While we're in Kansas and Oklahoma this coming week, we will be visiting two churches in hopes of gaining more Ministry Partners.
Pray for us!
Jun 30, 2008
Heading home
Growing up, the 4th of July was bigger than Christmas in my family.
Early in the 20th century, in the midst of a gentle valley in southern Kansas, a man-made lake was created and a group of several dozen cabins built around and near it. It was developed by the Elm Mills Corporation -- the old Elm Mill which once ground the grains that were grown in the area had been defunct for some time.
My grandfather bought one of these cabins in the 50's and our family tradition of spending the 4th at "The Mill" began. There are fireworks galore, sack races, three-legged races, row boat races, scavenger hunts, turtle races (you have to catch your own) along with many more activities and a lot of eating. It's Americana in its highest glory.
The cabin was passed to my dad and now is owned by my brother -- yeah, the one who lives in Budapest. My sister and her husband now own the cabin next door. To get a good picture in your mind, think "On Golden Pond" with a smaller pond.
The last time I was "home" for the 4th was, I think, 2000. This year (this week!) we will be back -- myself, Beth and Molly. My sister Dianne will be there with her family and my brother Dennis with Judit, his significant other.
Just thinking about it warms my heart. I feel like a kid waiting for... well, Christmas.
Expect many pictures!
Early in the 20th century, in the midst of a gentle valley in southern Kansas, a man-made lake was created and a group of several dozen cabins built around and near it. It was developed by the Elm Mills Corporation -- the old Elm Mill which once ground the grains that were grown in the area had been defunct for some time.
My grandfather bought one of these cabins in the 50's and our family tradition of spending the 4th at "The Mill" began. There are fireworks galore, sack races, three-legged races, row boat races, scavenger hunts, turtle races (you have to catch your own) along with many more activities and a lot of eating. It's Americana in its highest glory.
The cabin was passed to my dad and now is owned by my brother -- yeah, the one who lives in Budapest. My sister and her husband now own the cabin next door. To get a good picture in your mind, think "On Golden Pond" with a smaller pond.
The last time I was "home" for the 4th was, I think, 2000. This year (this week!) we will be back -- myself, Beth and Molly. My sister Dianne will be there with her family and my brother Dennis with Judit, his significant other.
Just thinking about it warms my heart. I feel like a kid waiting for... well, Christmas.
Expect many pictures!
Jun 22, 2008
Audacity
This morning at Coast, we continued in our series "One Prayer" with a message from Stephen Furtick. His one prayer, and the focus of his message was "Lord, make us audacious."
It really hit home with me. How audacious is it for us to not just believe that "all things are possible" with God, but to begin to live that way? I know I've blogged about this before, but I must admit that it still hasn't sunk in completely. How about you?
But here's the deal...
God has given us this vision for Ireland, placed us with a wonderful sending organization and allowed us to begin our ministry through short-term trips, which made it possible for us to be sure that Molly was ready for us to go.
The time of the short-term, part-time ministry is now behind us and we press on toward the goal of making our permanent move to Ireland.
Furtick honed in on one word which sat in the midst of what is otherwise an heroic story of Jonathan and his armor bearer going to (just the two of them) face a powerful army. In verse 6 of 1 Samuel 14, as they prepare to go out, Jonathan says, "Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf." Perhaps? Perhaps!?!
It rang in my ears -- this doubtful word. Have I allowed this word or its implications to make its way into my thinking? Oy!
So here's my prayer:
Lord -- give us the audacity to believe that your promise of our full-time ministry in Ireland is not only true, but inevitable -- even imminent! Give us the audacity to believe that everything we do in our work of MPD (Ministry Partner Development) will bring us closer to that goal. Give us the audacity to believe that the monthly support we need is there -- we just need to unearth it. Finally, give us the audacity to believe that You will show us where to dig and when we dig, that we will find Your reward.
Do you have something that has had a big PERHAPS hanging over it?
Pray for the audacity to believe...
It really hit home with me. How audacious is it for us to not just believe that "all things are possible" with God, but to begin to live that way? I know I've blogged about this before, but I must admit that it still hasn't sunk in completely. How about you?
But here's the deal...
God has given us this vision for Ireland, placed us with a wonderful sending organization and allowed us to begin our ministry through short-term trips, which made it possible for us to be sure that Molly was ready for us to go.
The time of the short-term, part-time ministry is now behind us and we press on toward the goal of making our permanent move to Ireland.
Furtick honed in on one word which sat in the midst of what is otherwise an heroic story of Jonathan and his armor bearer going to (just the two of them) face a powerful army. In verse 6 of 1 Samuel 14, as they prepare to go out, Jonathan says, "Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf." Perhaps? Perhaps!?!
It rang in my ears -- this doubtful word. Have I allowed this word or its implications to make its way into my thinking? Oy!
So here's my prayer:
Lord -- give us the audacity to believe that your promise of our full-time ministry in Ireland is not only true, but inevitable -- even imminent! Give us the audacity to believe that everything we do in our work of MPD (Ministry Partner Development) will bring us closer to that goal. Give us the audacity to believe that the monthly support we need is there -- we just need to unearth it. Finally, give us the audacity to believe that You will show us where to dig and when we dig, that we will find Your reward.
Do you have something that has had a big PERHAPS hanging over it?
Pray for the audacity to believe...
Jun 18, 2008
A good visit
Last week we played host to a friend of ours from Belfast, Northern Ireland. David Porter is working on a doctorate from The Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville. Having begun in January, he is required to be on campus for a week very 6 months while working on his degree and decided to come a few days early to spend them with us.
We met David last April in the Czech Republic when we were there for the Europe Worship Link Conference. Then, in September we spent the weekend with his family in Belfast and joined him singing in the choir for New Irish Arts' Ireland in Praise.
It was really good having him here and we had many engaging discussions about Ireland and what's happening there, as well as what the Lord is doing in each of our lives.
Last Sunday morning (the 8th) the three of us sang Be Thou My Vision and David played his tin whistle, which gave everyone goosebumps. People loved it. There is just something so close to the soul about Irish instruments.
David then shared a bit about the state of the church in Ireland and why the ministry that we are doing is so important. We had some who have heard all about it from us tell us that they finally get the vision and realize that we really need to be there.
I'm ready.
We met David last April in the Czech Republic when we were there for the Europe Worship Link Conference. Then, in September we spent the weekend with his family in Belfast and joined him singing in the choir for New Irish Arts' Ireland in Praise.
It was really good having him here and we had many engaging discussions about Ireland and what's happening there, as well as what the Lord is doing in each of our lives.
Last Sunday morning (the 8th) the three of us sang Be Thou My Vision and David played his tin whistle, which gave everyone goosebumps. People loved it. There is just something so close to the soul about Irish instruments.
David then shared a bit about the state of the church in Ireland and why the ministry that we are doing is so important. We had some who have heard all about it from us tell us that they finally get the vision and realize that we really need to be there.
I'm ready.
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