One clever way to display the coins

A few weeks ago one of our members, Christy, stopped by the office with something she wanted me to see.  Over the summer our Encouragement Team had commemorative coins made for interested members.  One side of the coin had our LICL logo (heart/flame/cross) and the other side was the artist rendering of our new, expanded facility.

Christy took her coins and a small drawing of the new facility to a place like Hobby Lobby and had the picture and coins framed.  My picture (above) really doesn't do this little piece of artwork justice. Christy told me that she paid more money than she wanted to (custom framing is expensive!) but she felt it was worth having something that would "remind her of her church and it's efforts to serve its members and reach our community."

As Christy left I thought, "Couldn't have said it better myself!"

My buddy, Howie

I remember the first time I met Howie.  My youngest daughter, Katie, and her husband, Josh, had been thinking about getting a dog.  Katie wanted to get a rescue dog and located a shelter to visit. While working at church one afternoon I got a call from Katie.  She wanted to know if I'd like to meet the new addition to her family. How could I say no?

The dog was filthy and very afraid, shaking.  I wondered if it had been abused in some way.  We asked Katie what kind of breed the dog was.  She said the shelter thought he had some chow in him. Connie speculated that there might be some terrier in the mix.  I asked, "Do you have a name?" Katie did.  "His name is Howie."

Every Sunday after church the family would gather at our house for dinner.  Howie came along.  He soon became very comfortable around our house.  We were comfortable with him, all of us except our cat, Hope.  Hope was not crazy about other animals taking up residence on her property.  But after awhile even Hope learned to tolerate Howie.

When the Cardinals played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, like most Americans, we had a party.  The game was nerve-wracking and to break the tension, I decided to teach Howie how to sit up. What dog doesn't sit up? Every time Howie made a good effort he got a dog bone.  By the third quarter he was sitting up like a champion.  Straight back.  Paw out to shake hands.  He ate most of the bowl of dog treats that day.  The Cardinals lost but Howie won!

Two years ago my daughter's family moved to Wisconsin.  I miss them all - including Howie.  So visiting there on vacation is a real treat.  Howie and I go for long walks.  He can count on me for a dog treat (or three!).  The picture above is one of my favorites.  Howie seems really pleased to see me again.

I know I was.

Remembering Joyce

This morning at 10 am we will gather at LICL to remember our sister in Christ, Joyce Haynes.  Joyce fell asleep in Jesus about a month ago; at that time the family held a grave side committal service and elected to wait until now to hold a memorial service.  Joyce was faithful in worship and Bible study attendance.  She loved to receive the Lord's Supper and was glad to receive Jesus' reassurance that all her sins were forgiven.  A reception will be held for the family following the service.

Later this afternoon worship takes place at 5 pm.  I will be preaching at all services this weekend and the title for the sermon is "A Case of the Fat Head."  You want to know more, don't you? Come and join us.

Sunday morning we follow the usual schedule - worship at 8 and 10:45 am with Bible classes at 9:20 am.  Hope to see you this weekend at Life in Christ!

How high is high enough?

While he waited for the great flood to begin, Noah had to house the various animals.  He built a special eight foot high fenced enclosure for the two kangaroos, but during the first night in the fence, they escaped.  Noah found them hopping around outside the following morning.  So he increased the height to 15 feet, but the kangaroos escaped again.

Exasperated, he added another 15 feet to the enclosure.  The kangaroos still escaped.  After Noah put the 'roos back inside the fence, they were approached by one of the giraffes.  "How high do you think Noah will build the fence this time?" the giraffe asked.

"I don't know," answered the female kangaroo.  "But he might eventually get it to 1,000 feet if he keeps leaving the gate unlocked!"

Who is our mission?

Author Ken Callahan offers a very good answer:

In the mission growth movement, the compelling question is, "Who is our mission?" That is, "Who is God inviting us to serve in mission?" God invites us to a theology of service, not a theology of survival.  God invites us to a theology of mission, not a theology of maintenance.  God plants around us people with whom we can constructively be in mission.

From "A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations"
page 12

The Kiss of Death

I have bad news today for Arizona Cardinals fans.

We're not going to win the Super Bowl.

We may not even play for the NFC Championship.

In fact, this could be a most disappointing year for the Cardinals.

Why am I so sure of all of this?

Because Sports Illustrated magazine has picked the Cardinals to win the Super Bowl.

Even worse, the Cardinals will be on the cover of the magazine (one of four regional covers to be published).

You see, many sports fans believe that to be on the cover of SI is like having a curse placed on your favorite player or team.

There is no scientific proof of this.  I don't believe that anyone has actually researched the cursed effect of being an SI pick.

What I do believe is that it isn't very helpful for your team to get so much positive press before a single pass has been thrown in the regular season.

Yes, the Cardinals should have a Super Bowl contending team.  All their offensive skill players are back and they've made some key additions on the defensive side of the ball.

All of this should encourage us as the NFL kicks off another season next month.

But I'm still remembering the stink bomb the Cardinals fired off as they got destroyed by Seattle at the end of the season.  I'm remembering how Arizona got by Green Bay only through the magnificent play of future Hall of Fame receiver, Larry Fitzgerald.  And I'm remembering how the Cardinals were thoroughly dismantled by Carolina in the NFC Championship game.

Some might say, "Ancient History! Don't live in the past!"

I lived in Missouri for 13 years.  Missouri is called "the show me state."

So I guess I'm waiting for the regular season to get underway for the Cardinals to show me that they really are a Super Bowl contender.

If Sports Illustrated hasn't already ruined everything with the curse!

Not impressed at all

My grandson, Drew (holding something he caught in his back yard), is totally into policemen and firemen.  He has full uniforms and the stuff that goes with them.  He watches videos of those who serve and protect us over and over again and never tires of them.  If you want Drew's undivided attention just say something like, "Look over there - a fire truck!" No matter what Drew is doing - playing with toys, annoying his little brother - he will stop and check it out.  And then he'll describe what you're seeing.  He knows his stuff!

Drew and his family live in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the mecca for professional football.  At this time of year, every thing in the city shifts to the Packers.  His Mom, Katie, says the first news store on the local stations each night is about the Packers.  Also, the second, third, forth and fifth.  Sometimes, the top stories reported on every other news outlet in the world aren't mentioned at all.  Instead, reporters will talk breathlessly about Aaron Rogers' vegan diet or the seventh round draft pick (who no one has ever heard of) who has a great chance to make the team.  Of course, the weather gets a mention in every newscast - just so everyone knows what conditions will be like for the next day's team practice.

Katie, told me over the weekend that after church the family went to a local restaurant to get some lunch.  As they walked in, Drew spotted two policemen who had taken a break to eat.  Drew was enthralled!  He couldn't even eat his lunch.  He couldn't take his eyes off the men in blue.

A few minutes later a Packers football player entered the restaurant.  For everyone in the restaurant, it seemed as if time had stopped.  "Look! It's Eddie Lacy!" Lacy is the star running back for the Pack. He's not as popular as Aaron Rogers but he's still a pretty big deal.  Everyone in the restaurant had their eyes on Eddie Lacy.

Except one.  Drew.

Drew could have cared less.  He wouldn't have been impressed if the entire Packer roster had had come in to eat.  No one could compare with those two police officers.

All this proves one thing - Drew has not yet been inflicted with Packers fever.

His mother feels really good about that.