Prayer Requests

Part of our small group activity with the X-Kidz this Sunday involved them jotting down each other's prayer requests. The intention was to gather them and then have a prayer for each one's respective request. However, as it sometimes goes, we ran out of time and most of the kids took their lists with them.

So, my plea to everyone reading this is to please say a prayer for whatever and whomever the kids had put on their list.

(We will also revisit their prayer requests next week during worship time.)

"It Couldn't Be Done"

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it."

Edgar A. Guest

Mine! Mine! Mine!

A couple of Sundays ago, this was the topic in our children's worship service: Operation Mine! Mine! Mine! It was awesome! (Jealous???)

Totally unrelated, I play this game with other kids sometimes, they want a bite, or a drink, or a chip. I grab the item and tell them Mine! Mine! Mine! And then, of course, give them whatever it is they wanted and we laugh and have some fun with it.

But, WOW, those three words are resounding aren't they? Kind of, sort of, sounds like... Me! Me! Me!

A few years ago, when I began really seeking what it was to be a Christian, someone gave me some advice that was life changing.

I was searching, seeking, walking around with all this inner turmoil, visiting churches (living in Virginia then) and just couldn't find one that suited me. I was coming home and weighing out what I liked, what I didn't like, etc. Who was nice to me, who gave me weird looks, what songs did they sing, how many pamphlets did I get, etc. I was really concerned about what I was going to get out of it all. I wanted and needed to be somewhere that gave me something to look forward to, moral and emotional support. I wanted to walk out of that building feeling lifted up. We've all been there.

But then, someone said to me: Maybe you should stop worrying so much about what you're going to get and think about what you can give.

Since I heeded that advice, my life has not been the same. I am so thankful that I can worship at Axiom Church and leave feeling fulfilled - I can listen and absorb the messages each week, fellowhip with others, laugh and cut up with the kids. But I wholly believe that that feeling of being fulfilled is because my focus is not on what all I can get, but what I have been graciously given and in return can share with others.

That feeling still creeps and crawls in every now and again - "what about me?" But, I just have to kick it to the side and remind myself that it's not about me. It never was and it never will be. All the Glory to God.

Disturbing the Peace

Last night a group from Axiom church, including my family, went for a walk in our neighborhood. On the way there, we saw people lounging and grilling in their driveways and in the park area - children riding bikes, motorized toys, skateboards - three little girls practically ran us over twice on the sidewalk! There were other people practicing their best fishing pole cast... In this particular section of our neighborhood - it was downright rowdy! They were all having a great time but honestly, I was on guard for the next screeching foot-powered Razor!

Why were we there? To say Thank You.

When Axiom sponsored the Backyard Bible Club VBS last week (with the help of an incredible group of teens and adults from Georgia), they set up in our neighborhood's common area. We had called the HOA but no return call from them so we went ahead with the plans. And wouldn't you know, someone didn't like the children learning about God right there in the open! So, they came over, with some kind of HOA "authority" and told everyone they had to leave.

Why did they have to leave? No permission? Well, that's what they said at first. But then, we found out last night, that this person of "authority" said that we were "disturbing the peace." Eh..Come again?? See first paragraph...

Last night, in the middle of total chaos, we were able to say Thank you, make some introductions, invitations, and share the Lord with the couple and their children who blessed our VBS by letting us use their yard instead. They have three children and were very adamant that nobody was going to take away their kids' learning and fun (yep, they saw it not only as learning about God, but FUN!) The mother said her son came home in tears saying that they got "kicked out." She wouldn't stand for that. She stood for God.

So, if that person of "authority" - the one who accused us of disturbing the peace could read this, I would simple say this:

We're showing the way to peace. And it's a sweet ride. All Aboard!