Happy Beyond Description

In 1851 a group of British missionaries to Tierra del Fuego was forced to winter in the bitter cold while they waited for their supply ship to arrive. It came too late. They all died of cold and starvation.

On Good Friday, April 18th, Richard Williams, a surgeon and Methodist lay preacher, wrote in his journal, “Poor and weak though we are, our abode is a very Bethel to our souls [Genesis 28:10-19], and God we feel and know is here.”

On Wednesday, May 7th, he wrote, “Should anything prevent my ever adding to this, let all my beloved ones at home rest assured that I was happy beyond description when I wrote these lines and would not have changed situations with any man living.”

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23

One More Week!

Yes, there's only 6 days, 8 hours and 42 minutes until I leave for Louisiana! I am getting pretty excited. I also have a lot to do in the meantime. Today I brought down the suitcases from the attic, cleaned and freshened them up. Now I have to decided what to pack! I also am trying to finish a project I am working on for my grandparents. So anyway, this next week will be filled with planning, packing and plenty of excitement!

Excitement!!

Yep, that's what I have been feeling for the past few days! Why? Well, in 2004, my grandparents invited my oldest brother, Joshua, to travel down and spend a month with them in Louisiana. The next year Tim went, then Rosanna, then Nathanael...and now it's finally my turn!

Earlier this week they e-mailed me to let me know that the tickets are purchased and I will be flying down on March 2nd, and flying back April 6th! That's five whole weeks!

The only part I am nervous about is flying down. I love the actual "flying" part, but making sure I make my connections at the airports has me a little nervous. This will also be my first time flying (commercially) since 2000, and my very first time flying alone.

Anyway, even concerns about flying by myself have not dampened my enthusiasim for the trip (just ask my family)! Only 23 days, 9 hours and 28 minutes (approximately) until I leave!!

A "Push Buttons" Generation

I am posting something that I was challenged with today. This is a part of the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. Keep in mind that this book was written around 1948 to 1949.

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"I venture to suggest that the one vital quality which they had in common was spiritual receptivity. Something in them was a open to heaven, something which urged them Godward. Without attempting anything like a profound analysis, I shall say simply that they had spiritual awareness and that they went on to cultivate it until it became the biggest thing in their lives. They differed from the average person in that when they felt the inward longing they did something about it. They acquired the lifelong habit of spiritual response. They were not disobedient to the heavenly vision. As David put it neatly, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8)...

Failure to see this is the cause of a very serious breakdown in modern evangelicalism. The idea of cultivation and exercise, so dear to the saints of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. It is too slow, too common. We now demand glamour and fast-flowing dramatic action. A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar.

The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit. These and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul..."

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If this was true then, how much more in today's busy culture. We must set aside time apart from distractions to seek the Lord.

I have found that with my busy schedule I need to be awake at five in the morning, in order to have the quietness and time to seek the Lord. This means disciplining my evening schedule to be in bed early. This is something I am still struggling to do. I am not naturally a morning person! What about you? What are some steps you take, or maybe need to start taking, to spend time with the Lord (apart from any distractions) daily?

Magic Andy - Episode 2: "Sledding"

Andrew's newest video. In this video "Magic Andy" takes two children sledding with him and demontrates how much easier sledding can be when you know a few magic tricks! I must say that our young friends are great actors! ENJOY!! :)

Magic Andy - Episode 1: "Andy meets The Caper"

Here is Andrew and Nathanael's latest "magic" trick video. It's called "Andy Meets the Caper." ENJOY!

So...what did you think? :)

Andrew's "Magic" Tricks

Well, I finally convinced my little brother (sorry, Andrew) to update his blog!

Earlier today he posted some videos of magic tricks that he has been working on recently. He is getting better all the time, and today he finally figured out how to make PEOPLE disappear! :)

If you would like to see the videos click here.