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posted by Robert on 10/24/09

James and I had the opportunity to make a quick visit to downtown Mexico City today with the IBLP Mexico team! Here are a few video clips from our adventure.

5 Comments » | posted in Tidbits

posted by James on 10/22/09

After a full day of travel, I was grateful to be in Mexico! Robert and I are here with a mission team from IBLP, who will be encouraging pastors who are attending a major conference in Mexico City.

We were all hungry when we arrived, but we couldn’t find a place to eat because it was so late in the evening that most of the shops were closed. Suddenly a boy walked by with his tamale cart! It was a serendipitous moment. We enjoyed his tamales and were able to share the Good News of the Gospel with Him!

This morning we enjoyed a delicious Mexican breakfast with fresh-squeezed orange juice.

I spent much of the day taking pictures of the Conference and trying to communicate in Spanish with those who came by our book table. It was really a lot of fun!

Whether by giving testimonies, sharing special music, or working behind the scenes, today the team was able to fulfill the direction of Titus 2:7: “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works.”

8 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Jonathan on 10/19/09

For the past years we have always looked forward to a fall Apple Butter Festival. In years past we have participate in “Greased pig contest” and other little activities. But this year sadly we were all too old to join in. What could we do this year that would make this 25^th anniversary special.

A couple of weeks before the Festival we read Psalms 40:9-10 which gave us an idea that we scribbled down, the next Sunday I suggested it in our Sunday school class, everybody liked it so we scheduled to have a meeting after church. In the meeting many possible ideas were suggested and numerous questions asked. Did we have enough time to put it together? We decided we could and registered. Another meeting was arranged for the up coming Saturday. All that week our family had many delightful and exciting conversations around the dinning table.

Finally the long awaited Saturday arrived. Those who could, piled in the  car and headed for the church. The meeting was well organized and each family left with an assigned responsibility. We had began the 2009 “Evergreen United Methodist Church” float!

Our contribution was to make some banners: first, a long banner in front of the float which introduced our theme which said, “The fruits of the spirit are…” we decorated it with fall leaves, baskets of apples, and bright fall colored letters; secondly, two banners for the side of the float which had the name and location of our church, and the life cycle of an apple painted on them.

Our next meeting took place on the following  Thursday night, two days before the parade! We presented our banners and started putting the float together. We miraculously found exactly 9 red wooden apples, for the nine fruits  of the spirit, to go on our plywood tree, painted green. Unfortunately we weren’t able to completely finish the float because of the approaching darkness of night. So we consented to finishing the project the morning of the parade.

Early on Saturday a group of us met at the  church to continue our joint effort on the float. After a breath taking ride from the church to Salem, we enthusiastically put on the last touches before moving into line with the rest of the parade.

We quickly found out how much coordination it took to toss candy to onlookers. Unfortunately we ran out of candy before reaching the end of town, where the people  were packed up to the side of the floats, but were delighted to  “proclaim his righteousness throughout the congregation” of Salem! Later while walking through the fair grounds we unexpectedly found out our float was chosen “Best Float” and given first place!

The next Sunday I read Psalms 40:9-10 in church and exhibited the trophy to the whole church. It would have been impossible if every member in the church wouldn’t have taken some small part in the whole project of the float!

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart: I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psalms 40:9-10

7 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by David on 10/17/09

One Friday night we were all  wondering what Jonathan would choose to do for his turn on Family  Night.  He surprised us by saying “Let’s play darts!” We all  thought   was a super idea so we ran out to the garage game room where the dart board was that dad had recently mounted on the wall.

As we began the first game we became very grateful for the protective padding around and below the dart board. Despite our lack of practice  however, Daniel actually got a “bull’s eye” on the very first round and Michael got all three so close it caused a shout of exclamation to sound forth from the onlookers. Thank you Jonathan for your thoughtfulness in making it such a surprise!

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 10/15/09

Recently we were surprised to see the announcement for a church seminar on the customs of the Jewish people. Their calendar, language and of course their history have been of interest to us for a long time. The two hour seminar flew by and Jonathan and I were both feverishly taking notes. Israel is truly unique among nations. Isn’t it interesting that its people are pretty much the only ones with the ability to trace their linage to the creation and they constitute the only nation to be “resurrected”? (We also heard for the first time from another attendee that Christopher Columbus could have been Jewish–and it happened to be Columbus Day that day.)

The peace of Jerusalem appears at times to be an impossible request to ask for and yet asking for this is something that we continue to be reminded is necessary. For updates on the current events of Israel (rather than sifting through the news or newspapers though it might be of use if you have time), I would like to recommend subscribing to the weekly email newsletters put out by Joel Rosenberg.

Take courage and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray also for the peace of those who seek it’s peace. The Lord reward you.

8 Comments » | posted in Historical Glimpses