Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Free night at the children's museum
The first Thursday of every month there is a free admission night from 5 to 8 to the downtown Evansville Children's Museum (picture to the right). We have been the last couple months and will probably go next week.
If anybody is interested, please join us. We can meet you there or you can follow us from Newburgh. There is a cafeteria room to eat if you take food, but only vending machines.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
ugh...
Well, the layout got all messed up with the graphics b/c I cancelled a host for the graphic.
I may or may not get to this, but since we are converting over to www.thesojourn.org, I have to admit, I'm not sure this will ever get fixed.
I may or may not get to this, but since we are converting over to www.thesojourn.org, I have to admit, I'm not sure this will ever get fixed.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sojourn!
Click here to donate to Sojourn Newburgh through the MBC (donations by mail see below). WHEN ASKED: How would you like your donation / payment applied? Choose “Other – Please specify in Comments section” and write “Newburgh Initiative” IN THE COMMENTS SECTION so that the funds are applied to the Sojourn account. We will recieve matching funds through a grant when you donate
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For Donations by Mail:
Make the checks payable to Midwest Baptist Conference and note the account name
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Send checks to:
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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Tell me the Story of Jesus....Blessing Happens?
When God announces news of a blessing it can come in a star, in angels singing from the heavens, or in a gift from someone almost completely out of no where. Today blessing happened.
Vicki told me of a church that was moving out of their building and since we are looking for a place in Newburgh, I began trying to contact the pastor with whom I had spent some time 2 years ago. We finally connected yesterday, visited the building today and found it smaller AND MORE EXPENSIVE than what we have presently. No good news huh?
Even worse on Monday I spent much of the day pricing chairs like these on line. The cost was going to be $25 or more APIECE! Matt and I were depressed at how expensive they are. No good news huh? Wrong!
While looking at the facility, Pastor Anthony told us we could have all of the chairs in this old facility; 130 -150 nice, padded chairs.
WOW!
Today, God gave us a $3-4000 dollar gift! It is quite clear to me that He really wants us to be missionaries to Newburgh. He is at work!
More blessings seem about to happen as we search for a larger mission site, a new website design, and other resources for the mission. Tell the Story of Jesus; Blessing COMING SOON!
Vicki told me of a church that was moving out of their building and since we are looking for a place in Newburgh, I began trying to contact the pastor with whom I had spent some time 2 years ago. We finally connected yesterday, visited the building today and found it smaller AND MORE EXPENSIVE than what we have presently. No good news huh?
Even worse on Monday I spent much of the day pricing chairs like these on line. The cost was going to be $25 or more APIECE! Matt and I were depressed at how expensive they are. No good news huh? Wrong!
While looking at the facility, Pastor Anthony told us we could have all of the chairs in this old facility; 130 -150 nice, padded chairs.
WOW!
Today, God gave us a $3-4000 dollar gift! It is quite clear to me that He really wants us to be missionaries to Newburgh. He is at work!
More blessings seem about to happen as we search for a larger mission site, a new website design, and other resources for the mission. Tell the Story of Jesus; Blessing COMING SOON!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
I could not have said it better! Take me out to the Ballgame,...
"What Heaven Must Be Like"by Kevin Wallis in Sojourners Magazine
"This is what heaven must be like," I said to my wife Joy on the cell phone. I was between home and first, about 15 rows up from the field at Fenway Park for the opening game of the 2007 World Series - and my nine-year-old son Luke was sitting right next to me. The "most beloved ballpark in America," as some call it, looked absolutely fabulous last night. The grass was the same dazzling emerald green color that I still vividly remember from the first time my Dad took me to Tiger Stadium in Detroit when I was just about Luke’s age. The base paths were in immaculate condition, the lights were almost sparkling, the atmosphere was electric, and the smell of great food was in the air. This is baseball.
We were there two hours early watching the Colorado Rockies take their batting practice. Luke, proudly wearing the brand new Red Sox jersey I had splurged to buy him that afternoon, just kept saying, "Wow," as Rockie hitters kept putting balls over the "Green Monster" wall in left field. "Dad! Did you see that one? Awesome!!!" We talked about the only other time Luke had ever been to Fenway, in his mother’s womb when I took my new English wife, Joy Carroll, to her first baseball game in America. Luke was soooo glad to be back, and we kept talking to Mom on the cell about how amazingly COOL everything was. She and four-year-old Jack were at home in Washington, glued to the television set and trying to spot us. A wonderful friend had given me and Luke two priceless tickets to the Series opener. It just doesn’t get any better than this.
I don’t think I’ve written about my "other life" much on this blog, as a Little League baseball coach every weekend for Luke and 13 other fourth graders whom I’ve had now for the last four baseball seasons, beginning with t-ball. My first instructions were things like, "Throw the ball overhand." They’re the veteran AA Astros now, and are undefeated again this season (but we all know that, as Christians, winning and losing doesn’t matter). I also would never brag about my son’s play - like ever tell anyone about the recent game where he went four for four, with a double and three homeruns (including a grand slam), or that he is an Little League All Star first basemen who backhanded a smash ground ball that would have gotten through on the right side of the infield and then outran the other kid to first base, winning the game. I would never talk about such things.
Those batting practice hits over the Wall were about the only ones the Colorado team got all night, as the Red Sox cruised to a 13-1 victory. The whole night looked like batting practice for the hometown boys like our favorite David ("Big Papi") Ortiz, Manny Ramirez (I love the fan’s sign from the last playoff series—"Don’t worry be Manny"), Kevin Youkilis (whose every at bat gets the fans yelling "Yoouuk, Yoouuk, Yoouuk,!"), captain Jason Varitek (who showed how a captain ought to play last night) and Dustin Pedroia (the sensational rookie who shows that little guys can play this game too). We were also amazed by starting pitcher Josh Beckett who got nine strikeouts last night (and who also inspires my son because Luke’s baseball role model is Babe Ruth, BOTH a power hitter AND a pitcher, just like he wants to be).
On Sunday, one of the other kids from our team gets to go to Denver (he’s an enthusiastic Rockies fan) for game four of the World Series. His grandfather is dying of cancer and this may be one of the last times that grandson and grandpa will do something special together. Very special indeed. Baseball is like that. "Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd, buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back ... !" Yep, just like heaven is going to be.
"This is what heaven must be like," I said to my wife Joy on the cell phone. I was between home and first, about 15 rows up from the field at Fenway Park for the opening game of the 2007 World Series - and my nine-year-old son Luke was sitting right next to me. The "most beloved ballpark in America," as some call it, looked absolutely fabulous last night. The grass was the same dazzling emerald green color that I still vividly remember from the first time my Dad took me to Tiger Stadium in Detroit when I was just about Luke’s age. The base paths were in immaculate condition, the lights were almost sparkling, the atmosphere was electric, and the smell of great food was in the air. This is baseball.
We were there two hours early watching the Colorado Rockies take their batting practice. Luke, proudly wearing the brand new Red Sox jersey I had splurged to buy him that afternoon, just kept saying, "Wow," as Rockie hitters kept putting balls over the "Green Monster" wall in left field. "Dad! Did you see that one? Awesome!!!" We talked about the only other time Luke had ever been to Fenway, in his mother’s womb when I took my new English wife, Joy Carroll, to her first baseball game in America. Luke was soooo glad to be back, and we kept talking to Mom on the cell about how amazingly COOL everything was. She and four-year-old Jack were at home in Washington, glued to the television set and trying to spot us. A wonderful friend had given me and Luke two priceless tickets to the Series opener. It just doesn’t get any better than this.
I don’t think I’ve written about my "other life" much on this blog, as a Little League baseball coach every weekend for Luke and 13 other fourth graders whom I’ve had now for the last four baseball seasons, beginning with t-ball. My first instructions were things like, "Throw the ball overhand." They’re the veteran AA Astros now, and are undefeated again this season (but we all know that, as Christians, winning and losing doesn’t matter). I also would never brag about my son’s play - like ever tell anyone about the recent game where he went four for four, with a double and three homeruns (including a grand slam), or that he is an Little League All Star first basemen who backhanded a smash ground ball that would have gotten through on the right side of the infield and then outran the other kid to first base, winning the game. I would never talk about such things.
Those batting practice hits over the Wall were about the only ones the Colorado team got all night, as the Red Sox cruised to a 13-1 victory. The whole night looked like batting practice for the hometown boys like our favorite David ("Big Papi") Ortiz, Manny Ramirez (I love the fan’s sign from the last playoff series—"Don’t worry be Manny"), Kevin Youkilis (whose every at bat gets the fans yelling "Yoouuk, Yoouuk, Yoouuk,!"), captain Jason Varitek (who showed how a captain ought to play last night) and Dustin Pedroia (the sensational rookie who shows that little guys can play this game too). We were also amazed by starting pitcher Josh Beckett who got nine strikeouts last night (and who also inspires my son because Luke’s baseball role model is Babe Ruth, BOTH a power hitter AND a pitcher, just like he wants to be).
On Sunday, one of the other kids from our team gets to go to Denver (he’s an enthusiastic Rockies fan) for game four of the World Series. His grandfather is dying of cancer and this may be one of the last times that grandson and grandpa will do something special together. Very special indeed. Baseball is like that. "Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd, buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back ... !" Yep, just like heaven is going to be.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Looking for "Real Life" Article?
In a recent issue of Real Life Magazine, my wife, Cathy pointed out this interesting lead in tease for an article in the magazine. It might be evidence of many who have abandoned the church but are still searching. What do you think she really wants?
First, what did she not like about the traditions of her old church? If she noticed that (1) her old church only kept people happy, (2) her old church failed to help them address sin in their lives that Jesus can heal, and (3) if her old church reached out very little if any to the lost of their neighborhoods, then she is aware of what is missing in the dying churches of our culture. If this is the case, she wants good things from her local church.
However, if she was only looking for "a strong sense of spirituality" without addressing sin, then she might as well stay in her old church or out of church altogether. Being spiritual or religious is not what Jesus is about. Jesus is about addressing sin with honesty, openness, grace, and love; not avoiding it and acting "spiritual". I should know; I did that for years and made a mess of all my relationships.
Second, I would invite her back to church. I, too, left church for a while and sometimes I want to do it again. But I know that God wants us to assemble together in order to encourage one another, to pray together, to teach one another, and ultimately to send one another out into this lost and hurting world. Our church or any church should be preparing one another for the battle that comes along with being sent into a hostile world. We should not just hide out from the church and/or the world.
The true fellowship (koinonea) of Acts 2 is intimate, open, honest, forgiving relationships and is an irreplaceable part of what God uses to grow faith in each of us. Without the true church where intimate fellowship (koinonea) is practiced, faith is hindered. Without faith in Him, we are weakened as we are being sent out.
At Sojourn want to see the miracle of redeemed and changed lives. We don't want a more disciplined, but doomed attempt to follow the law. When miracles happen, nobody needs "formal religious customs" to make faith grow. Customs and traditions never did work anyway. Ask a Pharisee!
Finally, I would tell she and her husband that they should keep looking for that body of believers who want the same things that I hope she really wants for her children; intimate relationships and a faith that is growing. Changes in our hearts where we become adventurous disciples of Jesus are so much better than an external spirituality. Real change is messy but wonderfully mystical when it happens deep in the heart.
We gather together as missionaries to be the real church to this lost, unreal world. We want to see the miracle of healed relationships and freedom from sin. If you want your life changed, you might check us out. If you are seeking merely a "strong sense of spirituality", we are probably not for you.
"My husband and I would like our daughters to have a strong sense of spirituality, but we prefer not to raise them with the traditional church background that we both had. How do we teach them to have a strong faith in God without a special congregation or place of worship that would guide them with formal religious customs?"I did not read the article but the tease reveled some truths and misconceptions of why we plant churches...or not.
First, what did she not like about the traditions of her old church? If she noticed that (1) her old church only kept people happy, (2) her old church failed to help them address sin in their lives that Jesus can heal, and (3) if her old church reached out very little if any to the lost of their neighborhoods, then she is aware of what is missing in the dying churches of our culture. If this is the case, she wants good things from her local church.
However, if she was only looking for "a strong sense of spirituality" without addressing sin, then she might as well stay in her old church or out of church altogether. Being spiritual or religious is not what Jesus is about. Jesus is about addressing sin with honesty, openness, grace, and love; not avoiding it and acting "spiritual". I should know; I did that for years and made a mess of all my relationships.
Second, I would invite her back to church. I, too, left church for a while and sometimes I want to do it again. But I know that God wants us to assemble together in order to encourage one another, to pray together, to teach one another, and ultimately to send one another out into this lost and hurting world. Our church or any church should be preparing one another for the battle that comes along with being sent into a hostile world. We should not just hide out from the church and/or the world.
The true fellowship (koinonea) of Acts 2 is intimate, open, honest, forgiving relationships and is an irreplaceable part of what God uses to grow faith in each of us. Without the true church where intimate fellowship (koinonea) is practiced, faith is hindered. Without faith in Him, we are weakened as we are being sent out.
At Sojourn want to see the miracle of redeemed and changed lives. We don't want a more disciplined, but doomed attempt to follow the law. When miracles happen, nobody needs "formal religious customs" to make faith grow. Customs and traditions never did work anyway. Ask a Pharisee!
Finally, I would tell she and her husband that they should keep looking for that body of believers who want the same things that I hope she really wants for her children; intimate relationships and a faith that is growing. Changes in our hearts where we become adventurous disciples of Jesus are so much better than an external spirituality. Real change is messy but wonderfully mystical when it happens deep in the heart.
We gather together as missionaries to be the real church to this lost, unreal world. We want to see the miracle of healed relationships and freedom from sin. If you want your life changed, you might check us out. If you are seeking merely a "strong sense of spirituality", we are probably not for you.
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