XM

Encontro

Art and Daniel participated in the men’s Encountro  (Encounter) and I participated in the women’s Encountro.  These are weekend events held at the mission’s camp.   This year we had about 50 men and 50 women participate in these weekend events.  These retreats provide rich opportunities to connect with God through worship, teaching, and prayer Encontro

Futebol in Brazil

Before we left for Maraba, we invited a bunch of Brazilians over to watch the first game of the World Cup.  I enjoyed watching their reactions each time Brazil scored.  They passionately support their team even if their feelings about hosting the world cup are very mixed.  They are saddened by the dispersement of Brazil’s Futebol in Brazil

reuniting with Family

We’ve already spent a week in North Carolina with Sarah and Kiffer and Beth-Anne.  Sarah’s job occasionally involves driving children on field trips in the city of Brevard.  She works for the Boys and Girls Club of America.   While all 3 are busy taking summer courses and working, we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with reuniting with Family

Evaluation

Jesus taught us to expect life in the Kingdom of God to be different than any other religious or secular tradition. How do you evaluate your spirituality today on the spectrum of “cannot” and “have-to” on the one side, and “freedom”  and “can I do that too?” on the other side. If you are not Evaluation

Reflections

We reflect our true values to those around us. Go to Source

Help Someone

Thought for the Day Today I had coffee with a friend I have not seen in twenty-six years. As we talked of missions, God, and our families, he relayed the following story.“Sometimes our friends in church mention that they wish their teen-agers wanted to sit with them, as ours do. While these parents would like Help Someone

Happy Father’s Day!

We are often amazed at the unfair, tragic stories of the people around us. The idea that a sinful lifestyle will make you happy, or that it is a person’s only option, passes naturally down the family lines. It takes divine intervention to stop the chain reactions of sin, and to start a new family Happy Father’s Day!

Emma Graduates!

Emma has homeschooled from grades K-12, with the exception of Grade 10. High Road Academy allowed Emma to participate in the graduation ceremonies and celebrations along with all her friends she went to school with in 2011/2012. Then HCOS, the home school association with whom we have been registered these past several years, also hosted Emma Graduates!

Three Surprises about Forgiveness

Thought for the Day Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” NIV.Pastor Gary at the Abbotsford Vineyard gave a sermon on forgiveness today. He started by outlining some things that forgiveness is Three Surprises about Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not…

On June 6, 2014, Pastor Gary Stephens at the Abbotsford Vineyard Church talked about forgiveness, which included the following assumptions about what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not making excuses for what was done to you. Forgiveness is not pretending it never happened. Forgiveness is not waiting for an apology. Forgiveness is not pretending it doesn’t hurt. Forgiveness is not a Forgiveness is not…