Revitalize Your Church

Bob Roberts had a great post over at Glocal Trekker about dealing with unfair criticism. (It was in response to the shrapnel Rick Warren received for his recent trip to Syria.) Sometimes God allows people to say things that aren’t right to keep you humble. R ecognize God is at work in you. E xpect significant attacks proportionate to impact. J ust blow them off. O pen God’s Word for comfort. I ncrease your vision every time you’re attacked. C riticism can always make you stronger. E xercise discernment.

Cathy had a final x-ray yesterday -- and they said everything is clear and good! She doesn't have to go back for any more procedures. We are truly thankful. It has been a long autumn -- and educational.

Recant? I cannot! Here I stand! I can do no other. -- Martin Luther (Packer fan)

My friend, Naomi, shared this this delightful incident from Sunday School last week: Our Sunday School lesson this week was about Isaac and Rebekah. During assembly, Jeremy told the story, intertwined with the story of how he and Amanda met, became engaged, married, and soon to be parents. In shifting back to Isaac and Rebekah, he asked, "And what happens after you get married?" Josiah raised his hand and responded, with great seriousness, "You have a really hard time living." The adults in the back of the room did our best to suppress our laughter.

The weak are supplied it. The strong are denied it. -- Darrelyn Tutt

The worship service this morning was inspiring. We sang two great hymns, as well as my favorite chorus. After putting all our plans into place, we discovered Friday that we were starting "Advent" a week too early! Instead of scrapping the plans, however, we decided to go ahead and just start Advent before the rest of the world (after all, the stores have all had Christmas stuff out since October!) We began the service with a choral reading, moving into "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (It's 12th Century Latin lyrics, translated into English, and combined with a 15th Century Fransiscan melody -- with some substantial "jazzing up." After that, we lit the first Advent Candle: Hope. Kathy Baker shared an inspiring story of how God gave her hope in the dark valley. "God took the I out of bitter," she testified, "and made me better!" It has been beautiful to watch her grow spiritually in the midst of very difficult circumstances. We paused for ...

Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it: it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker. -- George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)