So I was thinking of my last post, and thinking about Amanda being on bedrest and I realized that God has given me the perfect opportunity to take what I learned on our Memphis trip and apply it back home.
With Amanda on bedrest she isn't able to cook dinners or do laundry or other things around the house or even errands outside of the house. At first glance I am tempted to say "darn it! more work for me!" But, besides being completely selfish of me, I can view this as a great opportunity to give God my very best!
Serving Him in her allows me to do the work with joy. I'm able to grow closer to my wife and serve Christ all at the same time.
Praise God!
Jim
Friday, June 26, 2009
Office Hours: Friday June 26th
Hey guys,
My office hours are going to be a little sporadic over the next couple of weeks. Please keep Amanda in your prayers as the doctor has put her on bedrest. She's doing fine, all this means is she has to stay home and lay down. She needs to stay relaxed because the baby is trying to come out a little early. Its nothing to worry about, as long as she stays still she'll be good. However, this means I need to be around the house a little more often in order to get her things and do some more chores.
Shoot me an e-mail at epiphanylt@gmail.com if you need anything or want to make plans to hang out. I'm still available, just not in the office today!
God bless,
Jim
My office hours are going to be a little sporadic over the next couple of weeks. Please keep Amanda in your prayers as the doctor has put her on bedrest. She's doing fine, all this means is she has to stay home and lay down. She needs to stay relaxed because the baby is trying to come out a little early. Its nothing to worry about, as long as she stays still she'll be good. However, this means I need to be around the house a little more often in order to get her things and do some more chores.
Shoot me an e-mail at epiphanylt@gmail.com if you need anything or want to make plans to hang out. I'm still available, just not in the office today!
God bless,
Jim
Memphis
I've been back from Memphis for almost a week now and I've had time to reflect on my time down there. I was hesitant going down, not knowing what to expect. I had heard they were going to split our group up so we were working with different people. I didn't want to do that at first, I wanted to get to know all of you who came down with me! But in the end God knew what He was doing. It's funny how He does that huh?
The group I worked with was great, hardworking and respectful. But even better, the groups that the other teens from Epiphany worked with really came together and brought the best out of each other. In the evenings we had a chance to share and hangout as a youth group and it was absolutely amazing to see how each and every Epiphany teen was growing in one form or another.
Now that we're back to the daily grind it is easy to let the lessons we learned at Shine fade into a fond memory. But I want to encourage each of you to hold onto those lessons and really start living them out here. Remember you are Christ to those around you! Even your friends back in the good ole Bloomington-Normal.
And for the rest of you, I want to share with you the best advice and the most important thing I took away from Shine. It came from Katrina as she was sharing her own experience on Shine and quoting the moving "Facing the Giants", she said to "Give God your very best." Its so simple, but so true. I know it inspired all of us to work harder at our mission sites and I want it to inspire all of you who weren't able to join us. Give God your very best and you will be amazed at the things you will acomplish.
God bless,
Jim
The group I worked with was great, hardworking and respectful. But even better, the groups that the other teens from Epiphany worked with really came together and brought the best out of each other. In the evenings we had a chance to share and hangout as a youth group and it was absolutely amazing to see how each and every Epiphany teen was growing in one form or another.
Now that we're back to the daily grind it is easy to let the lessons we learned at Shine fade into a fond memory. But I want to encourage each of you to hold onto those lessons and really start living them out here. Remember you are Christ to those around you! Even your friends back in the good ole Bloomington-Normal.
And for the rest of you, I want to share with you the best advice and the most important thing I took away from Shine. It came from Katrina as she was sharing her own experience on Shine and quoting the moving "Facing the Giants", she said to "Give God your very best." Its so simple, but so true. I know it inspired all of us to work harder at our mission sites and I want it to inspire all of you who weren't able to join us. Give God your very best and you will be amazed at the things you will acomplish.
God bless,
Jim
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Right & Wrong
G.K Chesterton once wrote:
"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions."
I believe this is really a fancy way of saying, 'just because everyone is jumping off the bridge doesn't mean you should too!"
But of course there is probably a little bit more to it too. His quote is an encouragement or a suggestion to take a look around your world today. What are you letting into your life, who are you letting into your life and are they/it good for you?
In today's society President Obama is making a lot of changes, and many people are excited about these changes. Hopefully some of them will bring about good, but many of them won't. I don't want to get onto my soap box about President Obama in this post, that's not its purpose. As a good Catholic you know that many of the things he has done since coming into office has hurt us, I don't need to mention any more here.
The reason I bring it up, however, is to make a point. Remember the night he was elected. The tv showed so many people celebrating. Operah spoke about how she felt the entire country coming together.
Popular opinion can some time wreak havoc in our lives! Some one comes up with an idea, a few others think its a good idea, and before you know it everyone is off and running to jump over the cliff!
When you find your self running with the crowd take a moment to slow down to a jog. Look around and ask yourself... where is this coming from? Who is leading the sprint? Is it Christ? Are you headed to heaven? If the answer is no... then why waste your energy.
Keep fighting the good fight guys. You're in my prayers.
God bless,
Jim
"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions."
I believe this is really a fancy way of saying, 'just because everyone is jumping off the bridge doesn't mean you should too!"
But of course there is probably a little bit more to it too. His quote is an encouragement or a suggestion to take a look around your world today. What are you letting into your life, who are you letting into your life and are they/it good for you?
In today's society President Obama is making a lot of changes, and many people are excited about these changes. Hopefully some of them will bring about good, but many of them won't. I don't want to get onto my soap box about President Obama in this post, that's not its purpose. As a good Catholic you know that many of the things he has done since coming into office has hurt us, I don't need to mention any more here.
The reason I bring it up, however, is to make a point. Remember the night he was elected. The tv showed so many people celebrating. Operah spoke about how she felt the entire country coming together.
Popular opinion can some time wreak havoc in our lives! Some one comes up with an idea, a few others think its a good idea, and before you know it everyone is off and running to jump over the cliff!
When you find your self running with the crowd take a moment to slow down to a jog. Look around and ask yourself... where is this coming from? Who is leading the sprint? Is it Christ? Are you headed to heaven? If the answer is no... then why waste your energy.
Keep fighting the good fight guys. You're in my prayers.
God bless,
Jim
Monday, June 8, 2009
Drop-In hours canceled on Tuesday
Hey guys,
I've got a busy day of meetings so I won't be available for drop in hours on Tuesday June 9th. We'll see you Wednesday night at 7:30!
God bless,
Jim
I've got a busy day of meetings so I won't be available for drop in hours on Tuesday June 9th. We'll see you Wednesday night at 7:30!
God bless,
Jim
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