Military Honors Ceremony

Long week this past week with Dean Habrun's Memorial Service, then Matthew Preacher's Memorial Service. At Matthew's he received a gun salute along with taps. It was quite an awesome site. The service men that performed the honors ceremony are quite mysterious. They come in do their part of the service and are just gone. Freedom Fighters also showed up, probably about 20 of them. They lined the sidewalk into the church and held flags. They do not come into the service, they don't speak, they just respectfully stand there with a flag. Nice touch by these veterans.

For those of us who are members of Christ Community Church let us not forget:

Ephesians 6:10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (MSG)

Memorial Service

"Soar like eagles" Went to Dean Habrun's Memorial Service last night. A great tribute was given by Kathy (Dean's wife). She spoke of his life growing up, their dating years, their kids, and His love for God. WOW! What a strong person Dean was and Kathy is, to be able to stand in front of 100's of people that Dean has touched and talk about his life. Chuck (best friend of Dean) also gave a moving tribute to Dean. He also sang stanza from "On Eagles Wings." Flag Ceremony complete with Taps and flag presentation to Kathy. Pastor Roger also gave a very personal homily (job well done Roger).

This week has been a real reminder to me regarding the fragile lives we live.
1. Last weekend a visit with my dad (stroke victim)
2. Good friend of mine lost his sister to cancer
3. Dean passes away on Friday
4. Member of our church loses her son to a critical accident
So, say "I love you" to the people you care about, let them know you care for them. Spend time with them. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. I love you, Carolyn, Nick, Nate, Renee, Dana, Ryan, and Molly (the most wonderful family a person could ask for).


Know that God is my Rock
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety (Psalm 18:2).

Metamorphosis - Perseverance

Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us

God uses different things in our lives to strengthen us. Presently I am not suffering. But, I do have close friends and family who are suffering. I am truly learning to pray for them, their well-being, their comfort, and God's grace to be dumped on them as they deal with their conditions.
1. My mom and dad: Dad had a stroke two years ago and has very limited use of his left side
2. Friend of mine (youth pastor): not employed presently, lost his sister (cancer) funeral tomorrow.
3. Couple from my church: who I have grown to LOVE watching as the husband, dad, father-in-law, grandpa lives his last days on this earth. Won't it be glorious for him as he leaves this cancer ridden body and walks into God's glory. Praying for grace for his family and loved ones.
4. Another couple from my church: who recently has been told the wife has maybe two months to live. Also, fighting cancer.

Pray that through these times just as a Caterpillar works to become a beautiful butterfly that we suffer through these times with these loved friends/family and we allow God to mold us into the people HE wants us to be.

Michigan

Carolyn and I arrived around midnight. Had fun on trip here used Dana's garmin and it was accurate. At times when we would eat it would tell us to do u-turns, turn left and left again. In Michigan i did a donut in a parking lot and it had our nose kissing our tail (pretty funny). Saw mom and dad did a few odd jobs for them, then to Paul's for dinner, great visit with his family. Saturday 6 inches of snow as we traveled to Grand Rapids, MI 55 miles to Bailey wedding. Great to see old friends from North Park. Got out of the deep freeze -13 at one point to a high of 23.

On My Way to Michigan

I will be leaving to go to Michigan to visit my mom and dad in Lansing, MI. Also, be visiting good friends in Grand Rapids, MI as we attend a wedding on Saturday. I am a little nervous about the weather. Not really the snow, but the extreme cold. What is the difference between the high of 5 or the low of -4?!? Cold is cold.
Weather for Lansing, MI -
-2°F
Current: Clear
Wind: W at 0 mph
Humidity: 98%Thu

5°F | -4°FFri

9°F | 0°FSat

16°F | 11°FSun

22°F | 11°F

I am looking forward to extended period of time (14 hour drive) with Carolyn (my beautiful bride).

Passionate love with Jesus

Could I be satisfied with a heaven with no Jesus? If heaven had all my friends (especially Carolyn and my family), no sickness (no strokes, dad & no cancer, Dean), all my favorite food (roast beef, mashed potatoes & corn), all my favorite activites (lake keowee a running boat or "M" football), natural beauty (mountans, water falls, sky, etc...), no disasters would I miss Jesus. Let these words be my prayer today:
Psalms 63:1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Genesis 37:2-11
Something was special about Joseph. His father loved him a little more than he loved his other sons, and he didn't even try to hide it. Did you notice the special gift Jacob gave to his son Joseph?

But something else was special about Joseph: God had his hand on him in a unique way. Joseph's dreams were real. God really did plan to lift Joseph up later in life, and his brothers really would bow down to him. Joseph knew he was special--and he let his brothers know it, too.

You're probably really good at something. You may even be good at lots of things. Do you talk with others about your abilities? Do you let them know how good you are? Or do you discount your own gifts as if they're not that big a deal? God doesn't gift us so we can brag about it, nor does he expect us to downplay the gifts he's given us. Rather, he leads us to give all the glory to him for his gifts.

Do you know what spiritual gifts and natural abilities you have? What are they?

How do you talk about your abilities with others?

Do you acknowledge God as the One who made you special?

Pray that God would help you to give him the glory for the gifts he's given to you.

copied from Youth Specialties