Happy New Year!

Another year has passed, and we are still here! Are you looking for the Lord's return?
Have you heard this song?

It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory
To receive from the world “His own.”

Refrain:

O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song,
Christ returneth! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen.  (Words: H. L. Tur­ner, 1878; Music: James Mc­Gran­a­han)

Maybe it will be this year! What will you do with your time? Will you make it count for Christ? How many will be in Heaven as a result of your testimony? 

I believe this year will be an excellent time to witness for Jesus. The poor economy, the lack of ethics in politics, an upcoming election with no clear Godly candidate, civil unrest, and more. This opens many opportunities to testify for Christ. Make use of your testimony for Him!

Michigan has experienced a mild start to winter, and we are about 30 inches behind on snow, having only 5 inches so far. However: we are under a Winter Storm Watch, calling for anywhere from 8-12 inches over the next 48 hours. However, we're ready for spring! Ha!  

We wish you a Very Happy New Year!

Awana and The Great Pumpkin

We resumed Awana on September 14th, and the first night was somewhat disappointing. But look out, the next few weeks have been an explosion! We have also started using our bus this year to pick up those who have no transportation. Over half of our total attendance this year are first time Clubbers!


Due to the new children attending, we have begun a new class for the older children, called Trek. These are sixth through eighth graders. That gives us four age groups, but we only had room for three groups. Additionally, we had no room for game time for a large group. The solution?

The Deacons and I met with the Director of Scheduling for our local Middle School. She was able to accommodate our Club with two large rooms, and one smaller room for our Puggles class. The cost was very minimal, for which we thank the Lord, and not due until May 2012, when the Club concludes for the summer.  We agreed to pray about the possibilities.

The problem? I was very uncomfortable with the Club leaving the atmosphere of the Church, the local Church where the Awana Club began. For Bible teaching, it seems to me, should be held at the Church, the spiritual place where we gather. So I called our Awana Missionary, Brother Bob Pycraft. He told me that many Churches did not have the facilities in which to hold their Clubs. He stated that the schools have been very helpful in the growth of Clubs. So after a Sunday morning discussion at Church, we agreed to use the Middle School. We will move there on Wednesday November second at 6 PM. An answer to prayer, but continue to pray for us!

Last night we held an Awana Halloween Party, at the Church, complete with a bonfire, hotdogs, cider, smores, and popcorn. Treats included wonderful cupcakes, decorated sugar cookies, and a bag of candy to go. Games included a doughnut biting contest, (a spin on the old apple bobbing contest) and a best costume contest. Four adults carved pumpkins and the children were the judges this time. Cleo and Rod even saved their pumpkin seeds for Debbie to roast in the toaster oven. She thanks them! The seeds are wonderful.

We are thankful for the adults leaders who teach and listen to verses which are memorized. They also help the children understand the meaning of the verse which is learned. So important!  

"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:11

Better Late!

Lovely to look at, lovely to hold;
If you drop it, break it, we mark it sold!

When we go shopping in any store which sells breakable things, I keep my hands in my pockets! I am one of those people who love to handle things, but am sometimes too clumsy to be considered safe. (it comes from Mom's side of the family) More than once, we have purchased items which have been broken. Now I am more careful; Debbie handles the good china!

The verse spoken from Jesus in John 10:28 says that "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Jesus is careful with us; never dropping us, and you can't jump out of His hand. Even if you wanted out of His relationship, once you are saved, born again, you are converted for Life! And you can't be shoplifted away from Him! He's got a great grip on you!

That is a great and profound truth! Do you appreciate that kind of security? In this day of economic loss, job uncertainty, government failures, and lost friendships, this is the one absolute you can depend upon! "Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8  

Have a great day, from our house to yours!

Climate Change

Nights have been unseasonably chilly this past week, with lows dipping into the low 30's. We're NOT complaining, after a very hot summer. The past few months have set records for high temps, and high temps in a row here in Michigan. I'm grateful for the cooler weather. Besides, the fireplace smells great! (Did you know that you can roast hot dogs and marshmallows indoors?)

Sometimes our spiritual lives are affected by the spiritual climate around us. People we associate with, things we witness in our lives and others, all these can change our attitudes and cause us to slip away from the fellowship we normally have with the Lord, and with other Christians. At Communion time, we stress the verse found in I Corinthians 11:28, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.This examination needs to occur daily, to keep ourselves clean and walking with the Lord in perfect harmony.

Debbie and I walked in the woods last night and enjoyed some time of fresh air, and looking at animal tracks. We enjoy knowing what critters live and travel around our home. When the coyotes came too close, we thought it was time to head for home! Good choice! The corn is ripening, and will soon be harvested.

I hope you plan to be in the Lord's House this Sunday; I'm very sure that He would enjoy your presence.


Enjoy the sunset, "as we see it."

Patriot's Day

It generally takes many years for our Nation to adopt and accept a new holiday or observance day. This time, however, it only took an attack on our accepted way of life, and our sense of security to move the American people to wake up. Admiral Yamamoto, from Pearl Harbor fame, stated in his diary from World War II that ""I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." This has been once again the position of the USA, a people awoken to the fact that we are NOT liked throughout the whole world, and that this way of life is a matter of fear, jealousy, and hatred in other countries.

While growing up in Maryland, our school had a field trip to Fort McHenry, just outside Baltimore. On display was the largest American flag that I've ever seen, even to this day. The view from a British ship of a tattered old flag flying over the Fort during a battle of the War of 1812 was the inspiration for "The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem.The sight of a flag flying today still moves me, as many have died for the freedom which we enjoy and often take for granted.

Todd Beamer was one of those Patriots who did not stand by "while Rome burned." He and others like him, took action on that fateful day to prevent Flight 93 from taking the lives of many others in a more populated area, and they attempted to overcome the terrorist pilots. We will never know the whole story, at least until Heaven, when Todd can tell it for himself. He lived his faith in Christ, and knowing they would all die on the flight anyway, gave his life to abort that flight and save others.

Would you be able to stand up and be counted, despite the results? Former President George W. Bush stated today in Shanksville Pennsylvania that "what happened above this Pennsylvania field was among the most courageous acts in American history..... One of the lessons of 9/11 is that evil is real -- and so is courage." Courage to do what is right, when it is right, despite the outcome. 

Katherine Lee Bates wrote in her majestic hymn, America the Beautiful, these words; 
    O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife

    Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!

    America, America, may God thy gold refine

    Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.

Thank God for men and women who put others first!