Sunday's Message

We have been at Damascus Church for about 6 months now, and we really like it!

Every week, the pastor Joel, preaches straight out of the Word of God. That, along with the amazing worship is what drew us here in the first place. And although every week he preaches a really good sermon, I think this last week was his best. I got so fired up!

We are discussing Revelation and the letters to the Seven Churches. This week was on Pergamum and the fact that while they were maintaining outward appearances, they had moved away from the Word of God and had allowed a spirit of tolerance and compromise to enter the church.

I think it spoke perfectly to what we are seeing in the church in America. Here is a link to the sermon if you are interested. Believe me, I have a list of people who need hear this! I think the church needs to get serious about the study of God's Word. It is the only thing keeping us from slipping into a deadly marriage with the world. It challenged me as well to be very serious about maintaining a time in the Word of God DAILY!

On a final note... he mentioned that this is a time of "grace and mercy". Having heard those words used ad infinitum, I got to a place where I began to hate "grace and mercy". I mean, I know it's in the Scriptures, but the way it was being used felt so... wrong. It felt like grace and mercy really meant tolerance and compromise. So when Joel said we need the Word of God to pierce our hearts and judge us NOW, in the time of grace and mercy, before the final judgement, it clicked for me. Rather than promoting tolerance and compromise, the grace and mercy extended by Jesus should be a wake up call to get our act together NOW. Because the era of grace and mercy is rapidly coming to an end! I would so much rather have God judge my heart now, while there is time to repent, than continue on, ranting about how grace and mercy covers it all, and have to face judgement when there is no time to repent.

I'm loving this series. Can't wait until next week!

O.K. So I'm finally weighing in on this book.

Before I read it, I was sure I would hate it. I have my antenae up very high when it comes to sniffing out liberal or false theology. I assumed this would present a very watered down, "God loves everybody", ultra-tolerant version of God.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find, not only the God that I know, but Jesus, and not a worldly, WWJD, kind of Jesus, but the real Jesus who died a horrific death for our sins and wants to reconcile us to God, the father.

Some of you will be surprised to know that I really liked the book.

I feel the book gives a fresh perspective to our relationship with God and how He feels about us. HOWEVER, it is NOT the Bible and its theology is bound to be off in places (it is, after all, written by a man, not the Holy Spirit). I think it is very important to read it, not as a theology book, or a replacement for the Bible, but rather as an allegory. Compare it to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. We all know that although Jesus is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" he is not REALLY a lion. But by portraying Christ as a lion, C.S. Lewis illuminates one aspect of His character. I think if you see the story as a dream, which it is, and as an allegory, like Pilgrim's Progress, you will be more comfortable with the things that come across initially as pretty bizarre (like God as a black woman). It's all symbolism - a way to express what is very difficult for us to wrap our minds around. It is not complete, but rather a picture to point out aspects of what is true.

However, I know there are some people, whom I respect a lot, that take strong issue with the book. One is Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill - Seattle. Here is a video he did in which he lists his reasons for disliking the book. I watched it, and I wasn't convinced with his reasoning. But I respect him, nonetheless.

Here is an article by one of the "coauthors". I really liked what he had to say in defense of the book, in fact, he made some the same points I did when defending my support for the story.

For me personally, I liked the book because it allowed me to see God's love for me in a fresh way. I like how the main character, Mack, is such a genuine person, and so much like me in some of his ways of thinking. He feels abandoned by God and doesn't believe God is good and trustworthy. I think the whole point of The Shack is to proclaim that God is good, He loves us, and He wants to be in a relationship with us. The point is NOT to pass on every theological point found in Scripture.

I don't think it's the dangerous book some are making it out to be.

My fervent hope is that it leads people to see God in a way that causes them to WANT to be in relationship with Him. If this book leads them to seek out Jesus as the way to God, can that be a bad thing?

Chandler and Dylan's Inkheart Party

Since Chandler and Dylan were born just a few days apart, Jenny and I have occasionally combined their parties. This was one of those years. Both Chandler and Dylan were interested in seeing Inkheart for their birthdays, and since they share so many friends, it was perfect!

We were able to rent out an ENTIRE theater with only 20 guaranteed ticket sales. The kids loved having the run of the place, able to sit anywhere, cheer when they wanted, boo at the right time. It really was fun!

After the movie, we returned to Jenny's house and separated the kids into two teams for an Inkheart Scavenger Hunt. Of course, being that these are middle school kids, we couldn't just give them a list and say, "Go for it." So we created 5 quests to be solved, each of which would reveal more items to be added to the list.

Here are the 5 quests if you want to play at home!

The kids jumped right in! I think they really enjoyed it.

Finally, after Dylan's team just barely sqeaked a victory past Chandler's team (by getting 13 out of 14 items in the fastest time), we HAD to celebrate with cupcakes for all! Since it was a trick candle, Chandler and Dylan had to blow out the candle 14 times!

Oh, how will we EVER top this one?

YES!!!!!

[great big sigh] I'm FINALLY done!

A few months back, Regan asked, again, if she could have her own room. Now mind you, this from a girl who is scared to DEATH to sleep alone and still snuggles at night with her sister... at 12 years old!

So I did what any good, caring and conscientious mother would do... I said no.

Now before you judge, you have to know me. I am seriously into decorating. I have spent years of my life getting my home to look just the way I want it. And here lies the problem. The room Regan would be taking over was already done. I had already spent MONTHS getting it to look like something out of Pottery Barn Kids, with hand-painted flowers on the wall and furniture. It was pink and purple. Had a "Dress Up" station, "Story Time" bookcase, "Showtime" media center, and "Create" art area.


This not the actual playroom, I didn't want to clean it before destroying it just to get a "before" picture. This is actually from Pottery Barn kids, but if you ever saw the playroom, you will notice the similarities.

But Regan didn't WANT pink and purple Pottery Barn Kids hand-painted flowers. She wanted a grown-up room to reflect her very eclectic taste. It took everything in me to turn a room over to a 12-year-old. And not just any 12-year-old... REGAN.

Her initial thoughts were for lime green and orange.

I gritted my teeth and determined to make it the cutest lime green and orange room in the world.

She began by picking out her bedding. What she chose had blue and brown polka dots and that led us to rethink the lime green and orange.

I suggested Cape Cod beach.

After showing her my ideas, she enthusiastically agreed. So we set out to work. (Mostly I set out to work)

Truckfuls of Goodwill and trash were soon seen departing our humble abode.

Next primer (have to cover that purple and pink paint with something)

Two coats and sometimes three coats of blue and brown paint.

Added a chair rail and crown molding.

White paint on everything standing still but not blue or brown already.

Install blinds on windows.

Hang fish net as a window valence.

Get bed delivered and set up bedding and decorations.

Install closet doors.

Install closet organizer.

Paint closet doors.

Paint room door.

Sew curtain to cover T.V.

Blue paint on all accents.

Vacuum.

Take "after" pictures.

Sorry for the very long blogging break. I will now return to my regularly scheduled life.