We got one over Tiger!

I clicked over on my computer to see how Tiger is doing in the WGC-American Express. Just as I noticed Tiger was tied for the lead, my screen refreshed, and I realized that he had just bogeyed #17 to fall one stroke off the lead.

I logged on here to make note of the death of Byron Nelson. Byron Nelson (for non-golfers) is one of the old-time legends of the game. He was also a faithful member of the Churches of Christ. So, vicariously, we CofCer's have one over on Tiger, for Lord Byron holds one of the very few golf records that Tiger will not eventually claim for his own. The record is 11-consecutive tournament wins in 1945 (I think). Tiger has made a couple runs at it, but hasn't gotten much past half-way.

I checked again on the WGC-American Express. I seems that Tiger just eagled #18 to take sole possession of the lead by one stroke. Maybe, I should not be so quick to assume Tiger won't win 12 in-a-row.

Mike Cope's post regarding Byron Nelson -> here

Thinking globally

I ran across several links relating to mission work. I hope you find them interesting.



A few mission-related links-

Mike Cope on the growth of Christianity in places outside of the USA

The Eternal Threads Ministry in India from the Christian Chronicle

Are we Exporting Church Conflicts from the Christian Chronicle ***A very good read***

Deuteronomy 20:3-4 (NCV)

I just felt the need to post this scripture. I hope it blesses you and gives you the knowledge and comfort that you are searching for at this time.

Jennifer


"Don’t lose your courage or be afraid. Don’t panic or be frightened, because the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies and to save you.”

--Deuteronomy 20: 3-4 (NCV)

God continues to bless our church family!

Welcome our new brother, Jayd Spence, to the family!

Week after week, God blesses us!

Who will be next? Who are you praying for? Prayer works and we have seen it first hand the last couple of weeks! Thank you, Jesus, for your love, mercy and forgiveness!

Golf For Zoe!!

A bunch of guys from church are putting together a wonderful fundraiser for Zoe. It's a charity golf scramble! I was just handed the schedule today at church services and told that I could go ahead and announce it on Zoe's blog.
Here is what the paper says (minus personal information):

Charity Golf ScrambleFor Tim and Jennifer's Adoption Fund

Where: Franklin Valley Golf Course in Jackson, Ohio

When: Saturday, October 28, 2006Tee times begin at 8:30am
(This is a tentative time. They are trying to change the time to a little later.)

Cost: $50 per person, four person team

All proceeds will be towards the adoption foundation set for Tim and Jennifer.

For more information contact me through this website or email me directly.

Free snacks will be provided throughout the round!

If this is something you would like to get involved in (helping to get Zoe home), please contact me and I will give you the information to contact those who can answer your questions.

I will also be at this event handing out your free snacks, etc. I want to see each person's face to face and thank them personally. I get to drive a golf cart!!! I assured my friend that I wouldn't drive it like I drive the Mario Karts! ;)

Pray for this to be a success in more ways than just financially. God hears us when we speak and boy, does He ever answer!!

Jennifer ;)

Something to think about...

I am perusing a great book. Thanks to Caleb Miller for letting me borrow his copy. This book has been out for awhile, but I had never taken a opportunity to look at it.

Reclaiming a Heritage by Richard Hughes

Hughes notes similar dynamics among the great reformers of the 16th Century and our CofC forefathers. Reformers such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, each began with a powerful vision of God that shattered the existing religious systems of their day (at least as far as they were concerned). Later generations lost the impetus of the vision, confining it within a new system of religion that in essence, betrayed the original vision that had spawned it.

If one can step back a bit, it becomes clear that the new system of religion is a dynamic equivalent to the old system against which it rebelled. Modern-day Lutheranism and Catholicism differ greatly at the superficial level of content, but at a process level, they are remarkably similar. Ah, the irony of religion!

Now to us. Campbell and Stone, each independently, began with a powerful vision of God. They acknowledged a God that could not be managed by any religious system, plan, or statement of orthodoxy. Out that grew, according to Hughes, "a relentless search for truth". They were standing on the premise that God alone is God and humans are perpetually fallible.

This oversimplifies matters but suffice it to say, early in our movement, the quest for truth was replaced by the notion that truth had been restored. Hughes writes, "... in so doing compromised the most fundamental presupposition of our movement." He goes on to say, "...transforming the Stone-Campbell movement into a profoundly humanistic movement that trusted not so much in the power of God as in the ability of self-sufficient human beings to get things right and, for all practical purposes save themselves."

Hughes goes on to speak very optimistically about the future of our movement. However, he argues for the need for us, the current generation, to recapture the raw power of a fresh vision of God.

What do you think?

September 11th 2001

I have a good friend, named Liz, from the message board I hang out on, that shared a story about September 11th 2001 with all of us today and I want to share it with you all.

Here is what she said:


My youngest son, 12 at the time, on the 1st anniversary was staying with me. We were watching Let Freedom Ring. He was writing something as we watched, and as he finished, I asked him to let me read what he had written. He said no, he was just going to throw it away, since it wasn't any good. I asked if it was an assignment, and he replied no, just something he felt that he needed to write. When I finally got him to let me read it, I was blown away.

He is a very bright young man, but didn't write much at all. So, anything he would write, I was always anxious to read. He never did assignments because he didn't like to write. He explained that this was just something that he felt he had to write, just for his own satisfaction, but it wasn't any good, so he wanted to throw it away.


SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

On the morning of the tragic day September 11, 2001, people in this great nation had no way of knowing what an enormous tragedy that was to be carried out later that morning. At 8:47 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Just minutes later in the confusion and devastation, a second plane crashed into the south tower.

The fire and police departments were dispatched to extinguish the fire, rescue the victims, and encourage and reassure others. The brave men who ran into the tower, while many others were running out to safety, risked their own lives to save others who were still trapped. They worked fatigued, but their spirit and love for their country, kept them going. The towers finally collapased, but not even that could stop them from saving lives.

Meanwhile, children and adults alike, just learning of the disaster that had taken place earlier that morning, felt a rush of emotions. Some felt anger for the cowardly actions taken by the hijackers, some felt sorrow for the people that died, while others felt fear for what might happen next. Soon all would feel all those emotions, but all had a renewed ambition to support their nation.

Because of this, through this time of crisis, WE STAND UNITED, and as long as we have the same spirit that the heroes had, no matter who we are, or what field of work we are in, we will prevail!

When people look back on this day, I don't want them to remember the tragedy, but rather, the success of our country to not give in and live our lives in fear. The heart of a hero lies in all of us. We just have to be willing to do what is right.

We have to live our lives in love and compassion or we will lose our sense of sanity. You can't know happiness, if all you feel is hate. We can't lose sight of the goal of freedom, which we still must uphold. I have been told this many times, but I never really understood it until recently. Freedom doesn't come without a price. If we don't remember this, then the terrorists really will have won. I AM AN AMERICAN, AND NOTHING CAN EVER CHANGE THAT! This is My country also, and I will support her.

Jonathan Gillin
Age 12
7th Grade
Texas

GOD IS GOOD!!!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!

Welcome to our family, Dwight & K.C.! We love you!

1. Happy family pic
2. K.C. & Steve
3. Dwight & Steve

Testimony

There are many wonderful ways in which God is working (blessing) our congregation. He is working through many people in a multitude of ways. I can only speak clearly about what I am experiencing personally.

The upcoming Men's (Leadership) Retreat is a powerful example of God's willingness to listen and act according to our prayers. I have spoken at length about prayer. Let me be clear. I do not have the slightest proclivity for the monastic lifestyle. The discipline of prayer does not come easy for me. BUT, I am dependent on God's power to be at work in my life, as are you. I pray, and encourage others to pray, because God is acting on behalf of such efforts. It is POWER that I am after, and true power can only come from God.

My biggest fear is that I (and in the broader sense, the congregation of which I am a part) will not change. I need change because the status quo is not getting it done. I do not mean to sound negative about my current life circumstance (nor do I intend to reflect poorly on our congregation's past and present) but, far greater things are within the realm of possibility. I am convicted by Jesus's expression, "According to your faith, so it will be done to you."

God is willing to work through us, in wonderful, dynamic, and significant ways. Our small and seemingly insignificant congregation has at it's disposal the magnificent power of Almighty God. Will He give attention to us?... according to our faith.