Ladies Retreat

Seaside Escape:  Basking In God's Presence

As Darin made his way through the MRI, I sat in the doctor’s office and worked on the Ladies Retreat:  “Seaside Escape:  Basking in God’s presence.”  I was asked in November to be the speaker and have spent the last few months studying what it means and what it looks like to be “the salt of the earth.”  I organized the sessions based on three uses of salt: its ability to flavor, preserve, and cause thirst.  I am excited to encourage the ladies with what a life looks like that is salty and excited to challenge them with what a life that is salty can do in the lives of those around them.   Please keep this retreat in your prayers.  It is Feb. 17^th -18^th.

MRI

I had my MRI and the doctor who shot my shoulder full of dye was kind enough to offer to look at the results afterwards since I don't meet with my doctor until next week.  He said his preliminary examination is that it looks as though I did not tear my rotator cuff, and it looks as though the Labrum is still intact.  He did notice a fracture of the Humerus (top arm bone) where it meets the bones of the shoulder.  The good news is that as long as my doctor doesn't see any other damage, that would just mean weeks of recovery instead of surgery and 6 to 9 months.

A special day

Rebekah and I went out yesterday for a special mother, daughter afternoon.  Our first stop was the Dairy Queen where she used her $5.00 gift card she had received for Christmas to order a cookie dough blizzard.  Definitely a daughter after my own heart.  Just so we could share I ordered a Georgia Mud Fudge.   Both were tasty.  After an enjoying conversation about hair styles, friendships, and God's definition of beauty, we headed to the girls' aisle in Wal-Mart.  To those with only one child or only one gender, this treat may not seem too special, but to a girl who has to split her time between the "nerf gun" aisle and the "fur-real" aisle, this was a great treat.  After purchasing some clip earrings, a long-sleeved polar bear shirt, and eggs (for daddy's bread) we headed to the library.  Reading books together is one of our favorite things to do.  She picked the book and then picked the spot on my lap and away we went into the life of nocturnal animals.  What a great afternoon I got to spend with a wonderful daughter.   I love you Rebekah; I'm glad you're mine.

Christmas, part 2

The great thing about having extended family is you get two Christmases.  We celebrated our second Christmas with my side of the family yesterday.  Actually since it is January, I guess it would technically be the first Christmas, just very early.

I am so thankful that I have three kids who are so happy with whatever they have.  We always ask them what they want for their birthday or Christmas, and so many times we hear, "Well ... I pretty much have everything I want."  The only thing we can be guaranteed that they will want is more stuffed animals.  They can't get enough.  (I believe they have around 70 and each has a name and is related to each other in some way.)

We notice at Christmas though as we are opening presents, we almost have to remind the kids they have more presents to open.  As soon as they open one, they just want to play with whatever they got (unless it is socks), and forget about opening anything else.

What the heavens have to say

I went running this morning and here is what God set before my eyes.

Psalm 19:1 came to my mind:  “The heavens declare the glory of the LORD; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”  The heavens make known the glory of the LORD.  They set forth His glory for all to see.  But what is that glory?  Could that glory be that in the heavens we catch a glimpse of God’s otherness?  Could it be that in the skies we realize, He is not like us?  As we gaze upon the heavens, we see that He does not work within our limited created parameters.  He is the Creator, totally other than us.

Who else can paint the deep orange center of a rising sun so that the color fades perfectly into a faint pink that tints the clouds on the outskirts?  Who else can suspend in space the sun that is heated to 9,940° F.  Who else can slowly rotate the earth so that the sun’s light and warmth slowly cross over earth’s surface?  Who else can hold back the sun’s descent into the West in order to make the day last longer as He did for Joshua?  Who else is unbound by the time the sun dictates?  Who else is unbound by the warmth the sun provides?  Who else is unbound by the energy source the sun provides for earth’s plants?  Who else is unbound by the complex knowledge of the vast universe? Who else? 

God is other than us.  The heavens declare it and the skies proclaim it.  Let us relish it.  He’s got the whole world in His hands.

For anyone who didn't notice, on the right hand side of the screen there is a box in which you can enter your email address.  By doing so you will automatically receive an email telling you if we have updated the blog.  Some might find that easier than checking back randomly.

As a side note I am feeling pretty crummy today.  I have apparently picked up what everyone else has been passing around.

Wolof People

The main focus of SIM in Senegal is outreach to the Wolof people.  The total population of the people group is approximately 5.1 million, with approximately 4.8 million living in Senegal.

The Wolof are predominantly of the M*m faith with less than 0.01 percent being Christian.  SIM is primarily working in the villages using Chronological Bible Storying as a means of evangelism.

More information on the Wolof People can be found here: http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15414&rog3=SG