Monday, March 9, 2009

You Know How Some Things Just Make You Smile

The Estes family (see sidebar, "Prayers for Noah") are going on a dream vacation to Disney World through the Make A Wish Foundation! I just keep smiling as I think of their 15 passenger van pulling into the parking lot and all of those kids jumping out to enjoy their once in a lifetime vacation. May it help lighten their little hearts.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Making Red Envelopes

Have you heard about Red Envelope Day?
Here is a explanation of the project that we found on the internet:

Dear Friends and Intercessors:
This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal. As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear. Here is what I would like you to do:
Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores.
On the front, address it to:
President Barack Obama
The White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
N.W. Washington , D.C. 20500
On the back, write the following message:
This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.

Our Bible study made red envelopes. It was very cost effective.

Price at Staples: 10 envelopes- $3.49
500 sheets red paper- $11.99


Join the cause!

How to Spend a Saturday

While this was happening.....

this was happening......
and this was happening....
and this was happening.....

so this could happen........
so this could be built.

It's good to be 9.

Monday, March 2, 2009

A Funny Little Story

This little story gets passed around every few months and it always gives me a good laugh......

A Funny Little Story About Hymns and Praise Songs
By Author Unknown

An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

"Well," said the farmer. "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."

"Praise choruses?" asked the wife. "What are those?"

"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.

"Well, what's the difference?" asked the wife.

The farmer said, "Well it's like this ... If I were to say to you, 'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you,
'Martha, Martha, Martha,
Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows,
the white cows, the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS,
COWS are in the corn,
are in the corn, are in the corn,
in the CORN, CORN, CORN, COOOOORRRRRNNNNN,'

then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus."

As luck would have it, the exact same Sunday a young, new Christian from the city church attended the small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

"Well," said the young man, "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."

"Hymns?" asked the wife. "What are those?"

"They're okay. They're sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.

"Well, what's the difference?" asked the wife.

The young man said, "Well it's like this ... If I were to say to you, 'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you,

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, glorious truth.
For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God's sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.
Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn chewed.
So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn,

then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four, and change keys on the last verse, well that would be a hymn."