tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29098676066013579682024-03-14T00:12:18.766-07:00Friendsville House ChurchA simple church near the Smoky Mountains.JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-31908017283042574522011-11-12T15:43:00.000-08:002011-11-12T15:43:00.631-08:00A season of gratitude<div style="text-align: justify;">
We started Sunday in church by looking up some Scriptures
on thankfulness: (Psalm 107:1, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 145:7, 1 Chronicles 29:11-13,
Psalm 100 and Psalm 95:1-6). We pulled out the things in those verses we have to
be thankful for---God's faithfulness, He is our Refuge, etc. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The night before we went out and gather some branches and put them in a vase with river pebbles. I cut out circle and feather shaped tags and punched holes in them. We used these pieces to write out our praises and thanksgivings and then we hung them on our tree. We started with barren branches and finished with a harvest of thanksgiving. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/?action=view&current=nov2011015.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/th_nov2011015.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/?action=view&current=nov2011016.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/th_nov2011016.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/?action=view&current=nov2011017.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/th_nov2011017.jpg" /></a>
</center><br />
<br />
<div align="justify">
For prayer time, we gave out 5 kernels of candy corn and did
circle prayers of thanksgiving for each kernel. Even our littlest one participated. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/?action=view&current=nov2011020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/th_nov2011020.jpg" /></a><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/th_nov2011021.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/?action=view&current=nov2011018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/2011/th_nov2011018.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><br />
<center>Kernel 1- God loves us.</center><br />
<br />
<center>Kernel 2- God provides for our needs</center>
<br />
<br />
<center>Kernel 3- Thankful for the friends God has given us.</center>
<br />
<br />
<center>Kernel 4- Thankful for the people God has given us who love us.</center><br />
<br />
<center>Kernel 5- God hears our prayers and answers us. </center>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="justify">
This is a wonderful idea for extending thanksgiving from only a single day
into a season of gratitude. We even had friends over and invited them to join us by adding their words of praise and thanksgiving. Our tree is brimming over and a constant reminder of what our response to Him should be. </div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-50407675848406410482011-09-11T17:09:00.000-07:002011-09-11T17:09:46.245-07:00Remembering 9-11<div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhnBAwBdNHg/Tm1L16xqyOI/AAAAAAAAARE/etLOm9O8Las/s1600/9-11%2Bpic.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651256497102571746" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhnBAwBdNHg/Tm1L16xqyOI/AAAAAAAAARE/etLOm9O8Las/s400/9-11%2Bpic.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 119px;" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhnBAwBdNHg/Tm1L16xqyOI/AAAAAAAAARE/etLOm9O8Las/s1600/9-11%2Bpic.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhnBAwBdNHg/Tm1L16xqyOI/AAAAAAAAARE/etLOm9O8Las/s1600/9-11%2Bpic.jpg"><div align="left">
</div>
</a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhnBAwBdNHg/Tm1L16xqyOI/AAAAAAAAARE/etLOm9O8Las/s1600/9-11%2Bpic.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhnBAwBdNHg/Tm1L16xqyOI/AAAAAAAAARE/etLOm9O8Las/s1600/9-11%2Bpic.jpg"><div align="left">
</div>
</a><br />
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
Today we spent our time together remembering this tragic event in our nation's history. Our children had little understanding and so we spent some time recounting our personal experiences. I was caring for our first child who was 11 months old at the time. I had her at an auto repair shop in Kansas City, MO at the time and remembered watching the planes hit while watching FOX News in the shop's waiting room. My wife was teaching school at the time and saw the events unfold on the television there. We explained what happened and how followers of Islam could be led into such terrible acts. Then we all watched a montage of the FOX News coverage that day to remind the adults and help the kids experience what it was like to see it all firsthand. After that we listened to one of the episodes of "A Nation Remembers" produced by Focus on The Family. This was a collection of interviews with various individuals who were emergency personnel or actual victims from the towers. We left it off after the first episode because the following ones were a little too graphic for the kids. These are amazing interviews by survivors of the towers. One of them survived 27 hours buried under the collapsed building before being rescued. Absolutely heart rending!</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
One of the most important lessons that I was reminded of was the importance of being real in your faith. Our God should not be toyed with and we need to keep our faith real and our hearts closely gaurded as we walk with Christ. During a crisis or tragedy there is no time to "get right with God", that is the time to rely on our faith to get ourselves and others through the crisis. I was reminded of this truth as one office worker led a co-worker to faith in Christ in the midst of their escaping the smoke and ash of the burning buildings.</div>
</div>
JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-20851488536738840702011-07-24T20:22:00.000-07:002011-09-11T17:09:32.932-07:00No We Haven't Disappeared...<div><div align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VH7X8tWgr8s/TiziPBF3AKI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/u9L3T0LgifM/s1600/friendship%2BBstudy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 309px; height: 400px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633125981552574626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VH7X8tWgr8s/TiziPBF3AKI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/u9L3T0LgifM/s400/friendship%2BBstudy.jpg" /></a>We decided to try out a Bible Study book that I had sitting around. I picked it up years ago on a clearance table in a bookstore. After looking at it, we thought it would make a pretty good study guide and have been going through it since Easter. No we haven't lapsed into a traditional Sunday School class mode or anything. We took it and "simple churched" it! We used some of the object lessons but basically avoided most of the outline discussion guides. We did refer to the book if we needed some help with discussion starters when things got quiet or the conversation wandered but this was not usually necessary. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It's amazing what can happen when you simply let the scripture speak to each person. Even my eight year old finds some pretty profound truth to share (though he often takes a bit more prompting). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This Book went through some pretty basic understanding of relationships that most of us deal with throughout our lives. Using scriptures that tell the story of Jesus and his disciples, David and Jonathan or Paul and Mark, we discussed how Christians are to deal with various areas in the realm of friendships. We talked about what it means to have different degrees of intimacy with friends, what to do if relationships are threatened or are difficult to maintain, and how the Bible tells us to resolve conflict. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">We had everyone try to build a house with playing cards (which is surprisingly difficult!) and then talk about how hard it is to build up relationships and how easy it is to tear them down. Another week we played the game "Sorry" and had everyone exaggerate apologies when they sent someone back to start. Then we discussed the importance of repentance and sincere communication with our friends. All in all it was a good framework for our Bible studies and discussions.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It never ceases to amaze me how, even a publication obviously meant for a traditional/institutional Church environment, describes degrees of intimacy that are rarely, if ever, obtained in that setting. After pastoring for five years and then working for a billion dollar manufacturing company, I have seen what similarities exist between the two. They share the corporate model for growth and therefore foster "business" types of relationships. These end up being relationships based on power, manipulation, secrets, and especially, material success in both the traditional church world and corporate world. When we were in a traditional church environment it was always the building that extended to wherever we were. If we visited another member's home, it was as if the building (the organization) followed us there and it overshadowed each and every relationship.We see simple church as a vehicle to develop the kind of intimacy that can foster real discipling and real building up of the Body of Christ. I am watching my family develop relationships in settings where real people live, our home, homeschooling groups, get-togethers at the homes of others and settings out in our community (restaurants, parks, museums, festivals, etc.).</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-7342973550631123192011-04-23T16:24:00.000-07:002011-04-23T17:28:28.568-07:00Good Friday Tenebrae<div align="justify"><br />During our years as traditional church pastors we loved any kind of service that was out of the ordinary and experiential. I suppose that is why we love Simple Church so much...every gathering is experiential! Good Friday, however, is one of those moments that is difficult to grasp. We so often carry our children and other family members either right from the brightness of Palm Sunday into a shiny and glorious Easter morning with bright colors and new clothes (not to mention eating enough food and junk to get sick on). We so often skip the darkness of the crucifixion and burial and forget that between the triumphal entry and the empty tomb there stood a cross on which our Lord was nailed and died and carried the weight of the sins of all time.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">Tenebrae is one of the most intense and effective ways we have found to help us recapture the need to remember the cross and meaning of Good Friday. We start by marking out passages of scripture into eight parts and light eight candles (one of them being the Christ candle which we indicate by using a large white pillar candle). We also use a candle snuffer to extinguish them one at a time during the reading. </div><br /><br /><p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sZFT0jY7n3I/TbNgrZvmPTI/AAAAAAAAAQs/U7pnxq9HTB0/s1600/april%2B2011%2B003%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598925060512824626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sZFT0jY7n3I/TbNgrZvmPTI/AAAAAAAAAQs/U7pnxq9HTB0/s320/april%2B2011%2B003%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">The readings from Matthew and order of extinguishing candles are as follows: </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">26:47-56</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>First candle extinguished</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">26:57-75</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Second candle</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">27:1-5</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Third candle</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">27:6-23</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Fourth candle</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">27:24-31</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Fifth candle</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">27:32-44</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Sixth candle</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">27:45-50</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Seventh candle</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">27:51-54</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Christ candle is hidden</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">*this can be done by using some kind of shield like a foam board cut out that stands up in front of the candle or for this occasion we simply walked the candle out of the room and placed it on a bookshelf (be careful of flammable materials!)</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">*a song (we once used <em><strong>Were You There</strong></em> and stopped at the verse <em>"Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?") </em>on another occasion we just used a loud drum hit several times with a mallet to dramatize the time of Christ in the tomb. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Isaiah 53:4-9 </div><br /><br /><div align="center">(Song of the Suffering Servant)</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Christ Candle is returned</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Dismissal Blessing:</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Go in Peace. May Jesus Christ who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on the cross, keep you and strengthen you this night and forever more. Amen.</em></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">After this we moved silently out into the living room leaving the Christ candle burning on the dining room table. Then we quietly discussed how, though we usually have open discussion and questions during our regular meeting times, this time was a period of reflection and listening. We explained that sometimes we need to simply let the Holy Spirit speak to us through the scriptures and not interrupt. It was a little harder with a wiry two year old and an eight year old bursting with questions. But it really turned out neat and we look forward to doing it again with some minor changes. Perhaps a new stand to cover the Christ candle with (we lost the one we used at one time) and maybe a song or two throughout the reading. </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z1BHSJzxFfc/TbNgrFATFnI/AAAAAAAAAQk/kEIgpKEOpVU/s1600/april%2B2011%2B002%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598925054945728114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z1BHSJzxFfc/TbNgrFATFnI/AAAAAAAAAQk/kEIgpKEOpVU/s320/april%2B2011%2B002%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br /></p>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-45740598535925137162011-04-17T15:31:00.000-07:002011-04-17T16:20:35.256-07:00Palm Sunday ActivitiesPalm Sunday was always a big day for us in the traditional church and we are still trying to find ways to make it meaningful in a house church setting. We started out with singing and let the kids have some palm branches and their favorite instruments (drums and shakers) with JP on the guitar. <br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4XYE0oc3hI/TatshWGOUWI/AAAAAAAAAQU/RaAReGT7mrQ/s1600/april%2B2011%2B009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596686282061140322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4XYE0oc3hI/TatshWGOUWI/AAAAAAAAAQU/RaAReGT7mrQ/s320/april%2B2011%2B009.JPG" /></a></p><br /><p></p>Our songs included: <br />Blessed Be The Name (Charles Wesley) <br />Hosanna (Carl Tuttle) <br />Blessed Be Your Name (Chris Tomlin) <br />Blessed the Name of the Lord (Don Moen) <br /><br />After that we read our Scripture reading from a Nazarene Hymnal (Sing To The Lord #216) We also looked at Mark 11:1-10. The roller coaster ride the disciples went on starting here must have been a doozy. They were looking for a different kind of messiah than the one Jesus turned out to be. They wanted freedom from the tyranny of Rome as well as wanting to see Israel become a mighty world power. They watched as Jesus did the miracles, confounded the religious leaders, and fed the multitudes with little or nothing. Then they saw him ride into Jerusalem, the place he predicted he would die, as a conquering hero. The people swearing alliegance to him with palm branches and their garments covering the roads as he rode in on a donkey (a common mount for kings in that time). They probably cheered as he cleared out the Temple courtyard of the greedy money changers and merchants. After all if he conquered the city and the Temple, then Rome would surely be next. Then comes the Last Supper and Jesus, the conqueror, puts on a slave's garment and starts washing feet! He prays in apparent anguish at the Garden of Gethsemane and is then arrested. Imagine the soaring emotions of going from the thrill, glory and adoration of a King to the arrest, trial and prosecution of a criminal! <br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><div align="left">Following our discussion of the Triumphal Entry we did an activity that symbolized the "roller-coaster ride" of emotions. We took the palm branches that the children waved in our singing and used them to weave crosses and a crown of thorns. (This turned out to be a bit tricky since our palms were not the long branches that the on-line demonstrators used. So we had to trim our branches and staple the short pieces together to make one long strand. The little branches and stems also made it hard to do the crown of thorns but it still came out fairly well.) </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQqIz6T-ThY/TatshSe6nvI/AAAAAAAAAQM/7BGxLnQyXZw/s1600/april%2B2011%2B013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596686281090965234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQqIz6T-ThY/TatshSe6nvI/AAAAAAAAAQM/7BGxLnQyXZw/s320/april%2B2011%2B013.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Trying to figure out how to weave palm crosses and crowns while expaining it to others at the same time!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrbuPQVOVAw/TatshIOwleI/AAAAAAAAAQE/WGsl3-WLGOI/s1600/april%2B2011%2B007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596686278338844130" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrbuPQVOVAw/TatshIOwleI/AAAAAAAAAQE/WGsl3-WLGOI/s320/april%2B2011%2B007.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Our palm table full of the wrong type of fronds for weaving (though not bad for waving but hey, what are fronds for? yuk yuk!) BTW notice the cool inflatable palm tree? </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHFmO4xV8XI/Tatsg8UDHUI/AAAAAAAAAP8/gCw-vgDdxJU/s1600/april%2B2011%2B016.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596686275139804482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHFmO4xV8XI/Tatsg8UDHUI/AAAAAAAAAP8/gCw-vgDdxJU/s320/april%2B2011%2B016.JPG" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Our finished projects on a display board.</p>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-87324925901555111672010-12-20T12:35:00.000-08:002010-12-20T12:51:41.867-08:00Happy Birthday Jesus!<center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010005-6.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010005-6.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010006-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010006-5.jpg" /></a><br /></center><center>During our service yesterday, we did something I've wanted to do for a long time--a Happy Birthday, Jesus cake with all the symbolism that goes with each decorations. There are so many ways to do one so I mixed and matched from several different sources.<br /><br /> </center><center></center><center>You start by baking two- two layer cake mixes (1 white (half colored red/half colored green) and 1 chocolate). You use three of the layers to make your cake. Frost with white icing. Decorate with heart candies and yellow decorations including a star on top. <br /><br /></center><center></center><center>We talked about each symbol and read the Scripture references that coincided with the symbol.<br /><br /></center><center></center><center><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>Symbols and Scriptures:<br /><br /></em></span></center><center></center><center><strong>Cake is round to represent the world</strong></center><center>John 3:16</center><center><strong>Icing white to show Jesus' purity covers our sins</strong></center><center>1 John 1:7</center><center>Psalm 51:7</center><center><strong>Star led the wise man to baby Jesus</strong></center><center>Matthew 2:9-10</center><center><strong>Red candies show God's love for us</strong></center><center>John 3:16</center><center><strong>Candle represents Jesus is the light of the world</strong></center><center>John 8:12</center><center>Ephesians 5:8</center><center><strong>Chocolate layer represents the sins of the world</strong></center><center>Romans 3:23</center><center>Genesis 6:5</center><center><strong>Red layer reminds us Jesus' blood shed for us</strong></center><center>Ephesians 1:7</center><center><strong>Green layer represents eternal life</strong></center><center>Isaiah 9:6</center><center>John 3:36<br /><br /><br /></center><center></center><div align="justify">There are different variations on this like putting an angel on top as the first bearer of the Good News (Luke 2:10-11). Some make the entire cake chocolate and use red candles to represent the blood Jesus shed and surround the cake with evergreen for everlasting life. I would suggest doing a 2 layer cake if you have a smaller gathering because this makes a whole lot of cake. The kids especially enjoyed this edible "object lesson" of the season. Happy Birthday, Jesus! May our gift to you this year be our undying devotion to worship and serve You!</div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-54144515985031726762010-12-12T17:15:00.000-08:002010-12-12T17:26:47.468-08:00Advent Prayer Stations<center> </center><center> </center><center><a href="http://www.ymroadtrip.org/devotions/devotion_004/Devotion_S004.pdf">Waiting:</a></center><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010023.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010023.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /></center><center> </center><center><a href="http://www.ymroadtrip.org/devotions/devotion_004/Devotion_S004.pdf">Preparation:</a></center><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010025.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010025.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010026.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010026.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010030.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010030.jpg" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="http://ymtoday.com/articles/2462/advent-ideas">Paper Chain Prayers:</a></center><center><br /> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010027.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010027.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010024.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010024.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010031.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010031.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010032.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010032.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://ymtoday.com/articles/2462/advent-ideas">Hope, Joy, Peace and Love:</a></center><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010021.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010021.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010022.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010022.jpg" /></a><br /> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=christmas2010028.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_christmas2010028.jpg" /></a><br /></center><center>I found these ideas <a href="http://ymtoday.com/articles/2462/advent-ideas">here</a> and <a href="http://www.ymroadtrip.org/devotions/devotion_004/Devotion_S004.pdf">here</a>. The mosaics were an original adaptation of <a href="http://opendoorstudentministries.com/482/hope-peace-joy-love">this idea</a>. </center>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-84959512518664741412010-11-28T14:00:00.000-08:002010-11-28T14:33:41.143-08:00First Sunday of Advent<div align="justify">Today was the first Sunday of Advent. We used our hymnals and did a responsive reading from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3-5, 10-11 lighting the first candle of Advent, "hope". We talked about what it meant to "prepare the way of the Lord"- to be ready for the coming of Christ. </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=November2010002.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 155px; HEIGHT: 124px" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_November2010002.jpg" width="273" height="120" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify">We then listened to a song Tera has been working on, and we sang as she played "Silent Night". Then we moved on to our "Destination Christmas Prayer". </div><p align="center"><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=November2010003.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_November2010003.jpg" /></a></p><div align="justify">We started, a few years back, to adopt a number of traditions for the Christmas season to help our kids focus on others during the Advent season. One of these is our prayer drive. The first time we did this we took slips of papers in various envelopes and hopped in the van. The kids took turns opening an envelope and reading a clue about where we would go next such as, "sick people go here" and they would guess, "hospital". This would be coupled with a related scripture reading and we would drive to the destination. In the parking lot, or nearby the area we would all take turns praying for the person(s) related to the destination. </div><p align="center"><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=November2010004.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_November2010004.jpg" /></a></p><div align="justify">This, of course, consumed a lot of time (and gasoline) so this year we put together a large map on posterboards with icons representing the destinations. We took stamp pads and stamps of large praying hands. Again we used the hints and scriptures adding many more destinations (the benefit of not having to drive there). We then took turns praying for each individual or group and then stamped on or around the spot on the map. </div><div align="justify"></div><p align="center"><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=November2010005.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_November2010005.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">It was really neat seeing the map </div><div align="center">fill up with praying hands. </div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-23904441543237724402010-10-24T22:15:00.000-07:002010-10-24T22:37:14.434-07:00Bible Study...Anything But Boring!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/TMUVIIjS5kI/AAAAAAAAAOk/zlIaLrXVDgk/s1600/lectio+devina.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531850946773182018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/TMUVIIjS5kI/AAAAAAAAAOk/zlIaLrXVDgk/s400/lectio+devina.gif" /></a><br /><div>We have been spending the last few weeks studying the Book of James using a book from the Lectio Devina series as a guide. It is amazing how a step by step walk through this little book can evoke so much discussion. Our kids are really processing the lessons pulled from the verses each week. We simply take turns reading the scripture verses for the week and then use a few of the questions, stories or examples to spark the discussion. Often the discussion answers the rest of the questions before we even get to them! </div><div> </div><div>The emphasis has been on building the Christian character. We spent the first two chapters discussing; how we treat others while avoiding favoritism, letting scripture help us to resist temptations. and how to be sensitive to the feelings of others with our words, actions, and attitudes. This week we also pulled out the instruments again for a great time of worship. The kids played on the djembe and shakers while I accompanied on guitar. </div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-14148904674399401902010-05-27T12:46:00.000-07:002010-05-31T12:01:54.505-07:00Pentecost Prayer Stations<center>Pentecost Prayer Stations</center><center> </center><center>Taste and See Acts 2: 42-47</center><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010030-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010030-1.jpg" /></a> </center><center> </center><center>Spirit Move in Me- Acts 14-21</center><p align="center"><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010027.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010027.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">Tongues of Fire- Acts 2:3</p><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010030-1.jpg" target="_blank"></a><p align="center"><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010029.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010029.jpg" /></a><br /></p><center>Praise Him- Acts 2: 4-13<br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010032.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010032.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010033-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010033-1.jpg" /></a></center><br /><center></center><p align="center">Set our Hearts on Fire- Acts 2: 36-39<br /></p><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010034.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010034.jpg" /></a></center><br /><center></center><br /><center>Strong Storm-Acts 2 :1-2</center><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010035.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010035.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010036-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010036-1.jpg" /></a><br /></center><center></center><p align="center"><br /></p><center>Wind- Acts 2:1-2<br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010037-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010037-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010039-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010039-1.jpg" /></a></center><br /><center></center><br /><center>The prayer stations at the end of our service:</center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010042-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010042-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010043-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010043-1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010045-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010045-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010047-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010047-1.jpg" /></a></center><br /><center><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=may2010049.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_may2010049.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />These prayer stations were adapted by us from ideas found on the web as well as our own original ideas based upon the Scripture. </center><center><br />Here are two websites featuring prayer station ideas on Pentecost: <br />http://www.rethinkingyouthministry.com/2010/05/pentecost-ideas-for-youth-ministry.html<br />http://www.gavoweb.com/hit_the_back_button_to_mo/2007/05/contemplative_p.html<br /><br /><br /></center>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-15209872859112488802010-04-04T16:09:00.000-07:002010-04-04T16:48:42.128-07:00He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed!<center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter005.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter005.jpg" /></a><br /></center><center><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010017.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010017.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010019.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010019.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010020.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010020.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010022.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010022.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010021.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010021.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010023.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010023.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010024.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010024.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010025.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010025.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010026.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010026.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010027.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010027.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/?action=view&current=easter2010028.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz310/neemee1974/th_easter2010028.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></center><div align="justify"><br />Each year we have an Easter egg hunt in which we hide along with regular plastic eggs, our set of Resurrection Eggs. Resurrection Eggs tell the basic Easter story. </div><div align="justify">Starting with the donkey, as a symbol of the Triumphal Entry- Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem. <em>(Mark 11: 1-10)</em></div><div align="justify">The next symbol are 3 coins, symbolizing Judas' betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. <em>(Mark 14:10,11; Luke 22:3-6) </em></div><div align="justify">Then the cup, which represents the Passover meal or the Last Supper in which Jesus broke the bread and passed the cup. <em>(Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-23)</em></div><div align="justify">Next, the praying hands for the prayer in the Garden <em>(Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)</em> </div><div align="justify">Then, a strip of leather which symbolizes the beatings Jesus received at the hands of the Roman soldiers. <em>(John 19:1-3)</em></div><div align="justify">A crown of thorns for the one placed upon Jesus' head <em>(Matthew 27:29)</em></div><div align="justify">Then 3 nails welded together to represent the three nails that pierced his hands and feet. <em>(Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:26-49)</em></div><div align="justify">A die for the soldiers casting lots for Jesus' clothes <em>(John 19:23-24)</em></div><div align="justify">Then the spear that they pierced Jesus' side. <em>(John 19:31-37)</em></div><div align="justify">A linen piece of cloth to symbolize Jesus being wrapped in cloth for burial <em>(Matthew 27:57-61)</em></div><div align="justify">A stone for the one rolled in front of the tomb. (<em>Matthew 27:57-61)</em></div><div align="justify">Finally an empty egg- to symbolize the empty tomb and why we celebrate today and everyday. <em>(Matthew 28:1-10)<br /></div></em><div align="justify">We have our children open the eggs and tell us what each symbol stands for as we fill in the gaps of the story. This Easter we watched The Story of Jesus for Children, a great passion story for children that has a wonderful gospel presentation at the end. After lunch, we had a time of worship together. Our prayer is that next Easter will be shared with others who will be a part of our house church. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">But for now we are being reminded that we must :</div><div align="center"><strong>"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>1 Thessalonians 5: 17</strong> </div><div align="justify">These times alone are important for us to rejoice, give thanks and most of all to pray without ceasing. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-64078877488691706182010-03-28T10:49:00.000-07:002010-03-28T11:21:05.155-07:00Palm Sunday<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/S6-a9-WqitI/AAAAAAAAAN8/u0EfcHbIQj8/s1600/march+2010+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453748063269718738" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/S6-a9-WqitI/AAAAAAAAAN8/u0EfcHbIQj8/s400/march+2010+020.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Our Palm Sunday celebration centered around Luke's account of the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28-40) and what it means to give God praise. We asked the question- "If the rocks cried out, what would they have said?" We had the basket of stones on the table, we asked each person in turn to select a stone. Then tell a story from the Bible from the point of view of the stone witnessing each event. For example, one told of how amazing it was that God used a small stone as himself to slay a warrior giant. Therefore that stone would have proclaimed Jesus as a deliverer. The kids enjoyed it so much, they couldn't stop telling stories holding up the rock and pretending it was talking. I was surprised at how many stories came to mind. </div><br /><br /><div>We had a wonderful time of praise and worship with lots of songs appropriate for Palm Sunday:<br /></div><div><em>Blessed be the Name -Chris Tomlin<br /></em><div><em>Blessed be the Name of the Lord<br /></em><div><em>Lord, I Lift Your Name on High<br /></em><div><em>Hosanna<br /></em><div><em>Sing (or the rocks will)<br /><br /></em><div align="justify">Our daughter made her own palm tree branches to wave as we had our worship time. She has always loved Palm Sunday. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">As a point of interest we read this legend:</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em>Legend of the Donkey's Cross</em></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><br /><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 141px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 94px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453750637315247362" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/S6-dTza8TQI/AAAAAAAAAOM/LnO_HdW1B8M/s320/donkey%27s+cross.bmp" /><br /><br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>"Bring me the colt of a donkey."<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>was the Master's request.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>A young donkey was brought to Jesus<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>to carry Him into Jerusalem.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>A week later Jesus was ordered<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>to be crucified.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>The little donkey so loved the Lord<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>that he wanted to help Him carry the cross.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>But, alas, he was pushed away.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>The sad little donkey waited to say<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>goodbye until nearly all had left.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>As he turned to leave, the shadow of<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>the cross fell upon the<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>back and shoulders of<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>the little donkey.<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>And there it has remained,<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>a tribute to the loyalty<br /><br /></em><div align="center"><em>and love of the humblest of God's creatures. </em></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-81876347262977616542010-03-14T14:31:00.001-07:002010-03-14T14:32:36.520-07:00Lenten Prayer StationsCheck out our Lenten Prayer Stations we set up for service last week:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://eclecticmomma.blogspot.com/2010/03/lenten-prayer-stations.html">http://eclecticmomma.blogspot.com/2010/03/lenten-prayer-stations.html</a>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-67006336939720055652009-08-02T16:10:00.000-07:002009-08-02T16:56:17.835-07:00Bearing One Another's Burdens<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">I work in an auto part factory and, like the rest of the industry, we have suffered from low sales. For the last few months we have been on reduced hours with everybody pining for the 'good 'ol days' of plentiful hours and bigger paychecks. Then of course volume picked up recently and for the last month and a half we have been getting so much overtime there is no room to breathe (feast or famine?). Well with all this overtime, tension has been mounting at work. My shift is down to two regular workers on my line and we both have felt that the workload was somewhat unevenly distributed. Long story short; we were being forced to work a certain set of overtime hours while the other shifts were given much more freedom to choose their working hours. It came to a head with my friend and I arguing and fighting with our line supervisor.<br /><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">My friend, Billy and I are both Christians and seeking to grow in Christ so this confrontation left us both feeling pretty bad. Not that we were wrong, in fact the supervisor saw the discrepancy after the confrontation and corrected the "injustice". But the feelings we had were still there. We talked about putting in written complaints that I was commissioned to write. As I wrote I felt deep conviction that this was not appropriate and was at a loss of what to do. I felt depressed, angry, frustrated and very "unspiritual".<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The next morning I decided to "take it to the church". I sat down with my wife and children at lunch and began telling my problem and sharing my feelings of frustration. They all listened and I read some selected scriptures from Matthew 5, the sermon on the mount. This was before my boss relented though he never admitted his transgression, lying to my co-worker and I about what choices of working hours the other employees getting. Jesus said that we are not to resist an evil-doer and that if someone asks you to go one mile with them, go two. He was saying that we are to submit to our situation and if asked to do something, even if we are forced, we should do more. The Roman Government had a law that those conquered lands who were considered slaves of the empire could be asked by a Roman citizen to carry a burden for the distance of one mile and they could not refuse the request. Jesus was telling the faithful to go ahead and carry the burden another mile of their own free will. Once again the message was one of submission! Why is that so hard to learn and even harder to do?? Of course the kids were all over this one. Yeah dad, you need to do what your boss tells you even if you disagree and even if it seems unfair to you.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">I decided to do just that and found out later that my friend Billy felt God telling him roughly the same thing. We met with our supervisor and explained that, while we felt that the situation was still wrong, it was not good for us spiritually to demand our own way. If he told us what our schedule would be, we would work it without complaint. It was then he admitted that the "situation" was wrong, though admitted no wrong-doing on his part, and placed us on roughly the same type of schedule as the rest of the department.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;">Yes, a happy ending. But the real victory was not in getting the equal and fair treatment we were looking for. The victory was what happened during and after my meeting with the Church. As I spoke and honestly shared my feelings I began to increasingly feel the weight, frustration, anger and stress lift off of my shoulders. I was<em> LITERALLY</em> sharing my burden with the Church, the Body of Christ, and they were <em>LITERALLY</em> helping me carry it! When we were done I felt completely free all negative thoughts and feelings and completely at peace with the situation. It gave me a new perspective on just what the Church is. I could not have done this in a traditional setting. I may have said I am having a problem at work the next Sunday and prayed around the altar or something, but to get to hash it out, right when I was hurting and needed help. To have the ability to share challenging scripture and get instant feedback, counsel and even rebuke from my own children who were speaking with the wisdom only God can give through his Holy Scriptures was simply </span><span style="color:#009900;"><em>AMAZING!<br /></em><br /></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-size:130%;">If there was ever any doubt about the authenticity of house church/simple church, and let me tell you I have been struggling with a lot of doubt lately, it was squashed right there. I saw my kids, who I have to rebuke, correct and teach many times in a day, rebuke, correct and teach me from God's word just like the Bible says we are supposed to do it! Around the table of communion sharing from our hearts, caring for one another and lifting one another up like the Church should do!</span> </span></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-16035818082052045382009-05-31T18:45:00.000-07:002009-05-31T19:17:51.492-07:00Happy Birthday Church!<div align="justify">Today we celebrated Pentecost Sunday. We started by going into the "upper room", actually the baby's room that happens to be the highest room in the house. We sat on the carpet and read the story about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the disciples talking in other tongues so that the visitors to Jerusalem could understand in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">their</span> own languages. We discussed the trinity and what part the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the church. The roles of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin, teach and reveal to us through the scriptures and to use us to share the message of Christ to others. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We talked about the divisive issue of tongues in the Church today and about how different denominations view the gift of tongues. Tongues has always been a sensitive spot with the Church of the Nazarene where I was a pastor and, though I never wanted to squelch the work of God in ways I may not understand, I wondered what I would do if someone came in the church talking in tongues. I finally hit on the answer though I never had to use it. I read Paul's instruction that if any talked in tongues they should have an interpreter or keep it to themselves. However in this passage it isn't a concern as the word tongues is the simple Greek word for "languages" and does not refer to "tongues of angels" or "unknown tongues". We talked about how it was perfect timing for the Spirit to be given in this way as the large number of converts from other nations allowed a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">jump start</span> for the church to grow throughout the world. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SiM4Ic5LZKI/AAAAAAAAANw/sVv_kb027dw/s1600-h/b-day+cake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342175300837663906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SiM4Ic5LZKI/AAAAAAAAANw/sVv_kb027dw/s400/b-day+cake.jpg" border="0" /></a> We ended the study with prayer asking God to help us live in the Spirit, to let us see God add to the church those who are being saved, and to help us be in one accord.<br /></div><div align="justify">We then followed the study with dessert ... Birthday cake! This isn't the same cake but it looked just as exciting (at least to the children)!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-88434567519627082222009-05-24T10:56:00.000-07:002009-05-24T11:13:35.704-07:00Let's Go Fishing!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/ShmOKplFFmI/AAAAAAAAANo/_s7EhvRgVdY/s1600-h/fishing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339455146835646050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/ShmOKplFFmI/AAAAAAAAANo/_s7EhvRgVdY/s400/fishing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;">Our Scripture passage came from John 21:1-14 today. We recited some of the stories that we discussed the past few weeks. The appearances in the locked room, the garden and the road to Emmaeus came to mind. This time I think Peter was dealing a bit with the stress of the time after a few appearances of Jesus. He also was probably still pained by his rejection of Christ the night Jesus was taken. So Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" the other disciples decided to join him. Jesus saw them and had his breakfast already cooking before leading them to a huge catch. They didn't know it was him on the shore when he said let down your net on the right side of the boat. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;">We talked about how we don't always recognize the presence and leading of God so we always need to be obedient when we feel we should or should not do something. We talked of testing the spirits and being prayerful about everything. Adding that God will provide while at the same time giving us the power to do whatever he asked. Jesus had the breakfast already prepared for them but he did not just GIVE it to them. They, as my son pointed out, had to have faith and obey him when he told them to cast your nets again. They did the work while God provided the huge catch of 153 large fish. God will empower us to do whatever he asks!</span></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-41802366935362495792009-05-17T16:09:00.000-07:002009-05-17T16:57:26.726-07:00The Great Commission Is Not Rocket Science!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/ShCj2wQ_NuI/AAAAAAAAANg/h6Vxu9prllg/s1600-h/walking+together.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336945719498454754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/ShCj2wQ_NuI/AAAAAAAAANg/h6Vxu9prllg/s400/walking+together.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Today we read Matthew 28 and talked about the Great Commission. The three instructions to the disciples were to <em>1) Go and make disciples, 2) baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and 3) teach them all the things that Christ has commanded us.</em> We asked the question, "How would you go about making a disciple?" The kids pondered that question with that clueless look on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">their</span> faces. We then followed up with the question, "What scriptures do you know that might help?" This question rang a few bells and my son quoted John 3:16, <em>"For God so loved the world that He</em> gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life". With a little direction they understood that this verse tells anyone who is not a Christian that God loved them enough to send His Son to die for our sins and that simply believing in Him will save one from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">their</span> sins. We talked about how we can rely on the power of Scripture and the Holy Spirit's work for converting the unbeliever. Our only job is to be <em>ready to answer for our faith</em> using the scriptures we know. We pointed out that it doesn't take a special "sinner's prayer" or church service or even a professional clergyman to lead someone to faith in Christ. Jesus said that we couldn't enter into heaven without the faith of a little child. The process of believing on Christ and entering into faith is simple. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">We then asked, "Well, what does it mean to make disciples and teach?". We talked about the commandments and how even they were simplified into loving God with all our strength and loving our neighbor as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ourselves</span>. The discussion turned towards what we were doing in our house church, simplifying the process of making disciples so that anyone can do it just like the Bible teaches. In the act of gathering together around the table for the communion meal, conversing about God and what it means to be a Christian, studying scripture and praying for and with each other, we are in the disciple making process! Like the Old Testament says, we talk of God when we sit, stand and walk in the way. </span></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-46828856194446963452009-05-03T09:50:00.000-07:002009-05-03T10:30:35.975-07:00Jesus Appears In The Midst<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/Sf3P18lsAXI/AAAAAAAAANQ/Dp0RcAgxTSo/s1600-h/2186011128_610c1d7cf7_m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331646059580752242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/Sf3P18lsAXI/AAAAAAAAANQ/Dp0RcAgxTSo/s400/2186011128_610c1d7cf7_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="justify">We continued our series of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples today. We went up into one of the Children's rooms (the darkest one) and closed the door with the light off. We read from John 20:19-29 and discussed what this narrative says about Jesus. The disciples were locked in a room and found Jesus appearing in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">their</span> midst. Later Thomas, who was not with them, said he wouldn't believe unless he could see and feel the scars on the Body of Christ. Our kids were quick to point out that we are the "blessed" ones that Jesus talked about not seeing his physical form and yet believing in him. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We also talked about how Jesus was already among the disciples when they gathered just as he promised to be among any two or three who gathered in his name. Other points included the fact that Jesus said as he was sent so he also sends us. We are to go out and spread the good new that Jesus is Messiah, the savior of the world. Asking who Jesus would save, the children were reminded that Jesus said,<em> behold I stand at the door and knock and if any man heard his voice and opened he would come in...</em>Jesus comes to those who open and receive him!</div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify">So much is packed into these two passages of scripture that we need to hear today in the church world. How hard is it to remember the excitement of those who newly find Christ is alive and ready to forgive them and be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">their</span> savior? The disciples were frightened and hiding and soon were to become a force in the power of the Holy Spirit that would change the world. This little group of believers would soon change history forever! How many times in our traditional churches do we see excited new believers come wide-eyed into fellowship of the Body of Christ only to soon succumb to the apathy and drudgery of the week to week religious observances of the rest of the 'congregation'. One of the things I look forward to in the house church is seeing the energy and passion of these new believers become a fuel to inflame the passion of the church. For in a house church they are immediately placed into the full participation of all aspects of fellowship and worship. They don't need to sit in a pew until they rot into leadership material. God is doing something new in our country through simple churches...something the western church <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">desperately</span> needs. Jesus is showing himself once again in our midst...we are just now learning to <em>truly </em>look for him!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-46635680836367731422009-04-26T07:25:00.000-07:002009-04-26T07:45:35.929-07:00On the Road to Emmaus<div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3yEdxHJdubM/SfRwb6a_tcI/AAAAAAAAAAM/50rg2P8ISxM/s1600-h/Springtime%2520at%2520Springbrook%2520Park.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329007883927401922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3yEdxHJdubM/SfRwb6a_tcI/AAAAAAAAAAM/50rg2P8ISxM/s320/Springtime%2520at%2520Springbrook%2520Park.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">We had to take last Sunday off due to illness but we were back this morning. We are trying to be more creative in our approach to our get-togethers. Between the time of Easter and Pentecost we are looking at the Scriptures that deal with the post-resurrection appearances Jesus made to His followers. This morning we looked at Luke 24:13-35, the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus that encountered Jesus along the way. </div><br /><br /><br />The kids were told to dress for the park, but that was all. We started by packing drinks and stopping at the grocery store on the way for donuts. JP hid the donuts from the kids so they wouldn't see them. We arrived at a local park with a walking trail. We walked until we came to a beautiful fountain where we pulled out our Bible and took turns reading the story. We talked a little about the story and then went to find a picnic table. As we were walking we talked about how the disciples were feeling and how they did not recognize Jesus. When are there times in our lives when we do not recognize Jesus? JP told a story about a time we were broken down with a dead battery in a desolate area in the middle of the night. A motorcycle dude dressed in leather and riding a Harley stopped to help us. We were very scared at first, but he turned out to be a struggling Christian who helped us and then asked us to remember him in prayer. Jesus told his disciples when they helped the least of people, they were doing it for Him.<br /><br />When we got to the picnic table, we talked about how surprised the disciples were when Jesus broke the bread. Then we pulled out the donuts (our kids favorite breakfast). Needless to say they were surprised. Tera later confessed she thought we were learning about fasting today, since we had not fed them before we left. After we ate, we walked back to car just like the disciples as they returned to Jerusalem. As we go on our way this week, may we recognize Jesus this week as He comes to us in the most unexpected skin. </div>the real mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808855894614709169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-14484284945150265812009-04-16T07:27:00.000-07:002009-04-16T09:08:09.153-07:00Easter Sunday!<div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SedBNAmMxhI/AAAAAAAAANI/wgQDDYzPLzk/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325296776143226386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SedBNAmMxhI/AAAAAAAAANI/wgQDDYzPLzk/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify">This Easter we read the story of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Resurrection</span> from John 20 had a time of music worship and praise in the morning. Our get-together meal was a big breakfast meal with sausage and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">biscuits</span>. We then had the kids go upstairs while we hid eggs around the yard (including the Resurrection Eggs in the picture). After the children went crazy looking for plastic eggs around the yard they split them up (we mark each egg with the initials of the child so they each get the same amount). </p><p align="justify">The Resurrection Eggs were placed back in the container and, setting the candy eggs aside, we opened up the Resurrection Eggs one at a time. Each plastic egg in the set contains a symbol of the Easter story including; the triumphal entry (a little plastic donkey), the betrayal of Jesus (three silver coins), the crucifixion (a cross fashioned from three nails), and so on to the last egg which is empty symbolizing the empty tomb. The amazing thing is that, after doing this activity for the last few years, the children can tell each part of the story (they are 8 and 6) from the triumphal entry to the resurrection with no help from an adult! We have used this set for just our family and for groups as large as fifty and it always holds <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">every one's</span> attention. Definitely worth the twenty bucks!</p><p align="justify">We have been enjoying reintroducing symbols and experiential worship to our get-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">togethers</span> and will eventually move back into prayer stations. We don't think that this takes us out of the realm of 'simple church' as Jesus frequently used such means to get the message across to his listeners. He used the bread and wine to teach of his atoning sacrifice, seed and ground to describe the act of spreading the gospel, coins, fish, the temple, even a prostitute crying and kissing his feet! But instead of on a platform before a sardine can audience he used these things in everyday settings<em>..."teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">frontlets</span> between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">of your</span> house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)"</em></p>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-72613097380839711472009-04-05T13:20:00.000-07:002009-04-05T13:44:42.339-07:00Palm Sunday<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SdkURR8_OdI/AAAAAAAAANA/OukkNIrJGpI/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321306721824487890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SdkURR8_OdI/AAAAAAAAANA/OukkNIrJGpI/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Last week my wife and I both felt the Lord was leading us to do some simple experiential type services for our weekly get-together. We used a Palm Sunday reading and talked about how the person must have felt when the disciples came to get the donkey. Jesus told them to untie and take it when they found it and if anyone asked what they were doing just reply, "the Lord has need of it". We discussed how we would feel if a couple of guys came up to us and started to drive off in our car saying, "the Lord has need of it". This led to a discussion of what important things in our life the Lord may have need of such as; our time, money, our comfort as we are asked to help others who may not look like us or act like us. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We then read a prayer that began, "May our praise today be soft petals at your feet, Lord Jesus...". We used some of the petals of the beautiful tulips that have sprouted all over our yard and wrote some names of people we were praying for or anything we might want to give thanks about and laid them at the foot of the cross. We talked about how the path into Jerusalem with the people shouting, praising, laying down the palms and clothes was still a path to the cross. Even though the people thought he was coming to be an earthly king. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">We ended our time with prayer and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">anointing</span> a member who wished prayer for healing.</div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-64679435107417497272009-03-15T11:42:00.000-07:002009-03-15T11:52:59.413-07:00Getting Back On TrackWe we were back on track today with our service (we have struggled through the last two weeks just barely getting service after sleepless nights). We finally got placed on the simple church directory on the House2House website. They have an interactive google map that you can use to locate a church in your area. We are the only house church listed in the area so we hope that others will find us and visit us soon:)<br /><br />We have been reading through the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lectionary</span> during this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lenten</span> season. The kids are doing really well remembering what lent is all about and can quickly recall that it commemorates the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. We took turns reading through the following:<br /><br />Exodus 20:1-17<br />Psalm 19<br />I Cor. 1:18-25<br />John 2:13-22<br /><br />The Exodus reading was the Ten Commandments and we discussed why God would give a list of rules. Not to dominate the people but for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">their</span> own protection. We talked about how God punishes us with natural consequences and his own punishment because he loves us and doesn't want to see his children harm themselves. The kids could remember that when the Israelites failed to follow God they ended up with a divided kingdom.JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-72183574611725148372009-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:002009-02-24T15:07:14.404-08:00new addition to our gathering<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SaR9J7FSq8I/AAAAAAAAAMw/crefje-fAf0/s1600-h/micheal+home+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306503870381468610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WYUPSJcqw/SaR9J7FSq8I/AAAAAAAAAMw/crefje-fAf0/s400/micheal+home+001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Sorry for the lax start to our postings but we have been a little preoccupied. This little guy came along on February 20th and we have been sleepless ever since! But have no fear we will resume posting our services next Monday...sleep or no sleep:)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909867606601357968.post-29356270608438615452009-02-08T21:17:00.000-08:002009-02-08T21:21:23.896-08:00Our first post from our house church services!<br /><br />Scripture Readings:<br /><br />I Samuel 14:1-23<br />Psalm 11<br />Proverbs 8:12-26<br />I Timothy 1:1-11<br /><div align="justify"><br />After lunch we took turns reading the scriptures. The kids really got into the OT reading and begged me to keep going when I got to the end of the section ( I was mean and made them wait until next week even though I knew that they would be sneaky and read it on their own before then). It was the story of King Saul’s son, Jonathan and his battle against the Philistines. The armies of Israel were encamped opposite the Philistines and Jonathan and his armor bearer went to check out the enemy. Jonathan gets it into his head to attack the entire army by himself and asks the Lord for a sign which he receives. Just before this we learn that many Israelites had abandoned the army and some even joined the Philistines leaving Israel with only about 600 men to the thousands in the Philistine camp. But Jonathan, following the Lord’s sign, attacks the Philistine camp alone freaking out their army who begins fighting amongst themselves. An earthquake occurs at the same time adding to the confusion and the Israelites finally join in and defeat the lot of them.<br />We talked about how the Lord isn’t concerned with how outnumbered we are or how bad the odds are. If we follow Him we will always emerge victorious.<br /></div><div align="justify">Psalm 11 was the icing on the cake! </div><div align="justify"><br /><em>“I trust in the Lord for protection,<br />So why do you say to me,<br />Fly to the mountains for safety!<br />…the foundations of law and order have collapsed.<br />What can the righteous do?<br />But the Lord is in His holy Temple;<br />the Lord still rules from heaven…”</em></div><div align="justify"><br />The “adults” discussed how this speaks to our collapsing economy, political structure, job market, etc.. And how we feel like running someplace safe like building a cabin in the mountains to escape all the chaos. It was the ‘child’ who spoke up and connected our reading this afternoon. 6-year-old Daniel said, “that’s just like what Jonathan did! He trusted in the Lord and even though he was all alone he was able to attack and destroy the Philistines all by himself because God was still in charge!” I am so glad we decided to allow the children to have equal voice, participation and responsibility during church (how much we missed pushing the kids out of the "big ppl's service"!).</div><div align="justify"><br />We ended our time in prayer, praying especially for some friends and family members who are battling cancer, my son, as always requested prayer for Haiti. He never fails to pray for Haiti before bedtime and always mentions the nation during service time. Of course we prayed for mom and the new baby coming in less than two weeks! </div>JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453740129031101352noreply@blogger.com0