Special Guest...A Year Ago

Last December we had a missionary from the country of Romania visit and speak in our church services. It was truly a blessing to have him visit "our turf"...before we visited "his turf" the following summer. Troy is a very special friend to me and to many of those in our church that have traveled to Galati, Romania on several short term mission trips. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Karla, as well as your family this Christmas Season. Once again, just like last December, several of us are looking forward to returning to "your turf" this summer. God bless ya'll!

What's In A Christmas Scripture For Me?

There were many of our youth group absent from tonight 's meeting: Some were on a youth skiing retreat in Minnesota with some of our leaders and many were attending Christmas programs and activities in our immediate area. Our pastor, Jay, presented scripture found in Luke 1:26-38 to those youth in attendance. He was challenging them to learn how to feed themselves when they read the scriptures in the Bible. He instructed them to do two things when they read scripture: 1. Circle main words in the verses. 2. Ask this question to the verse. What is God wanting to tell them (meaning the people in the scripture). To take it one step further, what is God saying to me? Ok, give it a try with Luke 1:26-38 listed below:

(26)In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to a town in Galilee, (27)to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (28)The angel went to her and said,"Greetings , you are highly favored! The Lord is with you.

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. (30)But the angel said to her,"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. (31)You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. (32)He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of the father David, (33)and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

(34)"How will this be," Mary ask the angel, "since I am a virgin?'

(35)The angel answered,"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (36)Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she was said to be the barren is in her sixth month. (37)For nothing is impossible with God."

(38)"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Here is what our youth came up with...how appropriate a lesson that God teaches us with this scripture passage:
(v28)The Lord is with you.
(v30)Don't be afraid.
(v31-33)I have a plan for your life.
(v34-35)There is nothing I can't do.
(v37)Nothing is impossible with God.
(v38)How much do I love God?

Mary was a living sacrifice for God...What about you?

Dragon Update

2nd placce at Trenton Tournament

Merry Christmas...From Me To U...Tube

From me to you, check out this song on Youtube.com (the site is listed below). It is worth your time to listen to it and view this short snippet.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

Random Photos Of The Ice Storm

Above: This is damage to trees caused from the ice storm the
past few days.

Above, the beauty from the storm...tennis courts are beautious
regardless of the season.

Ice...Not So Nice

Above: Mother Nature "trimming" the trees in our yard.

Left: I've never owned a box, not even a mail box!
Right: I have 2 packs of Jacobs coffee left from Romania...what am I to do? Well, replenish the stash later this summer.

On The Sidelines

My good friend, Donn, knows the security guard for the Oakland Raiders...they met about five years ago. Since then each year when the Raiders visit Arrowhead Stadium, he gives Donn and their son, Quinten, field passes so they can be on the field before the game starts. This past Sunday, he was asked if helping the Raider's camera man would be something he would like to do during the game. I don't think this smile has left his face since Sunday afternoon.