Parent Me

Just had to share this video - one of my favorite songs from Json featuring J.R.

Psalms 127 alludes to children being like arrows. Arrows must be pointed, directed. Intentionally aimed. Shown where to go. As parents, we have a tremendous responsibility to point children in the right direction. Not only by our word, but by our example. Pray for parents today as they seek to raise their children up in the way they should go.

In The Word

Psalm 127 (The Message)

1 If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.

2 It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?

3 Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?

4 Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.

5 Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Essential Doctrines - Trinity

New Sermon Series - Essential Doctrine... View the notes here!

Essential Doctrines - Trinity

View more presentations from Everlasting Mercy Fellowship.

God Is....

View the notes for Sunday's message titled, Permanence: Love, part of the 'Attributes of God' series.

God Is.... Permanence: Love

Winds of Life

My Canoe @ Urban Ecology Center

Nature consistently provides me with some kind of life or biblical application. Today on my canoe, enjoying the sound of nothing but birds chirping and bugs buzzing about, I stopped rowing and laid back to take it all in. For a few moments I closed my eyes, and after opening them only moments later, I realized the wind was pushing the boat towards a patch of reeds I was about to get stuck in.

Life is like that. If we let winds of negative influences, improper motives, temptation & stress impact us more than our God-given direction and obedience, we end up where we don't want to be, or shouldn't be, sometimes completely turned around – stuck, even.

When we let the wind blow us away it's that much more work to get back to where we wanted to be. Difficulty increases because we then have to return against the current. Stay focused and don't let the winds of life take control of your direction.

In The Word

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. - Ephesians 4:14 (NIV)

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. - James 1:6-8 (NIV)

When ‘Keeping It Real’ Goes Wrong

“Pastor’s wife beats down pre-teen girl at park… More on your News at 10…”

That’s how the headlines could have read, had I acted on a situation in a less-than-respectful way.  Let me back track a bit...  Tonight during my walk with our doberman, I headed over to the park where I let her run in an enclosed area – since there were people there I headed out around the park trail first.  On my way back, I stopped near the swings to take a quick break.  Some kids were on the nearby jungle gym.

No sooner than I sit down, does an obnoxious young girl open her mouth to start talking trash, with a vocabulary that would rival that of a sailor.  I’m guessing she was no more than 13, but who knows, because as I get older my estimation of ages has changed…  Plus it was dark enough  that it was tough to see, and apparently so dark that she started in by hurling Mexican and Puerto Rican insults at me (I’m very clearly white, by the way.)  There were 3 people with her, one of which I think was actually another girl’s mom – who were Hispanic, which made me wonder why on earth they’d be with this foul-mouthed child who just insulted their race, and then made it worse by trying to swear in Spanish (quite poorly, I might add).

So this girl makes her way over to the swings, trying quite obviously to get a rise out of me.   She clearly had a huge chip on her shoulder and must frequently seek attention by causing trouble.   Seriously, she tried pushing all the buttons – and I was tempted to ‘keep it real’.   After I stated that her friends should be embarrassed to hang around someone so ignorant and rude, especially after saying I was a Pastor’s wife, they started telling her to shut up and defended me.  Too funny.  Thing is, is that I struggle with anger issues, so within my mind I’m flashing several scenarios…   Seriously.

It got to the point that I told her she’s not attracting anything good in her life by speaking and acting this way, to which she quickly retorted, “Well I don’t need no friends, I’m fine all by my own”.  Which got me thinking – That which is within the heart does proceed out of the mouth.  The root of her issue is loneliness – it explains the need to seek attention (albeit in a negative manner) and the obvious deep-seeded anger for a girl of such a young age.  I told her I’d pray for her to grow up and out of that.  In the end when she realized I wasn’t going to ‘keep it real’ she finally said “Oh I was just playin’ to see what you’d do.”  Riiiight.

I tell that story to share this with you – We all have our obnoxious pre-teen trash talking girls in our life.  For some its road rage from other drivers, for others its rude or lascivious co-workers.  One thing my father-in-law says:  “You have to keep going through a test until you pass.  It’s best to pass it the first time.”  I hope I passed this test, so I can move on to the next level.  May we understand the depths from where people’s words and actions come from, in order to have compassion rather than hatred for them.

In The Word

But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. – Matthew 15:18

Photo Credit: stephencaver.com

7 Tips To Dine On A Dime

Love to dine out, but short on ends?  I’ve compiled some of our knowledge about making a dollar stretch without sacrificing your dining out experience.  Enjoy!

Restaurant.com
$2 for $25 worth of food?  Yes.  Many restaurants use this tool to build business.  They offer discounted dining certificates online – it’s a great way to try new dining destinations.  For example, for about $10, you can purchase a $25 certificate.  Certificates are available in limited quantities for set amounts, usually around $10, $25, $50, $100.  Be sure to check out the fine print as some aren’t good on weekends or require a minimum amount spent.  The certificates can be printed and used within a year.  Plus – If you follow @CouponSpy on twitter, they occasionally publish discount codes to get 80% off – basically – you spend $2 and get $25 worth of food.  Want to find a code fast?  Search twitter for ‘restaurant.com code’. Bet.

Network, Baby!
Follow your local restaurants on Twitter and Facebook.  Many offer online specials and giveaways.  I’ve gotten gift certificates just for retweeting a restaurant’s posting as part of a giveaway.  Check out my list of Milwaukee restaurants on Twitter.

Be A Regular!
Sign up for Rewards Programs, get free food! For example, upon signing up for AJ Bombers’ email list, you’re sent a certificate for a free side or drink.  Bring two or more friends on your next visit, get a free burger.   Save those frequent diner cards – Bartolotta has a great rewards program, Stack’d gives a free burger for every 10 purchased… need I go on?  When going out with friends, use those cards and earn credits fast!

Entertainment Book
Not only are the coupons in the book a great way to save and try new spots, Entertainment Book now also offers online coupons for use year-round.  Use the additional online coupons for 2-for-1 meals and discounts.  Venues usually offer about 2 additional coupons to use each month.  Order a book here.

Groupon
Albeit not exclusively a source for dining discounts, you can sign up for a daily special offer in your area.  These include offers for 30-90% off dining, entertainment and services.  The catch: You have to purchase the deal that day.  Check out the Milwaukee Groupon deals.

Drop Your Card
Keep business cards on hand to enter for the ‘free lunch’ drawings every time you dine out.  Intentionally seek out those fishbowls and drawing boxes – You’d be surprised at the results.  Many restaurants now offer more than a free lunch.  Noodles & Co awards a free ‘Tasting Experience’ of their full menu for you and 3 friends, and Chipotle’s drawing is for lunch for 16!  I’ve won both just by simply dropping in my card.  Offer to keep friends and co-workers cards on hand to enter on their behalf.  One note – Plan on possibly receiving occasional emails after entering; be sure to have cards with your personal email to minimize the amount of email at work.

Check In!
How could I have forgotten about Foursquare?!  Add this ap to your mobile, and use it to check in at your favorite spots.  Many restaurants offer free drinks for first timers, or special discounts for the ‘Mayor’.  Upon check in, you’ll see a note if there is a ‘special here’ or ‘special nearby’.  Check it out here.

If you know of any other cost-saving techniques, please do share!  Happy dining!

Membership: Priceless

Are you a member? Why is membership important?

In Pastor Rob’s sermon series based on the ‘9 Marks of a Healthy Church’, one of the marks highlighted is Membership. As we recently presented a new group of members at EMF, and prepare to begin another round of membership classes, consider why membership is important to you.

At EMF we recognize the need for a formal membership for at least three reasons.

1. First, we believe the concept of membership is biblical. While the term “church member” is never used, the concept is implicit throughout the New Testament. Believers clearly identified themselves with a specific local body and were challenged to become devoted participants.
2. Second, formal membership is valuable to the leaders of the church as they seek to fulfill their God-given task of shepherding. Our church is and always will be a place where everyone is welcome to come and explore. At some point, however, it is important to identify those who truly comprise the “flock” at Everlasting Mercy Fellowship — the core that can be counted on to build and sustain the ministries of the church. Every team needs a roster.
3. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, experience shows that membership benefits the individual. In a culture where commitment is no longer highly valued, recognizable membership is an important step that moves each of us out of the vague clouds of our good intentions and into the clear light of committed participation. It presents a challenge to “step out of the stands” and publicly affirm a commitment to Christ and to a specific local body. In a sense, membership can be a significant “defining moment” in one’s lifelong discipleship journey.

Check out the notes from the 9 Marks site about membership:

What is it? According to the Bible, church membership is a commitment every Christian should make to attend, love, serve, and submit to a local church. Where is it in the Bible?

• Throughout Old Testament history, God made a clear distinction between his people and the world (see Lev. 13:46, Num. 5:3, Deut. 7:3).
• Christ says that entering the kingdom of God means being bound to the church “on earth” (Matt. 16:16-19; 18:17-19). Where do we see the church on earth? The local church.
• The New Testament explicitly refers to some people being inside the church and some people being outside (1 Cor. 5:12-13). This is much more than a casual association.
• The church in Corinth consisted of a definite number of believers, such that Paul could speak of a punishment inflicted by the majority (2 Cor. 2:6).
• Not only does the New Testament speak of the reality of church membership, but its dozens of “one anothers” are written to local churches, which fill out our understanding of what church membership should practically look like.

Why is it important? Biblical church membership is important because the church presents God’s witness to himself in the world. It displays his glory. In the church’s membership, then, non-Christians should see in the lives of God’s changed people that God is holy and gracious and that his gospel is powerful for saving and transforming sinners.

Interested in membership? Talk to Pastor Rob or Pastor Leandro about attending the next 'R.E.A.C.H. 101' membership class!

Buckets of Hope

We’re excited to have received an update about the ‘Buckets of Hope’ sent to Haiti from EMF – here’s the latest news!

July 1, 2010

We are very excited to finally be writing this letter of thanks for your participation in the Disaster Relief ministry we call Buckets of Hope for Haiti. We have been waiting to send this letter so we could include the total amounts as well as the good news of the buckets clearing customs and being delivered to the people. That is now happening! Thank you God!

Now we want to say how thankful we are to the many individuals and churches in Minnesota and Wisconsin that promoted, packed, and collected the buckets. Through our Minnesota - Wisconsin Baptist Convention, you have contributed 546 buckets, included in the national total of more than 155,000.

You have a heart for giving and caring to help others. After the earthquake struck and tore open Haiti, we saw the hearts of people in our churches open wide wanting to help. Help came in from all over our two states. We received buckets – from all directions and also money to purchase the list of food items along with the buckets for these Buckets of Hope. Our own state staff each contributed a bucket on behalf of their family and our WMU contributed five buckets.

We are reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:12b “…a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” As we work together, we see that we can do so much more than individually. This project was possible in part because of Cooperative Program and people who put this together.

THANK YOU truly comes from our hearts on behalf of the people in Haiti. As the people receive these buckets, there is a gospel message included in their language and a personal contact from the local church in their area.

We are thankful how God brings these opportunities for ministry and wants to include each of us. There is a need for people to help each other and to share the Good News of the One who offers hope!

Dave Wedekind, Missions Ministries Catalyst
Jeanne Wedekind, Missions Education Catalyst

Are You Being Sharpened?

Consider the influence, be it positive or negative, that those around you have upon your life. An oft-quoted saying goes: "Show me your friends, and I'll tell you who you are." Another version says: "Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future."

Have you ever seen someone get stuck in a bad situation because they were with the wrong crowd? Wrong time, wrong place kind of thing? I believe that many of those situations could truly be avoided, were we more careful about whom we allow to 'sharpen' us.

Think about it this way - If we surround ourselves and seek counsel from people who are persistently negative, surrounded by a cloud of drama, and seem to like it that way (by doing little to improve the situation), what kind of influence and impact do you foresee them having on your life?

On the flipside, imagine building relationships with those who desire to challenge themselves, who refuse to be complacent in their own lives, and strive to achieve. Their influence causes us to look at ourselves, challenge the norm and do something positive and meaningful in our lives.

I see many people pulled in by drama which really has nothing to do with them. Imagine a friend complaining about a co-worker. A simple bad day at work can get negatively amplified so much so that the person listening to the complaints also begins to have a bad day… The listener re-tells the story, which gets relayed on to another friend, until a simple misunderstanding has now become the focus of a handful of people, magnifying a trivial occurrence. Some 'gurus' call this 'Viral Negativity'.

Simple solution: Stop partaking in drama! Stop listening, walk away, or change the subject.  And here's one we won't like to hear - Mind your own business!

I call it the theory of ‘sharpening’. Whatever you rub yourself up against is bound to have some impact on you. Seek to balance your life with people who will sharpen you in a positive way. Sometimes sharpening hurts. Sometimes friends will need to confront you, but we are the better for it. Allow yourself to be sharpened this week.

In The Word

Proverbs 27:17 (The Message)
You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.

Marriage is God's House

This week Rob and I celebrate another year of marriage, and sixteen years of being 'together'.  When we were younger, first dating, and not yet married, we brought a lot of drama into our relationship and caused each other pain and strife.  There were good times, but nothing so much as when we decided to stop running and let the Lord direct our lives. 

Check out this devotional from Urban Alternative - some great thoughts to consider if you are married or considering marriage.

What is the Marriage Covenant?

If you were to come over to my house, I would welcome you inside but there would be a set of rules by which to abide. Likewise, I would need to abide by the rules for your house. For example, in my home, I don’t allow smoking. So if you smoke, you would need to put out your cigarette before you came in my home.

I am able to make these rules and enforce them because it is my house. Marriage is God’s house. He came up with the idea. And it can only run right when it is run by His rules.

What married couples often want to do, though, is to have God’s institution of marriage, yet run it by their own rules. They want to get married in the church so that God will bless their marriage, but then they want to leave God standing at the altar. They want to make up their own rules for how a marriage should be run.

But let me tell you a secret. It is a very powerful secret. Pay attention: You don’t get God’s results without operating by God’s rules. You don’t get God’s blessings in your marriage, and in your home, without following God’s instructions. You don’t enjoy God’s provision, protection, and peace in your relationships without abiding by God’s policies concerning the covenantal union of marriage.

In The Word

Genesis 2:19-24

18-20 God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.

21-22 God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.

23-25 The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh!  Name her Woman for she was made from Man."  Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.

Cooking with Love

My husband (you also know him as Pastor Rob) has a culinary gifting.  This man can whip together an amazing meal after just having been inspired by a show on Food Network or something we ate at a restaurant.  Somehow he knows exactly which seasonings to add, how long to cook it, and what pairs well together.

That cooking was missed by me today. I had an incredibly lackluster lunch this afternoon.  It was bland and uninspired.  Harsh spices overtook the food, while other parts of the meal desperately needed flavor.  Details were not tended to.  It was plain sloppy.

Of the many things that lunch was missing, most importantly it was missing LOVE.  That extra ‘something’.  The tiny details that show how much passion and care went into its preparation and service.

As Rob says, ‘I put love into everything I cook.’  And that difference is evident.

Love requires a greater effort.  Love is more than a desire to make something good, it must be carried into action.  Today made me consider, ‘How much ‘love’ am I putting into everything I do?’  Are my actions a concoction of whatever I have available to me, tossed together, with some salt hastily thrown on top to hopefully make it more flavorful?

In The Word

1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 - The Way of Love
 1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

   Love never gives up.
   Love cares more for others than for self.
   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
   Love doesn't strut,
   Doesn't have a swelled head,
   Doesn't force itself on others,
   Isn't always "me first,"
   Doesn't fly off the handle,
   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
   Doesn't revel when others grovel,
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
   Puts up with anything,
   Trusts God always,
   Always looks for the best,
   Never looks back,
   But keeps going to the end.

...Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

*Photo from jogilvie

Fear Factor

Functioning in fear disables us from maximizing our full potential.  Fear paralyzes us from taking risks that would catapult us to a greater level – be it in our spiritual walk, in our business or in daily life.  We do just enough to stay inside of a cocoon of ‘safety’, and little to explore new opportunities and challenges. 

In business, I’ve heard some say, ‘But look what our competitors are doing...’  Immediately our mindset shifts away from playing to our strengths, and becomes a game of catch up where we stop innovating, and start reacting instead of being proactive.  Why?  Because we are afraid that if we approach something differently, we’ll fail.  But the truth is, we differentiate ourselves by standing out, by being proactive instead of reactionary.

In my personal life, some of the greatest accomplishments I’ve experienced were also laden with fear, or the prospect of failure.  Owning a home at 22?  What?  Founding a church?  Are you crazy?  Taking in teenagers?  What are you thinking?!  But you see, the risks that we are willing to take relate directly to the rewards we see as a result.  Rewards grow in proportion to risk.

We have to discipline and push ourselves to never settle, to constantly strive to achieve our God-given purposes in life.

How will you take a purposeful risk today, and squelch fear?

In The Word:

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (The Message)
- 2 Timothy 1:7

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
- Hebrews 13:6

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- Luke 12:32

But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.
- Proverbs 1:33 

*Photo credit: 'Afraid to close our eyes' by *krmenxa

Christian Maturity: Faithfulness Part III

Daniel 3:14-18
14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don't serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now if you're ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don't worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we don't need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

Previously on Faithfulness
1. Daniel & his friends had refused the king’s food because of their vow to the Lord. Their people had been taken captive & as an act of contrition, they had refused “party foods” like meat & wine
2. Daniel & his friends convinced the chief eunuch to do this despite the king’s orders. They took a 10 day test & after the 10 days, God rewarded their faithfulness by making their appearance better than those around them (see Daniel 1:15).
3. Daniel & his friends we’re given understanding in all manner of literature & wisdom. Daniel was given the ability to interpret visions & dreams (see Daniel 1:16-19).
4. They were 10 times better than any of the wisemen & magicians of their eras (see Daniel 1:20).

Key Points
• Synopsis
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he didn’t understand. He wanted a revelation of what the dream meant but refused to tell anyone what the dream was for fear that somebody would lie to him about the meaning. Daniel & his friends prayed for revelation & God answered. He revealed both the dream & it’s meaning. The King was so happy, he rewarded Daniel w/offerings, honor & power. Daniel was given charge over the province of Babylon & was promoted as chief among the wisemen. Daniel then made his friends the governors’ of the province of Babylon while he remained at the King’s side.

• The King of Babylon was considered a god-king.
Psalm 82:6-7
6 I said, "You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High. 7 However, you will die like men and fall like any other ruler."

• Faithfulness will be tested. What is the difference between testing & temptation – the result. (See Daniel 3:14-15)
Isaiah 48:10
10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Story: Faithfulness Being Tested
One stormy night an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room. The clerk said they were filled, as were all the hotels in town. "But I can't send a fine couple like you out in the rain," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The couple hesitated, but the clerk insisted. The next morning when the man paid his bill, he said, "You're the kind of man who should be managing the best hotel in the United States. Someday I'll build you one." The clerk smiled politely. A few years later the clerk received a letter from the elderly man, recalling that stormy night and asking him to come to New York. A round-trip ticket was enclosed. When the clerk arrived, his host took him to the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street, where stood a magnificent new building. "That," explained the man, "is the hotel I have built for you to manage." The man was William Waldorf Astor, and the hotel was the original Waldorf-Astoria. The young clerk, George C. Boldt, became its first manager.

Hebrews 2:18
18 For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens – Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

True Faithfulness is never compromised (See Daniel 3:16-17)

Story: Faithfulness Being Tested
Briars in the Cotton Patch is a documentary directed by Faith Fuller. It tells the story of Clarence Jordan. Clarence had 2 Ph.D.s, one in agriculture and one in Greek and Hebrew. He was a gifted man who was called to serve the poor. In the 1940s, he founded a farm in Americus, Georgia, and called it Koinonia Farm. It was a community for poor whites and poor blacks. As you might guess, such an idea did not go over well in the Deep South of the '40s. Ironically, much of the resistance came from good church people who followed the laws of segregation as much as the other folk in town. The town people tried everything to stop Clarence. They tried boycotting him, and slashing workers' tires when they came to town. Over and over, for fourteen years, they tried to stop him.

Finally, in 1954, the Ku Klux Klan had enough of Clarence Jordan, so they decided to get rid of him once and for all. They came one night with guns and torches and set fire to every building on Koinonia Farm but Clarence's home, which they riddled with bullets. And they chased off all the families except one black family which refused to leave. Clarence recognized the voices of many of the Klansmen, and, as you might guess, some of them were church people. Another was the local newspaper's reporter. The next day, the reporter came out to see what remained of the farm. The rubble still smoldered and the land was scorched, but he found Clarence in the field, hoeing and planting.

"I heard the awful news," he called to Clarence, "and I came out to do a story on the tragedy of your farm closing." Clarence just kept on hoeing and planting. The reporter kept prodding, kept poking, trying to get a rise from this quietly determined man who seemed to be planting instead of packing his bags. So, finally, the reporter said in a haughty voice, "Well, Dr. Jordan, you got two of them Ph.D.s and you've but fourteen years into this farm, and there's nothing left of it at all. Just how successful do you think you've been?"

Clarence stopped hoeing, turned toward the reporter with his penetrating blue eyes, and said quietly but firmly, "About as successful as the cross. Sir, I don't think you understand us. What we are about is not success but faithfulness. We're staying. Good day." Beginning that day, Clarence and his companions rebuilt Koinonia and the farm is going strong today (see http://www.koinoniapartners.org)

• Faithfulness IS NOT attached to what God has given or not given to us. It is attached to the Godhood of God (see verse Daniel 3:18)

Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 43:10-12
10 "You are My witnesses" —the LORD's declaration—"and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. No god was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me. 11 I, I am the LORD, and there is no other Savior but Me. 12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—and not some foreign god among you. So you are My witnesses"—the LORD's declaration—"and I am God.

Isaiah 45:21-22
21 Speak up and present [your case] —yes, let them take counsel together. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is no one except Me. 22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.

//Listen to the 'Faithfulness' Series on the EMF Media Player

Helping vs. Enabling

How do you know when your offer of help has become enabling? As a Christian, I find it to be difficult to say ‘No’ – especially to someone in need. Early on in my journey, there would be so many times where I found myself getting burned out, exhausted even, yet showing little evidence of progress or change in the person’s situation. What was the problem? Was I not good enough? Was I not doing enough? I was running ragged with all the ‘helping’, even feeling taken advantage of. But helping is the right thing to do... right?

And then I realized that I was putting more effort into helping someone than even they were. What it boiled down to was that *I* WANTED it. I was willing to make a sacrifice, and they were willing to let me make it, rather than put forth reasonable effort themselves.

Enabling, in the context of problematic behavior, “signifies dysfunctional approaches that are intended to help but in fact may perpetuate a problem.” In this short lifetime I have come across many in need. In urban ministry, dire situations present themselves daily. People have no food, no shelter, no money, no love. My heart breaks with a yearning for others to experience a full, meaningful life in Christ. I desire to help others to discover and move beyond. Through that, I have observed that there are people who truly want to do well and act upon it, and there are people who will let YOU sacrifice FOR them.

This has lead to some serious reflection. In this case, one in particular example kept coming back to my remembrance. Envision a helpless man, lying near a downtown park, unable to walk for nearly forty years. His clothes are tattered, his legs are weak, his face thin with hunger and angst. He begs for change and scraps of food from passersby. There was such a man that Jesus came across, as recorded in John 5. This man had been an invalid for 38 years. He lay on a mat near Bethesda, a pool of water believed to have healing qualities.

When Jesus saw him, he asked one simple, poignant question:

"DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?"

What an odd question to ask a man in an obvious condition. He obviously was not well. He obviously had a need. Yet the first thing Jesus did was inquire, ‘Do you want to get well?’ Why would he ask such a thing? Consider what would change once the man was well. It would mean a substantial change in his living situation. He would no longer be able to beg to make a living. He would have to let go of that way of life and adapt to something completely different, after nearly 40 years.

Instead of answering the question, the man replies: "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." The man begins to make excuses. He was waiting for someone else to do something for him. This illness ‘became’ him. He was not living up to his full potential. Perhaps he had adjusted to it in an unhealthy way and came to expect recognition, pity and attention as a result of his illness.

So then Jesus laid hands on him and healed him immediately... right? Wrong. The man was asked to take action. Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." Two key things here. The man is commanded to walk. His weak legs were strengthened, yet the man was asked to obey – to walk. Secondly, he was told to pick up his mat. Why? Wouldn’t he want to leave the filthy, probably rancid mat there? There was a purpose for this command. Had the mat been left there, it could have been easy to return to what was familiar. He had to walk away in an act of obedience. Bridges had to be burned.

A little while after this occurred, Jesus saw the man in the Temple, and said: "You look wonderful! You're well! Don't return to a sinning life or something worse might happen." The man is reminded to not only mind his physical well-being, but also his spiritual health.

When I reflect upon this story, I realize that one must have a desire to ‘get well’. Healing, be it spiritually, physically, or emotionally, also comes with obedience and action. We have to be willing to let go of areas of apathy, comfort and familiarity, and burn bridges to move into new life.

10 Things Not Found in Proverbs 31

Happy Mother's Day to all EMF friends and family! So often we hear of the seemingly-unattainable 'Proverbs 31' woman. This list encouraged me to consider what that does NOT mean to us as women. Enjoy, and make it a great day! - Jen

Here is a list of 10 things not found in Proverbs 31:

1. Her coffee table never has dust on it.
2. Many have eaten off of her kitchen floor.
3. Immaculate Home Magazine just did a photo shoot in her living room.
4. She does all of the housework herself while the kids play video games.
5. All of the words that flow from her children’s mouths are blessed.
6. All of her children are straight A students, musical geniuses, and all-star athletes.
7. Her hair is always fixed perfectly and her make-up is artfully applied.
8. She does not touch make-up or hairspray because it is vain and the art of Satan.
9. She never makes a bad decision.
10. She is classroom mom, PTO President, the bearer of orange slices at soccer games, and the church committee queen.

It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But you know that you have added at least a few of these things to your "Proverbs 31 list."

Remember Martha and Mary? Which one do you think had a list like this in her pocket? Drop the scrub brush and grab a Bible. Sit at Jesus’ feet and become a disciple. Let him give you his character, and you will have the one thing needed to carry out everything else.

Excerpt From Tabitha's Team - Be sure to check them out!

Be Enriched ($5 Activites)

Every year I seek for a new personal goal to achieve, a 'motto' for the year of sorts. Last year it was 'Discipline'. This year God has been putting it on my heart to 'Enrich'. One of the definitions of enrich is: "to add greater value or significance to: for example, Art enriches life."

Sometimes we get so busy living day to day that we don't get to take time to stop and smell the roses. We neglect just enjoying life - failing to add value or significance, caught up in a daily grind.

We get stuck with assumptions that to take part in entertaining activities or to 'take in some culture' we need to have a lot of 'fun money' on hand. But I did my research and found that there is actually a treasure trove of things to do in our area that don't cost a lot of money, or are free in some cases.

We've been getting a group of ladies together every 'First Friday' of the month for 'Ladies Night Out' where we go explore and enjoy the arts, comedy, live concerts, dining, etc, and just have a good time. Since we started, I've been surprised that we have yet to run out of ideas for things to do on a weekend for about $5, or less.

Some of those ideas are below - please add your tips and share your best budget-friendly spots!

Be enriched!
Jen

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). - John 10:10 (Amplified Version)


Milwaukee Rep (The Rep) - $5
See a professional play with seasoned actors and actresses. Join 'The Rep' on Facebook to watch for special opening night discounts. Tickets that are usually $25 are cut to $5 for Thursday nights or other low-attendance dates. They also offer special 'Under 40' pricing (as low as $15 for all shows) to attract a younger generation.
http://www.milwaukeerep.com/


Comedy Sportz - $5 with coupon
Improv comedy at it's best, and it's family friendly! Get a coupon from the 'Entertainment Book' and get two for the price of one. They also serve food. And when you get there, fill out your ticket stub and drop in fishbowl for a chance to win tickets for another night!
http://www.comedysportzmilwaukee.com


Live Orchestra - $3-5
The Youth Wind Orchestra of Wisconsin performs in Carroll University's Shattuck Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors 60 and older. For more information, call the music office at 262.524.7182.


Jazz In The Park & Concerts In The Park - Free
Listen to beautiful live music in a relaxing casual atmosphere. Many parks are now hosting these events, and they are free. Just bring a blanket to relax on!
http://www.easttown.com
http://www.county.milwaukee.gov


MSO Mondays at Alterra - Free
In conjunction with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Alterra presents amazing performances featuring members of the MSO at select Alterra cafes. Come on out and enjoy a coffee, tea, or espresso drink and a wonderful sampling of some truly outstanding musical talent.
http://alterracoffeepro.com


Bowling & Karaoke - $5.25
We checked out Burnham Bowl (6016 W Burnham St in Milwaukee) for Bowling and Karaoke. They also offer a group special that includes 2 pizzas for a low price. $3.75/shoes, $1.50/game, and it's FREE to make a fool of yourself at Karaoke. Only downside is the place got somewhat smoky (probably depends which night you go). Call them at (414) 543-7880.


Stargaze at The Planetarium - $2 or Free
The Manfred Olson Planetarium on UWM's Campus hosts a variety of programs in their theater. Some are even FREE!
http://www4.uwm.edu/planetarium


Light Show at The Domes - $6.50
'Music Under Glass' includes live music in the Show Dome. Their now famous light show will be part of each evening. This event is seasonal, and there are many other special events as well. Admission is Free on Mondays (Milwaukee residents with ID) from 9 am - Noon.
http://www.milwaukeedomes.org/


What are your best tips??

The Wayback Machine

Today I'm feeling a little retro, vintage, what have you... Was reading about an online generator someone created to make websites look like they were from the late 90's. So, I of course had to look back at what MY website was like WAAAAYYYY back then. Here's a peek.

What I stumbled upon was a 'Personal Mission Statement' written in 1999, more than a decade ago.

Now I have to ponder about what to add to this list...

Enjoy.

My personal mission statement

Lately I've found myself really pondering what my goals are. It is so easy for me to get lost along the way so I am making this to keep myself on track. Hopefully I will look back to this to remember what my dreams were, and what goals I want to meet. Who knows, maybe I will get to check all these off of my to do list before I check outta this thing we call life... Some of these are silly whimsical dreams, others of extreme importance, in no certain order. I will keep adding to this as long as I live, and plan to check back in the midst of frustrations or new accomplishments. I began this list on Sunday, October 31, 1999.

Jen

Adopt a child

Take the time out to appreciate the sunset or walk along the beach, far away from everything

Take courses at Skip Barber Driving School where I can safely drive like a speed demon ;o)

Develop friendships that are reciprocal in regard to trust and dedication, and have them last for a lifetime

Own a house with a lot of trees in the backyard so the kids can play

Admit when I am wrong

Teach and impact the lives of children, and help them reach their greatest potential

Be a good wife and mother (See Proverbs 31:10-31 *he he* A lot goes under this category, I know! I'll add details when that comes around)

Never let petty things cloud my eyes from seeing the big picture

Keep focused on God and not worry about what the next year, day, or even hour may hold.


What goals do you have, or had you set for yourself in the past? How have you achieved them? What would you change?

Our Wishes For You

May 2010 be a year of blessing for you! You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

May you receive:

"God's blessing inside the city,
God's blessing in the country;
God's blessing on your children,
the crops of your land,
the young of your livestock,
the calves of your herds,
the lambs of your flocks.
God's blessing on your basket and bread bowl;
God's blessing in your coming in,
God's blessing in your going out.

God will defeat your enemies who attack you. They'll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.

God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you."

(Deuteronomy 28)

Remember to keep Him first, and all these things 'will be added unto you'.

Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Szczęśliwego nowego roku!