Emotions and anticipation were high at 7:30 A.M. on September 6 as the last wave of swimmers prepared to enter the lake at Fort Wilderness in Orlando. Our group of participants were fresh from their morning devotional and prayers. They exuded such excitement and a sense of purpose that the feeling was contagious. (more…)
This years Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat was a huge success. Audrey O’Connell led the charge with this inventive idea. What is safer than kids going Trunk or Treating? The concept is everyone decorates the trunks of their vehicles and the kids go trunk to trunk and get the goodies. (more…)
For the last eight years, our kindergarten through sixth grade children have enjoyed our Pathfinder Summer program that runs on Wednesday evenings during the summer months of June, July and August. For 2009, our theme was called Treasure Hunters – Uncovering the Truth about Jesus – based on the book of Hebrews. The program centered around an Indiana Jones format. (more…)
When I wake up in the morning I am continually amazed at the peaceful feeling I own. Even when a snapshot of my life would be ugly to most, I see hope. I have said this many times and God continually makes it true. If you were to ask me to paint a picture of THE perfect life for me it would look nothing like the circumstances I live in. However I love my life.
That is really saying something because most of my life I have been very discontent. I searched for happiness and contntment, knowing that if I could be like you I would be just fine! The master of lies told me I could be happy if I lived life chasing true happiness. Wow that was a tiring search!
We are faced daily with images of poverty. The entire world struggles against and lives in daily fear of it. It’s true the poor are and always will be with us (Matthew 26:11), and it is our responsibility, indeed our privilege, to minister to them (Deuteronomy15:11). However, there is an even more overwhelming and destructive poverty that we too often turn a blind eye to. It is growing at an alarming pace. When we look at pictures of the physically impoverished masses with their emaciated faces and distended stomachs we are horrified. When we see the children walking barefoot in ragged clothing through garbage heaps searching for scraps we rightfully cry out with tears of compassion and horror for our fellowman. But there is a deeper underlying poverty that nourishes the physical poverty allowing it to flourish. The poverty I speak of is our spiritual poverty. This poverty likewise has existed since the beginning, but it has grown at an even more alarming pace than material poverty. Just as a rich man can become poor almost overnight, so too the fruits of the spirit can disappear from our lives if left unguarded. We are so careful to watch over our bank accounts and we buy enormous amounts of insurance to protect our belongings, but how much thought and time do we give to safeguard our spiritual riches?
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Everyone was “abuzz” about the recent Ladies’ Day Event, and no wonder since it included some very amusing skits, such as the one presented by Julie Craig, Linda Wheeler, and Nancy Mitchell dressed as bees. They very effectively reminded us of how we should react to those who are lacking spiritual health. Too often we shun them for fear of “catching” some of the spiritual problems that afflict them. Instead we should reach out and help them toward spiritual wholeness and health. Well done, ladies. You proved that you don’t have to hit someone over the head to get your point across. A lighter, softer approach can be just as, or even more, effective. (more…)
