Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, November 05, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
Our launch is coming soon...
Our team has been dreaming about and planning The EDGE since last fall. What kind of church will God have us be? How will we reach our neighbors and impact our community and our world? How will we show Jesus in genuine and authentic ways? How many pack n plays does a nursery truly need? What exactly is a 501(c)3? At last we are finding answers to these questions.
Who will be on our launch team? Our leadership team has grown from the first four families to around twelve families who have caught our vision to reach the unchurched and dechurched with the love of Christ. Together we have prayed, eaten meals, shared communion, worshipped, laughed, cried, served and marveled at how God has blessed us all.
When will we launch? We are just eight weeks from going public. As you know, we have been meeting on Sunday evenings at The Rock of SW (a BGC church who has been extremely kind and generous to us). These past ten months have been invaluable, and now we feel that we are ready to put our plans into action.
Where will we launch? After much prayer, God has opened the door to the Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing Theatre, at the corner of Ken Caryl Ave. and Pierce. This is a very cool God thing. The theatre is right in the center of our target area of 80128. It seats about 240 and has 3 small Sunday School rooms. It is available all day on Sunday, and, incredibly, the owners have offered to rent the space to us for just $500 a month.
When will we meet? We feel confident that God is prompting us to move our gathering service to Sunday mornings at this theatre and that by doing so, we will reach more people in our community.
What will it take to make this dream a reality? We feel very blessed to have around $20,000 in the bank at this current time. As we launch, this will be spent rather quickly on mailings, sound systems, nursery equipment, and other start up costs. We would also love to hire a few strategic personnel.
Additionally, there is an available space next door to the theatre that we would very much like to rent. It was formally a Tai Kwan Do facilty, and would cost us about $2,000 a month to rent. This space would allow us to have a presence in the community, provide office and storage space, and give us a place for our adults, youth, and kids to meet during the week. Also, in order to gain a spot on the marque of the shopping center, we need to rent an additional space.
Our specific God-sized request is that we could raise $51,000 so that we can rent the theatre and the office space for the first year, and so that our reserves won't be depleted by our launch. If we can raise that amount in the next few weeks, we can enter our launch with the confidence that we can do what we have dreamed of doing.
So, we are asking you, dear and loyal EDGE prayers, to ask God to bring this amount in the next few weeks, and we are excited to see how He will bless.
Who will be on our launch team? Our leadership team has grown from the first four families to around twelve families who have caught our vision to reach the unchurched and dechurched with the love of Christ. Together we have prayed, eaten meals, shared communion, worshipped, laughed, cried, served and marveled at how God has blessed us all.
When will we launch? We are just eight weeks from going public. As you know, we have been meeting on Sunday evenings at The Rock of SW (a BGC church who has been extremely kind and generous to us). These past ten months have been invaluable, and now we feel that we are ready to put our plans into action.
Where will we launch? After much prayer, God has opened the door to the Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing Theatre, at the corner of Ken Caryl Ave. and Pierce. This is a very cool God thing. The theatre is right in the center of our target area of 80128. It seats about 240 and has 3 small Sunday School rooms. It is available all day on Sunday, and, incredibly, the owners have offered to rent the space to us for just $500 a month.
When will we meet? We feel confident that God is prompting us to move our gathering service to Sunday mornings at this theatre and that by doing so, we will reach more people in our community.
What will it take to make this dream a reality? We feel very blessed to have around $20,000 in the bank at this current time. As we launch, this will be spent rather quickly on mailings, sound systems, nursery equipment, and other start up costs. We would also love to hire a few strategic personnel.
Additionally, there is an available space next door to the theatre that we would very much like to rent. It was formally a Tai Kwan Do facilty, and would cost us about $2,000 a month to rent. This space would allow us to have a presence in the community, provide office and storage space, and give us a place for our adults, youth, and kids to meet during the week. Also, in order to gain a spot on the marque of the shopping center, we need to rent an additional space.
Our specific God-sized request is that we could raise $51,000 so that we can rent the theatre and the office space for the first year, and so that our reserves won't be depleted by our launch. If we can raise that amount in the next few weeks, we can enter our launch with the confidence that we can do what we have dreamed of doing.
So, we are asking you, dear and loyal EDGE prayers, to ask God to bring this amount in the next few weeks, and we are excited to see how He will bless.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Tuesday Tuesday
So its been a while since I just wrote a blog about life.
Mostly its has been a while because it has been going so fast its hard to stop long enough to be able to evaluate it.
Since I got to bed at 3am yesterday, I am going to bed now, and I will maybe write about the life of a church planter tomorrow.
BIG NEWS: One of my church attenders lead someone to Christ last week!!! WAHOOOO
Mostly its has been a while because it has been going so fast its hard to stop long enough to be able to evaluate it.
Since I got to bed at 3am yesterday, I am going to bed now, and I will maybe write about the life of a church planter tomorrow.
BIG NEWS: One of my church attenders lead someone to Christ last week!!! WAHOOOO
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Church Planters Log - 4 months into public meetings
BEWARE: very long post
Since I need to report to the BGC district annual meetings on Friday, I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on our journey to this point.
I was born in Denver, Colorado....(skip ahead 37 years)
In the summer of 2006, the Reillys, Jensens, Rodvolds, Randolphs and Kraakeviks started dreaming about planting a church. At the time, we gave it the name "The Gathering." Although as time went on we considered Emmaus, Stony Creek Church, Pinnacle, Summit, Sacred Space, Jesus Freaks United, the river, the Ancient path, mosaic, Mars Hill, the revolution, the flounderers, and of course South of West Bowles Community Church.
We talked a lot about core groups vs. believer bases vs. launch teams.
Kathy J. brought a book, The Heart Reader, which is a book written anonymously, that talks about the power of seeing people for who they are, and reaching out to meet their deepest needs. We decided we wanted to be a church like that.
Kathy J. brought her CBS bible study notes on Acts 1-4. We decided we wanted to be a church like that.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer."
"If God is against it, it will die, if God is for it, you will not be able to stop it." (Rough translation of a cool verse in Acts 5)
We decided we would be a church that plants other churches (we see ourselves as part of a church planting movement).
We decided we would make a community meal central to everything we do.
We decided to affiliate with the Baptist General Conference, and had lively discussions about baptistic practices.
We read The Radical Reformission and Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll.
We put together our first "PowerPoint presentation." As a group, we wrestled for a long time with how to say everything. This was a difficult part. At this time, we started to call the church the 5280 Gathering (Denver is a mile high - 5,280 feet).
On September 2, 2006, we had an all day retreat at Conference Baptist Church in Evergreen. We prayed over each other at that retreat, and it was very powerful. Tears! We decided we needed open mic time at our services, times of corporate repentance, and faith promise giving. We thought it would be a good idea to keep the children in our services, so they could learn to worship next to their parents.
In Sept. Heidi and I attended the Church Planter Assessment Center in Wisconsin. We passed! We took the strength finder personality test. This was our result:
Mark-Woo, Positivity, Communication, Input, Activator
Heidi- Input, Intellection, Belief, Learner, Maximizer
We went to the Rocky Mountain Baptist Conference Board of Overseers meeting on October 17, 2006. It was the first time we rolled out our PowerPoint presentation to a group. They said we needed to clarify our vision. Are we are house/cell church or an attractional church.
On Oct. 29th we had a "Present the Vision" meeting at Einstein Bagels. We had a great crowd, and the meeting went very well.
On Nov. 7th, I attended a Freedom Service at Centennial. It was a night of reconciliation. The timing was perfect, because I was able to attend that before we began our public meetings.
On Nov. 12th we had our first public service at the Rock of the Southwest. We settled on the name, The EDGE.
We were struck with six weeks of crazy things happening on Sunday night. The Fall unfolded like this
Nov. 19th - Bronco night game
Nov. 26th - Thanksgiving weekend
Dec. 3rd - Bronco night game (NFL moved game)
Dec. 10 - Bronco night game (NFL moved game)
Dec 17 - Snow storm x
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve
In December, our teaching focused on Advent. We sent a second wave of support/update letters. Our first wave went out in October.
In January, our teaching focused on the basics of Christianity. This is the beginning of what will be our "Christianity 101" class. We talked about the Fall, the Law, the Gospel, and the Kingdom. It snowed every week in January!!!
We had a very important core group meeting at Ernie and Jeannine's house on Jan 11th, 2007. I brought a list of 390 tasks that church plants need to do before they launch. I was nearly voted off the island by the core team for bringing the list. The list nearly killed the "DREAM." Everyone felt very overwhelmed. We made a mid-meeting shift in agenda. We talked about money, and how many people we need to have attend our congregation to make it financially viable. We talked about publicity, and children’s directors, and worship leaders, and missions, and small groups and serving the community, and our logo, and having leadership meetings every other week.
Jan. 14th, we had three couples and two young singles attend our evening gathering!!! Wow, this was a huge morale boost.
I started working at the Rock in January. 20 hours a week as a part time pastor. I have been helping with whatever they need done. Bruce Fosdick has become a church plant coach for me, although this is a very busy season for his church. This has been very helpful.
Towards the end of January, Jake Fehr decided to join us as our volunteer youth pastor. We decided to go to Brasil with the students who wanted to go. Tuesday nights would be youth night. With the meetings alternating between Brasil meetings, and youth group meetings. The group is has been meeting at Geoffery Wolfe's house.
February has been a blur. We did not meet on Super Bowl Sunday. Our teaching has focused on the parables of Jesus from Matt. 13. We began a podcast that combines weekly sermons, with daily recordings modeled after Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac, a podcast to which I subscribe.
The most interesting piece that has unfolded recently is the possibility of moving our gatherings to a small church building near our house. The congregation that was meeting there is no longer meeting, and the building is available for rent. The sanctuary holds 60-70 people, and we met there on March 4th. We had a great time, and the size was perfect for us. But looking for a place to meet is somewhat like buying jeans for a growing teenager. The fear is this: if we buy jeans that fit now, they will be at our knees in no time.
And that is our story to this point. There are other parts to the story that have been left out. Doug's dad died the last week of November. One of our brothers lost his job in Dec., and got a new job in Feb. I spoke at retreats in Sept., Oct., Jan., and Feb. I preached at three different churches First Baptist in Lakewood, Elk Creek Community Church, and Summit Church.
Since I need to report to the BGC district annual meetings on Friday, I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on our journey to this point.
I was born in Denver, Colorado....(skip ahead 37 years)
In the summer of 2006, the Reillys, Jensens, Rodvolds, Randolphs and Kraakeviks started dreaming about planting a church. At the time, we gave it the name "The Gathering." Although as time went on we considered Emmaus, Stony Creek Church, Pinnacle, Summit, Sacred Space, Jesus Freaks United, the river, the Ancient path, mosaic, Mars Hill, the revolution, the flounderers, and of course South of West Bowles Community Church.
We talked a lot about core groups vs. believer bases vs. launch teams.
Kathy J. brought a book, The Heart Reader, which is a book written anonymously, that talks about the power of seeing people for who they are, and reaching out to meet their deepest needs. We decided we wanted to be a church like that.
Kathy J. brought her CBS bible study notes on Acts 1-4. We decided we wanted to be a church like that.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer."
"If God is against it, it will die, if God is for it, you will not be able to stop it." (Rough translation of a cool verse in Acts 5)
We decided we would be a church that plants other churches (we see ourselves as part of a church planting movement).
We decided we would make a community meal central to everything we do.
We decided to affiliate with the Baptist General Conference, and had lively discussions about baptistic practices.
We read The Radical Reformission and Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll.
We put together our first "PowerPoint presentation." As a group, we wrestled for a long time with how to say everything. This was a difficult part. At this time, we started to call the church the 5280 Gathering (Denver is a mile high - 5,280 feet).
On September 2, 2006, we had an all day retreat at Conference Baptist Church in Evergreen. We prayed over each other at that retreat, and it was very powerful. Tears! We decided we needed open mic time at our services, times of corporate repentance, and faith promise giving. We thought it would be a good idea to keep the children in our services, so they could learn to worship next to their parents.
In Sept. Heidi and I attended the Church Planter Assessment Center in Wisconsin. We passed! We took the strength finder personality test. This was our result:
Mark-Woo, Positivity, Communication, Input, Activator
Heidi- Input, Intellection, Belief, Learner, Maximizer
We went to the Rocky Mountain Baptist Conference Board of Overseers meeting on October 17, 2006. It was the first time we rolled out our PowerPoint presentation to a group. They said we needed to clarify our vision. Are we are house/cell church or an attractional church.
On Oct. 29th we had a "Present the Vision" meeting at Einstein Bagels. We had a great crowd, and the meeting went very well.
On Nov. 7th, I attended a Freedom Service at Centennial. It was a night of reconciliation. The timing was perfect, because I was able to attend that before we began our public meetings.
On Nov. 12th we had our first public service at the Rock of the Southwest. We settled on the name, The EDGE.
We were struck with six weeks of crazy things happening on Sunday night. The Fall unfolded like this
Nov. 19th - Bronco night game
Nov. 26th - Thanksgiving weekend
Dec. 3rd - Bronco night game (NFL moved game)
Dec. 10 - Bronco night game (NFL moved game)
Dec 17 - Snow storm x
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve
In December, our teaching focused on Advent. We sent a second wave of support/update letters. Our first wave went out in October.
In January, our teaching focused on the basics of Christianity. This is the beginning of what will be our "Christianity 101" class. We talked about the Fall, the Law, the Gospel, and the Kingdom. It snowed every week in January!!!
We had a very important core group meeting at Ernie and Jeannine's house on Jan 11th, 2007. I brought a list of 390 tasks that church plants need to do before they launch. I was nearly voted off the island by the core team for bringing the list. The list nearly killed the "DREAM." Everyone felt very overwhelmed. We made a mid-meeting shift in agenda. We talked about money, and how many people we need to have attend our congregation to make it financially viable. We talked about publicity, and children’s directors, and worship leaders, and missions, and small groups and serving the community, and our logo, and having leadership meetings every other week.
Jan. 14th, we had three couples and two young singles attend our evening gathering!!! Wow, this was a huge morale boost.
I started working at the Rock in January. 20 hours a week as a part time pastor. I have been helping with whatever they need done. Bruce Fosdick has become a church plant coach for me, although this is a very busy season for his church. This has been very helpful.
Towards the end of January, Jake Fehr decided to join us as our volunteer youth pastor. We decided to go to Brasil with the students who wanted to go. Tuesday nights would be youth night. With the meetings alternating between Brasil meetings, and youth group meetings. The group is has been meeting at Geoffery Wolfe's house.
February has been a blur. We did not meet on Super Bowl Sunday. Our teaching has focused on the parables of Jesus from Matt. 13. We began a podcast that combines weekly sermons, with daily recordings modeled after Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac, a podcast to which I subscribe.
The most interesting piece that has unfolded recently is the possibility of moving our gatherings to a small church building near our house. The congregation that was meeting there is no longer meeting, and the building is available for rent. The sanctuary holds 60-70 people, and we met there on March 4th. We had a great time, and the size was perfect for us. But looking for a place to meet is somewhat like buying jeans for a growing teenager. The fear is this: if we buy jeans that fit now, they will be at our knees in no time.
And that is our story to this point. There are other parts to the story that have been left out. Doug's dad died the last week of November. One of our brothers lost his job in Dec., and got a new job in Feb. I spoke at retreats in Sept., Oct., Jan., and Feb. I preached at three different churches First Baptist in Lakewood, Elk Creek Community Church, and Summit Church.
Monday, February 12, 2007
sermon notes from Feb. 11
What have we learned about the Kingdom from Matt 13
There are four places the seeds end up
The path, the rocky place, the thorns, and the good soil
Jesus puts the mphasis on...
understanding,
perseverance through trouble,
overcoming worry and the desire for money
Good soil hears and understands what the Kingdom is all about - and produces fruit
There are four places the seeds end up
The path, the rocky place, the thorns, and the good soil
Jesus puts the mphasis on...
understanding,
perseverance through trouble,
overcoming worry and the desire for money
Good soil hears and understands what the Kingdom is all about - and produces fruit
Friday, October 20, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Captains Log 06.03.2006
The end of another crazy week
items of note:
* Britta went to the Hospital on memorial day for a stomach ache. Looked like it might be her apendix. Ended up just being a sore tummy.
* Annika finished 3rd grade on Thursday. On to 4th.
* I raced in the Boulder Bolder on Monday - 1 hour, 4 minutes
* I raced a Camero at Bandemere Drag strip on Thursday (free day for pastors) - went 98 mph in a quarter mile, 14.3 seconds.
Thats about it.
Next week:
* Dr. Blomberg speaks at our church on Sunday about the Di vinci Code. I had Dr. Blomberg at Denver Seminary.
* We have a parents meeting tomorrow afterr church to talk about the June Curriculum which is all about making wise choices when it comes to physical intimacy.
* We are going to Elitches on Wednesday
* We have a Parents night out fund raiser next Friday night to raise money for our missions trip.
* We have a houseboat trip on June 13 to June 17. We have 3 kids signed up. I am a bit scared.
* The youth group goes to Louisiana June 25 to July 2 to help with the relief efforts. 20 people total are going.
Thats all for now.
items of note:
* Britta went to the Hospital on memorial day for a stomach ache. Looked like it might be her apendix. Ended up just being a sore tummy.
* Annika finished 3rd grade on Thursday. On to 4th.
* I raced in the Boulder Bolder on Monday - 1 hour, 4 minutes
* I raced a Camero at Bandemere Drag strip on Thursday (free day for pastors) - went 98 mph in a quarter mile, 14.3 seconds.
Thats about it.
Next week:
* Dr. Blomberg speaks at our church on Sunday about the Di vinci Code. I had Dr. Blomberg at Denver Seminary.
* We have a parents meeting tomorrow afterr church to talk about the June Curriculum which is all about making wise choices when it comes to physical intimacy.
* We are going to Elitches on Wednesday
* We have a Parents night out fund raiser next Friday night to raise money for our missions trip.
* We have a houseboat trip on June 13 to June 17. We have 3 kids signed up. I am a bit scared.
* The youth group goes to Louisiana June 25 to July 2 to help with the relief efforts. 20 people total are going.
Thats all for now.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
A little history lesson someone e-mailed me
The author of this e-mail writes:
One detail that is not mentioned, in DC, there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument. With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc... This is worth a moment or two of your time.
On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, are displayed two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less.
Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with everyone you know. But these words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.
Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.
So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise be to God!"
Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo....."Praise be to God!"
From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant...a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the North. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the West.
A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.
Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God!
When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy ..."One Nation, Under God."
I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it?
Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!
"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United
States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the
Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Laus Deo!
When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look.
You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo", it's location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget it's meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)
One detail that is not mentioned, in DC, there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument. With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc... This is worth a moment or two of your time.
On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, are displayed two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less.
Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with everyone you know. But these words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.
Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.
So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise be to God!"
Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo....."Praise be to God!"
From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant...a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the North. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the West.
A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.
Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God!
When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy ..."One Nation, Under God."
I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it?
Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!
"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United
States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the
Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Laus Deo!
When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look.
You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo", it's location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget it's meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)
Monday, April 10, 2006
A quote about the return of peace after war
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/quotations/quote/33043
Quote:... in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquillity will return again.
Author: Frank, Anne
Categories: peace; Holocaust; human nature
Attribution: Anne Frank (1929–1945), Dutch Jewish diarist; born in Germany. Diary of a Young Girl, entry dated July 15, 1944 (1947).
Quote:... in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquillity will return again.
Author: Frank, Anne
Categories: peace; Holocaust; human nature
Attribution: Anne Frank (1929–1945), Dutch Jewish diarist; born in Germany. Diary of a Young Girl, entry dated July 15, 1944 (1947).
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Faithfulness
From now to the end of the year I am going to take a diffferent character quality each day and meditate on it.
Today is faithfulness.
Proverbs 3:3 says, Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablety of your heart, then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
May God shine his face upon you today.
peace, Mark
Today is faithfulness.
Proverbs 3:3 says, Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablety of your heart, then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
May God shine his face upon you today.
peace, Mark
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Nick's sermon on Ezekiel 37
Orthodox preaching is not enough, you need the movement of the spirit (the ru'ah) of God.
God is faithful when we are not.
God's work is always done by his spirit.
God acts alone, he alone is God.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Since the crazystew blog died - here we are
Well, ladies and gentlemen, since my offical blog was pirated by spammer's and is now dead, I will start using this one for awhile. And we will see how it goes.
Peace, mark
Peace, mark
Monday, October 24, 2005
The Woman at the Well
Found this on the web at this ladies blogspot...
I have this love/hate relationship with wardrobe. Jesus tells us that the pagans run after such things, and I needn't concern myself with them. But I do. I even felt guilty buying my Star Wars boots when I didn't really need them, because last year's boots are still together. Yet, at the other end of the spectrum, while certainly practical, dressing Amish sure sucked.
I have this love/hate relationship with wardrobe. Jesus tells us that the pagans run after such things, and I needn't concern myself with them. But I do. I even felt guilty buying my Star Wars boots when I didn't really need them, because last year's boots are still together. Yet, at the other end of the spectrum, while certainly practical, dressing Amish sure sucked.
Friday, August 19, 2005
blog addict
all I wanted to do was post on someones site, and it made me make a new blog - ugghh.
see my other sites
myspace.com/kraakerjack
xanga - kraakerjack
http://crazystew.com/cs_blog
Peace, Mark
see my other sites
myspace.com/kraakerjack
xanga - kraakerjack
http://crazystew.com/cs_blog
Peace, Mark
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