We are collecting funds to help by mosquito nets to send to Africa. The following is some information regarding malaria. It is unreal how much these nets can do to save lives. If you are interested in helping out, please get in touch with us.
Malaria fact sheet
Malaria kills nearly one million people each year; eighty-percent are children under-five.
Malaria results in 8 percent of total under-five deaths worldwide, or approximately 776,000 under-five child deaths from malaria each year.
Malaria infects 350-500 million people each year.
More than 2,000 children under-five years of age die from malaria each day.
The most common malaria species in Africa, Plasmodium falciparum, is estimated to cause as many as 10,000 maternal deaths each year and 8 percent to 14 percent of all low birth weight babies.
Malaria is a prime cause of low birth weight in newborns, anemia and infant deaths.
The protective effect of insecticide-treated bed nets has the potential to prevent as many as 1 million deaths from all causes for children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost GDP, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum.
Approximately, 40 percent of the world's populations, mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries, are at risk of malaria.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Crazy Love
We will be using the DVD "Crazy Love", which is a companion study resource for the book by the same title written by Francis Chan ( a pastor in California). Our study time begins at 7:00pm on Wednesday nights. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Taken from www.experienceshift.blogspot.com
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Churches These Days
A lot of churches are building these great beautiful sanctuaries, multi-purpose spaces, fellowship halls and youth centers. That is awesome! These buildings often have great things like railings, ramps, stairs, smooth pavement, and benches...perfect for skate boarding! However, these same churches that claim they are trying to reach these people prohibit them from skating there, they post threatening signs, or special "security" personnel. They claim it is because of liability/insurance issues, or they do not want to mess up their new facility.
Consider this story from Mark Yaconelli's, Contemplative Youth Ministry:First United Methodist Church in Valparaiso, Indiana was just such a church. They were getting tired of the kids being there, destroying their steps, and messing up their facility. So, the elders decided to rebuild the steps and install counter-measures to prevent the skater situation. However, the youth workers were able to persuade the elders (after much prayer) to reconsider. Instead, the elders left the steps, opened up the church facility, gave the kids a tour, allowed them to use the bathrooms, and fellowship areas, and the church staff could be seen fellowshiping with them."If you want to know what it means to share the presence of Jesus with young people, if you want to know more than I can tell you in this book, then drive an hour east of Chicago to Valparaiso, Indiana. Go spend an afternoon sittin on the curb across the street from the Methodist church. Then watch as kids come skating up to the steps, leaping and twirling, crashing their boards against the concrete in acrobatic feats of life and energy. Sit and watch as the church secretaries, the bookkeeper, the maintanance and pastoral staff walk up the crumbling steps. Watch as they stop to say hello. Watch as they converse with the scruffy street skaters. Watch as they take time from their work schedule to applaud as a boy shows off an especially difficult spin on his board. Sit and don't say a word. Just listen to the whir of the wheels on the pavement. Watch the young people running in and out of the church to get water and use the bathroom and then see. See if you don't find those crumbling steps beautiful."
(from the closing paragraph of, Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Youth Specialties) )
Churches These Days
A lot of churches are building these great beautiful sanctuaries, multi-purpose spaces, fellowship halls and youth centers. That is awesome! These buildings often have great things like railings, ramps, stairs, smooth pavement, and benches...perfect for skate boarding! However, these same churches that claim they are trying to reach these people prohibit them from skating there, they post threatening signs, or special "security" personnel. They claim it is because of liability/insurance issues, or they do not want to mess up their new facility.
Consider this story from Mark Yaconelli's, Contemplative Youth Ministry:First United Methodist Church in Valparaiso, Indiana was just such a church. They were getting tired of the kids being there, destroying their steps, and messing up their facility. So, the elders decided to rebuild the steps and install counter-measures to prevent the skater situation. However, the youth workers were able to persuade the elders (after much prayer) to reconsider. Instead, the elders left the steps, opened up the church facility, gave the kids a tour, allowed them to use the bathrooms, and fellowship areas, and the church staff could be seen fellowshiping with them."If you want to know what it means to share the presence of Jesus with young people, if you want to know more than I can tell you in this book, then drive an hour east of Chicago to Valparaiso, Indiana. Go spend an afternoon sittin on the curb across the street from the Methodist church. Then watch as kids come skating up to the steps, leaping and twirling, crashing their boards against the concrete in acrobatic feats of life and energy. Sit and watch as the church secretaries, the bookkeeper, the maintanance and pastoral staff walk up the crumbling steps. Watch as they stop to say hello. Watch as they converse with the scruffy street skaters. Watch as they take time from their work schedule to applaud as a boy shows off an especially difficult spin on his board. Sit and don't say a word. Just listen to the whir of the wheels on the pavement. Watch the young people running in and out of the church to get water and use the bathroom and then see. See if you don't find those crumbling steps beautiful."
(from the closing paragraph of, Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Youth Specialties) )
Monday, April 27, 2009
Book Review
“The Noticer” Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective by Andy Andrews is a series of fictional stories of people during different seasons of life. When a mysterious man named ‘Jones’ (not ‘Mr. Jones just Jones’) unexpectedly appears to give new perspective to their unique situation. Some of those areas of life include new perspectives on circumstances for a homeless man, to love, worry, wisdom, dating and marriage, choices, getting older and death for a man who is dying. Each perspective given was able to change the persons life and circumstances from that point on.
2 of the things I particularly enjoyed was 1) the writer’s emphasis on how little things matter using the story of Napoleans defeat at the battle of Waterloo, where things could have been different for Napoleans army if they only had brought with them a handful of nails. 2) I liked how he made a difference between a choice and a mistake
The book closes with a Readers Guide of questions that we may ask ourselves that relates to the chapters in the book.It was a nice easy read which I would give a 4 out of 5 stars
2 of the things I particularly enjoyed was 1) the writer’s emphasis on how little things matter using the story of Napoleans defeat at the battle of Waterloo, where things could have been different for Napoleans army if they only had brought with them a handful of nails. 2) I liked how he made a difference between a choice and a mistake
The book closes with a Readers Guide of questions that we may ask ourselves that relates to the chapters in the book.It was a nice easy read which I would give a 4 out of 5 stars
Saturday, April 25, 2009
BACK TO BROADWAY
On Saturday, May 2, 7:00pm at the Intercession City Civic Center we will be inviting Fred and Sharon Moore to present "Back to Broadway". A musical, comedy, hitorical program for the whole family.
Snacks will be served and the best part is that it is FREE ADMISSION.
Everyone is Welcome
You can find out more about Fred and Sharon at www.unlimitedprograms.org
Snacks will be served and the best part is that it is FREE ADMISSION.
Everyone is Welcome
You can find out more about Fred and Sharon at www.unlimitedprograms.org
Friday, April 03, 2009
GOOD FRIDAY
On Good Friday, April 10, we will be viewing the "Passion of the Christ" over at the church. All are welcome. We will begin at 6:45pm. This film is a good reminder of what Christ suffered for us. (not that the film is totally accurate, but it gives us a good indication of some of the suffering he went through)
Monday, March 30, 2009
SHARING?
We have been talking about how God has blessed us (materially and financially) and that we in turn ought to be blessing others (materially and financially).
That sharing of blessing invovles helping those on the margins of society, the homeless, poor, sick etc. And whenever we talk about such things there are those who become upset and very defensive....I was trying to figure out why that is (beyond the obvious fact that we highly value money. It along with our kids are the closet things to our heart) and maybe it is the fact that we just dont want to share.
One of the first things we try to teach our kids as they begin to play with others is that they need to share. But it seems the older we get someone needs to teach us to share.
That sharing of blessing invovles helping those on the margins of society, the homeless, poor, sick etc. And whenever we talk about such things there are those who become upset and very defensive....I was trying to figure out why that is (beyond the obvious fact that we highly value money. It along with our kids are the closet things to our heart) and maybe it is the fact that we just dont want to share.
One of the first things we try to teach our kids as they begin to play with others is that they need to share. But it seems the older we get someone needs to teach us to share.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"The Gift of Psalms" book review
“The Gift of Psalms” (published by Thomas Nelson) is a devotional book from 50 of the best known Psalms. Along with a devotion for 50 Psalms it comes with a CD. The book itself is beautifully put together, nicely laid out with glossy pages.
The devotions as, stated in the title, cover some of the best known Psalms. At that point the book takes on a big challenge. With a plethora of devotional books on the market, to try to come up with some new and original devotionals from the Psalms, the book falls short. The devotionals themselves are somewhat boring to read, though they tend to be a little more interesting hearing them read from the CD
I always have problems with authors who feel they have to correct the scriptures because it does not quite fit their theology.
Eg. On the 24th Psalm where David says “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” (referring to heaven) David answers, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” The writer then says, “Not one of us can say that he or she has ‘clean hands and a pure heart…’ If that is the case then I suppose none of us will go to heaven and thus we are doomed to a life of trials and temptations without any hope of a happy hereafter.
Out of a possible 5 stars I would give the book 2.
The devotions as, stated in the title, cover some of the best known Psalms. At that point the book takes on a big challenge. With a plethora of devotional books on the market, to try to come up with some new and original devotionals from the Psalms, the book falls short. The devotionals themselves are somewhat boring to read, though they tend to be a little more interesting hearing them read from the CD
I always have problems with authors who feel they have to correct the scriptures because it does not quite fit their theology.
Eg. On the 24th Psalm where David says “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” (referring to heaven) David answers, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” The writer then says, “Not one of us can say that he or she has ‘clean hands and a pure heart…’ If that is the case then I suppose none of us will go to heaven and thus we are doomed to a life of trials and temptations without any hope of a happy hereafter.
Out of a possible 5 stars I would give the book 2.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
YOU GOT TO SEE THIS
This is a commercial that was to air during the superbowl, but NBC rejected it. Since then it has been seen by over a million people on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyfmtUjNJEk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyfmtUjNJEk
Monday, March 16, 2009
Raising Christian Kids?
As we talked about money and material wealth yesterday morning, with the idea that God owns everything and everything we have belongs to God and anything we have is only because God has allowed us to have it (from the parable of the talents Matthew 24)
A comment was made that we try to raise our kids as Christians. As I think about that this morning, what does that mean? What does it mean to raise our kids as Christians?
Assuming (and hoping) that we would say we raise our kids to be like Jesus, What kind of Jesus?
There are at least 2 types of Jesus. The one Jesus is the American Jesus. This Jesus is middle class, hard working-good pay, nice acting, suburban Jesus.
The other Jesus is the biblical Jesus. Homeless, not owning anything, concerned about the outcast of society (poor, sick, naked etc), persecuted, crucified Jesus.
Which Jesus are we raising our kids to be like?
A comment was made that we try to raise our kids as Christians. As I think about that this morning, what does that mean? What does it mean to raise our kids as Christians?
Assuming (and hoping) that we would say we raise our kids to be like Jesus, What kind of Jesus?
There are at least 2 types of Jesus. The one Jesus is the American Jesus. This Jesus is middle class, hard working-good pay, nice acting, suburban Jesus.
The other Jesus is the biblical Jesus. Homeless, not owning anything, concerned about the outcast of society (poor, sick, naked etc), persecuted, crucified Jesus.
Which Jesus are we raising our kids to be like?
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Free e-book
Here is a link for a free leadership e-book put together by Exponential network
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/docs/leadershiplearnings-V1.pdf
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/docs/leadershiplearnings-V1.pdf
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Dreams
Like a dream come true
That's the way Derek Sivers (founder of CDBaby) described his mission statement in building the company. "What could I build that would be a like a dream come true for independent musicians?"
What an extraordinarily universal way to construct a product, a service or a business. Notice that dreams are rarely "within reason" or "under the circumstances." No, dreams are dreams. If your business is a dream come true for customers, you win. Game over.
Too often, I hear about businesses that just might be a dream come true for their owners, but hardly for the people they seek to recruit or the customers they hope to snare. What do your prospects dream of? What would get them to wait in line?
from http://sethgodin.typepad.com
That's the way Derek Sivers (founder of CDBaby) described his mission statement in building the company. "What could I build that would be a like a dream come true for independent musicians?"
What an extraordinarily universal way to construct a product, a service or a business. Notice that dreams are rarely "within reason" or "under the circumstances." No, dreams are dreams. If your business is a dream come true for customers, you win. Game over.
Too often, I hear about businesses that just might be a dream come true for their owners, but hardly for the people they seek to recruit or the customers they hope to snare. What do your prospects dream of? What would get them to wait in line?
from http://sethgodin.typepad.com
Thursday, February 05, 2009
A New Kind of Conversation
“A New Kind of Conversation: Blogging Toward A Postmodern Faith” edited by Myron Bradley Penner & Hunter Barnes is an attempt to be more of a conversation than just a book. One of the contributors offers a blog on a certain subject then it was open for comments by other bloggers the result is this book. They have succeeded, for there were times I wanted to jump up and respond to some of the comments, but then realizing the book is already written. :(
Blog 1 is an attempt to define what ‘postmodernism’ is. One of the bloggers suggest, which I agree, a better question than ‘what is postmodernism?’ would be “Why is There Postmodernism?”
He then offers 2 reasons 1) Being in our day of pluralism there are so many voices no one is sure what the truth is. One of the points being brought out that with so many groups living by different worldviews that have seemed violent and dangerous (including Christians eg. The Crusades) how are we to live?
I would answer that question by saying we live by love. Not a self-promoting, ulterior motive type of love but a love that only God can put in our hearts. A love that truly seeks the best for the other person, by doing to/for them what we would want them to do to/for us.
2) There is a distrust of accepted sources of authority and truth. He uses one example of children of divorce, saying that kids, though they may not be able to express it verbally, down deep they feel they have been wronged. And if those who are suppose to be faithful to you let you down, then whom can you really trust and believe?
I feel the church has failed to really see the seriousness of divorce on children and how that effects how we do church today. We get all excited and upset about homosexual marriage etc.and yet seem strangely silent on divorce.
On the blog ‘The Bible, Theology, and Postmodernism’ The conversation turned toward discerning heresy. I liked what one of the bloggers said if the community is in loving obedience then heresy will be unheard of. The obedient community will be a check on heresy.
And marginal voices are to be heard with humility, patience and love.
I was reminded of John Wesley’s ‘Quadrilateral’, in which he uses 4 sources in coming to theological conclusions. Any new teaching must be measured by each of these sources.
1) Scripture- the Old and New Testaments
2) Tradition- What does 2000 years of the history of the Church have to say
3) Reason- rational thinking and sensible interpretation
4) Experience- What does a persons personal and communal journey in Christ suggest
Using these 4 sources seems like a good way to stay clear of heresy or unorthodox teaching.
Blog 5 “Evangelical Faith and (Postmodern) Others” dealt with how our faith will be viewed by others outside of our Western, North American context. A problem that we need to admit is that we tend to interpret scriptures according to our own North American perspective, then we want to apply that to all people in all nations, cultures etc.
I think specifically even of our interpretations of the ‘last days’. We tend to have tunnel vision, in thinking that everything the Bible talks about the last days revolves around the United States (us). Eg. We look at the church in America and say “there is a great falling away” and yet fail to realize that in places like China, the church is thriving.
In the final chapters (blogs) the issues of apologetics (or how to reach postmodern people) and spiritual formation was covered. How do we reach them? Primarily by loving them. How will their spiritual growth be measured? Not by their attendance to our church programs and activities but by their ‘Christlikness’
Blog 1 is an attempt to define what ‘postmodernism’ is. One of the bloggers suggest, which I agree, a better question than ‘what is postmodernism?’ would be “Why is There Postmodernism?”
He then offers 2 reasons 1) Being in our day of pluralism there are so many voices no one is sure what the truth is. One of the points being brought out that with so many groups living by different worldviews that have seemed violent and dangerous (including Christians eg. The Crusades) how are we to live?
I would answer that question by saying we live by love. Not a self-promoting, ulterior motive type of love but a love that only God can put in our hearts. A love that truly seeks the best for the other person, by doing to/for them what we would want them to do to/for us.
2) There is a distrust of accepted sources of authority and truth. He uses one example of children of divorce, saying that kids, though they may not be able to express it verbally, down deep they feel they have been wronged. And if those who are suppose to be faithful to you let you down, then whom can you really trust and believe?
I feel the church has failed to really see the seriousness of divorce on children and how that effects how we do church today. We get all excited and upset about homosexual marriage etc.and yet seem strangely silent on divorce.
On the blog ‘The Bible, Theology, and Postmodernism’ The conversation turned toward discerning heresy. I liked what one of the bloggers said if the community is in loving obedience then heresy will be unheard of. The obedient community will be a check on heresy.
And marginal voices are to be heard with humility, patience and love.
I was reminded of John Wesley’s ‘Quadrilateral’, in which he uses 4 sources in coming to theological conclusions. Any new teaching must be measured by each of these sources.
1) Scripture- the Old and New Testaments
2) Tradition- What does 2000 years of the history of the Church have to say
3) Reason- rational thinking and sensible interpretation
4) Experience- What does a persons personal and communal journey in Christ suggest
Using these 4 sources seems like a good way to stay clear of heresy or unorthodox teaching.
Blog 5 “Evangelical Faith and (Postmodern) Others” dealt with how our faith will be viewed by others outside of our Western, North American context. A problem that we need to admit is that we tend to interpret scriptures according to our own North American perspective, then we want to apply that to all people in all nations, cultures etc.
I think specifically even of our interpretations of the ‘last days’. We tend to have tunnel vision, in thinking that everything the Bible talks about the last days revolves around the United States (us). Eg. We look at the church in America and say “there is a great falling away” and yet fail to realize that in places like China, the church is thriving.
In the final chapters (blogs) the issues of apologetics (or how to reach postmodern people) and spiritual formation was covered. How do we reach them? Primarily by loving them. How will their spiritual growth be measured? Not by their attendance to our church programs and activities but by their ‘Christlikness’
Campfire Lesson
Sitting around the campfire last night, I was reminded of a lesson I was taught in Fire Academy.Things do not burn. The wood pallets thrown on the fire do not burn. What actually happens is that the wood reaches its ignition point, the molecules freak out and start to break down, in the process the item turns to vapor and it is this vapor that actually burns (this can be plainly seen by looking closesly at the wick of a burning candle, you will see that the flame is actually not touching the wick).
As Christians, have we reached our ignition point, or are we still cold? Are we on fire for Christ in such a way that we are releasing His "vapor"? Is our relationship with Him evident to those around us, because we are emitting the love of Christ, and things of the Kingdom?
taken from www.experienceshift.blogspot.com
As Christians, have we reached our ignition point, or are we still cold? Are we on fire for Christ in such a way that we are releasing His "vapor"? Is our relationship with Him evident to those around us, because we are emitting the love of Christ, and things of the Kingdom?
taken from www.experienceshift.blogspot.com
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
What marketers actually sell
Not powder or chemicals or rubber or steel or silicon or talk or installations or even sugary water.
What marketers sell is hope.
The reason is simple: people need more. We run out. We need it replenished. Hope is almost always in short supply.
The magical thing about selling hope is that it makes everything else work better, every day get better, every project work better, every relationship feel better.
If you can actually deliver on the hope you sell, there will be a line out the door.
Hope cures cynicism. Hope increases productivity. Hope needs no justification.
Taken from www.sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/
What marketers sell is hope.
The reason is simple: people need more. We run out. We need it replenished. Hope is almost always in short supply.
The magical thing about selling hope is that it makes everything else work better, every day get better, every project work better, every relationship feel better.
If you can actually deliver on the hope you sell, there will be a line out the door.
Hope cures cynicism. Hope increases productivity. Hope needs no justification.
Taken from www.sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Mind Boggling
President elect Obama is talking about a $1,000,000,000,000 debt (1 trillion).
A number we can't really grasp. Though this might help...
1 trillion seconds is 31,000 years.
yikes!
A number we can't really grasp. Though this might help...
1 trillion seconds is 31,000 years.
yikes!
Monday, January 05, 2009
Friday Movie Night
On Friday nights during the month of January we will be having a Family Movie Night.
This Friday night (the 9th) we will be watching Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe
Next Friday, on the 16th, we will watch "Prince Caspian"
Show time is 7:00pm. Admission is free and we would like everyone to join us. There will be popcorn and drinks and you can even come in your pj's
This Friday night (the 9th) we will be watching Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe
Next Friday, on the 16th, we will watch "Prince Caspian"
Show time is 7:00pm. Admission is free and we would like everyone to join us. There will be popcorn and drinks and you can even come in your pj's
New Years' Quote
I came across this quote from Francis of Assisi, which he said to the brothers at the end of his life. I thought it was a good thought to begin the New Year with.
“Let us begin again,
for as yet we have done nothing.”
“Let us begin again,
for as yet we have done nothing.”
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Is the US the beast of Revelation?
An interesting article in “Gods Politics’ blog titled, “Numbers That Mark the Beast”
The writer says,
The Bible isn’t concerned with empire. The Bible takes empire for granted. Humans gather, accumulate, and seek security for themselves and their group. The Bible’s intro (Genesis 1-11) culminates with humans securing a name for themselves. This is the Bible’s way of saying that people will build empires.
The biblical question isn’t if empires should arise but how to manage them once they have. Do they uphold justice or do they preserve privilege at the expense of the weak? Are they built on the backs of the poor or do they distribute blessings abroad?
When enough power is secured that sovereignty can’t be challenged and justice for the weak is denied, the Bible doesn’t call that empire. In biblical language, such a distortion of human community is called a Beast.
And the Bible has special numbers for Beasts.
The writer ask if the U.S. could be considered a Beast. He uses the $700 billion dollar bail out v $600 billion, global giving to Africa since 1960.
You can find the article at
http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=4781&continue
The writer says,
The Bible isn’t concerned with empire. The Bible takes empire for granted. Humans gather, accumulate, and seek security for themselves and their group. The Bible’s intro (Genesis 1-11) culminates with humans securing a name for themselves. This is the Bible’s way of saying that people will build empires.
The biblical question isn’t if empires should arise but how to manage them once they have. Do they uphold justice or do they preserve privilege at the expense of the weak? Are they built on the backs of the poor or do they distribute blessings abroad?
When enough power is secured that sovereignty can’t be challenged and justice for the weak is denied, the Bible doesn’t call that empire. In biblical language, such a distortion of human community is called a Beast.
And the Bible has special numbers for Beasts.
The writer ask if the U.S. could be considered a Beast. He uses the $700 billion dollar bail out v $600 billion, global giving to Africa since 1960.
You can find the article at
http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=4781&continue
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Whatever happened to 'Merry Christmas'?
The last few years there has been a debate (in courts, the media etc) about wishing people a 'Merry Christmas", or so not to offend anyone, "Happy Holidays" when checking out at department stores etc....This year I have noticed that no one says anything. They dont tell you to have a 'merry Christmas' nor have a 'happy holiday'. It is just 'Thank You' or as the Salvation Army kettle man, in front of our neighborhood Wal-Mart, told me today, "Have a nice day".
What is wrong with us? Are we becoming a nation of lunatics or what?
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
God Bless
What is wrong with us? Are we becoming a nation of lunatics or what?
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
God Bless
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
