Coming to the Still Waters

This is a interesting and informative documentary on a movement within the church.  It is in sound byte design at the start but does hit the main questions about this movement in light of the Gospel and the Word of God.  It is a couple hours long but worth the watch. Adam

What a great time with 18 guys from the church.  Three teaching sessions that included worship, discussion, testimonies, and teaching.  This was the last one on Saturday night.  Tony helped us to see that we need to be not just "merely" Christians but disciples of Jesus.  His analogies really resonated with the guys.  Now to get back to a semi normal week. Adam

     I kind of feel like my kids in college with the week that I am in right now.  A sermon to prepare for this Sunday, (that is nothing new) but also a Men's Retreat to prepare for that I am so looking forward to but for it to go off as it is in my head will take a lot of work.  This one will have 3 worship/teaching sessions along with more group activities than those we have done in the past.  Stephanie is helping me out so much with food prep that will keep us out of the kitchen and in there only at a minimum.  Weather seems to be going in our favor so once I get the paper and slide prep in place, I need to spend some time on my knees for this one.      So I am preparing sessions on the subject of Manhood and Womanhood from the Bible and also living radically for Christ for the Retreat.  John Piper and David Platt are helping me out via videos.  I am also going to try using worship videos in that setting to provide that el...

Interesting sermon about the word "slave". Adam

     The tale of the bikes starts back in 1980 when I bought a Miyata 310 10 speed that I rode the dickens out of.  One summer I put on the bike 2000 miles.  It traveled with me until last year when I sold it to a guy who restored out bikes.  That bike pulled a Burley trailer for many years with all 4 kids riding in it at some time.      Next came our oldest getting old enough for full size adult bikes and Anna got a Fuji hardtail mountain bike and Abe got a Fuji front shock.  Needless to say, I got to ride these beauties from time to time on the local trails.  Those bikes went with them to college only to realize that they weren't getting used as much as they thought and they baked in the Texas sun.  I got them back to repair them but also use them for a few more years.  Then college was done and the bikes went back to the kids for different garages and lofts to call home.        Now I was withou...

     I am so glad to say that the vegetables we have planted in the boxes and the garden and the house are up and going.  Tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, celery, peas, bacchoy, chard, tatsoi, kale, and collards along with some strawberry plants.  The garden needs a lot of attention during our cold nights in northern Michigan but we are getting a jump on what we can do.        We are also into conserving what we have so our 2003 Saturn Vue is in the shop for its 200,000 overhaul of plugs, wires, timing belt, water pump, belts, hoses, thermostat, etc.  We have never taken a vehicle this far before.  We have had cars with high mileage but this one we bought with 49,000 and it has been serving us well.  The bad part is that the shop gave us a loaner, a 2008 Dodge Caravan and I am on a learning curve just knowing how to operate all the buttons.        Monday marks another CAT scan so I have a couple o...

     Another great day with the people of the Lord.  I got a statement from someone heading out the door on Sunday that it was great to hear a message from the Lord that included the Gospel message that was intertwined in the passage that we were dealing with this morning.  I so agree and continues to confirm working through the Bible book by book and chapter by chapter and verse by verse.      The Sermon on the Mount is getting more challenging each week.  "I don't murder."  "But do I hold onto hate of another?"  "I don't commit physical adultery."  "But do I view and think unclean thoughts?"  "I would get a legal divorce."  "But do I view marriage and divorce from God's word?"  "I keep my big oaths."  "But is all of my speech (common and formal) truthful in all matters?"  "I only return in retaliation what has been given to me."  "But do return to them the opposite what has b...

     Another reason to keep preaching through the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse, when the Gospel shows up all the time and at just the right time lets you know that God is behind it all.  We are marching through Matthew and stuck in the Sermon on the Mount and it would be tempting to swerve away for this Sunday but God showed me differently.      Jesus is giving us His answers to the Old Testament commandments and He is driving us back to original intentions instead of our perversions of the truth.  He gives another this week when is comes to justice and personal vengeance.  What also amazes me is that Jesus backs up everything He says with His own actions.  That will happen again this week.  Every example that He gives in Matthew 5:38-42 is backed up by a life experience that He shows us with His life.  This is were the Gospel and the Easter story will come into play.  Oh, how He went through so much for ...

Wow.  This doctor is one that I listened to while recovering from the surgery.  It is amazing the information that is getting out and how you can do something about the situation you are in or before a situation could arise.  You could make a difference. Adam http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

Here is a video from the roof of our northern Michigan home.  We are taking advantage of the unseasonably mild spring.  Steph and I feel we have a new lease on life and we thank God for it. It was another great morning in worship and also with a couple afterwards that is planning on getting married in June.  I have had an increase in pre-marital counseling and this is so more effective with Stephanie and I doing it together. Here is to a busy week with Good Friday and Easter but also a great week to get along with God. Adam