We've had the greatest time camping for the past few weeks. We spent about 7 days in Prince E dward Island biking and exploring the gorgeous coastline. Sunday we were biking along the Confederation trail and stopped to chat with a couple from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Before we said goodbye, the man mentioned an old Baptist church nearby that lots of people liked to visit. " You might enjoy just seeing it", he said, and we thought we might stop by and take a look.
When we stopped at the church, we noticed there were folks going inside-not to tour, but to worship. The pastor waved at us and said ," service starts at 11, come on in" , so we did.
The small sanctuary was packed with maybe 150 people from all over the world as well as many locals(most dressed very casually like us) The couple we had met on the trail waved us over to sit with them. The singing was truly amazing. EVERYONE was singing!
WE learned that this tiny church only held services 2 months out of the year as a summer ministry and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time to learn about it.
It was truly one of the most powerful worship experiences we've shared in a long time. We had just prayed for our Sunday School class over breakfast earlier and then God saw fit to lead us to a group of believers on that beautiful morning to meet HIM.
WE miss you all and look forward to seeing you soon. Love you, Mary Alice and Jimmy
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Craigs and More
The Craigs were with us on August 10. What a great time to share with them and learn what is happening in Zambia. We just couldn't talk enough or hug enough. Or even eat enough. What a great potluck lunch we had after church. Thanks to all who helped and brought a healthy appetite.
Let's be in prayer for the Craigs and Zambia. Marcus reminded us this morning that the Zambian president died this week.
We are coming to a close on our study of The Shack. This morning we talked about the spiritual poverty of our times. So many are seeking a spiritual relationship and don't know that it is found in the presence of God. We studied John 3 and talked about Nicodemus, a man full of theology but little spirituality.
It was great to have Pam and David visiting our class this week. Give them a big hello next week. Virginia was back from her travels safe and sound.
Prayer requests for the week: Valerie's friend, Steve's father, Jana's sister, School starting, the graduates at Christian Women's Job Corps, the election and world situation and our kids in Sierra Leone.
Jamie will be gone Labor Day weekend and Larry will be teaching.
Let's be in prayer for the Craigs and Zambia. Marcus reminded us this morning that the Zambian president died this week.
We are coming to a close on our study of The Shack. This morning we talked about the spiritual poverty of our times. So many are seeking a spiritual relationship and don't know that it is found in the presence of God. We studied John 3 and talked about Nicodemus, a man full of theology but little spirituality.
It was great to have Pam and David visiting our class this week. Give them a big hello next week. Virginia was back from her travels safe and sound.
Prayer requests for the week: Valerie's friend, Steve's father, Jana's sister, School starting, the graduates at Christian Women's Job Corps, the election and world situation and our kids in Sierra Leone.
Jamie will be gone Labor Day weekend and Larry will be teaching.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
What you missed this morning
If you weren't at Sunday School this morning you missed quite a lively discussion on The Shack. Have you ever experienced a Great Sadness? Many in the Bible have and reported it to us. Read Psalms 42 and Psalms 88.
Next Sunday some of our class will be involved in collecting tuition for our school kids in Lunsar, Sierra Leone. As you know,
Jim Kearley, Keith Tobias, Calvin Dunham and Tim Siktberg have all traveled to Sierra Leone, and last year, we were blessed with the opportunity to support more than 150 students around the area where our group has participated in the rebuilding of the Lunsar Conference Center. To keep up with what is going on -- visit www.sierraleonechildrensfund.blogspot.com.
And don't forget -- Potluck Lunch after church - celebrating the visit of the Craigs back from Zambia. The Fulcher class will be joining us for lunch that day.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Our Image of God
Watch this interview with William Paul Young, author of The Shack. It is great background for our discussion Sunday morning as we enter "The Shack".
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The Last Lecture
I know that many of you may have seen this lecture. Randy Pausch died yesterday. It's an interesting view of living and dying.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Death of Beulah Grace Robbins
Recently, and over the years, I've requested prayer for my 98 year-old grandmother (my dad's mother). She had suffered a stroke a couple of weeks ago. Today at 3:18 p.m. (on my birthday), God finally called her home. I don't know that I can ever understand God's timing. In addition to calling my grandmother home on my birthday, He used the occasion of the week of my birth thirty-eight years ago to call my grandmother's mother (my great-grandmother) home to Him. My grandfather (her husband) and his brother both died at Christmas in 1986.
At my age (38), birthdays are not always that meaningful. Except for 16th (drivers license), 18th (right to vote and register with selective service), 25th (decrease in car insurance rates), most birthdays pass and a year later I have no idea what happened on that date. However, I will never forget my 38th birthday.
Today is a day of great grief for my grandmother's family. She had five sons (four of whom are still living) and one daughter, twenty-one grandchildren, approximately 40 great grand children, and 5 or so great, great grandchildren (that I'm aware of). At the time of her passing, 4 of her surviving children were able to make it to her bedside and tell her "Goodbye".
I was not there today. Windy and I were fortunate to be able to see her the week before her stroke. For all practical purposes, the person we knew went away on the day of the stroke. I was able to tell her that I loved her and that I was looking forward to her 100th birthday. She was a big Willard Scott fan and I had told her that we would call Willard Scott for her 100th. Unfortantely, we never came to that point.
While none of you knew my grandmother, and I've never blogged before, I thought I would tell you a little about her and how special she was:
Faith---It was through her faith that her children each came to know Jesus. My grandfather never attended church and would not speak openly of faith. At some points, he would even discourage my grandmother from going to chruch. However, my grandmother would walk several miles to church with her children every Sunday. She instilled in her children the importance of faith. Because of her faith, my father came to know Jesus and then he (and my mother) showed me the way to Jesus as well. My grandmother leaves a rich history of faith.
Hard Work--My grandparents were sharecroppers. In fact, the first four of my grandmother's children were born on the farm that they tended. As I've been told, my grandmother and grandfather (and their children) worked very hard in the cotton fields. In addition to my grandmother's work in the fields and raising six children, she made her own lye soap and made the children's clothes (often from sackcloth, as I've been told). Once they moved off of the farm, my grandmother went to work as a seamstress in a garment factory where she worked for several years. In her later working years, she became a cook at my school's cafeteria. No cafeteria has had better food than when my grandmother was cooking there. There have probably been several premature deaths from cholesteral from that food, but it certainly tasted good. I would have the opportunity to see my grandmother at work every day. In all that she did, she exhibited a strong work ethic that was passed along to my dad and I hope to me.
Grief--My grandmother was so unfortunate as to endure more than her share of grief in her life. She was one of six children. Her history with grief began at an early age. By the time she was twenty, one of her brothers had been murdered and one other had died from a brain injury after falling off a horse. Later she witnessed the deaths over time of each of her other siblings and one son (who died at age 73). Her husband died at Christmas in 1986. She saw all of her childhood friends and adult friends pass one by one. Despite all of this grief, she marched on with a zeal for life.
I've told you guys before, that doctors have counted my grandmother out three times before her eventual passing. With the exception of this last time, she has bounced back. Medicare must have hated her. They paid for hospice on two occasions over the course of 20 years and neither time did she succomb to her illness. With her second to last terminal illness, she lost the ability to walk and care for herself (she was 95 or 96). For the first time in her life, she no longer lived at home. Her transition to a nursing home was not easy. For a while, she entered a depression and wondered aloud why God had not taken her. However, even with the nursing home, she gradually transitioned back to her zeal for life. She was assigned a roommate that was very compatible with her and that looked after her. I think she really wanted to make it to 100, if for no other reason than to hear Willard Scott call her a "pretty little lady".
Love--My grandmother loved me very much. Both of my parents worked while my brother and I were growing up. When I would get sick, I would stay with my grandmother. Like my mom, she would wait on me hand and foot. We would watch "The Price is Right' together. She so loved Bob Barker! She always cooked my favorite foods. She would let me help her when she was cooking. Basically, she did the grandmotherly things.
Racism--On a more humorour note, my grandmother was raised in different era. She never fully adapted to the civil rights movement. She treated all people with kindness as far as I could tell, but she wouldn't know politically correct language if it hit her in the face. While she treated people with kindness, she could definitely throw around the "N" word without hesitation.
We knew she intended no malice once she settled into the nursing home. Her favorite nurse was an African American lady named Pearl. This lady was especially kind to my grandmother and my grandmother was very fond of Pearl. However, she routinely referred to Pearl by the "N" word and often used the word in front of Pearl. My grandmother apparently so no offense in the use of the word. However, it embarassed my dad to no end that he would refer to Pearl in such a way. Pearl would later discuss it with my dad and she made it clear that she took no offense to my grandmother. At 98, Pearl thought wise to offer my grandmother a lot of latitude.
Thanks for indulging my first blog. After hearing the news of my grandmother's passing, I could not focus on my work. This has helped me to remember and appreciate all that my grandmother meant to me.
Please remember my dad in your prayers. He knew this day would come and he knows that she is no longer suffering, but I could tell when I spoke to him that he was hurting at his loss.
At my age (38), birthdays are not always that meaningful. Except for 16th (drivers license), 18th (right to vote and register with selective service), 25th (decrease in car insurance rates), most birthdays pass and a year later I have no idea what happened on that date. However, I will never forget my 38th birthday.
Today is a day of great grief for my grandmother's family. She had five sons (four of whom are still living) and one daughter, twenty-one grandchildren, approximately 40 great grand children, and 5 or so great, great grandchildren (that I'm aware of). At the time of her passing, 4 of her surviving children were able to make it to her bedside and tell her "Goodbye".
I was not there today. Windy and I were fortunate to be able to see her the week before her stroke. For all practical purposes, the person we knew went away on the day of the stroke. I was able to tell her that I loved her and that I was looking forward to her 100th birthday. She was a big Willard Scott fan and I had told her that we would call Willard Scott for her 100th. Unfortantely, we never came to that point.
While none of you knew my grandmother, and I've never blogged before, I thought I would tell you a little about her and how special she was:
Faith---It was through her faith that her children each came to know Jesus. My grandfather never attended church and would not speak openly of faith. At some points, he would even discourage my grandmother from going to chruch. However, my grandmother would walk several miles to church with her children every Sunday. She instilled in her children the importance of faith. Because of her faith, my father came to know Jesus and then he (and my mother) showed me the way to Jesus as well. My grandmother leaves a rich history of faith.
Hard Work--My grandparents were sharecroppers. In fact, the first four of my grandmother's children were born on the farm that they tended. As I've been told, my grandmother and grandfather (and their children) worked very hard in the cotton fields. In addition to my grandmother's work in the fields and raising six children, she made her own lye soap and made the children's clothes (often from sackcloth, as I've been told). Once they moved off of the farm, my grandmother went to work as a seamstress in a garment factory where she worked for several years. In her later working years, she became a cook at my school's cafeteria. No cafeteria has had better food than when my grandmother was cooking there. There have probably been several premature deaths from cholesteral from that food, but it certainly tasted good. I would have the opportunity to see my grandmother at work every day. In all that she did, she exhibited a strong work ethic that was passed along to my dad and I hope to me.
Grief--My grandmother was so unfortunate as to endure more than her share of grief in her life. She was one of six children. Her history with grief began at an early age. By the time she was twenty, one of her brothers had been murdered and one other had died from a brain injury after falling off a horse. Later she witnessed the deaths over time of each of her other siblings and one son (who died at age 73). Her husband died at Christmas in 1986. She saw all of her childhood friends and adult friends pass one by one. Despite all of this grief, she marched on with a zeal for life.
I've told you guys before, that doctors have counted my grandmother out three times before her eventual passing. With the exception of this last time, she has bounced back. Medicare must have hated her. They paid for hospice on two occasions over the course of 20 years and neither time did she succomb to her illness. With her second to last terminal illness, she lost the ability to walk and care for herself (she was 95 or 96). For the first time in her life, she no longer lived at home. Her transition to a nursing home was not easy. For a while, she entered a depression and wondered aloud why God had not taken her. However, even with the nursing home, she gradually transitioned back to her zeal for life. She was assigned a roommate that was very compatible with her and that looked after her. I think she really wanted to make it to 100, if for no other reason than to hear Willard Scott call her a "pretty little lady".
Love--My grandmother loved me very much. Both of my parents worked while my brother and I were growing up. When I would get sick, I would stay with my grandmother. Like my mom, she would wait on me hand and foot. We would watch "The Price is Right' together. She so loved Bob Barker! She always cooked my favorite foods. She would let me help her when she was cooking. Basically, she did the grandmotherly things.
Racism--On a more humorour note, my grandmother was raised in different era. She never fully adapted to the civil rights movement. She treated all people with kindness as far as I could tell, but she wouldn't know politically correct language if it hit her in the face. While she treated people with kindness, she could definitely throw around the "N" word without hesitation.
We knew she intended no malice once she settled into the nursing home. Her favorite nurse was an African American lady named Pearl. This lady was especially kind to my grandmother and my grandmother was very fond of Pearl. However, she routinely referred to Pearl by the "N" word and often used the word in front of Pearl. My grandmother apparently so no offense in the use of the word. However, it embarassed my dad to no end that he would refer to Pearl in such a way. Pearl would later discuss it with my dad and she made it clear that she took no offense to my grandmother. At 98, Pearl thought wise to offer my grandmother a lot of latitude.
Thanks for indulging my first blog. After hearing the news of my grandmother's passing, I could not focus on my work. This has helped me to remember and appreciate all that my grandmother meant to me.
Please remember my dad in your prayers. He knew this day would come and he knows that she is no longer suffering, but I could tell when I spoke to him that he was hurting at his loss.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Just Imagine
Just imagine what God intended for us when He created us in his image. Thanks Larry for leading us with such vision this morning!
If you were not in Sunday School and would like to pick up a copy of The Shack, check out the box in our classroom.
Everyone in the class is now entered as an author for the blog. You should have received an email with instructions. Happy writing! Seriously, this is a great way to keep the group in touch so please feel free to post so that we know what's going on with you.
If you were not in Sunday School and would like to pick up a copy of The Shack, check out the box in our classroom.
Everyone in the class is now entered as an author for the blog. You should have received an email with instructions. Happy writing! Seriously, this is a great way to keep the group in touch so please feel free to post so that we know what's going on with you.
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