This is Piper's favorite song! She likes the ducks best. She points to the computer and says "gucks". (Translation - I want to watch the llama song)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Llama, Llama Duck?
Thursday, October 25, 2007
True Confessions
I've been reading "When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man" by Edward T. Welch.
Here's an excerpt from chapter 3:
"Sometimes we would prefer to die for Jesus than to live for him. If someone had the power to kill us for our profession of faith, I imagine that most Christians would say, 'Yes I am a believer in Christ,' even if it meant death. The threat of torture might make people think twice, but I think most Christians would acknowledge Christ. However, if making a decision for Jesus means that we might spend years being unpopular, ignored, poor, or criticized, then there are masses of Christians who temporarily put their faith on the shelf... In other words, kill me, but don't keep me from being liked, appreciated or respected."
Ouch! I've been wrestling with that for a few weeks. I am convicted by the truth of that statement lived out in my life.
What does the Bible have to say about this?
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." Matthew 6:11
"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." 1 John 3:13
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19
We should simply expect that obedience to God will mean others may not like us. Sometimes it is as simple as an underlying tension when others know (or sense) that we are walking in the light. It may mean being ridiculed or losing your credibility among a certain circle of people.
Why do we fear this so much? So much, that it keeps us from sharing the best news in the world?
Welch goes on to say in Chapter 7, "The problem is clear: People are too big in our lives and God is too small. The answer is straightforward: We must learn to know that our God is more powerful and more loving than we ever imagined." Meaning, we must learn to find our joy in knowing and fearing God!
Here's an excerpt from chapter 3:
"Sometimes we would prefer to die for Jesus than to live for him. If someone had the power to kill us for our profession of faith, I imagine that most Christians would say, 'Yes I am a believer in Christ,' even if it meant death. The threat of torture might make people think twice, but I think most Christians would acknowledge Christ. However, if making a decision for Jesus means that we might spend years being unpopular, ignored, poor, or criticized, then there are masses of Christians who temporarily put their faith on the shelf... In other words, kill me, but don't keep me from being liked, appreciated or respected."
Ouch! I've been wrestling with that for a few weeks. I am convicted by the truth of that statement lived out in my life.
What does the Bible have to say about this?
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." Matthew 6:11
"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." 1 John 3:13
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19
We should simply expect that obedience to God will mean others may not like us. Sometimes it is as simple as an underlying tension when others know (or sense) that we are walking in the light. It may mean being ridiculed or losing your credibility among a certain circle of people.
Why do we fear this so much? So much, that it keeps us from sharing the best news in the world?
Welch goes on to say in Chapter 7, "The problem is clear: People are too big in our lives and God is too small. The answer is straightforward: We must learn to know that our God is more powerful and more loving than we ever imagined." Meaning, we must learn to find our joy in knowing and fearing God!
Monday, October 22, 2007
INSIGHT Bonfire
Last Saturday night we hosted a bonfire for the INSIGHT students.
Yes, a bonfire in downtown Minneapolis.
It was a blast! We stayed up way too late!
Here's Josiah and Danny getting things ready.
Jackie, Martha, Emilie, Barb and Kassie
Piper on Emilie's shoulders.
Phil gets silly while holding his marshmallow stick.
Josiah, Taylor, Matt, Jackie, Robbie, Danny and Mike.
Robbie and Danny are two funny guys.
Katie, Whitney and Martha with Phil behind.
Whitney and Jackie
Ryan (INSIGHT Staff) and Brian (INSIGHT parent) holding Piper.
William, Nate B., Sarah, Emilie, Jackie, and Nate O.
Ryan, Mike, and Brian
Nate, Katie, Matt, Martha, and Kassie
Bryan, Sarah and Robbie. Bryan and Sarah are married.
Bailey and Jared
Around the campfire.
Brian, Jim, Jackie, and Josiah
Ryan, Mike, Nate, Brian, and Jim
Piper Pics
Piper and Whitney each have a stuffed Giraffe. Piper likes to sleep with both!
Above she is giving this "girash" smoochies.
Here's the Pips emptying out the cupboard. Way fun!Uncle Bud Comes to Visit
Actually, he was just passing through on his way to a Navy reunion in California. He stayed with us the night before his flight out and then again on the return trip. We enjoyed having him here! (We were just a tiny bit concerned about his shiny new PT Cruiser parked behind our building.)
Bud lives with Bette in Henning, Minnesota. They own a huge cabin on the lake that is a favorite family get-away. By the way, figure this out... Bud is married to Jim's mom's sister. (Hint: two Waldemar brothers married Hoppe sisters.)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Robbed at Gunpoint!
A few night's ago one of our students at Bethlehem had the unfortunate experience of being robbed while walking home late at night. We are so grateful he was not harmed. We are touched by his response to the whole experience as he's described below:
"As I am sure that many of you already know, last night I was robbed at gun point on my way back to my apartment. By God's grace, I was unharmed and all that was stolen from me was thirty dollars. This occurrence has shaken my perspective on life to the very core. During these past two months God has been teaching me immensely on my inability to go through life on my own strength. Last night, God showed me in a powerful way that not only can I not go about day to day tasks without him, but I can not hold onto this "fragile breath" we call life without him either. God not only demands that we rely on him in our daily lives, but he demands that we rely on him for our very lives as well. Please pray that this experience will only deepen my personal walk with my Precious Jesus. You are all such good friends and comforters. How great to be apart of the body of Christ. "
"As I am sure that many of you already know, last night I was robbed at gun point on my way back to my apartment. By God's grace, I was unharmed and all that was stolen from me was thirty dollars. This occurrence has shaken my perspective on life to the very core. During these past two months God has been teaching me immensely on my inability to go through life on my own strength. Last night, God showed me in a powerful way that not only can I not go about day to day tasks without him, but I can not hold onto this "fragile breath" we call life without him either. God not only demands that we rely on him in our daily lives, but he demands that we rely on him for our very lives as well. Please pray that this experience will only deepen my personal walk with my Precious Jesus. You are all such good friends and comforters. How great to be apart of the body of Christ. "
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