Tonight my big project is getting all the material together for my new men's group, which starts tomorrow night. I've got 7 men (including myself) committed to the group and I'm very much looking forward to the character that develops in this group.
But the binders with the study materials are the issue tonight. I've got 7 binders to put together with 18 weeks worth of info for each. I dropped over $100 at Kinko's today making all the copies. Fortunately the guys know that there's a $20 charge for materials in this group. But I'm hole-punching like crazy getting all of this stuff together.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Standing ar the river's edge
In Joshua 3 ,Israel is standing at the vedge of the Jordan River at flood stage wondering how God was going to get them across.
THe same thing is true in my search for a full-time pastoral position. I know God has called me to it. I have followed Hm faithfully. He has b rought me to the river's edge and we are ready to cross over into this life that God has called us to. But we are still on this side of the river. How will we get across?
It is up to the work of God. Only He can lead across. I can send out as many resumes as I want to, do as many interviews as possible...but only God can make it happen. Our faith is in Him, that He will provide the church for us, whether it will be in Illinois, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Idaho or Mammoth Lakes.
THe same thing is true in my search for a full-time pastoral position. I know God has called me to it. I have followed Hm faithfully. He has b rought me to the river's edge and we are ready to cross over into this life that God has called us to. But we are still on this side of the river. How will we get across?
It is up to the work of God. Only He can lead across. I can send out as many resumes as I want to, do as many interviews as possible...but only God can make it happen. Our faith is in Him, that He will provide the church for us, whether it will be in Illinois, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Idaho or Mammoth Lakes.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Christa picked up a new family
Christa is now oly workingat the Cox's one day a week. So she has picked up a second family. Christa will also be doing day care for Luke Davis from 2:45-6 pm 3 days a week to help with income. Luke is on Caleb's soccer team and also knows him from church, so this should work out well. This should be about $300 a month or so
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Chicken with mushrooms
This is a heckuva recipe
Take 4 chix breasts, dust them with flour, salt and pepper and saute them in butter for about 5 minutes per side and then remove them.
Add a couple of chopped shallots, about 3 minced garlic cloves and some dried mushrooms that have been reconstituted for about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of Madeira for another 3 minutes or so. Add 1 cup of whipping cream, 1 cup of creme fraiche, the juice from one lemon and some salt and pepper for about 10 minutes. Pour it over the chicken and bake at 375 for about 12 minutes.
Take 4 chix breasts, dust them with flour, salt and pepper and saute them in butter for about 5 minutes per side and then remove them.
Add a couple of chopped shallots, about 3 minced garlic cloves and some dried mushrooms that have been reconstituted for about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of Madeira for another 3 minutes or so. Add 1 cup of whipping cream, 1 cup of creme fraiche, the juice from one lemon and some salt and pepper for about 10 minutes. Pour it over the chicken and bake at 375 for about 12 minutes.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
An image for ministry
Sometimes I think that ministry is nothing mre than creating conditions that allow God to work.
I've been studying the book of Joshua recetnly in preparation for my upcoming men's group. I find myself obesssed, maybe even somewhat haunted by an image in Joshua 3.
This is the scene in which, to an extent, Joshua becomes the leader in the eyes of the Israelites. What God did through Moses in parting the Red Sea He now does through Joshua in stopping up the Jordan River at flood stage. But before Israel can cross over the river into Canaan, the priests, who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant, must walk into the Jordan River. Then and only then will God stop up the water. The priests must stand in the middle of the river, holding the Ark while all Israel crosses by them.
It is not the priests who stop up the river. Only God can do that. But it is the faith and the work of the priests which allows God to do His work. If the priests do not go into the water, the Jordan will not stop flowing. It was not enough just to get to the edge...they must actually go in.
So here's this image of the priests standing on the riverbed, hjolding the Ark while perhaps a millin people scamper by. As pastors we do very much the same thing. We counsel, preach, teach, do outreach, evangelize and many other things. But for any change to happen in a person, for there to be any crossing over at all...God must do the work. When I think about doing pastoral work, I picture myself as one of those priests, obediently stepping in the water and not being 100% sure what will happen. But trusting that the Ark that I am carryng...the God I am following...will be at work.
I've been studying the book of Joshua recetnly in preparation for my upcoming men's group. I find myself obesssed, maybe even somewhat haunted by an image in Joshua 3.
This is the scene in which, to an extent, Joshua becomes the leader in the eyes of the Israelites. What God did through Moses in parting the Red Sea He now does through Joshua in stopping up the Jordan River at flood stage. But before Israel can cross over the river into Canaan, the priests, who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant, must walk into the Jordan River. Then and only then will God stop up the water. The priests must stand in the middle of the river, holding the Ark while all Israel crosses by them.
It is not the priests who stop up the river. Only God can do that. But it is the faith and the work of the priests which allows God to do His work. If the priests do not go into the water, the Jordan will not stop flowing. It was not enough just to get to the edge...they must actually go in.
So here's this image of the priests standing on the riverbed, hjolding the Ark while perhaps a millin people scamper by. As pastors we do very much the same thing. We counsel, preach, teach, do outreach, evangelize and many other things. But for any change to happen in a person, for there to be any crossing over at all...God must do the work. When I think about doing pastoral work, I picture myself as one of those priests, obediently stepping in the water and not being 100% sure what will happen. But trusting that the Ark that I am carryng...the God I am following...will be at work.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Mystery solved...sort of
I think we've figured out what happened with my father's ashes. First of all, whoever my mom saw in the office at Skylawn gave her the wrong map. So she went to the wrong location. We'll verify that when I'm there next week.
Second, the place where his ashes actually are...there's a couple of other Millers there with nameplates which simply say' Miller'. I probably looked at one of those, assuming it was my father.
But they did screwup on the nameplate they were supposed to order. Tey never did. And now they are doing it for free and it should be there in a few weeks.
Second, the place where his ashes actually are...there's a couple of other Millers there with nameplates which simply say' Miller'. I probably looked at one of those, assuming it was my father.
But they did screwup on the nameplate they were supposed to order. Tey never did. And now they are doing it for free and it should be there in a few weeks.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
a major screwup
My fathers passed away just about a year ago (Nov 1). He was cremated and his ashes to be interred at Skylawn Cemetary on Hwy 92. We went to put the ashes there ourselves. We had ordered a plaque and a vase to be put there.
I visted about 6 months ago...maybe March or so. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't feel I needed to. I got direction from the office, went up there and sat for a few minutes. The plaque was there.
This last weekend my brother was in town. He and my mom went up there. No ashes. No plaque. In his spot was a nameplate for someone who died in 2000. They have no idea where the ashes are and say they never ordered a nameplate.
I feel this is just the beginning. My mom is understandibly outraged...as am I and my brother. They can't find where they moved him
I visted about 6 months ago...maybe March or so. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't feel I needed to. I got direction from the office, went up there and sat for a few minutes. The plaque was there.
This last weekend my brother was in town. He and my mom went up there. No ashes. No plaque. In his spot was a nameplate for someone who died in 2000. They have no idea where the ashes are and say they never ordered a nameplate.
I feel this is just the beginning. My mom is understandibly outraged...as am I and my brother. They can't find where they moved him
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)