RogBro

Peace on Earth, Good Will To Man

2008-12-24T05:48:00.003-05:00

All,
checkout this awesome Casting Crowns rendition of the song written by Longfellow during the Civil War. Casting Crowns version of the song is the best I've ever heard and I wanted to share it with you all.
Merry Christmas!!!

AI Gives Back Song

2008-04-10T08:46:00.007-05:00

Did anyone stay up and watch American Idol last night? With family in (Keri's parents) and Wednesday night bible class along with Adam and Aaron over playing Wii I did not catch Idol Gives Back but I did hear that the last song of the night was performed by the remaining 8 contestants and the song was, believe it or not SHOUT TO THE LORD. I did catch it this morning on youtube and thought they did a fantastic job singing the song. Was somewhat disappointed and a little annoyed but not surprised that they edited out "Jesus" and replaced his name with "Shepherd" but was still amazed that it was performed at all. It is significant though that Jesus does refer to himself as "the Good Shepherd"!

You can check out the performance at http://youtube.com/watch?v=zY8N5sdrEf8

BTW: In my opinion David Cook and Carly Smithson did an awesome job with the song. Who do you think will be the next American Idol? I am thinking it will be the other David (Archuleta) but will not be surprised or that disappointed if David Cook wins.

Roger, over and out!!!

Reviewing the day

2008-03-11T10:21:00.003-05:00

How do you communicate with God? This spring quarter the Young Adult Sunday morning class is going through John Ortberg's book "An Ordinary Day with Jesus." The first session was titled Living in Jesus' Name and brought up the idea that we are called to live our daily ordinary life with Jesus in mind.
Colossians 3:17 (God's Word) Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Part of the deal is to realize that God is ever present in our 24/7 lives even though we often miss seeing him (think: the two men on the road to Emmaus and how they did not recognize Jesus although he was right there with them). An exercise that Ortberg believes is helpful is to review the events of the day in our mind before going to sleep. I thought it was a very practical idea and so below is the exercise for you to try. Let me know if it is helpful to living your ordinary life in Jesus' name.

Review the Day with God
1. Be still and quiet your mind of distracting thoughts.
2. Acknowledge Jesus' presence and invite him to guide you.
3. Recall the beginning of the day when you first awoke and review that scene as if on video. What is your reaction to it? Talk to God about you reaction.
4. Do this same review going from scene to scene through out that day and reflect on each one (some scenes may fill you with gratitude and others with regret). Whatever your reflection reveals to you talk to God about it and those involved.
5. End your review by thanking God for his mercy and love and ask him to refresh you with a good night of sleep.

Two results should come to anyone who does this exercise:
. You will become aware of any recurring negative patterns that will
--cause you to grow tired of the regrets
--increase your desire to mature and change.
. You will begin to be awed by His presence in the ordinary moments of your life.

Roger, over and out!

A Spent Day

2008-03-04T15:20:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was my day off and I got to spend it doing what I wanted to do. My morning began by going to Cracker Barrel and enjoying breakfast. I got “Mama’s Pancake Breakfast” which included three pancakes, three strips of bacon, two eggs over medium and coffee. Mmmmmm, that was sure good. After leaving CB I went to Wal-Mart to get some golf balls and golf tees so that I can start the process of losing them because I had successfully lost my previous set of balls and tees. Golf is sure a strange game but more about that later. I then went to the post office to send a package of stuff to my favorite grandson, Ethan. Actually, he is my only grandson but that is beside the point. I then finally headed home to do some bathroom calking and play with the dog.

Three-thirty pm finally rolled around and I was at the Newport News golf course for a date with my son Aaron to play 9 holes of pasture pool. I will never be very good at this game nor will I even rise to mediocrity. I do however, enjoy getting my moneys worth by seeing how many times I can hit a little white ball between holes. BTW: On the 8th hole I may have set a course record for strokes (more is better, right)! Our game was played along side an older golfer who kindly showing us the error of our ways. We told him that we were not really golfers and he humbly told us he was not either but then showed Aaron and I that there is a difference between being honest and being humble. He patiently gave us some pointers that really seemed to work…when we applied them. It is amazing to me that anyone can have the patience he had and still look as if he were having fun in spite of his fellow hackers.
After leaving the golf course behind I headed back home and spent the evening with Keri…well sort of. She let me watch the West Virginia verses Pitt (I hate Pitt) basketball game in which the Mountaineers totally destroyed Pitt (yeah!!!) and then let me watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I do not deserve such a wonderful wife, and that is the truth!!!
Many of you are probably thinking…wow, what a waste of a day! I must admit that every day with this type of schedule would be a waste but from time to time, it ain’t so bad. Soooo, what would you have done? How do you spend your time off from work?

Eccl 9:7-9 (MSG) Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! 8 Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. 9 Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!

Roger, over and out!

Winterfest 2008

2008-02-21T11:20:00.004-05:00

We had 16 go to Winterfest from Denbigh this year (8 teens, 4 college age students and 4 chaperones). The entire trip was a blessing from God from the point we left Denbigh until we returned. Our accommodations were first class as Keri spent countless hours on the internet checking out just the right place for us to stay. While we were in Gatlinburg, we met many friends from other youth groups and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather (70 degrees on Saturday).

The theme for Winterfest this year was “The Mission” and Jeff did a great job reminding us of why we need to tell others about Jesus. The Friday night session was all about KNOWING JESUS. Without us knowing Him we cannot be a good witness to others, first things first. On Saturday we had two sessions about BEING JESUS AND SEEING JESUS. Jeff used the scripture passage in Matthew 25:34—40 as a reference for us to act whenever and wherever we see Jesus. Finally, on Sunday…very early in the morning we gathered for worship with 7,000 of our closest brothers and sisters for worship (early session). During that session, we were all given a challenge to carry our red “The Mission” bibles with us to school for 30 days. Following those 30 days we are to then give the bible away to someone who needs to hear God’s message.

Along with the insightful lessons we were led in worship by Jerome Williams and the Praise Team from Rochester Church of Christ. We also experienced a great concert by Kutlass on Friday night and “The Sandman” who created works of art from sand while we watched in amazement.

There were so many different ways in which we were encouraged at Winterfest and it just reminded me of why we go there every year. Thanks to everyone who helped with this trip, especially the parents who encourage their teens to attend. There will be updated photos soon on our church website of our trip so check them out. We are already looking forward to next year!

What memories do you have from going to Winterfest?

Five Habits to Strengthen Your Marriage

2008-02-05T11:18:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is next week and I thought I would mention 5 habits that we all need to improve to strengthen our marriages. Everyone has heard that communication is important in any relationship, but just how do we do it? These five simple but crucial skills by Virginia Satir can make bad relationships good and good relationships even better. As with any habit though, these five tips need to be done consistently over a set period of time, whether they feel fake at the moment or not. Most of the time when we begin something new or different it does not come naturally and seem forced but the habit is worth it.
• Appreciations: Share five things you appreciate about each other. These can range from the simple "I like your smile" to the sublime "I like it that you were able to kiss and make up after I forgot to pick you up last night." Appreciations build up credit in the love bank. It can be a nice surprise to realize just how much our partners notice and appreciate.
• Wishes, Hopes, and Dreams: Describe three things you hope for in the long run ("I hope to complete a marathon by the time I'm 40") and in the short run ("This week-end I'd like to spend a half-hour alone with my dad when he visits.") A partner who understands your dreams is able to help them happen. Remember that hopes change as we go along and it's important to keep each other current.
• New Information: We often forget to update our partner about a change in plans or circumstances. We tell people at work or a family member and think we've told our spouse. Make the daily updates a ritual. Information like "The dentist said Bobby won't need braces after all" or "I'll have to be in San Francisco an extra day" is crucial to staying in-synch and feeling connected.
• Puzzles: Clear-up big or little mysteries before they become suspicions, jealousy, false assumptions, or resentments. Most "puzzles" have simple explanations. "You promised you'd water the tomatoes before you left this morning. What happened?" "The water was turned off. Was it back on when you got up?" You have to ask.
• Complaints with Request for Change: Get in the habit of saying what you want rather than what you don't want. Describe a specific behavior that bothers you and explain how you'd like it done. Instead of "I get furious when you call and don't leave a message," say, "Honey, when you call and get the machine, please don't say 'It's me' and hang up. Say why you're calling, and when you'll call back, or be home, or whatever it was you were calling to tell me." If you forget to say why you were calling. Call back. Even if it's long distance. It's an inexpensive investment in your marriage. Cheaper than a dozen roses.

Great relationships occur in the daily gift of sacrifice and in the way the person receiving the gift needs it given. Matthew 7:12 says… “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,…”

DO you have any other advice for married or soon to be married couples? We can all use some help from others!

Roger, over and out!

2008-02-02T07:52:00.000-05:00

As I was reading through a blog on The Center of Parent and Youth Understanding (CPYU) I came across the concept of youth and worship and thought I would pass on a portion of it to you. It was written by Walt Mueller, the creator of CPYU and you can read the entire blog at (www.cpyu.org/page.aspx?id=76960). His questions and proverbs are very insightful. Let me know what you think and if there are any other questions/proverbs that ought to be considered.

Roger, over and out

...In preparation for the seminar, we were all asked to submit the top three questions churches should be asking regarding youth and worship, and our top three Proverbs that should ground the church’s work in this area (for some strange reason I submitted four). Attendees were then to work at tables to add to, subtract from, and refine our suggestions, the results of which will be posted at some point on the Symposium website.

I thought I’d pass on my questions and Proverbs. Perhaps they’ll spark some thought and discussion in your church. As you will see, most of them grow out of my concern for fostering a culturally captive understanding of the faith by segregating the full Body of Christ apart from one another in worship.

My questions:
1. What must we do to facilitate intergenerational understanding that results in a willingness to gracefully participate together in corporate worship that is diverse (not catering exclusively to one generational demographic) and meaningful?

2. What must we do to enable the emerging generations to experience the wonder and awe of doing life together (both give and take) while integrated into the full Body of Christ, particularly in the context of corporate worship?

3. What must we do to enable meaningful intergenerational interaction and deep long-term mentoring relationships that are initiated by adults with youth in a manner that facilitates fully integrated (all of life) spiritual growth and formation?

My Proverbs:
1. Those who age-segregate worship, spoil the child.
2. To understand “worship” as merely singing or one hour of corporate gathering, is to not understand worship at all.
3. The one who acts justly, loves mercy, and walks humbly before God is a true worshipper, integrating faith into all of life.
4. God is the audience in worship. Not me.

Happy New Year

2008-01-03T16:38:00.000-05:00

Go Mountaineers!

I can officially declare that I am at peace with WVU football. My expectations, my hopes, my dreams were high this winter with the Mountaineers. They were going into their last regular season game as the number two ranked football team in the nation behind the University of Missouri. WVU was actually in a better position for the BCS national championship than Missouri because Missouri had to beat Oklahoma in their conference championship game (which Missouri ended up losing) and all we had to do was beat Pitt. Things we really looking up for WVU but things could not have gone any worse.
Pitt played its best football game of the year and WVU forgot to show up for the home game in front of a crowd of 60,000 plus sofa-burning fans. WVU lost 13-9 and any chance for the so called national championship. They were still awarded with a BCS Fiesta Bowl game on Jan 2 against Oklahoma but the shock would take several days to wear off that WV would not play in the big one. BTW if you do not already know this…I hate PITT! Okay, I feel a little better now. But that was not all the bad news for this team from Morgantown, WV.
It seemed that after all the good things their head coach, Rich Rodriguez had accomplished there was this little matter of the University of Michigan needing a new football coach and the temptation of lots a money. Rodriguez took a clandestine offer within a week of the Pitt debacle (did I mention I hate PITT?) and ran to embrace his new team leaving WVU without a head coach.
Anyway, to speed things up a little the following few weeks between RR bolting to Ann Arbor and the Fiesta Bowl there was this need to find a new head coach. While many names were bantered around very quick a new one was not hired before the game last night so the interim head coach, Bill Stewart took his opportunity and shocked the nation. How do I know this? ESPN ran a national poll before the game to see who the people believed would win and 84% voted Oklahoma would win and win big (49 states voted for the Sooners and only little WV voted for the Mountaineers). The final score...WVU 48 Oklahoma 28. David beat Goliath! There, I made a biblical reference.
Today, Bill Stewart’s interim head coach title was dropped and he is the official head coach with a great group of players returning next season. Whew, I am exhausted. What a rollercoaster ride it has been these last few weeks but with the win and Coach Stewart now at the helm I am at peace with the college football world...even though I still hate PITT.

Roger, over and out!

The Golden Compass...What should I do?

2007-12-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

The release of the movie "The Golden Compass" is upon us and much discussion of what to do or how to respond in Christian circles has already occured. There is something inside of me that wants to rebel against the well intentioned boycott solution that often gets mentioned. Now, I have not decided yet whether or not I will go see the movie...but personally I think I would like it, at least this first of the trilogy.

One thing that history has told us over and over again is that boycotting often just puts the spotlight on the subject. I came across the Christianity Today artice
found at (http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/fearnotthecompass.html)
and invite you to read the response the author gives to Not fear the Compass. I like his thoughts and hope you will chose to read them too.

A bible passage that I believe we always need to keep in mind is found in 1 John 4:16--18 (NIV)

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Sigh. If only Pulman (author of The Golden Compass) had this understanding of God instead of the misunderstanding he does have of Him.

Let me what you think and if you plan to see the movie version of the Golden Compass or not.

Roger, over and out

An X-MAS Quiz

2007-12-06T11:13:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love this time of year!!! I know I do and I believe I know much about the reason for the season. I came across this little quiz this morning and thought it would be fun to see how well you do in answering the questions. I did not get them all correct and don't want to be alone so please post your answers and on Friday I will reveal the correct answers.

The “12 Duhs” of Christmas Author: Jim Liebelt

We know everything there is to know about Christmas, right? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Here’s a fun family quiz with a dozen questions to test your knowledge about Christmas that will help you separate fact from tradition and sometimes, plain fiction. The following are all true or false questions…

1. The innkeeper in Bethlehem told Mary and Joseph, “There’s no room for you in the inn.”

2. Jesus was born inside a barn/stable.

3. Xmas is a disrespectful abbreviation for Christmas – taking Christ – so to speak out of Christmas.

4. Jesus wasn’t really born on December 25.

5. “The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes…” (from Away in a Manger).

6. The “wise men” followed the star in the sky to the manger where Jesus was.

7. The “wise men” who found Jesus were not kings.

8. A ‘manger’ is a stable for domestic animals.

9. The first candy cane was made to be a visible reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

10. The Bible says that three “wise-men” visited Jesus.

11. Our nation’s earliest colonies insisted on making Christmas a holiday.

12. Jesus’ birthday was not celebrated by His earliest followers.

Roger, over and out!

Jesus and Me

2007-11-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

Checkout below the weekly report from the minister of the Colonia 89 church. I love reading his updates because of how he relates to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be neat to be able to talk about Jesus as easily as he does? I know, I know, he is not talking about our savior Jesus. My question though is, how real is Jesus to you and how often do you consider him in all you are doing?

Roger, over and out!

Colonia 89 Report
Reyes Medina
October 2007

Monday, Oct. 22
This morning we visited with Veronica and we put a tarp on top of the roof. We visited with Jesus and I had a class with him about evangelism. I prepared my lesson for Tuesday. We visited with Jose and he asked us to have bible study with him in the morning.

Tuesday, Oct. 23
Today I prepared my lesson for Friday. We took Jesus to give a bible study with Fabiola, Elizabeth and Lilia, he talked about God’s love, John 3:16, Genesis 3:15 and Galatians 3:16. In the afternoon we had class for all at the church property, I talked about 1 Corinthians 13.

Wednesday, Oct. 24
Today we visited with Juana, she knows some about the bible, this time I talked to her about John 1:1-18. We had bible study with Jessica and we invited her to church with us, this time I talked about Romans 3:23. Noe and I visited with Jose and I had a bible study about Marl 16:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 6:3-4. Chanita had class for women.

Thursday, Oct. 25
Today we visited with Modesta, Maria and Azucena, and we invited them for church with us. Noe and I visited with Irma and had the bible study about John 3:16, Genesis 3:15 and 3:16.

Friday, Oct. 26
This morning I met with Noe and Jesus about the church activities. Jesus said he wants to help with class on Tuesday or Friday. I went home and I finished my sermon for Sunday. In the evening we had bible class fro all, and this time I talked about tips on how to evangelize the family, the friend and the neighbor.

Saturday, Oct. 27
Today we went to the youth rally in San Quintin.

Sunday, Oct. 28
This morning we met for worship and we had 29 adults and 24 children. We had $683.50 pesos in the contribution. After worship we had fellowship Sunday, and we also had cake for the ones that celebrate their birthday this month. After the get together Gerarda decided to be baptized so we baptized her for the remission of her sins, she came here for the first time when we had the medical campaign. In the evening we had bible class with Santos and Patricia, and I talked about Mark 16:16, Acts 3:38 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
We thank God for this week we had a couple that came to visit the church, they are friends of Brother Stan and Sister Carolina. We pray for them.

Reyes Medina
Chanita Medina

Parenting

2007-10-05T10:43:00.000-05:00

Parenting has gone through many changes over the last several generations. An old adage concerning children and adults was “children should be seen and not heard.” While I know many great parents doing a wonderful job in raising their kids today our culture has slowly shifted from parent-centered to child-centered families.

My parents, like those of today did not want me just sitting in front of the TV all day but they did not go out of their way to provide an alternative. They just shooed me out of the house and told me to be back in time for dinner. Now, parents fill up their day with a schedule of programmed organized activities and all we end up doing is reducing or even eliminating the time they have to be alone with other children their age to figure the world out on their own.

Parents are quick to rush to the defense of their child and even side with them over other kids and even those we entrust them to during the day such as teachers, principles, bus drivers, daycare providers, other parents, etc. When I was a child and got in trouble at school, church or in the neighborhood I was punished and not excused by my parents. They even encouraged other adults in authority to discipline me when I did or did not do what I was expected to do and then come and tell them so that they too could disciple me.

I ran across an article on parenting the other day and the writer made some very good points about how parenting has changed. See if you agree or disagree with this quote:

WHAT’S FASCINATING IS THAT WHILE many of us over-parent when it comes to promoting achievement, we under-parent when it comes to things parents prior to us were fanatical about for centuries: manners, courtesy, respect, responsibility. It’s not that we’re pro-brat, but that we’re so uncomfortable being figures of authority that we can’t demand those things of our kids.
Last fall, my colleague Amy Donohue Korman wrote a piece, “The Death of the Chore,” that chronicled how so few of today’s kids are expected to help around the house. It was a wonderful essay, and it was only one example of our instinct to indulge kids, to make them see us not as “The Man” but “da man!” Five-¬figure Sweet 16 parties and six-figure bar mitzvahs, kids with platinum cards and more borrowing power than many major American cities, frequent massages (the kind of pampering once reserved for women in Beverly Hills), boob jobs for graduation, Senior Weeks spent not in Wildwood but in the ¬Caribbean or Europe … And don’t even think about ¬chiding someone else’s child for being rude or irresponsible; today’s parents always side with their offspring.
The result of all this is a group of kids with a depressingly skewed sense of values and a shocking sense of entitlement.

God has given parents an important job to do. If we do it right the next generation will be blessed but if we don’t take it seriously we may be cursing them instead.

Proverbs 22:6 (ASV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

If you would like to read more of what he had to say go to the website below.

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/bad_parents/

Roger, over and out.

IMHO

2007-09-19T10:39:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all the responses to my question on why believe the bible. Your comments were very well stated. The exercise was not so much to come up with a definitive answer for all people but to put thought to our belief and faith in God. I said I would give my thoughts on it and so here they are.
I grew up in a Christian family like those of you who responded. I went to church three times a week. I attended Sunday shool both on Sunday and Wednesday night, VBS in the summer as well as church camp. All I ever heard about God, Jesus and the bible were taught to me by family (both physically and spiritually). I am very grateful and blessed to have been raised the way I was but to be totally honest had I been raised in a Muslim family, a Buddhist family or an atheistic family I would have believed what I was taught by them. So at some point I needed a better defense of why I believe in the bible as the word of the one true God.
The Bible as we have it today claims to be God's gospel to mankind (John 3:16) and many have put their faith in its promises, truth and hope for the future. It was written by numerous authors over a large period of time with their writings being supported by historical and archeological evidence.
But belief that the bible is God’s word takes faith, not blind faith or unaware faith but true faith. The choice is ours to make and it is both an intellectual issue and a heart issue. These are not and should not be in conflict with each other.
Peter says we should be ready to give an answer to what we believe not out of arrogance but in humility, love and grace just as Jesus did.

1 Peter 3:15-22 (NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

I believe in my heart and in my mind we have a great big GOD!!! I believe that Jesus is his Son and that he came not just as my substitute for punishment satisfying God’s demand for sacrifice but also as my redeemer and friend. I believe it so much that I decided to live out the life of Jesus in my daily walk so that not only would the things I do, say and think give glory to God but also give opportunity for others to engage me in conversation on why I believe as I do.

Roger, over and out!

Why do you believe the bible?

2007-09-06T09:42:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday night during class I asked the teens to respond as a group to a number of comments a critic of Christianity might make. The list of six comments were...

1. Christianity is for weak willed people and is only a crutch.
2. The bible is just a book written by humans and is only a fairytale.
3. Churches are full of hypocrites
4. People cannot be sure they are going to heaven
5. How can you say God is love when so many bad things happen in the world?
6. Christianity forces itself on others.

The class did a good job in responding to each of these six comments...except for number two and so I asked them to consider it over the upcoming week.

Often we believe something as an adult just because we were taught to believe it as a child. Why do we believe the bible to be more than just a nice collection of facts, with a little philosophy and some interesting stories? I believe this is a valid question to consider.

So, without being rude to those who do not hold the bible up as the Word of God what are some of your reasons for believing in it?

Please share your thoughts and in a couple of days I will share mine. Let's see what we come up with.

Roger, over and out!

Body Life

2007-08-31T10:15:00.000-05:00

Small groups have been a part of Denbigh Church of Christ for many years and on September 16 we begin our 11th Body Life season. I came across a quote that I believe sums up the purpose of Body Life small groups.

Small groups are a PLACE TO BE and not just another THING TO DO.

To me being in a small group is a no brainer. I've been either a leader or a participant in a group for almost 20 years. During that time I've gotten to know other group members more intimatly and they have gotten to know me. Had it not been for these groups the deep sharing of our lives would not have happened had I just relied on Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night church gathering.

In the 1980’s sitcom “Cheers” their theme song mentioned the bar as a place to go where everyone knows your name. We all need relationships and our reason this ministry exists is to provide a place for relationships to grow. Whether you choose to connect with an affinity group, or with an intergenerational group you will find family. It will be a place where everyone will know your name. It will also be a place for you to be ministered to and to minister to others through friendship, service opportunities, prayer, and bible application. Paul said in Ephesians that when we share with one another our gifts out of love we build up the body of Christ and grow to be like Him (Eph 4:14—16).

True friendship is not to be taken lightly. It is a risky adventure that draws one into the life of another. Jesus told his disciples that no greater love exists than to lay down your life for a friend (John 15:13). This is the opportunity we have in Body Life, to lay down our life needs so that the needs of others are met. It was not just a nice bit of teaching on Jesus’ part because he goes on to tell them in chapter 16 that that is exactly what he was about to do for them…and us.

When you commit to a small group you commit to serve and be served. In the show Star Trek Mr. Spock would sometimes say “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” but another episode he said “the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.” This is true in small group ministry. At times service is giving your needs up for others and at other times it means allowing others to serve you.

A third opportunity in Body Life is the privilege to pray for one another’s health (physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually). Spending group time in prayer is an important task but everyone is also encouraged to pray throughout the week for the group concerns mentioned.

Finally, spending time together and sharing with one another what we’ve learned from God’s word is immeasurable. When we allow God to make us new through his word we will come to live more like we were always intended to live. This year many groups will use the Sunday morning sermon as a discussion starter and seek ways to apply the message to their daily life.

Your Response Desired:
Have you ever participated in a small group? If not why not and if so do you plan to be a part of another group?
What have you gained (good or bad) from your small group experience?
What would you change about small group ministry to make it more effective?
What are some common mistakes you've witnessed or heard about in a small group setting?

Roger, over and out!

City of Children Mission Trip

2007-08-17T08:40:00.000-05:00

What a great week we had at the City of Children. I want to thank all our teens and adult staff because without them and their efforts the mission trip to the City of Children would not be the same. Our oral report will be given next Sunday, August 26 at 6 PM.

If you have never gone on a mission trip let me give you an idea of what our week looked like at a glance. We all gathered Friday morning at our church building at 3:45 AM. Len Causey, Byrdie Hawley and Tressa Tucker transported our group to the Richmond airport for our flight out at 6:40 AM. After arriving in San Diego we were shuttled over to the Holiday Inn for a nights stay.

On Saturday we boarded the bus and headed to the local In-n-Out Burger for lunch. I wish we had one of those in VA! Good fast food with an efficient work crew, what a great concept! Anyway, after lunch we headed for the border and crossed without any problems. We arrived at the City of Children around 2 PM because of the quick lunch and border crossing.

After unloading luggage we went to play with the children. It is so much fun to see and play with them again since our last visit.

On Sunday we enjoyed church in Spanish and realized once again that God’s Family is composed of many people from many cultures and languages. Following morning worship we had a tour of the facilities and lunch prepared by the women at the City of Children.

On Monday through Wednesday our groups were divided into three teams to cover the three areas of service (home construction or visitation in Maneadero, painting Mexican staff quarters and picnic areas at the orphanage, and dorm cleaning and playing with pre school children). While concrete was in the dreams of our group, painting was joyfully done instead…oh well, maybe next year!

Thursday morning we went to La Bufadora for some shopping. The familiar call “give me a chance to rip you off” was heard as we walked the gauntlet of vendors down to the blowhole. Ashleigh Blackwell and I enjoyed a fish taco but no one else seemed interested in one at 10:30 in the morning. I don’t get it!!!

Our week went by quickly as we closed out our time at the orphanage with a devotional at the amphitheater and the tucking in of our Lil Amigo’s. On Friday we started our long trip back home and arrived back at the church building around 3 AM.

Thanks again for all the support you provide so that we may serve our great God through this mission effort.

Saying Goodbye!

2007-07-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest things to do is say goodbye. Whether it is a parent, a spouse, a child, a sibling, a friend or a neighbor it does not matter, saying goodbye is tough. Next week we must say goodbye to our neighbors across the street who just happen to be great friends and more importantly our family in Christ. Bob, Kate along with their son Jack and yes even Hailey their dog will be moving on to Houston, TX. They have made a lasting impression on our congregation and on me and I am eternally grateful.
It will not be the same around here without the Looney’s. From Kate providing me with weather updates, or assisting Bob to acquire the need for a new ladder, or helping Hailey go potty, or just enjoying getting to hold Jack for a few minutes. Yes, things will be definitely be a little different after they move away.
But they made an even bigger impact on our church. From the very first time they walked into our building they got involved and added some spice to our church. Bob and Kate worked together in most everything they did, and they did a lot. They led the Teens4Him high school youth group, took them to youth rallies, mission trips, service projects, and taught in Sunday School. Both Bob and Kate could be found serving on the Praise Team or behind the scene in the control booth. If there was work to be done at the church building they got involved. They also help move people in to their home by helping unloading their boxes and furniture, as well as helped pack up boxes and furniture for those moving away. They are truly servants in their attitude and speech, their sacrifice of time and effort, and their love.

When you get a moment please leave a note or blessing for them on this blog or maybe better yet give it to them directly.

For me I say thanks Bob/Kate/Jack/Hailey for the blessing of being family with us. Thank you for being my friend! You will be missed greatly at Denbigh but will be without a doubt a blessing wherever God leads you to serve.

Paul’s words to the Ephesians says it all.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT) When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21 May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.

Love and learn

2007-06-29T10:40:00.000-05:00

In my years of going to church I have sat through many classes and Sunday sermons that expressed scripture in theory but with little, practical application. Because of that I tend to lean more toward the practical side of things, relying on what I’ve been taught growing up to support what I want to apply to living the Christian life. The problem is not everyone has had the teaching background (good or bad) that I’ve had. What those who sit through my classes or small group meetings probably hear from me… more often than I want to admit… is lots of how-to advice and less scripture. I think I/we need more balance in this area both scripture and application. For example I ran across this marriage tip posted by Debbie Simler-Goff for better communication in relationships.

Nonverbal signals carry five times the impact of spoken words. So understanding your mate's body language can go a long way to avoiding arguments and strengthening your relationship. Here are six strategies for communicating without words.
1. Watch your mate's shoulders. Hunched shoulders may indicate defeat, or that she's feeling overwhelmed. Squared shoulders convey confidence and could mean he's ready for battle. Observing the difference can defuse potential conflict before it strikes.
2. Sit and tilt your head when asking your mate to share what's upsetting him. Sitting shows you're open and ready to listen, and inclining your head indicates sincere interest.
3. While making dinner, puttering around the house, or when on a date, lean your body toward your spouse. Leaning conveys, I want to be closer to you.
4. Pupils dilate when you experience attraction, so gaze deeply into your mate's eyes to signal your love.
5. If you're arguing, hand over a glass of water. Gestures and emotions are directly linked. If your wife is defensive, her arms will likely be crossed. Getting her to uncross them (to accept a cold drink) will help dissipate tension.
6. Smile. Science has proven that smiling causes others to react more positively to you. Just smiling at your mate can generate good feelings for you both.

It is good to have tips and suggestions like those mentioned above when looking for practical advice on what to do. But we cannot get the cart before the horse in any relationship. There must first be love and concern for the other person. Without love all the practical advice in the world is only at best, manipulation (if I do this they will do that). Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that all the efforts, gestures and words we express end up ringing hollow and manipulative without love.
Good communication including reading the others body language whether in marriage or in any relationship begins with concern and care for the other person(s). That is when practical advice will make a difference. I like how Romans 12:9-10 reads in The New Living Translation.

Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Now, which listening technique will you try next? I like number 5.

Roger, over and out!

Jason's Return

2007-06-27T08:02:00.000-05:00

It has been an interesting five months since our son, Jason left his home and family to go to Iraq. In some ways it was a blessing for Keri and me as well as Brittany's mom because we got to see a lot of Brittany and Ethan while Jason was deployed. But the time was bittersweet in that he was sent away to war.
While the communication lines were open for us to email him we mostly waited for his phone calls...which BTW he was able to make frequently. Hearing his voice was so much better than reading an email.
This past Sunday he made it safely back to American soil in Baltimore. Keri and I spent about $80 in gas traveling Sunday afternoon for four hours through heavy DC traffic and then turned around Monday morning and did it all over again just so we could see him for a few brief hours. And believe me it was more than worth it because seeing the look on Keri's face when she saw him at the airport was priceless.
Maybe that is a shadowy picture of what it will be like when Jesus returns. As good as it is to have his written word and as wonderful as it is to have the Holy Spirit to comfort us how far greater it will be when he comes again...and He will come back again!!!

John 14:1-3 (NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

I'm back!!!

2007-06-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a while since I last published to this blog. I am sorry for all of you who have been enslaved by my blog and have been checking it daily since the last entry only to find it has not been updated. Thank you for your patience and guess what, it has been updated.
This past weekend was our annual Marriage Retreat held at the Glen Allen church of Christ just outside of Richmond, VA. Eight couples from church attended and enjoyed spending the time away from home focusing on their marriage.
Terry Lafferty, my good friend from Western PA came down for the weekend and did a terrific job facilitating our discussion time. He used material from the book GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME by Barry and Emily J. McCarthy to focus our attention on some key components of a successful marriage. What Terry was able to add to the message of the book was a spiritual approach and some personal examples from his marriage.
Terry mentioned that respect, trust and intimacy are core to any marriage (chapter 2) but that a marriage lacking God could not be as successful as one that included God.

Questions begging for response:
1. What do you believe constitutes a successful marriage?
2. Do you believe that have a successful marriage you must be one with God? Why or why not?
3. What do you do to make your marriage a success?

Do Something, Take a Risk

2007-04-26T08:24:00.000-05:00

I think for a time we in America believed that as long as we did what we were supposed to and stayed away from a reckless lifestyle, harm would not befall us. I know that is how I thought when I was growing up. But now I am sure it was just an allusion. Even if there was no such thing as natural disasters or even accidents we still have to deal with ourselves.
Man has always gone out of his way to harm others. From the time Cain killed his brother till the disturbed young man took the lives of all those college students and professors mankind has been in harms way.
I suppose we could try like some families in the 50’s and bury ourselves in an underground shelter like the comedy "Blast From the Past" dipicted or a more modern version hide in a safe room in our home and never come out. But that just means we die to others while we are still technically alive. It may be the safe thing to do but what kind of life is that?
If holing up (being perfectly safe) is not what we were put on this earth to do then what are we supposed to do when life is dangerous? Some people believe vigilantism is the way to stay safe (fight fire with fire). Others, through demonstration believe they can bring about a better and safer world, and still others, say forcing or outing people will call attention to the problem and bring peace and safety through understanding.
The Apostle Peter gave us his spiritually devined plan for life in the face of danger. He says in 1 Peter 4:7-11 that we are to stay clear headed so we can pray. In chapter 5 Peter tells us to cast all our anxieties on God because he cares for you.
We are to also love others above everything. 1 Corinthians 13 says that love keeps no record of wrong, in other words it forgives. Through love we also show the world that we are His disciples.
Finally Peter tells us to be hospitable toward others and use our gifts to serve one another.
These are what Peter says to do in our daily life. They may or may not seem to you all that big a deal, but to a world that is afraid and in need of hope and comfort they can be a true lifesaver. Why not be a risktaker and just do something?

Virginia Tech

2007-04-17T13:32:00.000-05:00

I sit here at my computer not knowing what to say in the face of yesterday’s senseless tragic shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech with more than 30 students and professors losing their lives. May God bless each of their families during their grief.
Please, in your prayers don’t forget to pray for those God is using and will use to minister and counsel those affected.

Chocolate Jesus

2007-04-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back Keri and I along with Brittany and Ethan traveled up to Washington, PA to visit with Keri’s parents and to bring back a pick-up truck for Aaron. While there we decided (read I decided) to go to Sarris’, our favorite homemade chocolate shop. There is no where that I know of that compares to the smooth mild milk chocolate that they produce. Anyway, while we were at Sarris’ I came across their Easter section of shaped chocolates and was taken back by what I saw. Along with the traditional Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs of every size there were other items for consumption, but the one that really made me wince was the chocolate Last Supper. While I do not find the Leonardo da Vinci painting especially sacred, I for some reason was offended by this edible version. Of all the things you can mold chocolate into why the Last Supper scene? Nothing new here, but I feel that we have, like Christmas, rendered Easter a consumer product. And although he is a “sweet” savior he also is our judge. Check out the passage below and notice how the Holy Spirit describes the Son of God.

Hebrews 10:29-31 (NIV) How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

While molding The Last Supper into chocolate is in my opinion “poor taste” what we do with His name and how we represent Him in our daily life is more important. I know for one that I am guilty of using the name of God and Jesus lightly in conversation and in joking around. I have been graced by God with His patience and I do not want to test the length of it any longer so I have decided to change how I represent Him in my speech and actions. Why not consider doing the same starting with this Easter and maybe the world will notice the change and if we are blessed maybe, just maybe they will ask us why we believe and do the things we do. What an opportunity!!!

Happy Easter

Roger, over and out!

American Idol

2007-03-15T09:22:00.000-05:00

The top rated TV show this time of year is American Idol. For those who have been living under a rock it is a show all about promoting unknown wannabee singers. During the many weeks and months while it is on the air each performer gets a chance to sing in front of a panel of three judges (Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell) and then listen to their critique afterwards. Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul often side with each other and are usually nice in the way they critique the singer but Simon is another story. He is abrasive and harsh and his analogies are off the wall and often demeaning. No one is exempt from listening to his comments as everyone ends up having a bad week it seems at some point.

As the selection process continues usually the cream rises to the top and the lesser singers are weeded out …except maybe this year. 17-year-old Sanjaya Malakar is still one of the contestants remaining. He is a good looking soft singing teenager that will not go away. Each week the viewers have to watch him muddle through his song and then listen to even Randy and Paula dis him in front of millions of viewers. So why is he still in this so called singing competition? The rumor is that an underground movement is a foot to make him the winner of this competition in spite of his bad reviews from the judges. Due to this unwise movement this nice young man continues to get through week after week and causes a lot of disbelief and laughter at his expense.

The premise of the show is that the American audience knows who they want to listen to and will call or text in their vote based on who they like. Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, and Fantasia Barrino are just a few of the success stories in the years this show has been around. But if the movement to keep Sanjaya in the competition continues it may be the undoing of an otherwise thriving show.

The Bible says in Proverbs… “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” Prov 14:12-13 (NIV)

Humans have never been perfect in judging what is best for them. We tend to be rebellious when we even know that the outcome will be bad for us. I don’t know if this show will survive this situation, but I do know that in the competition for our soul those who put their trust in God will move on eternally.

Romans 7:21—25a (NIV) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!

BTW: Who do you think should be the winner in this years American Idol? I think it will be… Melinda Doolittle. When she was asked what her personal goals in life are she said “to represent Christ well and do everything 150%.” I kinda like that!

Roger, over and out!

You Want Fries With That?

2007-03-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

'McMissile' Lands Mom in Jail
Driver Gets Felony Conviction For Tossing Cup of Ice Into Car

The above headline appeared in The Washington Post a couple of weeks ago and adds a new twist to Jesus' statement of "giving a cup of cold water..." How often do we allow ourselves moments of frustration like this mom experienced and do something we would not ever consider otherwise? Ms Hall's actions last July has landed her in jail since Jan 4. The judge was merciful and reduced the sentence from a potential 2-5 years in prison to 5 years of probation and paying of all fines/court costs. In my opinion I do not think she will allow herself to react the same way again.

When we are honest with ourselves even Jesus' simple statement to "turn the other cheek" or the more difficult one he tells us in Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" are superhuman. These verses make for nice comments in bible school but living them out daily is beyond us. It truly is a God thing! So next time you are tempted to say/do something out of anger remember the lesson of the "McMissile" and let God lead you to respond gracefully instead!

Roger, over and out!

The Prize

2007-02-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

The message at Winterfest last weekend revolved around Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Through worship songs led by Watershed, drama by Unbound, comedy by 3,2,1 Improv, to testimonials from an astronaut and another one by a two time Olympic gold medalist, and talks from Jeff Walling and Mitch Wilburn the theme for Winterfest was reinforced. We have a God who loves us and has promised us a “Prize” far beyond our wildest imaginations.

It reminded me of the Geico Insurance commercial with the Gecko spokesanimal telling the interviewer that not taking them up on lower rates is like being asked to stand up if they want to save loads of money and the interviewer choosing to remain seated because he already is so rich. Who would do such a thing? But don’t many do just that when they are given the opportunity to become a child of God. We become content with the material trash in our lives and do not consider the real treasure of Heaven.

These are some of the things that I will remember as I participated with our chaperones and teens at Winterfest 2007.

For those who attended last weekends rally, what impressions did you have from the largest gathering of churches of Christ in the world on Sunday?

For those who missed out on this youth rally what were some of your memories from previous years?

Roger, over and out!

Winterfest 2007

2007-02-20T11:26:00.000-05:00

The Prize
The weekend was great and the teens and adult chaperones had a wonderful time together with 14,000 of their closest friends in Gatlinburg, TN. Jeff Walling presented terrific lessons from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. For those of you who have never had a youth rally experience as a teen or chaperone it is a little hard to explain…but let me try.

We gathered Friday morning at 6:45 and left the church parking lot at 7:00 AM. By the time we made it to Richmond we had to take one of many bathroom breaks and this one took over 20 minutes before we were back on the road again. We stopped again to pick up Bob and Kate in Charlottesville, VA. His parents live there and they were going to watch the baby while we were at Winterfest. We again spent about 20 minutes at their home for “potty break” and then filled up with gas at a local service station. From there we traveled down the road for a couple of more hours and then stopped for lunch at Subway. Again we loaded back into the van and continued our journey to Gatlinburg stoping one more time in Sevierville, TN for gas, and of course another bathroom break. Are you getting the picture yet??? The remaining 18 miles to Gatlinburg took over an hour due to traffic from the other 14,000 inconsiderate attendees who thought to arrive at the same time we did. Finally after checking into the Best Western Motel (they gave us the Honeymoon Island rooms because the management thought that it was probably best for us to be separated from their regular cliental) we walked into town towards the convention center and got some dinner. We decided to meet at the convention center about 30 minutes prior to the beginning of our session (this became our standard time to meet) and stood outside until we were allowed into the building for the second of the two sessions that night. Many of our group then realized that it can get quite cold in freezing weather and that there really is such a thing as a wind chill factor…and the next morning brought snow on top of the cold weather.

After enduring these conditions four times during the 36 hours we were in town we were back in the vans heading home for another repeat journey, but this time with a crew of cranky tired kids and adults. Actually I was very pleased with the attitudes of all those who went this year. We finally arrived back where we started around 10 PM at the church building.

What would cause a group to endure such a trip? The experience, adventure and hanging out together is one reason why but mostly it is the message of the gospel delivered in a “teen friendly” environment. Was it worth it you ask? You bet and if God blesses me with the opportunity again next year I will once again get in the big green pickle and drive.

Roger, over and out!!!

Romance Is In The Air

2007-02-14T08:19:00.000-05:00

I heard this morning on “The Daily Buzz” that the average guy spends around $160 on his Valentine while the average woman spends around $70. I don’t fully know what that means other than maybe guys try to make up in one day what their sweethearts do all year long. WHat do you think?

For you married couples in blogland let me pass along a great Passion Plan that will improve your relationship with your spouse. I cut and pasted the article below from Jim Burns “HomeWord" email I received this morning.

Have a romantic day!!!

Roger, over and out!

Here’s The Passion Plan:
1. Kiss passionately for at least 15 seconds every day. This releases feelings about each other that say, “I love you; I want to be with you; you are special to me.” This is not about sex, it’s about romance. Also, there is no rule that you have to keep it to fifteen seconds – go ahead and splurge!
2. Take 15 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week to connect and talk. Frankly, if there is not emotional intimacy or connection there will be little interest in healthy romance. The kids can take a 15-minute break, your church doesn’t need you for those 15 minutes and this investment speaks volumes to your spouse.
3. Date and court your spouse for at least 1.5 hours a week. This is not a time to talk about insurance, the bills or your work problems, but rather to focus on each other. The question I have to ask myself as I prepare to go out with Cathy is, “Am I only giving Cathy my emotional scraps?”
4. Schedule into your life 1.5 hours a week for sexual intimacy. I know the word schedule probably caused you to stumble, but marriage authorities do agree that a scheduled regular time for sexual intimacy can bring a spark back to the relationship quite quickly. Believe me, if you do this you will suddenly get past the word schedule!

If you aren’t winning in the romance department you can improve very simply as you become more proactive about your romantic relationship. These four easy steps can also been found in my book, CREATING AN INTIMATE MARRIAGE.

Jim Burns, Ph.D., is President of HomeWord and host of Homeword's 30 minute daily radio broadcast, 30 minute weekly broadcast, and the 1 minute daily broadcast. Each weekday in cities across America, over a million people hear Jim through his radio ministry to families. His passion is communicating to adults and young people practical truths to help them live out their Christian lives. Jim is a three time Gold Medallion Award winning author and has written books for parents, youth workers, and students. His books include The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family, The Youth Builder, and Devotions on the Run.

Valentine’s Day

2007-02-07T15:03:00.001-05:00

Have you thought about how you will treat to your loved one on Valentine’s Day? I just finished reading the Christian Chronicle and on the front cover was an article on marriage around the world. The opening lines begin… “To the Makua people, buying flowers for your wife isn’t romantic. It’s absurd. If you really want to please your wife, you need to bring home rats for her to eat, me from the tribe in Mozambique told missionaries during a discussion of Christian marriage.”

The article’s point is what works for most marriages in our Western culture may not work in another. Not only are cultural ideas on marriage different but each individual marriage is different from another. As married couples we need to learn what works and does not work in ours. So I ask you how will you treat your loved one this Valentine’s Day?

Keri has never been impressed with flowers and I never really knew why, now I do and I am looking for a good buy on rats. Any ideas? 

Roger, over and out!

To LOVE and GIVE

2007-01-25T11:37:00.000-05:00

Recently through Bible Class, Small group discussion and daily bible reading I have been reminded of my purpose as part of God’s family. In my Sunday morning class we discussed the idea of our relationship to our heavenly Father. God is the giver of all good things and I am the receiver. John 3:16 is all the proof I need to be reminded of that fact. “For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE…” Because He loved and gave I have life!

God has called me to do the same for my wife, family and for others. I am to LOVE and to GIVE just as He did. In Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT) it says

Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with LOVE for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and GAVE himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.

It is only through LOVE that we can GIVE the gift of forgiveness. Peter wanted some clarification on the idea of this type of giving when he asked Jesus how many times he was to forgive someone. In Matthew 18 Jesus told Peter that he was to do it basically without limit. That is what LOVE does. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving. We probably all can relate to Peter’s question on forgiveness. We want protection from abuse. We desire limits on how far we should reasonably love and forgive. But when we ask God, He just reminds us of His example to follow.

Can you think of a certain person (spouse, child, brother, sister, friend, co/worker, etc.) who needs your love and forgiveness? Why not follow God’s example today? Through love and forgiveness we show that we are God’s children and God is honored.

Roger, over and out!

Play Nice!

2007-01-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

In last Sunday mornings Parenting class we discussed the idea that most of what our children learn from their parents is “caught and not taught.” We often teach our children unintended lessons such as “how to raise your voice in an argument’, or “how to belittle the other person while proving your point”, or “how to be ungrateful when given a gift that you did not like.” Our children are always observing and often pick up on what they hear us say and see us do.

In a two parent household our children’s first observational experience is the relationship between mom and dad. If they see constant stress, confrontation, and hear “bad language”, and threats then they will begin to put into practice those same relationship behaviors with siblings, parents, and friends and later on, if not corrected their spouse. What they are picking up may be the same behavior their parents were exposed to when they were growing up. As much as we hate to admit it we tend to repeat what we grew up experiencing. The good news is that teaching bad behavior can end with us. Instead, by being aware that little eyes and ears are open we have opportunity to lovingly show godly behavior. Paul knew this was important and told the Philippians to live out what they saw in him.

Phil 4:8-9 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Why not make a commitment today before God with your spouse that you will intentionally put into practice what Paul suggests to those at Philippi many years ago? Your changes will make a difference in the lives of future generations.

God Bless!

Just A Few More Chapters

2006-12-27T10:12:00.001-05:00

There are only a few days left in 2006 and I am only a few chapters away from finishing my second year of systematically reading through the bible. Prior to that I had no plan and so I typically ended up reading from the New Testament (mostly Romans-Jude). I am ashamed to admit it but I was worried about getting bored in the Leviticus type books of the Old Testament to read them and I thought I had a good handle on the gospels to spend time reading them. Also, the book of Revelation was just a bit too weird for my taste, can you believe it, and so I stayed away from it too. I mean, who can understand it anyway?

Keri will tell you that I have always loved the end of a book. When I pick up a book I tend to look at the last page to see how many pages are in it and maybe read the final paragraph or two just so I know what to expect. My goal is not so much enjoying the story but completing the process.

I am telling you all this because maybe some of you can relate. For whatever reason in the past you may have never really had a plan for reading God’s word. Being this is a good time of the year to make a commitment why not decides to read the bible cover to cover in 2007? You will not be disappointed because it will bless your life!

So, go ahead, I dare you to look at the last page of the bible while you are thinking about it. I’ve been waiting to read those words all year long!

Roger, over and out!

Merry Christmas!!!

2006-12-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Are the holidays a time of fun or stress for you and your family? Checkout the youtube answer for families that need a break.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9-ctuBFAUg&NR

I have always enjoyed the holiday season. From the time I was a little boy I have longed for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. Often we would travel back to WV for Thanksgiving and I remember hoping for snow to be on the ground so that I could go sledding down the big hill across from Grandma's house. Too often though it would not be cold enough and only rain would fall, but every year I still had hope.

Christmas Eve was next on my thoughts during the season. I dreaded the month of days that would follow Thanksgiving. Each day passed in slow procession. We did not have an advent calendar to help, and for me I am not sure it would have helped. Finally December 24th would arrive and of course the day would pass very slowly with the anticipation growing minute by minute. I don't know how my mom got through that day with all us kids (read me) getting on her nerves. Five o'clock would strike and mom had dinner ready on the table. We would enjoy a peaceful (yeah, right!) family meal together and then get in the car for the annual drive to look at all the Christmas lights. Dad was very good about taking his time and it drove me nuts. But, to be honest I really did enjoy the time in the car. Finally we would get home and open the wrapped gifts from one another. We had a tradition of everyone tearing into their gifts at the same time. No waiting around to see what each other got until after all the gifts we opened. That is my kind of Christmas Eve!

Evening passed and it was time for bed. Mom always made sure we had cookies, carrots and milk to set out for a Santa (surely he didn’t have enough to eat at all the other millions of homes he visited) and his reindeer who needed a little something to eat too! Then a sleepless night would follow. I thought it very good if I could hold out till 4:00 AM. It seemed like a reasonable time to me to get up because I had been awake the entire night! What came ever so slowly to me though for some reason came all too quickly for mom and dad. My role it seemed in the family was to annoy dad into letting us get up with questions like "can we get up now?" When I look back on it now dad anticipated Christmas morning as much as I did. Anyway, dad lingered in bed for a few minutes listening to my barrage of questions until he, and mom would get up and make their way down the hallway to the living room and light the Christmas tree. For some reason I was always pleasantly surprised that Santa considered me a good boy and each year would refill the Christmas tree area with toys. Mom and dad drank lots of coffee as we had a glorious morning together as a family.

I had the best family in the world growing up and I still do to this day! BTW: I still find it difficult to fall asleep on Christmas Eve.

What was your Christmas like when you were growing up?

Roger, over and out!

Chad Huggins

2006-12-16T08:52:00.000-05:00

I have been struggling with how to express my emotions concerning the news I received Thursday evening and Friday morning. Chad Huggins, a 17 year old high school student shot himself Thursday around 5 pm. He was a member of the school rifle team and was in the stadium locker room by himself when it happened. Chad was life-flighted to a hospital where a medical team worked to save his life, but at 2:30 AM he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to his head. It has yet to be determined whether it was an accident or a suicide but either way the outcome is the same. A young man’s life is gone and I don’t know quite what to think or say.
I have known Chad Huggins since he was born. I remember the smiling cherub-like little boy that ran through the church building on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s when he was a preschooler. I remember after leaving Washington, PA and moving to Newport News that every time I returned to PA that he would come up to me and want to talk. He always made me smile just looking at him but now, when I go to church there, he will be missing and I don’t understand how to feel. Should I be angry with Chad for ending his life way too soon? Because I am. Should I be angry with those that were closest to him for not noticing something different about Chad that day? Because there must have been something different. Why didn’t they do something about it? Should I be angry that he was left alone with a rifle in a locker room? Where were his fellow teammates, coaches, trainers??? How can you leave a teen by himself with a loaded gun? There may never be answers to these emotional questions I struggling with this morning and I can’t even begin to imagine the emotional questions and heartache his parents are experiencing. I ask that you please pray for Chad’s parents, Ron and Loretta Huggins and for Trisha Huggins, his sister as well as the extended family. Also please pray for the church family in Washington, PA and especially for Richard Walton, Chad’s youth minister as they all strive to cope and help one another through this tragic time.
I’ll miss you Chad

Roger, over and out!

Joseph's Dilemma

2006-12-08T10:04:00.000-05:00

On Sunday our middle school youth group is going to see the just released movie “The Nativity Story.” After reading a review of a scene from that movie it got me thinking…How often do we react to a situation that we feel sure happened the way we heard it or saw it? Let me explain by referencing part of the story of Mary’s pregnancy.

Matthew 1:18-19 (NIV) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

I have read this many times in my life and thought I understood the implications for Joseph. But the movie brings out Joseph’s dilemma. His options include the following: He could expose Mary for getting pregnant by another man and thus maybe seal her fate of death by stoning or he could lie not only to the people that knew them but more seriously lie to God and say the child she was carrying is his. Neither seemed the right thing to do. So he just decided to say nothing…that is until the Angel of the Lord told him what was going on. That’s right, he had no spiritual revelation concerning Mary’s condition until after the fact and yet he did not think of himself and his reputation first but he thought of Mary’s instead.

We would do well in life if we lived as Joseph did but too often we feel the need to respond quickly to save face in front of others. I for one have been caught a number of times making an assumption about a situation only to find out later that I had it all wrong. Had I just waited grief, embarrassment, shame, etc could have been avoided. The bible teaches us to consider others first and to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Now that sounds like a good New Years resolution to consider or maybe even a gift to give to someone you love for Christmas. Why wait to implement it on January 1st ?

Roger, over and out!

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

2006-12-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

Everybody it seems is looking for a bargain at this time of year with all the gift giving and parties and such. I heard about a great deal on basketball shoes that cannot be matched. Here is the advertisement.

Basketball shoes endorsed by NBA players can fetch astronomical prices. Air Jordans can retail for more than $200, and Kobe Bryant and LeBron James signature shoes can easily go for more than $100 on various web sites.

So how will a $14.98 basketball shoe from NBA All Star Stephon Marbury stack up against the competition? It's hard to tell, but the vision behind the shoes is a great one, and if early sales are any indication, it's a concept that many are finding embraceable.

The shoes retail for only $14.98, but Marbury claims that the Starbury One basketball shoes are the same as the most expensive shoes on the market.

Whether people are buying the shoes because of their quality; because of the Marbury name; or because they're tired of spending a what Marbury says for many is a "week's worth of groceries" on celebrity sneakers is unclear -- but they are buying them.

According to an article on Tennessean.com what was thought to be a month's supply of the footwear sold out within days at the more than 130 Steve and Barry's locations throughout the United States.

THE STARBURY LINE CURRENTLY INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

Starbury One: This is the big one.
According to the official Starbury web site, this shoe is "Exactly the same as the most expensive kicks on the market," and retails for $14.98. A mid-top shoe, this style is available in several different color combinations.
Starbury Crossovers: These low top Starbury sneakers come in a variety of colors and styles, and retail for $9.98.
Starbury Cyclones: Looking a bit like a retro track shoe, these shoes also retail for $9.98.
Starbury SXM: Though these aren't touted as being "NBA quality," buyers on various web sites claim to prefer these high-tops over the Starbury Ones. Retail price: $9.98.

The line also includes apparel like hoodies, jackets and jerseys, all priced at $9.98 or less.

What a deal…except that the Starbury One shoes are already sold-out. I guess we will have to be content with the other items.

When it comes to our spiritual needs we’ve been offered an even greater deal. Jesus has already paid the price for our salvation and all we have to do is take him up on the offer and the best thing is…there is more than enough for everyone to get in on it. Now that is a good deal!

Roger, over and out!

Christian Parenting

2006-12-01T10:56:00.000-05:00

On Sunday morning I begin a class at church on Christian Parenting. The Bible gives us many examples of parenting, both good and bad, and guidelines for raising our children in the faith. Some questions I want you to respond to is…What sets apart Christian parenting from good moral parenting? Is the only difference the teaching of Christian faith? In terms of educating our kids, is the only safe option to either home school or private school? Do we shelter our kids too much from the “real world” when we do not send them to public school? Finally, what things in our culture create the biggest hurdle for our children to overcome as we raise them in the Lord?

Roger, over and out!

Thanksgiving

2006-11-15T11:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, a week from tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Let me ask you "What are you thankful for that has happened this year?

For me I've got to experience several memorable moments. Another wedding anniversary (27th) with Keri (although I was in Mexico at the time) my youngest getting married, my middle son and his wife having a baby (our first grandson) and my oldest moving out of the house and into his own apartment. I am also thankful for the best neighbors a family could have living across the street. The Looney's are a wonderful couple and Keri and I are excited for them as they anticipate the birth of Jack, their first of many babies. :)

There are other things that have happened this year that have not been so fond like the passing of my friend Kevin Wolfgong and the recent passing of Vickie Ericksen. In incidents such as these it is difficult to be thankful but the bible says we are to do so anyway.

So how about you? Has this year been a blessing to you? If so, how?

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7 (NIV)

Trunk-n-Treat

2006-10-31T15:17:00.000-05:00

Well today is Halloween and tonight is dress up for many kids (and adults) as they go through the neighborhoods looking for some treats. Many churches and individuals denounce the yearly event as a Satanic celebration. Others, like Denbigh Church of Christ try to redeem the time by offering the neighborhood community a safe alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating by having church members park their vehicles on the church front lawn and giving away treats from each participants trunk.

We have been doing this for several years now and have found it to be a lot of fun. We have even had contests for the best decorated vehicle and best costume. I believe this to be a great way to meet our community and would like to continue doing this for years to come.

Tonight Keri and I and some others will dress up like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I will probably be "Dopey" as that probably best represents my personality. My question for you is "Should we continue doing this because it is a good thing or are we dabling in an area of concern because it falls under the "abstain from all appearence of evil" (KJV 1 Thess 5:22)

Let me know your thoughts.

Roger, over and out!

A Smiling God

2006-10-25T13:05:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what pleases God? What may put a smile on His face? In the movie "Chariots of Fire" the main character is convinced that he was given the gift to run fast and that when he did it pleased God. One of my favorite quotes from that movie is when Eric Liddell says, "When I run fast, I feel His pleasure."

Numbers 6:24-25 (NIV) The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you (read SMILE) and be gracious to you;

Have you ever felt the pleasure of God smiling on you? The passage above was a blessing that Aaron was to give to the Israelites. It is often used today as a blessing on the church at the end of a worship service in some congregations. I wish we used it more often then we do. I even like it as a song even though I get just a little confused in the seven fold amen section. Just thinking of God smiling over us is an awesome.

To look at me now you would not know it but when I was in school I was a track athlete. I ran sprints up through the quarter mile and also long and triple jumped. Some of my fondest memories came when I did my best and won. I felt like I was doing what I was gifted to do and it pleased God.

But there were many times I did not win, in fact more times than not I lost. On those days I do not know if I felt God's pleasure. Paul though says that when we are weak that is when He can be strong in our life (2 Cor 12:10). I never thought about how God could have used my failures in running and jumping. I would just mope around for a while and wish things had turned out differently (like me winning instead of losing).

The idea of God using my human frailty (weaknesses) to bring about his good will is a comforting thought because just like in running I still fail more then I succeed. Nevertheless, to be totally honest I still would prefer being a winner in everything I do but if what Paul says is true then maybe I should thank God for my failures.

Maybe though what God really wants for me and for you too is to trust in Him in all of life's ups and downs. Then whatever we do as we walk in the light (1 John 1:7) is what really brings a smile to Gods face.

Roger, over and out!

Marriage For A Lifetime Part 2

2006-10-20T16:02:00.000-05:00

Below is a brief excerpt of the latest news item from smartmarriages.com I received in my email this morning.

It seems a graduate student in economics at Cornell University released a study showing that men who are married are more likely to finish doctoral programs than are single men. ...Joseph Price’s new study shows that married men do better than single men in academe not only in finishing their Ph.D.¹s, but in publishing and landing a first tenure-track job…The study was based on data from 11,000 graduate students from 100 departments over a 20-year period.

There are many reasons for both men, and women by-the-way to get married and just as many reasons for them to stay married. The one mentioned above is just one example. But the greatest reason for men and women to get married is found in scripture.

God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." Genesis 2:18 (MSG)
When the God of all creation recognizes the need for companionship then we should all take notice. There are other passages pertaining to the purpose of marriage but the one found in Genesis chapter two is relational. If marriage is meant to bring companionship then divorce just takes us back to square one “It is not good for man to be alone.”

God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse. Malachi 2:15 (MSG)

I like the quote found in Iris Krasnow’s book “Surrendering to Marriage: Husbands, Wives, and Other Imperfections.”

My dream is when my four sons 20 years from now are picking wives they look at marriage as a lifetime adventure. I hope they look at divorce as some ancient trend that came out of the hippie movement and just died.

While divorce as been around for 1000’s of years it seems that since the 1960’s it has become the normal and acceptable thing to do when difficulties arise. Let's start a new trend today by guarding our marriage relationship.

My question to all of us is… What are we doing on a daily basis to guard the spirit of our marriage? If you have let your relationship with your spouse slip recently why not take him or her out to dinner and spend some time together. It will not only reconnect the two of you but it will be pleasing to God.

Roger, over and out!

Heaven Is Waiting

2006-10-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

This is my last installment thoughts on Kevin Wolfgong. Through out the year he faced many ups and downs in terms of fighting cancer. The joy of being declared cancer free one week to the realization that it had come back a few weeks later. The last email update I received from him was this summer. Kevin loved church camp and had looked forward to directing the teen week. When he returned he had this to say...

Greetings! I am happy to report that this update contains good news.
Let's all praise the Lord ... for His lovingkindness is everlasting!

First, yes I did go to Camp Concern for Senior Week,
and yes I did survive. In fact, I felt better during that week than I have
felt in a long time, and I have continued to feel good all of this week as
well. I thank God for allowing me to feel so good!

Kevin always seemed to look to God in both his good times and bad times. He continued in his email stating a number of other good reports from his doctors and ended the message with another thank you for all the prayers and encouragement on his behalf. This turned out to be his last update in his own words.

His loving wife Amy finished the email updates a couple of months later with the report of his passing on October 7, 2006.
She writes...

Kevin lost his battle with cancer last evening, Saturday, October 7th. He left
this earth peacefully around 6 PM surrounded by a few family members and friends at Shadyside Hospital... I would like to ask for your continued prayers for
myself and Heidi and the rest of our families in the days that lie ahead.

I heard from a friend who attended the memorial service and he said the evening could basically be summed up with much laughter in the midst of many tears over the short life Kevin had on the earth. Kevin will surely be missed by many but as I said in the first of these blogs a reunion will one day be held in Heaven with him waiting for us all.

Ray Boltz wrote a song titled "Thank You" that expresses in lyrics what it might be like for Kevin in heaven. I realize we have no clue what it will actually be like, but consider these words from the song as I close.

One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And I know that up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
For great is your reward

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am a life that was changed

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am so glad you gave

See ya soon Kevin

Roger, over and out!

Kevin Wolfgong continued...

2006-10-11T09:57:00.000-05:00

Kevin's memorial service was held last night and from what I hear the place was packed with friends and family. Both tears and laughter marked the evening as the crowd celebrated his life.
Roger, over and out!

Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:23 PMTo: Subject: Second Follow-up to Prayer Request
I went to the doctor's office today, and I did receive the pathology report. The news was not the best ... but it was not the worst either.
During the surgery, 31 lymph nodes were removed. One of the lymph nodes had the squamous cell carcinoma in it. Normally, one lymph node would not merit radiation treatment. However, the section of the tongue that was removed showed evidence that the cancer had begun to infiltrate the nerve in my tongue. Because the nerve can serve as a pathway for the cancer to travel to other locations, radiation treatment will most likely be utilized sometime in the very near future.

I will admit that I am a little down because this is not the news that I was expecting to hear. Please continue to keep me in your prayers!

Thank you all!
Love,
Kevin Wolfgong

From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong [mailto:kevinamy@fyi.net]
Sent: 7/20/2005 12:00:16 PM
Subject: Update on Kevin Wolfgong

I have been feeling pretty good. I was able to go to church camp last week, and I survived that week without any problems. My tongue is healing nicely, and my neck is healing as well. When I saw my surgeon last week, he gave me a continued positive report. In fact, he stated it something like this: "As far as I'm concerned, you are cancer free. We are going to prescribe radiation therapy as our insurance policy."

Amy & I went for a consultation with the radiation oncologist today. In a nutshell, the plan is for me to begin treatment within the next 10 days to two weeks (after all of the prep work, such as CT scans, is complete).

There are, of course, side effects that will come from this treatment.

Finally, let me thank you again for all of your prayers and concern. If you will continue to pray for me--specifically that this treatment will be effective and that the side effects will be minimal--I would greatly appreciate it.
Love,
Kevin Wolfgong

From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 2:47 PM
Subject: Six-Month Update on Kevin Wolfgong
Hello! It has been six months since my surgery, and it has been a few months since I last sent out any kind of update. Many have been wanting to know how I have been doing in recent weeks, so please allow me a couple minutes to share an update with you.
I saw my surgeon today, and he said the latest CT scan looks good. There was a bit of a mix-up in the tests that should have been scheduled, so I will have to get a PET scan done in the near future, and then we will have a better report on how things look. This additional scan is not because of any kind of problem; it is merely routine follow-up, and I will have to have PET scans on a regular basis.
I am happy to report that I am feeling very good and that I am back to most of my normal activities. My tongue and throat are feeling much better, and I have been able to preach for the last couple months. My energy level, my weight, and my taste are still not back completely, but those are things that will continue to improve with time.
Please accept my sincere thanks for all of the prayers that you have offered on my behalf. God is good! He has heard our prayers, and he has blessed me beyond measure. Thank you all! And thank God!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Kevin Wolfgong

to be continued...

I Can Only Imagine...

2006-10-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

The words of the song "I Can Only Imagine" are being realized by a brother in Christ I knew who lost his earthly life to cancer only to enter eternal life with our Lord!!! Hallelujah!

A friend of mine from Pennsylvania, Kevin Wolfgong, passed away this weekend after a long battle with cancer. His time on earth was very short (36 years) but the impact he had on those who knew him will be eternal. He leaves behind a young wife and three year old daughter, a loving extended family, and many, many friends. Kevin followed in the footsteps of his father as the pulpit minister at the North Hills Church of Christ in Pittsburgh, PA. Prior to that he was the North Hills youth minister for a number of years. Kevin was very active in Camp Concern, a local summer church camp, from the time he was a camper up through this past summer where he directed teen week. I remember Kevin in his early adult years being involved in RSVP, a drama troupe that toured local youth rallies and other church events. My two older boys remember him as a camp counselor. Kevin had a heart for teens and family. But his one true love was God. Through out his season of trial with cancer he always reminded everyone about God and his loving-kindness, as he puts it, in his final update this summer. With that in mind I want to share some of his thoughts with you. This may take several blogs but I want you to see what a person who is dedicated to God’s will looks like in the midst of suffering. From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 11:17 PMSubject: Prayer RequestHello everybody! This is Kevin Wolfgong, and I am writing to ask you to be praying for me and my family. Several weeks ago, I developed a sore on the side of my tongue, and I realized after a few weeks that it was not healing on its own. My dentist referred me to an oral surgeon, and about 10 days ago the lesion was excised and biopsied. Today (Monday, June 20) I learned that the pathology of the lesion showed sqamous cell carcinoma, which is cancer. This is a cancer that is, as my Ear, Nose, Throat doctor emphasized repeatedly, "very treatable and very curable."I will be having surgery on Wednesday, June 22, at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. I will probably be in the hospital for two to three days. If all goes as expected, I should be back to full functioning capacity in a week to ten days.
If you would be so kind, please be praying for:1) the best case scenario, which would be that the initial pathology was incorrect2) me, Amy, Heidi, and the rest of my family and loved ones -- for our faith to be strong, etc.3) test results to verify that there is no cancer in other parts of my body4) complete removal of the cancer and complete healing5) a smooth, safe, complication-free surgery with no long-term post-surgical concerns6) the doctors, nurses, and anyone else who will be caring for me.
Also, please include a word of thanks for:
1) the problem being found quickly2) God's providence in bringing yet another doctor into the North Hills Church Family who helped me to be seen and treated by a doctor who is an expert in this field3) the blessing of so many loving friends and family members.
Thank you so much!Love in Christ,Kevin Wolfgong
From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 10:57 PMSubject: Follow-up to Prayer RequestHello again, everybody! First and foremost, please let me say a huge, heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of prayers, love, concern, offers to help, etc. I cannot put into words how thankful I am for all that has been done for us! I have been blessed in more ways than I can list in this brief email, but I do thank you for being a part of that, and I certainly thank God for blessing me so much!If I can be so bold, I would like to ask you to continue to pray for the things that I requested several days ago ... with an additional huge helping of thanks and praise for the "Yes" answers we have already witnessed to our prayers.
Love in Christ,Kevin Wolfgong

To be continued…

Roger, over and out!

Forgiveness Trumps Personal Retaliation

2006-10-06T09:22:00.000-05:00

What a difference a few days make!

Rage and hostility on Sunday...remorse and repentance on Thursday.

Yesterday Andre Gurode said he's decided not to press legal charges against Albert Haynesworth following the NFL game between the Cowboys and Titans. While the repentant Haynesworth won't be charged with assault for cleating Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in the face (requiring 30 stitches) he will still have to submit to a five game suspension and the possibility of not being allowed back on the field at all by his current team.

This story in my opinion though is more about Andre Gurode than about Albert Haynesworth. While football is a violent sport you cannot get away with abuse. There are rules to follow and penalties to mete out... and if flagrant enough legal retribution as an option to consider. If you saw this brutality on Sunday as I did (over and over again thanks to instant replay) you might wonder why anyone would forgo their right for legal justice as Andre did.

But what overshadowed the vicious cruelity on the football field was the senseless murder/suicide in the Amish community of Pennsylvania on Monday. A usually quiet and peaceful part of the country was plunged into violence that no one deserves to experience. However, what shook the heads of many people was the response of the Amish families. Instead of retribution they chose to pray. They even reached out to the wife of the murderer and invited her to the private funerals of those killed.

Forgiveness is a choice of the heart but it is not always easy. Forgiveness costs something each time it is given. In the case of the Cowboys football player it cost him his legal right to seek assault charges. Greater still I believe was the response of the Amish community. How could anyone be that compassionate? I believe that kind of compassion can only come from above.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 (NIV)

When was the last time you forgave someone who intended to harm you? While there is a place for justice there is an even greater need for Jesus!

Roger, over and out!

Wrestling With Wednesday Nights???

2006-09-27T10:33:00.000-05:00

I read this morning on Mike Cope's blog a discussion on Wednesday night church service and its need or lack of need for us today. I thought I might do the same. BTW: You can checkout his blog from the link on this blogpage.
Let me first give you my experience on Wednesday nights. I grew up going to church three times-a-week plus gospel meetings. My mother was a church member but my father was not. The neat thing was he always took us (mom and kids) to church each service before my mom got her drivers license. After that she took us and he stayed at home. When I was in elementary school I played baseball in the summer and if a game was scheduled on a Wednesday night I was allowed to play until we needed to leave for church. The coach knew this was important and did not put any pressure on me to stay (I don't think it had anything about my ability to play ball!). I hated to leave the game because I really did enjoy playing but it was kinda cool to go in church with my ball uniform on too so I did not put up any fuss about leaving.
When my boys started playing sports the times they had ball games, soccer or wrestling on Wednesday nights they were allowed to stay and did not have to leave to go to church. But when there was no conflict (the vast majority of the time) they were always at the building.
I still like meeting on Wednesday nights but think that just having a devo and bible class really minimizes our purpose as a church family. Has our culture changed and the need to attend no longer seen as important? Are our kids bedtime really all that important compared to what it was a generation ago?
I liked what the people from Mike Cope's blog said about how they do Wednesday nights and so my question to you is...what should we do? Keep it the same as it has always been or rethink it in some way?
Give me your thoughts and ideas!

See you tonight :)

Roger, over and out!

Are you a carrot or a kiwi Christian?

2006-09-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

While this seems like a silly question to ask there is a point to be made. When I asked this question to some teens recently they told me that God wants us to be like a carrot because a carrot is the same on the inside as it is on the outside while a kiwi is different. It is brown and hairy and dry on the outside but green and seedy and slimy on the inside. Pretty insightful, huh!

God has called us to lead a consistent life. One that can be counted on when the going gets tough, one that is full of integrity, one that is consumed with loving God and others. But for us to live this kind of consistent life we must first be inconsistent with the way we were before Jesus.

In 1 John 2:6 (NIV) it says "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." To do this we need to know the ways of Jesus. God gave us his inspired word so that we might know him and chose to follow his teaching. There are many people who know the bible and can quote large blocks of passages, but there is a difference between knowing God's word and doing God's word. James describes this difference in his book. He writes in James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

The more we allow ourselves to change and become more like Jesus the more consistent our life will become with his. We will not only do godly things in godly ways that others will notice but we will have a heart that is in tune with a desire to please God and serve others more than anything else and that is what Jesus did.

So let's all be kind to carrots!

Roger, over and out!

Crikey

2006-09-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

Who, reading this has not seen at least one episode of "The Crocodile Hunter" or at least heard a child or even an adult say (CRIKEY!!!)? This was his one word expression of surprise when he witnessed something he did not expect. Steve Irwin, known to millions as "The Crocodile Hunter" passed away this past week. He was filming a series on dangerous sea creatures when a barb from a stingray’s tail pierced his heart.

While he was a popular TV celebrity what really impressed me is that he was a dedicated husband to Terri his wife whom he married in 1992 and the father of two children. Terri co-stared with Steve on the show and their daughter and son both could be frequently seen with them. Steve's dad considered him his "best mate" and they made a great father and son team in capturing rogue crocodiles when he was younger. It is becoming harder and harder to find good family role models in entertainment but Steve certainly seemed to fill that role. I know some will say want to remind me that he put his youngest one in harms way at times just for effect but we all do things as parents that in retrospect we probably would not do if given a second chance. Steve loved his family!

The church is in need of good family role models too. God has called the church to care for one another. He has called us to honor our vows of marriage, to love our children and honor our parents. He has called us to love as he first loved us. By living as responsible Christian role models in our communities, the good news of Jesus will spread because the world is watching.

John 13:34-35 (NIV) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Roger, over and out!

A Day at the Beach!

2006-08-31T08:52:00.000-05:00

What a time we had at Virginia Beach last weekend. The outside temperature was just right, and the water was warm and not very rough. But just spending time with good friends is reason enough to head to the beach. Now, it might be a bit different in the next couple of days with Tropical Storm Ernesto arriving but last weekend was perfect...at least on the beach.

The plan was to either gather in front of the Old Coast Guard Station at 3 PM or meet at the church building at 2 and travel over in the church van. Due to the air conditioning being on the fritz in the van we decided to carpool instead.

It was clear sailing traffic wise until we got to Hampton. The traffic was at a standstill on I-64 near the HRBT and delayed us in arriving at our destination. Once we got to Virginia Beach, we then had to find a parking spot and that turned out to be a problem. It seems that many people had the same idea of going to the beach as we did and the parking area we generally use was filled so we checked another parking area. It too was filled and so we checked a third and alas, it was filled as well. With options running out we began to meander around looking for a place to park. By the time we found a place, we had lost those who were following us. Every man for himself became my motto. Finally, we got our parking spot and headed for the beach.

Since the parking garage we parked in was five blocks down from where we wanted to be we began the long walk. Good thing the weather was nice! When we got to our meeting spot, we began to look for familiar faces but we saw none and so we waited, and waited and waited. A band was playing in the background so it was not a total waste of time but I was more interested in getting on the beach. I knew some had gone on ahead of us and so I combed the beach looking for them but never did find them. It turned out they were there but just not where I expected.

Finally, through a series of cell phone calls, the remainder of the group arrived and so we found a good place in the sand to claim and put our stuff down. It was now two hours after our original planned time to be on the beach but we were determined to make the best of it and so we played in the ocean, threw the football around or just soaked in the sun.

We spent a total of 90 minutes there and everybody was ready to leave and get something to eat. I had planned that we would be there from 3-8 PM but nobody at that point wanted what I wanted. To be honest I did not want what I originally wanted either. Nevertheless, the time we did spend together was good.

Was it worth it? Hey, like I said the weather was nice, the water was warm and we got to spend time with some good friends. What more could I want? God is good!
Phil 4:4-5 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Being A Hero

2006-08-30T15:22:00.000-05:00

I came across an interesting story from a daily devotional I receive from AllPro Dad. It was about a student at the University of Central Florida who was accused of setting a fire to a sofa on campus as a way to meet women. He figured that as they were escaping who could help them and be a hero. Can you imagine the thought process that would cause someone to do such a thing? Whatever happened to just strinking up a conversation verses striking up a match and igniting a couch?

I don't need to hear any WVU football jokes concerning the burning of couches either!!!

While this was an extreme form of manipulation we are all probably guilty of doing a little manipulation from time to time. You know, trying to work things out so that we look good in front of others. Whether it is to get job, or meet the right person, or look good in front of a certain crowd we want to impress. But we forget who we really are. We are the children of God and we need to have integrity in all we do.

With so many opportunities to serve others at home, at church or in our local communities we don't need to make up situations. Next time you want to be a hero think of what Jesus did when his disciples argued who was the greatest and do likewise and then give all the glory to God.

Mark 9:33-37 (NIV) They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Roger, over and out

Hymns and Hounds

2006-08-24T07:39:00.000-05:00

H Y M N S & H O U N D S Dog-Friendly Church I came across this website while checking out another and I must say it has some appeal. Keri and I are currently raising a Springer Spaniel puppy and have noticed that he gets a case of separation anxiety when left home alone. He has destroyed several TV remote controllers (I don't have to tell the guys how heartbreaking that is!!!) and chewed up assorted other items of lesser value. It seems the only time our home is safe is when we are present or when he is with us away from the house, otherwise who knows what debris we might find waiting for us when we return. We've taken an extreme next step by getting him "Calm" an over the counter herbal drug (doggie valium) to see if that will help...stay tuned!

But what if we could take our pets to church with us? What if we at Denbigh could reach out to other pet owners with a pet-friendly worship service like they do at Hymns & Hounds Church? Their proof-text for supporting this worship addition comes from Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" I guess dogs have breath so why not include them in worship, right? I'm not sure how to apply our mantra "decently and in order" to this outreach effort but we could surely give it a try... couldn’t we?...PLEASE!!! I don't know if I can take another ruined remote control. :)

PS: On their website is this message "Due to our meeting place moving and not having enough room for us - services will be on hold til further notice!" I guess they grew themselves out of a meeting hall.

Roger, over and out!

Soaring As An Eagle

2006-08-22T07:41:00.000-05:00

I'm back!!!
It has been a busy month for me and I will use that as my excuse for being lax in blogging regularly. This summer I've had a child get married, another child have a baby and still yet a third child move out of the house. I've traveled to Mexico with a bunch of teens on a mission trip, traveled to South Dakota for a wedding, traveled to North Dakota to see my first grandson (Ethan Thomas Brown), and traveled to Athens, GA to visit with the newlyweds. It has been a good summer but I must refocus on the task at hand.
Last night I had the honor to speak on behalf of one of the teens in our high school youth group. Matthew Bean was awarded the Boy Scouts highest rank of Eagle Scout and he asked me to be a part of the ceremony. I've gone to several of these in the past but this was my first to be involved. To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout you must complete and master over 350 specific tasks by your 18th birthday. How many specific tasks have you mastered? I know that would certainly be a stretch for me. What is truly amazing is that this is nothing new for the troop in which Matthew is a member. They have only been in existence since the 1990's but over two dozen scouts have achieved this level of excellence and leadership and it is not because they have hundreds of boys in the troop. As Matthew noted in his talk it is because of the strong dedicated leadership of the adults involved including the parents. They operate like a well-tuned machine for the benefit of the boys.
Scouting holds the boys to a high standard of living called the "Scout Law." The tenets of the "Scout Law" state that a scout must be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Whether a boy is a Tenderfoot, the beginning rank in scouting, or an Eagle Scout, he must pledge himself to this ideal.
As Christians we too have a law to live by. The Law of Christ states that we are to “carry each others burdens.” The law of the Spirit of life in Christ sets us free so that we can bear fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us what the fruit looks like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
While we may not all be eligible to be a Boy Scout we all are called to a high standard of living as Children of God. Bearing fruit is our proof of membership. How do you like those apples!!!

Roger, over and out!

Marriage For A Lifetime

2006-08-12T10:15:00.000-05:00

The wedding day went without a hitch and the weather even cooperated. The next week though seemed to bring everything but cooperation. From the long drive through the night to find a motel that was open, to car troubles and reluctant rental car companies, to locked keys and bad directions, our honeymoon was stressful and less than perfect Had it not been for a young bride who refused to be discouraged and looked at these "troubles" as adventures to remember we may not have lasted being married even a week. That was 27 years ago and we are still married.

This weekend I have the privilege to perform a wedding ceremony for another young couple (Matthew and Kasey) who have a desire to stay together no matter what...only time will prove this out because their marriage will be tested like all marriages. The wedding day may go perfectly but the marriage relationship that follows will have its share of troubles.

It has been noted by a number of marriage counselors that when couples are more willing to invest in a "perfect wedding" rather than in a lasting marriage then when troubles come they will not have the foundation to ride out the storms of life
.
As committed as Keri and I are to each other and determined that nothing will separate us, our relationship with God is really what has given us the perseverance to succeed in our marriage.

I pray that the couple I marry this afternoon will have God as their foundation in marriage too.

What have you found helpful in your marriage or in the marriage of those you have observed? If you have any tips on what to do to make a marriage strong please respond and lets build a compilation of things a husband and wife can do to strengthen their marriage. I will then pass this list on to these newlyweds.

A time to decompress

2006-08-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

What an incredible week we had serving at the City of Children from July 29-Aug 4, 2006. Our group of teens and adults was of minimal size and were not able to accomplish what larger groups were able to do, but God used us anyway to His glory.

For those who do not know about the City of Children let me give you some information about this wonderful ministry. The City of Children is located on the outskirts of Ensenada on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico and has been in existence since the 1970's. Its purpose is to heal the spiritually, emotionally and physically needy Mexican children. The City of Children is an orphanage, but not just any orphanage. It was created to save the troubled children of Mexico from poverty and abuse and in turn, raise them in a loving Christian environment so that they can come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mission groups travel there and over the course of the week usually conduct a VBS, do work projects in and outside the orphanage, and most importantly, just spend time loving and playing with the kids.

Our week was not unlike other previous groups in that we conducted a VBS, did work projects and just spent time with those living there. There is a longing for the gospel among these people. They don't need nor desire to be Americanized but they do need Jesus just like the rest of us. Moreover, as other groups have reported the impact on us is as great as or greater than our impact on them. We go to serve and in turn are served. God is great and God is good!

Because of this ministry, many Mexican children (over 600) have been saved, and hearts have been touched because of God's refuge for his children in Ensenada, Mexico. Because of this ministry, many Americans have been saved and or revived in Christ as well.

To learn more about the work at the City of Children and Baja Missions, and how you too can support this ministry please visit their website at www.cityofchildren.com.

Roger, over and out

WWJD?

2006-08-02T23:29:00.000-05:00

Well it is the end of another good day at the City of Children. The house we were assigned to insulate and drywall was compleated ahead of schedule because of the desire of some of our men wanting to do more. That left us with what to do for today. Pilar, the director of Baja Missions in Mexico showed us a home that already had half of it compleated and so Jim Craig, from Winchester Church of Christ donated the cost of materials to complete the other half. This gave our Wednesday crew another opportunity to share the love of Christ with others.
Without Jesus and the impact He makes on our lives we would be left to fend for ourselves. Some, like the guy in the picture may think things would be better without Jesus. When I first saw this picture I was angry and did not think kind thoughts about him. But now I'm mostly sad. Jesus died on the cross while the rulers sneered and the soldiers mocked. He died not only for those in the first century but he died for all of us and the neat thing is that he died for this man too.
What do you think? Was this man worth dying for... and if not, are we?

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[
Luke 23:34 (NIV)

Roger, over and out!

Anticipation (winds of Change)

2006-07-31T23:56:00.000-05:00

A recurring discussion here in Mexico is the weather. Everybody is tired of the heat and humidity caused by the warm ocean water (78 degrees). What has some of us excited is that for the next few days the temperature is supposed to be 80 degrees or cooler and drop into the 50's at night. Wow, I can't wait.
Our VBS this week is taken from the last chapter in Max Lucado's book "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus." We have the honor to discuss the Hope of Jesus and his return. Tonight the focus was on waiting forwardly with patience for Jesus to break through the clouds and take us home with Him. I related how when i was a little boy I could hardly stand to wait for Christmas. And as the days drew closer and closer I grew more and more excited. When the day finally came the hopes I had were realized...mostly. I did not always get what I hoped for even though what I received was enjoyed. That is where the analogy breaks down. When Jesus comes we will not be in the least disappointed. He will exceed all our hopes and dreams as he takes us home.
Do you feel the winds of change a blowin'? Maybe it is not just the weather that is breaking but Jesus himself coming to take us home.

Romans 8:25 (NIV) But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Experiencing the Hope of Jesus

2006-07-30T23:27:00.000-05:00

The weather was warm today at the City of Children and a little humid, but not like back home. After the worship service this morning in which Tom Byrd led three songs in English and Reuben Haught led us in prayer we were treated to an authentic Mexican lunch. As always it was wonderful. However, our Betty is doing a great job in the kitchen too. Patty, the director’s wife and Sylvia, both of the City of Children came in to the kitchen tonight and said they heard that the evening meal was very good and wanted to try some. They both liked the hamburger pie so Betty gets kudos for her creativity. Tonight we started the first of our classes on the Hope of Jesus. The statue of Jesus in this message is on top of a hill on the way to Ensenada and represents the hope we have in him. Our theme verse comes from John 14:1--3 in which Jesus tells us that we can trust Him to come back and take us to a place specially prepared for us. Let me tell you that it is not easy teaching with a translator. By the time a sentence is spoken and then translated and feedback is made the train of thought can be lost or worse become a train wreck. Several times during my class with the Mexican teens I paused not knowing what to say next. Nevertheless, they were very gracious and attentive and responded to all my questions. I had three American teens with my class and they too did a terrific job in interacting and trying to follow me. The rest of our teens were involved in the three other classes going on at the same time and were very helpful. All have been doing a great job of interacting with the Mexican children.
Tomorrow starts our work groups and promises some new experiences. Please keep us in your prayers each day. I'll leave you with this question...When was the last time you prayed a big prayer thinking all along that maybe it is too muck to ask? Check out the verse below and let it strengthen you to trust in our amazing Father.

Eph 3:20-21 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Roger, over and out!

We Finally Made It

2006-07-29T23:10:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, we finally made it to the City of Children Saturday afternoon. The trip from home to San Diego was quite the adventure. We flew out of Norfolk a few minutes late but made up time in the air. It was the leaving from Newark, NJ that did not seem to want to happen. We sat in the plane for over 90 minutes before we were allowed to take off due to severe weather (that was what they said) out west. When we finally took off we had to head for Atlanta and then go west to avoid the "severe weather" (wink...wink!) so our flight was longer than it was supposed to be. Boy, airline seats can sure get uncomfortable after several hours being cramped next to the window. We finally arrived in San Diego about an hour after our scheduled arrival time so all in all it was not too bad. One of our teens had a more trying time. Her flight was delayed in Norfolk and because of the tight layover schedule she was never going to make them. The airlines made arrangements for her to fly on another carrier but it was not going to fly out until 2 pm and she was not going to get to San Diego until 8 pm Thursday night. Everything went smoothly though and we got her to the hotel to join up with the rest of the gang.
The weather is warmer and more humid than I remember from past years and Stan Stout said the water temp is around 78 degrees instead of the typical 68 degrees so the cool breeze is not happening. But what is there to complain about. We got to fly over 3000 miles in less than half a day, stay the night in beautful San Diego, cross the border safely on Saturday without incident and have pizza with a bunch of Mexican teen Christians at the City of Children. GOD IS GOOD!

Paul told the Philippians to Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life (Phil 2:14-16) This is something that I can certainly work on in my life...how about you?

Roger, over and out!

Teen Mission Trip

2006-07-26T06:54:00.000-05:00

Well, it's only a couple of more days and God willing our team from Denbigh will be in Mexico on the Baja Peninsula. We got a scare a few days ago when we heard it was well over 100 degrees but it looks like the temp is back down to normal. For those that do not know about the City of Children in Ensenada it is a refuge for Mexican children who have either been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Their stories are all sad but they now reside in a place that is filled with Christian love and acceptance. Every child’s future is changed for the better because of the dedication of the staff to meeting their needs physically, educationally, emotionally, and most of all SPIRITUALLY. This place is living out the life of Jesus and his love for children. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 (NIV) "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Our plan is to meet up in San Diego with a group coming from Washington, Pennsylvania and another small group from Winchester, VA. on Friday. After spending the night in the Quality Inn we will head on down to Ensenada on Saturday and begin our mission to provide friendship, support and assistance both at the City of Children and the local churches. We will stay through the following Friday and then head back to the states and on home. It makes for an exhausting week but everyone who goes will have a memory to last a lifetime and will make a difference not only in the lives of those we come in contact with but also with one another.

Some questions for you to respond to...Have you ever gone on a mission trip? Why or why not? If so, how did it impact your life and relationship with God? Were there any scary moments for you while you were away from home? Would you consider going again?

Roger, over and out

Power of Intention

2006-07-22T08:24:00.000-05:00

Who all have been tattooed or been tempted to get a tattoo? Of those who got one or two or three or more what prompted you to do it? Did you do it because you were looking for peace and joy? If not maybe you should have gone to Crystal Zen instead of where you got your body art from. I ran across the spam below while sifting through my old email address and thought I would share it with you.

"How do you imagine your life to be? Do you see yourself in peace and joy? We at Crystal Zen hope your life is filled with serenity, love and celebration. Our tattoos are specifically designed to offer your body spiritual healing and positive inspiration through the power of intention. These unique gifts slip easily into greeting cards for your friends or family."

The two questions at the beginning of the ad captured my attention and the nice sentiment that followed was good too. We all are looking for these experiences in life because we all have struggled and been miserable, discontented, apathetic and not in the mood to do anything worth celebrating. So maybe if a tattoo can bring me these things then maybe I ought to consider getting one...but then again maybe this is all about making a buck and they don't really care one way or the other about my life. I mean, come on, I received this message from Crystal Zen as spam mail and not from somebody who knows me and cares for me.

But I/we could all use some joy and peace and celebration in life. While the answer may not be in a tattoo parlor there is a place we can all go. Paul told the Christians in the city of Philippi the source of these things in his letter to them. Check out what he said.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God is the source of these experiences because he is the one who created them in the first place. Rejoice (celebrate) in Him because He is the giver of PEACE!

Now, about that tattoo...

Roger, over and out!

Creature From The Black Lagoon

2006-07-15T08:49:00.000-05:00

When I went home yesterday for lunch I took a few minutes to turn on the TV and do a little surfing. As I surfed I came to the AMC channel and noticed that they were showing some old movies (duh!) of the horror kind. The movie that was on was "Creature of the Black Lagoon." My how sensitivities have changed. What once was meant to be scary is now just campy because our taste for more is never satisfied. Everything needs to be bigger and better than it used to be...the movies we watch, the amusement park thrill rides we go on, our houses we purchase, the cars we drive, our incomes, our clothing and with it closet space to store them in, our TV's, etc. When will it ever stop, or does it need to? How does God want us to live in our culture of more and more?

I leave you to respond with the answer to that question. But just a reminder, the full answer is not to go back to the ways of old. In our musing we might be tempted to say...Ah...the good ole' days when everything was right with the world!!!? Times were not perfect then either. Soloman said...

Don't always be asking, "Where are the good old days?" Wise folks don't ask questions like that. Ecclesiastes 7:10 (MSG)

Let me know what you think on the subject...I'll be waiting.

Roger, over and out!

Grandpa Brown

2006-07-14T10:07:00.000-05:00

Hey, I'm a gradpa! My middle son and his wife just had a baby on July 12 which just happens to be their wedding anninversery too. Ethan Thomas is a healthy 8 pound 14 ounce little boy who is probably the best looking baby ever born, at least by my standards. I hope to be able to go see him in person soon but in the meantime I will just have to settle for pictures. If there is anyone reading this blogg who has some friendly advice on being a good grandparent please respond.
God has blessed me with blessing upon blessing for I have lived to see Ethan Thomas Brown!

Psalms 128:5-6 (NIV) May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children's children.

I'm open for comments

2006-07-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody. I've just stepped into the world of blogging.

RogBro

Peace on Earth, Good Will To Man

AI Gives Back Song

Reviewing the day

A Spent Day

Winterfest 2008

Five Habits to Strengthen Your Marriage

Happy New Year

The Golden Compass...What should I do?

An X-MAS Quiz

Jesus and Me

Parenting

IMHO

Why do you believe the bible?

Body Life

City of Children Mission Trip

Saying Goodbye!

Love and learn

Jason's Return

I'm back!!!

Do Something, Take a Risk

Virginia Tech

Chocolate Jesus

American Idol

You Want Fries With That?

The Prize

Winterfest 2007

Romance Is In The Air

Valentine’s Day

To LOVE and GIVE

Play Nice!

Just A Few More Chapters

Merry Christmas!!!

Chad Huggins

Joseph's Dilemma

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Christian Parenting

Thanksgiving

Trunk-n-Treat

A Smiling God

Marriage For A Lifetime Part 2

Heaven Is Waiting

Kevin Wolfgong continued...

I Can Only Imagine...

Forgiveness Trumps Personal Retaliation

Wrestling With Wednesday Nights???

Are you a carrot or a kiwi Christian?

Crikey

A Day at the Beach!

Being A Hero

Hymns and Hounds

Soaring As An Eagle

Marriage For A Lifetime

A time to decompress

WWJD?

Anticipation (winds of Change)

Experiencing the Hope of Jesus

We Finally Made It

Links

Teen Mission Trip

Power of Intention

Creature From The Black Lagoon

Grandpa Brown

I'm open for comments