memories into her stream of consciousness, all Jess can do is contemplate the marvels of sitting in a beautiful chaise lounge.

Quote Board, Episode II

2006-06-11T23:32:00.000-05:00

"If you want to get something done, just ask a woman." ~Jon

Jon was talking about how it's nice to work with people you already know, so that you don't have to worry about their reaction to what you say. Jess responded, "I like to just say it and see what happens."

After the recent chopping-off of Jess's locks, she, Michelle and Jon were discussing cute summer haircuts. When Michelle mentioned that she has an all-season haircut, Jon enthusiastically stated, "Well, I guess not everyone can be cute!"

I know the answer is Jesus, but it really looks like a squirrel

2006-06-10T01:42:00.000-05:00

this, the humble response of a dear child in Sunday school when asked by the teacher to identify figures in a picture she was holding.

[ps: it really was a squirrel, but i mean, when you're in sunday school all the answers are Jesus right????]

Reminder

2006-06-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

The Mongolian Cook-Off is this Saturday! Details are in a previous post. Who is planning to come? Mike and Catherine live on 11th Ave, so I suggest that we meet at The Flat to ride/walk together.

Europe is the only continent without a desert

2006-06-08T22:13:00.000-05:00

and doesn't this sound yummy?
i call it Blueberry and Banana French Toast (so does Jamie Oliver)

Method (J.O.'s version of the word "recipe")
All you do is get two slices of nice medium-cut white bread (use gluten free bread if you need to) and butter them thinly on both sides. Toss your fruit combination at your neighbor..i mean in a little honey or sugar just to sweeten it a bit. A little mashed banana holds it all together quite nicely. Beat a couple of eggs up in a bowl with a couple of tablespoons of caster sugar (what is that?!?!), then dip both slices of bread in the sweet egg mixture so it is egged on both sides. Let the excess drip off then smear (thats a great word) the fruit mixture on one slice, leaving a slight space around the edges of the bread. Put the other slice on top and press down. The egg will help the fruit to stick.

Fry in a little butter in a medium hot pan on both sides, pushing down so that the fruit is pressed into the bread. Once the bread is golden and slightly crisp, dust with icing sugar and serve with a dollop of creme fraiche and any remaining fruit mixture spooned over.

i think that sounds stellar.
have a great day!

Spurgeon Reading

2006-06-08T09:25:00.000-05:00

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening is full of gems, and this is one of my favorites so far! I hope you find this exerpt encouraging as you persevere in the faith. If you're looking for a good devotional, I'd recommend this book, especially the edition which was recently updated by Alistair Begg (ESV translation and more contemporary language).

MAY 18, Morning

Col 2:9-10a: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him...

All the attributes of Christ as God and man are at our disposal. All the fullness of the Godhead, whatever that marvelous term may comprehend, is ours to make us complete. He cannot endow us with the attributes of Deity; but He has done all that can be done, for He has made even His divine power and Godhead subservient to our salvation. His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability and infallibility are all combined for our defense. Arise believer and behold the Lord Jesus yoking the whole of His divine Godhead to the chariot of salvation! How vast His grace, how firm His faithfulness, how unswerving His immutability, how infinite His power, how limitless His knowledge! All these are by the Lord Jesus made the pillars of the temple of salvation; and all without diminution of their infinity are covenanted to us as our perpetual inheritance. The fathomless love of the Savior's heart is every drop of it ours; every sinew in the arm of might, every jewel in the crown of majesty, the immensity of divine knowledge and the sternness of divine justice all are ours and shall be employed for us. The whole of Christ in His adorable character as the Son of God is by Himself made over to us most richly to enjoy. His wisdom is our direction, His knowledge our instruction, His power our protection, His justice our surety, His love our comfort, His mercy our solace and His immutability our trust. He makes no reserve but opens the recesses of the Mount of God and bids us dig in its mines for the hidden treasures. "All all all are yours saith He, be ye satisfied with favour and full of the goodness of the Lord." Oh! how sweet thus to behold Jesus and to call upon Him with the certain confidence that in seeking the interposition of His love or power we are but asking for that which He has already faithfully promised.

More Memorial Day pics

2006-06-07T02:52:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Jon, Jess, Grace, Michelle, Aaron, Nate and everyone else for putting together such an encouraging time of fellowship!

In this pic (from l to r) are Devan, Lisa, Jess, Meg, Kurt, Mike, and Jenn.

Ralph (Grace's dad) and Jon.

Our musical trio practices under a tree. And Linnea and Lisa.

Devan and Nate. Jordan and kids.

Jess.

Luke and Kurt.

Mike and Kristin.

Pics from the past few weeks

2006-06-07T02:03:00.000-05:00

Pete kindly gave me a ride to United Noodles, supposedly the biggest Asian grocery store in the Midwest. It's right near downtown, but hard to find. Pete is holding a lotus leaf, which seemed pretty cheap to us. You know, in terms of square inch of lotus.

Gretchen sees something . . .

Gretchen, Jenn, and tree.

Nate, Jenn, and Gretchen do their impression of "Cingular."

Meg

Jenn does an advertisement for Aloe . . . the drink!

Grace and her parents (Ralph and ??).

The normally stately Jenn . . . caught flossing in public! The third pic is when Nate snuck up behind her. :-)

Rob

Jenn and her two sisters. Welcome to Bethlehem!

Mongolian Cook-Off

2006-06-05T06:40:00.000-05:00

Our small group has been invited to attend...

Mongolian Cook-Off at the Tongs!

What do bean sprouts, soy sauce, beef, chicken, snow peas, pineapple, noodles, chili paste, limes, peanuts, eggs, sesame oil, cabbage, shrimp, vermicelli, rice, and an empty bowl have to do with you?

Nothing! Unless you’re coming to kick off the summer at the Mongolian Grill Cook-Off. On Saturday, June 10th at 6:30pm, join us at 2208 11th Ave South for some spicy pan-Asian cuisine. All you have to do is show up, grab a bowl, a pair of chopsticks (or fork if you’re a dork, just kidding), and get ready to create the hottest dish of the night (I’ll be cooking it for you in a wok). Each person will have the opportunity to give just one bit of their creation to our panel of judges and they will pick the winner! Our winner will not only be crowned “The Most Asian of All”, but they will also receive a great prize.

Who? You and your 50 closest friends
When? Saturday June 10th at 6:30 pm until it’s over
Where? 2208 11th Ave South, Minneapolis
Why? Elbow Rubbing
How much? $1-2 suggested donation, or nothing is great, too!

See you there.

Mike and Catherine Tong

P.S. from Jess- I don't want to post phone numbers or email addresses on the blog, so please ask your questions and make your reservations in the comment section. I will pass on the important info.

Finally uploaded!

2006-06-03T23:46:00.000-05:00

Setting up the motorcycle adventure...

Orange straps everywhere.

For those unaware of The Adventure, Jon's bike had to be taken to Motoprimo (?) to get a little fixed up as it wasn't in running condition. Well one of the original plans was that Jon would walk his bike there. (Long walk!)

Well, after much speculation and deliberation, a plan was devised. With Jon steering his bike, two ladies would sit in the trunk of Jon's hatchback holding straps connected to the motorcycle, one would drive, and one would photograph the entire affair. So Meg and Lisa signed up for the strap-holding positions, Gretch took hold of the steering wheel and the clutch, and I grabbed my digital! And thus began the adventure!

Oh, and we ended up using the blue straps.

Jess, On How to Eat Jelly Bellies

2006-06-03T15:51:00.000-05:00

First, line up your color spectrum

Next, eliminate exact duplicates of any flavors or colors

Then, narrow your rainbow down to primary or secondary colors (eliminate your burgundys, funky yellows and neon greens)
I'm not sure why I chose these three finalists, but it just seemed good to me.

Leave the prettiest color or most desired flavor for last, in this case watermelon.

Alternate identities

2006-05-31T12:51:00.000-05:00

Today, my coworker, Celeste told me about this website (www.myheritage.com) where you can upload pictures and it uses this database that tells you what celebrity you most resemble. Well, I couldn't resist. I tried out our group shot from Easter...most interesting results. (Dan and Ben didn't come up because their faces were obstructed by something and Michelle because I think her face was turned to the side.)

I'll start in the back row, left to right:

Nate - Zinedine Zidane (I had no idea who that was, so the next one on the list was Pierce Brosnan. Way to go Bond)
Devan - Lance Armstrong
Sam - John Ritter
Tamara - Alexis Bledel (daughter from Gilmore Girls)
Gretch - Jennifer Love Hewitt
Josh Oakley - Russell Crowe...I think because of the shades
Grace - Geena Davis
Jess - Charlize Theron
Aaron - Aki Hakala (I also had no idea who this was, but the reseblance was astounding)
Me - Kiera Knightly (I get mistaken for her all the time. No, that was a joke.)
Jon - Matthew McConaughey (wasn't he just voted sexiest man alive?) :)

Guys - this is really quite fun. Try it out - it's free registry - then try out diffeent photos to see what celebs you get. I more often than not got Ricki Lake and Jamie Lee Curtis. Interesting... :)

Who's your "understudy?" Add a comment and let us know who you got.

Missy & Meg

2006-05-30T23:13:00.000-05:00

Instructions

2006-05-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

Jon...

Master of Ceremonies
Vision-Caster
Go-To Guy
Speaker
Umpire

We're thankful for your leadership!

Dan & Annette

2006-05-30T22:48:00.000-05:00

Burger Assembly Line

2006-05-30T22:41:00.000-05:00

Jess & Kristin

A Dream Realized...

2006-05-30T22:12:00.000-05:00

Just when I had given up on seeing my name on The Rock, some "friends" made my dream come true. Props to the pranksters! Let the rumors begin!

S'mores

2006-05-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

Joas and Andy enjoying s'mores at the reception... uhhh... bonfire.

Bears

2006-05-30T21:21:00.000-05:00

Jen hitting two sticks together. The noise created is said to repel bears and cougars.

2006-05-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Michelle, Nate, Aaron and Jon, we were able to enjoy a time of worshiping the Lord through music, reading and teaching following the picnic on Memorial Day.

2006-05-30T08:28:00.000-05:00

Jon and the ladies celebrate Jon's recent "engagement" with a picnic. How nice.

2006-05-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

Mastergriller Mike made Memorial Day's meal marvelously mouthwatering. Mm-mmmmmm....Say that ten times fast.

2006-05-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

Michelle and Jess in an intense game of softball. Although Michelle's catching prowess was exceptional, Jess' team came away with the Win.

Stillwater

2006-05-28T22:41:00.000-05:00

Meg, Brad, Jon and Jess enjoyed an evening in Stillwater.

Remembering 3rd Grade

2006-05-28T22:22:00.000-05:00

Jon demonstrating the old "I have orange teeth" trick.

Isn't my longboard dreamy?

2006-05-28T22:14:00.000-05:00

Jen's legendary grace and poise make even inanimate objects appear "dreamy." This longboard (the kind that works on walkways instead of waves) is Mike's preferred mode of transportation.

Walk for Life

2006-05-28T22:07:00.000-05:00

Root Beer Flot Shin-Dig @ Aaron's

2006-05-23T11:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Small Groupers,
Hey, this is Aaron. This is a reminder of the get together that is at my place on Friday night. My joyful journey in TBI (The Bethlehem Institute) is coming to an end, so there's going to be a little open house celebration.

What: get together/open house/party/celebration/pow-wow/what not

- with a little "Rootbeer float" motif (nice bullet!)

When: 7:30 to 11:00ish
Where: My place (2432 elliot ave, MPLS, MN 55404 [mapquest it by clicking here])
Who: People like you who have made my life a joy while living in MPLS
What to bring: something munchy that will go well with rootbeer floats

I would be greatly helped if you could RSVP, just so I know how many to expect.

I hope to see you there, and you can meet my lovely parents, too!!!

Aaron Brown

An Encouragement of Puritan Nature

2006-05-22T15:21:00.000-05:00

SOVEREIGN GOD,
Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart,
and I appeal to thee with greatest freedom
to set up thy kingdom in every place where Satan reigns;
Glorify thyself and I shall rejoice,
for to bring honour to thy name is my sole desire.
I adore thee that thou art God,
and long that others should know it, feel it,
and rejoice in it.

O that all men might love and praise thee,
that thou mightest have all glory from the intelligent world!
Let sinners be brought to thee for thy dear name!
To the eye of reason everything respecting the conversion of others
is as dark as midnight,
But thou canst accomplish great things;
the cause is thine,
and it is to thy glory that men should be saved.

Lord, use me as thou wilt,
do with me what thou wilt;
but, O, promote thy cause,
let thy kingdom come,
let thy blessed interest be advanced in this world!

O do thou bring in great numbers to Jesus!
let me see that glorious day,
and give me to grasp for multitudes of souls;
let me be willing to die to that end;
and while I live let me labour for thee
to the utmost of my strength,
spending time profitably in this work,
both in health and in weakness.
It is thy cause and kingdom I long for, not my own.
O, answer thou my request!

--from The Valley of Vision

i came upon this prayer in my reading and thought i might share it. it seemed appropriate considering what we have been studying about the plentiful harvest, helpless and distraught sheep, and how to respond in our own lives--namely to pray earnestly! (whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours -mark 11:24)

i encourage you this week to have soft hearts for those who dangle near destruction having full assurance that God is at work enabling His message to be heard by ears made willing to listen-for it is by grace we are saved! and that is such good news...