Pastor's Wifery

christianfellowshipchurch: CFC is taking donations for Cows and...

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:09:38 -0500

CFC is taking donations for Cows and Piglets for Uganda Orphans at New Hope Christian Academy. A cow is $500 and a Piglet is $30. You can send your donations to

Christian Fellowship Church; PO Box 61; North Manchester, Indiana 46962

Moo! Oink! (That’s cow and pig Latin for Merry Christmas!)

via img124.imageshack.us

VeriChip Buys Steel Vault, Creating Micro-Implant Health Record/Credit Score Empire | BNET Pharma Blog | BNET

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:37:35 -0500

VeriChip Buys Steel Vault, Creating Micro-Implant Health Record/Credit Score Empire | BNET Pharma Blog | BNET:

The mark of the beast is at the door. Remember, the mark is something that you have to have in order to buy or sell. I am of the opinion that with tattoos being so popular, it will be an easy step to take one with a chip that has all your info on it. And you won’t be able to buy or sell without it.

Words Are Important

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:23:27 -0500

Here’s a post I wrote for my writing blog. But it has to do with church drama, so I’m posting it here, too.

envisionpublishing:

All writers know this. Every word counts. Every word is chosen and carefully placed by the writer. Some of us love our words so much that cutting them is painful. But today, I learned yet another lesson about words.

I wrote the Christmas play this year for our church as I usually do. I have a background in music theater and it’s just a natural thing for me to do and there is no one else to do it. It saves the church money because they don’t have to buy scripts. Besides all that, I enjoy doing it.

I was confronted today by someone who let me know that someone else was upset about something I wrote.

There is a line in the play that says, “A lot of people get confused at Christmas because when our nation was just beginning, people brought customs with them from other lands. Santa was someone people made up to remember Saint Nicholas, a very kind man who used to leave money in the stockings of young girls who didn’t have enough money to get married.”

One of the Moms was upset because she thought I was going to stand up and announce that Santa isn’t real.

I have my own opinions about Santa. I never told my children he was alive and real and bringing them gifts because I didn’t want to lie to my children. I was afraid that if I told them there was a Santa, and they found out it wasn’t true, that they wouldn’t believe there really is a God and that Jesus came and died for them. Right or wrong, that’s how what I’ve always believed. (I realize that not all Christians agree with me about this.)

However, this Mom who is upset is a new believer, and Santa is a huge part of their holiday. Her son actually came up to me today while I was playing the offertory at church and said, “Are you going to read that part in the play that says Santa isn’t real?”

Now, you and I both know, that wasn’t exactly what I wrote. But it was what I meant. The play is about different Christmas symbols and what they mean, where they came from, etc. People are no longer ignorant. Pagans laugh at Christians because we have adopted so many of their rituals as part of our holiday celebrations. I want children and their parents to know the difference. It’s part of my husband’s ministry — to teach TRUTH and stand by it.

But I did understand this mother’s dilemma. I do have Santa come in at the end of the play and bow at the manger. I want that picture to be in the minds of the children in the play. I want it to send a strong message that Christians celebrate Christmas for no other reason than Christ’s birth. (Or, should I say, that’s what we are supposed to be doing. We all know that things have gotten way off course where Christmas is concerned.)

If I didn’t live in this culture, if I weren’t planted where I am planted, personally I would do away with Christmas trees and Santa and all of it. But I am part of an American culture, and I have families who are baby Christians, and to “throw the baby Jesus out with the bathwater” so to speak, would be foolish.

I need to be wise. Sure, I felt attacked a little bit as a writer. But, I took a look at that line and I changed the wording this way: instead of saying, “Santa was somebody people made up to remember” I wrote, “Santa reminds us of.”

It’s pretty much the same meaning, but gentler. A child may not catch what it says. But adults will get it. And when Santa bows at the manger, the kids will get it, too.

As a writer, I need to be as “wise as a serpent but as harmless as a dove” (Matt. 10:16). However, I still need to write the truth, and I need to make sure I’m not being a sell-out. Sure, it was painful to be confronted this way, but in another way I was rejoicing. My words had made someone think! My words had MEANING.

Isn’t that why we write? To change people’s lives in some way? To make them feel things, think things, see things in ways they never had before?

I am excited. Maybe I have more drama ahead in regard to this play because it challenges some of our customs. But that will be okay with me because I am learning. I am a work in progress. And I am glad to learn to make every word count. Words are important.

What do you think? Are you willing to change your words to make them more palatable? Or do you think that’s being a sell-out?

(via christianfellowshipchurch)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:49 -0500

(via christianfellowshipchurch)

karlaakins: Tomorrow I have to get up early early to head to...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:21:10 -0500

karlaakins:

Tomorrow I have to get up early early to head to leadership training for Celebrate Recovery for our church. My husband, the pastor, is going, too, so hopefully it will be a fun “something different” get away for us. Some of the most fun people in the world to hang out with are going, too.

I love this program. It works. If you know anyone who struggles with an addiction or hangup of any kind, and you hear of a Celebrate Recovery program where they live, encourage them to go.

It will change their life.

via danielj09.files.wordpress.com

Ten Reasons Why It Is Wrong to Take the Life of Unborn Children :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:07:54 -0400

Ten Reasons Why It Is Wrong to Take the Life of Unborn Children :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library:

jesuslovesbikerchickstoo:

“My prayer is that anyone involved in the practice of abortion would consider these things very seriously and pray for the faith and the courage to stand for life and love in Jesus Christ.”

And the winner is...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:14:16 -0400

And the winner is...:

(via nikiturner)

The End of the Eath: Closer Than You Think!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:13:51 -0400

nikiturner:

The ends of the earth: Closer than you think! http://networkedblogs.com/p14997108

karlaakins: prayfordaisy: Daisy had a pretty hard time at...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:45:44 -0400

karlaakins:

prayfordaisy:

Daisy had a pretty hard time at Chemo yesterday, fear still being a big factor.
But radiation is going well and we are half way through (we finish next Friday), and are not seeing too many side effects yet, but the doctor says they are coming.

Daisy is looking forward to having the weekend off from both treatments.

Today, Daisy got her hair cut for the first time ever!! She did it in anticipation of it falling out and one of her best friends (Selah Balli) did it with her. A sweet girl in our fellowship offered to do it and brought Barbi dolls for each of them to cut the hair off as well. The Barbi Doll’s hair looked just like Daisy and Selah’s, one blonde and one brunette.

Daisy and Selah are dedicating the beautiful hair they cut off to Pantene Beautiful Lengths which makes wigs for women with cancer.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread..."

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:44:46 -0400

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

- Acts 2:42-45 (via loveispatient)

"Expectations destroy our peace of mind. They are future disappointments, planned out in advance...."

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:44:29 -0400

“Expectations destroy our peace of mind. They are future disappointments, planned out in advance. ~Elizabeth George”

- (via iwannotowidigdo) (via karlaakins)

karlaakins: Here’s my little old man, Oskar, the wiener dog. ...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:44:09 -0400

karlaakins:

Here’s my little old man, Oskar, the wiener dog. He’s all bundled up in my son’s jacket. I can’t wait for his little wiener sausage sweater to get here so he can be cozy all the time!

He’s a little miffed at me today because I’m working in my office and not sitting on the couch where he can sit next to me and be warm and cozy. Sorry, little man!

karlaakins: Frankie (pug) and Gretchen (rottie) aren’t too...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:43:43 -0400

karlaakins:

Frankie (pug) and Gretchen (rottie) aren’t too happy with me either. They all usually gang up beside me. Frankie has to be right on the blanket between my legs. (Sounds lovely, I know.) If he sees me straightening a blanket, he thinks I’m straightening it just for him. Gretchen likes to hog the affection of anyone who will give her some. She’s pitiful, really. So needy. She’s never heard the term, “playing hard to get.” Ever.

karlaakins: Here is the “little” prince, Chevy. I adopted...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:42:57 -0400

karlaakins:

Here is the “little” prince, Chevy. I adopted Chevy at 11 months old and he hadn’t been socialized much at all. He is terrified of everything. We’ve had him over a year now, and he’s doing a little better but not as good as I had hoped.

But today, he worked up enough courage to sniff my stuffed animal turkey I have sitting out with the fall decorations. It made me smile.

He’s the most loving dog. He has this adorable way of walking up to you when you’re sitting down and putting his head upside down in your lap. How can you not fall in love with a creature like that? He really just lives to please me and be with me. It’s awesome. Who else on this earth treats you like you’re a celebrity other than your dog?

Emergency Numbers

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:42:24 -0400

loveispatient:

megfallen:

labellavitaa:allisonshine:weaponsoftruth:

These are more effective than 000

When you are sad - John 14
When you have sinned - Psalm 51
When you are facing danger - Psalm 91
When people fail you - Psalm 27
When God feels far away - Psalm 139
When your faith needs a boost - Heb 11
When you are worried - Matt 18:19-34
When you are hurt and critical - 1 Cor 13
When you feel like an outcast - Rom 8:31-39
When the world is intimidating - Psalm 90
When you require courage - Joshua 1
When you need happiness- Col 3:12-17
When you need to get aong with people - Rom 12
When you need peace - Matt 11: 25-30
When your bank account is emoty - Psalm 27
When you lose faith in man-kind - 1 cor 13
When you lose hope - Pslam 126

All lines to heaven are available 24 hours a day.

Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.

karlaakins: baglady: #1 Cheap & Awesome Christmas gift...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:42:04 -0400

karlaakins:

baglady:

#1 Cheap & Awesome Christmas gift idea. DIY Jersey scarf! Find some cute fabric and get to cutting. This may or may not put American Apparel out of business.

The dear ladies of my church keep me, shall we say,...

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:44:55 -0400

The dear ladies of my church keep me, shall we say, entertained? There is always something for me to do as their fearless leader. (Okay, so I’m not all that fearless, but we can’t let them see us sweat, right?)

The current issue at hand is trying to get through to them about how the prayer chain works. We’ve never had an active prayer chain before now. When we arrived at our little church as the pastors (my husband and I) we really didn’t have a women’s ministry, either. Now, I am happy to report, we have about 25-30 women come to our monthly meetings. Considering our church runs about 70 members strong, I think that’s pretty good!

And now, it’s time to form an active prayer chain. In the past, we’ve just called one another casually and asked for prayer. But there was a problem when there was a need, in an emergency, for more people to stop and pray.

So, I have been for the past year trying to explain how the prayer chain works. But for some reason, they still don’t get, and some people aren’t getting their calls. So, this Monday night, I’m going to do a skit to explain it. It’s so silly, but it has to be done. Some people aren’t getting the calls, and for those whose ministry is intercession, it’s important they get the calls!

It’s the little foxes, they say, that ruin the vine. It’s little issues like this that can make me crazy if I let them. So, I try my best to just laugh at it.

The good thing that has come of this is that some of the ladies are taking this more seriously now and are wanting to step up and take some ownership of the list. Praise the Lord!

(graphic via libertyeylau.org)

(via heckyeahjesus)

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:37:55 -0400

(via heckyeahjesus)

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:36:44 -0400

(via heckyeahjesus)

9/29 1:39PM The Lord is my strength..

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:36:26 -0400

karlaakins:

prayfordaisy:

Britt and Kate met with the Oncologist and got the details of the pathology report. Here are the basics:

It is confirmed that Daisy had a Wilm’s Tumor (now removed)

The tumor had spilled cancerous cells into her body

Daisy’s cancer is Stage 3 and has infected the lymph nodes

She will have a PET-CT Scan tomorrow that will determine how much the cancer has spread in her body and whether or not the cancer is stage 4, which means it has infected the blood stream and so may have affected the bones and lungs, etc.

Daisy will start radiation and chemotherapy some time next week

The histology (study of the microscopic anatomy of cells) is said to be favorable at this point, but is yet to be confirmed as such

We will find out in a week or two whether or not her cancer is a more aggressive form of Wilm’s that will require a little more aggressive treatment

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.