Children's Day - Tennis Clinic

Every month our church schedules an activity for the young children. This month we organized a tennis clinic for them.




We had great participation and the children loved it. I was suprised by how well they listened to the instruction and how long they stayed with it. We gave them instruction on how to hit a forehand and a backhand and then they played some games. We started at 12:30 and the kids were still hitting tennis balls at 2:30.




The kids loved interacting with some of our "seasoned" tennis players. I think the older ladies loved it too.


We talked about being a good sport and that Jesus said that we should treat others like we want to be treated.






At the end of the day one little boy who doesn't attend our church ran up to me and said, "Can we do this again? I loved it."


It is such a joy to work with children and watch their eagerness glisten in their eyes. They soaked up our every word. How wonderful it was to spread some of God's word into their lives through the physical abilities He has blessed us with. What a blessing it was to us, the instructors, to be encouraged by their pure and open hearts. God truly blessed us with a great day.

A Thankful Group

Have you ever had a gathering at your home? Have you ever had a crisis or two 20 minutes before they arrive? Ahhh, welcome to my world.

Some of the children from church came over Saturday to play some backyard games and to learn about being thankful. About 20 minutes before they arrived, I was warming 1/2 a gallon of hot chocolate on the stove. I was warming it in my favorite glass carafe. The carafe that I use day and night. The carafe that I hadn't noticed was worn out. While scurrying about the kitchen trying to wrap everything up before the guests arrive I hear a sizzle. I think to myself, "Why is that sizzling? I'm pretty sure it's not overflowing." I ignore it continuing to tidy up. A couple more sizzles later I decide I'd better go see what's up on the stove. I grasp the handle to check underneath and all that comes with the handle is the top part of the carafe. One half gallon of hot chocolate pours out everywhere. The carafe has broken clean in two. Hot chocolate covers the stove. It covers the counters on both sides of the stove and it covers the floor. I stand still for about 5 seconds and then yell for help.

My good and kind husband helps me clean up the mess and in less than 10 minutes we have cleaned all the visible surfaces. I grab a metal pan and fill it with 1/2 gallon of milk and turn on the burner. From the pantry I retrieve the Nesquik and start walking to the stove. My momma always told me never to carry things by their lids. She was right. Almost to the stove the bottom part of the Nesquik container drops from its' lid and chocolate powder flies everywhere. My good and kind husband who has psychically lingered near me starts to laugh. Right after I throw the yellow Nesquik lid at him we frantically clean up the powder which has stuck to the freshly mopped floor. Miraculously, we manage to clean everything up before our first guest arrives.

Everyone really had a good time. The kids played. The adults visited and everyone roasted miniature marshmallows on pretzel sticks. (note to self: buy large marshmallows) We learned about being thankful and everyone loved the hot chocolate. It was truly a great day.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Psalm 136:1

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Our children's group from church went to a fantastic pumpkin patch today. There was so much for the children to do that we didn't know where to start.

Here's some of the motley crew.

There was a giant slide that the kids and some of the parents went down.




There was a play fort area with kid-size buildings and fun games.

They had a petting zoo area where the kids could feed the animals.

The kids and adults played for hours and had the best time.

We rode a hay ride and a barrel train.













There was also a pumpkin launcher where some of the kids played when it was not being monopolized by the Dads. I think the men had more fun with it than the kids.




The kids had their faces painted and decorated a pumpkin.




Although a few kids couldn't make it at the last minute, we had a great turn out and fun was had by all.

A special thanks to our sponsor who made it all possible.

Faith vs. Belief

be·lieve - [bi-leev]
–verb (used without object)
1. to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.

–verb (used with object)
2. to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.
3. to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).
4. to have a conviction that (a person or thing) is, has been, or will be engaged in a given action or involved in a given situation: The fugitive is believed to be headed for the Mexican border.
5. to suppose or assume; understand (usually fol. by a noun clause):

faith –noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
5. a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
6. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.
7. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.
8. Christian Theology. the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

We have been studying/debating faith vs. belief in our adult Bible classes. Some believe that they are the same thing. Our minister believes they are the same especially as used in the old testament. In Greek, both believe and faith can be translated as:

Pisteuo- (pist-yoo'-o) - Verb

1. to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
- of the thing believed
- to credit, have confidence

- in a moral or religious reference
- used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
- to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith - mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith

2. to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
- to be entrusted with a thing

Many in our class disagree and believe that faith and belief as used in modern-day language are different. They extend faith's definition to beyond its' classification as a noun and moved it into verb status. They believe that faith implies a relationship with God which requires action on our part. Many people believe in God but still do not have a relationship with Him.

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

It's the "I never knew you" part that is troubling to me. Sometimes I catch myself going through the Christian motions. I go to church. I go to church events. I participate in communion but am I really 'knowing' God? Am I spending time in His word? Am I spending time with Him in prayer? Am I listening for Him? Am I obeying Him? Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes no.

I think we all have spiritual peaks and valleys. Our spirituality is in a constant state of flux. I think we are either moving toward God or away from Him. Hopefully, we are moving closer to Him the majority of the time. It's part of our walk to struggle and have hardship. It makes us rely on Him. Whether we think that faith and belief are the same thing or not, it pretty much boils down to this...

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

A Day at the Water Park

Our church group had a wonderful day at the water park this Saturday. We stayed the entire day and despite the layers of sunscreen, all had slight sunburns to show for it. It was the good kind of sunburn. The sun kissed checks and noses that remind people of God's golden creation. Our youth group plus the younger children played and laughed and reveled in the day.

Thank you to all who went and all who made the day possible. It was a great day!