Coming to the Still Waters

Wow, what a different retreat from last year. Here is my cooler for the weekend. I got in 4 nice rides over the weekend before I broke a spoke on the back wheel. My bunk and gear, church work is never too far away. Some great times around the firepit. Saturday I had the opportunity to hike 12 miles. Here are some pictures of my journey. It was a great weekend but so glad to be home to Stephanie. Adam

     I think the number is up to 72 but I will have to check on that.  Our church in Gaylord at its finest when we see God's children take this step.  Our second child was the first one to be baptized under the authority of this church 16 years ago.  Sometimes that doesn't seem possible.      I had the opportunity to sit down with some church planters this week.  I have been given the responsibility to serve them in anyway possible.  I think it will be good for me to hear their stories  and dig up some of my own.  I have always hoped to help someone else start out a new work someday.      Tomorrow is Matthew 11, the second half of the chapter and it comes with some of Jesus' most stern rebukes.  No participation but plenty of input doesn't set well with Jesus.  First He addresses those that are not participating and then goes on to those who are not participating and criticizing and finding fault with things that are producing glory to God.  Jesus must h

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Andy Stanley, I echo this with you for our church. 1.  invite   2.  volunteer  3.  give  4.  pray Adam

     Part of my regiment has been to take some raw honey on the comb each day to fight against cancer of the colon.  Another thing that I read over the last year.  A blessing is that a neighbor who raises bees has been giving Stephanie and I a great deal on the best honey I have ever tasted. Just recently with the honey harvest I got a call to take off their hands all the waste so it is a sweet day!!!      Another sweet day is that this is the first day since July 18th of last year that we did not pack my wound.  A visit to the surgeon later this month will hopefully call this stage of recovery done. It is funny that while I was having a little comb honey each day orally Stephanie was using a product called medi-honey on my wound on my other end.      I am always amazed at God's timing and He has done it again.  This Sunday night we will baptize those in the lake that have come forward and Sunday morning we are handling a passage of scripture that talks of John the Baptist.

     Sometimes when you are not trying something comes out of nowhere to be a blessing to you.  I am sure I planted this hubbard squash last year somewhere but this year it came up on its own out of the compost pile.        Sometimes God sends blessings our way when it seems that we have done nothing to deserve it.  It just pops up out of the places that seem less likely visited.  That compost pile I don't spend a lot of time at, I just dump the compost and sometimes run because of the smell and flies.  God is able to bless out of the areas of our lives that are very smelly but still yielded to Him.  I am so imperfect but I continue to give him the compost parts of my life.      Adam

     I had to start up one of the wood stoves this morning and look at how fast Kierra found the spot that she will utilize over the cold months.  Her and Toby swap off once they get thoroughly baked.      What a great day yesterday.  It was great to have really 3 weeks to work on this sermon.  Also, a Sunday away sure charges you up to hit the ground running.  The church is in full swing and the calendar of events is full of Bible Studies and worship services.  I think the thought that I will take away from Matthew 10 is that I need to go from what I say, to what I do, to what I need to be.  So many things are said but never done.  Things are done but maybe for the wrong reasons and usually don't last long if done that way.  But when you look at what you are to be, then what you say and what you do come a more pure heart and have such a greater impact.  Jesus' pep talk to His disciples before they hit the road is about about the "be".      Health-wise, the CAT