Let the Church Be the Church

I saw this blog post on my facebook and wanted to share it with you. Makes you think about how far churches have come in their desire to reach the "hip" generation. Several of the comments for this post are quite informative also. http://rachelheldevans.com/blessed-are-the-uncool

Day By Day By Night By Night By Day By Night

When I woke up this morning, it occurred to me that life is just passing by, marked by minutes, hours, nights and days, projects, assignments, holidays, work. For some reason this morning it seemed to me that there is no purpose in life. We do the same things over and over again, never completing. Is this what life is suppose to be? The sad part is that while I am doing mission work on the home front, I still see life just passing by. Is it me? Do I need an attitude adjustment? Am I still suffering the effects of the allergy? Am I like my Chia pet--great expectations but short lived?

Reflections of the Year Past and Resolutions of the Year Present

Ok, so the title is not original, but I'm tired and can't think. It seems as if 2010 has zoomed past me and at times dragged me along with it. I had many deadlines to meet, goals to accomplish, work to be done, and on and on. I guess it would behoove me to make a list of those things accomplished for my own sake, for motivation to do even more in 2011. So here goes in no particular order:

• Babysat my granddaughter on our days off from school, including most of the summer. We had lots of fun, learned a lot, and enjoyed our time.
• Welcomed a new grandson into the world. He is so cute. He loves to stick out his tongue, and he is only 8 months old. Looking forward to many new adventures.
• Enjoyed time with our step-grandsons (I hate that word step!) playing, eating, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, watching football, and just spending time together.
• Enjoyed time with my three children, their mates, and grandchildren, but always wishing it were more time.
• With a great group of people, we sewed and shipped 1001 diapers for the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. This is the most we have ever done. PTL
• Went on a mission trip to South Dakota to help build the addition to their church. In just 3 1/2 days the project went from a hole in the ground to complete roof.
• Went on a mission trip to Honduras where Lorraine and I helped with their sewing program. I took oversized and unwanted clothes and showed them how to make backpacks, bags, skirts from jeans, save items from the clothes and much more. I was so thrilled to be doing mission work in my area of skill.
• Worked Vacation Bible School which is always a fun activity to be with the children.
• Continued with Beginner Bible Bowl kids at our monthly competitions and the Nationals. The young ones keep you hopping and all was good!
• Attended the National Missionary Convention to renew our desire to work in missions, pick up new ideas, and make new contacts. It's better than a family reunion.
• Accepted the challenge and read through the Bible in one year along with 80+ others from our church.
• Continued with our small group for the third year. As a group we sent Children's Spanish Bibles to a project in Honduras, sold Christmas wreaths for project money, worked at SOS in town, sponsored a child for the year, and purchased Christmas for an extended family. We love getting together and especially eating.
• Finished agonizing physical therapy on my hip, and had a root canal. Yippee!
• Continued with our Sign Language Interpreters at church.
• Became Marty's nurse after he had shoulder surgery. I was creative on ways to make his recovery easier such as elastic bands to hold his phone and TV remote while he recovered in his recliner.
• Continued to serve on the Missions Team, collect food for the CARES program, and substitute at the Senior Dinners.
• Attended the graduation, honors dinner, and parties for my nephew, Kyle, who graduated second in his class. Way to go, Kyle!!
• Continued another year as teacher of fourth graders. I have a great class this year:)
• Celebrated 60 years of life and 38 years of marriage to my life partner, Marty. Looking forward to many more years of life and marriage.

As I have listed these accomplishments, it has been cathartic as well as encouraging to me. I see that I need to get busy on a whole new list of things to accomplish in the year 2011. God, I'm ready to serve.

Your Shirt Talks

I was daring yesterday. I was bold. I could have been reprimanded. But I did it any way. I wore a shirt with a Christian message on it to school. The shirt even said the name of a very important person. I figured that since the students were wearing shirts covered in skulls, my shirt would be acceptable. And it was.

I Hate Yard Sales! Well, Most of the Time

I mean, I hate doing a yard sale. I'd rather give the stuff away. But I am working one of those sales today. Our Bible Bowl teams are hosting a yard sale to earn money for our season. It's a ton of work, but worth it for us and all those people who were able to unload their stuff on us. All the shoes that are wearable will be pulled aside to be sent to Honduras, to a mission we support. Sometimes other items are pulled out to be distributed to other groups in more need than just our fund raiser. So all in all, every minute is worthy of our time and your.

How Many Bibles Do You Have?

That is a good question and probably one we don't consider. We are so blessed with the Bibles we have, all the versions, various sizes, as well as study guides. I know of a place where they are desperate for the Bible, to hold, to read, to study, to share. Our small group has taken on the challenge to buy and send Bibles to that place--Honduras. The challenge is not the money required to purchase the books, but the way to get them to Honduras inexpensively and quickly. Our small group has purchased a dozen study Bibles and have a way to send them. We hope to be able to purchase and send many more. Soon!! The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that's the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!

Busy, Busy, Tiring, Successful Week

You would think that week four of school would be easy, but it was not. Seems like we do not have a spare moment. I have even been teaching during our bathroom wait. (For those who don't know, we have one set of bathrooms for almost 300 kids. So we spend a lot of time standing in line, waiting our turn.) Some of the students are ready to be in school and ready to learn. While others will take a little while to join us. (Hope it is soon!)

I had one of my students invite me to church with him this week. That was rather special. He knows that I am a Christian, and he felt comfortable enough to invite me. I already had something at my church, but I told him that I would go with him sometime. A classmate overheard our conversation and asked what church and where. He wants to come. So the first boy wrote out the information for him. The sun is rising.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

We sang this great hymn at church yesterday. One of my favorites, especially to sign for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing service. As I looked out on the crowd, I saw that the hymn was a favorite of many others. I enjoy the new songs/praise hymns, but they can't touch this hymn. Maybe it is because some of us have so many memories attached to the song, so many examples of God's great faithfulness through it all. Thanks, Ryan for including this powerful hymn.

Prayers for the School

I had the opportunity to attend a prayer meeting for our Christian school last night. There must have been 25 or 30 people who attended. Divided into 2 groups, we went into each classroom and prayed specifically for the teachers, children, and the success of all. I was honored to be able to so. Wish we could do the same for our public schools, especially mine.

Successful VBS

We finished a great week of Vacation Bible School with a high of 202 children in attendance on Wed. WOW! It was so awesome! We also had two baptisms of VBS children. In all my years of VBS, I have never seen a baptism during VBS. I think it was a great witness to all, especially to the children who do not attend our church. My granddaughter is sad because we will not be going today.

Glad School Is Out So I Can Do All This Other Stuff

I know it's been awhile since I have posted. Guess when school got out, I totally left my blog. No, really, I have been busy with so many other things that I only get to do in the summer. Hubby and I went on a mission trip to an Indian Reservation in South Dakota. We were privileged to help build an educational wing on the existing church. I lifted and toted so many boards, planks, joists, trusses, etc. during the construction. Don't know how I was able physically to do the work. Great satisfaction to have helped them in such a small way. I have also been to the Beginner Bible Bowl National Competition with our team in Cincy. They did very well. I am so proud of them and all their hard work the entire year. They have learned so much scripture that will always be in their hearts. This week I began babysitting my granddaughter, Toots, so she doesn't have to go to daycare. We are having fun and getting a lot done. She wants to play on her swing set, watch TV, work on the computer reading program, play the WII, and swim. We have done all but the WII in three days. We have also pulled weeds, which she thought was boring. Sorry, sometimes you have to be bored. Now we are gearing up for Vacation Bible School and all that goes with it. Toots is excited because she will be a regular attender this year for the first time. Hope we can hold out with vbs and swimming everyday. It's a tough life, and we are going to do it. LOL

Happy Easter

Up from the grave He arose...

I'm Heaven

Our granddaughter, Toots, told me that our bodies are Heaven. Since Jesus lives in Heaven, and He lives in our bodies, our bodies are Heaven. Argue that one;)

Confession Is Good for the Soul

When Toots and I were leaving church on Sunday, she told me that she had confessed to her classmates and teacher about something bad she had done. She told the class that she had spit in her mommy's face (true story) and that Jesus doesn't want them to do that. They need to listen to Jesus's voice in their heads. Wow, she is maturing so much. We are very thankful about that. And we are very thankful for all the teachers who give of their time and talents to work with the children at church. I'm sure Toots would thank you too.

Bible Bowl Reflections

Well, we are home from the National Bible Bowl tournament. Our teams did well, learned much, and behaved within expectations. It is so rewarding to be with all the teams, sponsors, and parents who value learning designated verses of the Bible for competition. Thoughout the year we tell the kids they are learning God's Word to hide it in their hearts. At the competition, we reveal or show what is in their hearts as we play the games. Next year it is on to Denver for the finals.

Hot Time at Church Camp

Hubby and I went to a church camp held locally to help serve dinner last night. The facility is new and not fully developed, so not everything is completely functional nor "done". There is no air-conditioning in the mess hall. And was it ever hot last evening. The sweat was pouring down my face and down my back. If I had the luxury of standing in front of a fan, it helped a little, but you can't work and stand in front of a fan too. The kids were having so much fun! Sweaty, in wet bathing suits, mud-smeared, barefoot, hair plastered back, sunburned, and smiling! People cared enough about them to provide this opportunity to attend camp. Many lasting impressions have been made this week. Many lives have been touched and changed. Thank you, God, for bring forth adults who have the call to serve You by serving the children.

Easter Enjoyed and Remembered

Easter festivities, church services, food, and the CANDY are just pleasant memories. Well, the candy might have some lasting effects in the way of weight gain. I tried not to eat much by purposely buying candy that I do not like. I tried, that is until my oldest daughter left behind a bagful of chocolates. I think she even put my name on the bag. Thanks, daughter. I'll take it to school for emergencies when I am under so much stress, which could be every day. Thanks to my children, children-in-law, and grandkids for spending Easter with us. We had such a good time hunting eggs, laughing, and enjoying the food together.

Time to Hunt Eggs

Our church hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt at our local park yesterday. After months of preparation, the 10,000 eggs were hidden appropriately for each age group. Seems the squirrels were ready. One of the workers reported that he saw opened eggs littering an area and decided to check it out. As he came closer to the eggs, he spotted a pile of candy. The squirrels had busy finding the eggs, opening, and stockpiling the candy. Does that mean that next year we will need to increase the number of eggs and change to nuts? We haven't heard the count of kids who came to hunt, but the 10,000 eggs, minus the squirrels' take, were all found in 7 minutes!!!

The Shack

I read a good book this week called The Shack. If you know anything about me, you know that I am not a reader. So to read a book in a week is something big. The book puts a whole new perspective on God, and on how we relate to Him. There were parts of the book that I didn't quite agree with, but for the most part, the book caused me to think in a new way. I don't want to give the storyline away, but trust me, you will be intrigued.

Dear God

Our granddaughter, Toots, came over last evening to play on her swing/slide set. She and her daddy were going to go to the local high school football game, but she decided to stay here to play. We hunted in the pond for the "go frog" (bull frog) with no luck. We built a fire in the fire pit. Sat in a semi-circle visiting with one another. At one point, Toots decided we would have a "ticnic" (picnic). So we pretended to eat sandwiches with her. But before we could eat, she offered prayers. We sat, hands folded, anticipating her usual "God is Great, God is Good..." prayer. I was blown away by what we heard come from her. Here is one of those prayers. Dear God, Thank you for my family, for daddy, mommy, my Mimi, my two Papas, my St. Louis Mimi. Thank you for Papa's pond and the fish. Thank you for my go frog. Thank you for my swing set. Thank you for my shirt. Amen. For the next 20 to 30 minutes, she offered up prayers. I asked her where she learned to do that and she told me, "At preschool." Thank you, God, for her teachers and leaders who have instilled the words for praying. And thank you for giving her that tender spirit. Amem