This just in...

Does anyone else read the small print at the bottom of the screen when commercials are on? I don't know if it is just me but I figured I would ask because today it enlightened me to a startling truth I had never really considered and felt like sharing. Here it goes... there is an Orbitz gum commercial with Snoop Dog being sent to Hell, or something like it, for his bad language. The gum girl (or whatever they call her) pops in and gives Snoop some gum which in turn cleans his mouth and he magically appears in Heaven, or something like it. Okay for those of you still reading, the tiny letters on the bottom of the screen read: Dramatization: Chewing Orbitz will not get you into heaven. Whew! That sure does take a load off my mind. So sleep well tonight and rest knowing that the answer is still Jesus.

Before the Throne

I hope you all are having a good summer so far. As some of you know, we've been busy between summer classes, work, VBS, trips, and so on. Bethany got an invitation to go to a women's conference in Chattanooga, TN next weekend and I'm going to try to tag along to visit some friends I haven't seen in forever. I'm finishing up a major project over the next week for one of my summer classes then I will be done with all of them and ready for the Fall Semester. We'll try to write more when all that stuff starts to settle but for now think on this...
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." - Hebrews 1:1-4

Don't forget you have a constant and unchanging mediator in Jesus Christ! He is the last and greatest Prophet, Priest, and King. If you struggle with condemnation or are burdened with guilt and shame, take time to read over those words again and become better acquainted to the one called Savior. I was listening to an older song by Jennifer Knapp this morning that spoke to this with powerful words... "Could it be that my worth should depend by the crimson stained grace on a hand?" An even older song, and one of my favorite hymns, says it so well. Let these words sink in...

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

VBS!

We have had a wonderful time at Vacation Bible School this week so far. We are doing a theme set in Bethlehem during the time of the birth of Christ. The adults and kids alike are enjoying it so much. (I might be having more fun than the kids!) We are all dressing up in costumes and imagining that we are back in Bethlehem. As you can see in the picture in the upper right, Jason and Eddie enjoyed it a little too much. :) They went to Arby's in their costumes. In the upper left picture the kids are singing the theme song and doing the motions. We only have one calm song for the whole week. It's very tiring, but it is so much fun! The picture in the lower left is, of course, Jason and me in our costumes the night that I had to be the aunt Rebekah of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, in a skit. The picture in the lower right is a picture of the tribe of Gad in their "home". They are our oldest class and this is the first of at least three years that our oldest class has been the second largest class. Our preschooler class is the largest by far. Tonight I got to be Anna in a skit and I had to be sarcastic to the shepherds. I had one of the best lines. The shepherds were trying to tell me about seeing the angels and then going to see baby Jesus and they told me that the most wonderful thing had happened. Before they could tell me what it was I, in turn, responded with sarcasm. "What happened? Did one of your sheep say 'Baa'? Or I know, you fell asleep counting them, is that it?" It was great. We have our last night of VBS tomorrow night and then we have our family night on Friday. Please be in prayer for the parents and children that will hear the gospel message on Friday night. The children have been hearing it all week, but a lot of the kids don't go to our church and I'm not sure if they go anywhere. I just know that the kids from our church brought them this week and we will do anything we can to get the gospel out to those precious children while we can. Hopefully some parents will hear it too, but as we all know, VBS is for reaching out to win the souls of the children and to plant seeds in their hearts that they might know Jesus Christ for their personal Lord and Savior. "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." -- Proverbs 22:6. A lot of churches will use their VBS to get to the parents through the children. I agree that the parents need to be reached just as badly as the children. However, I believe that children should not just be written off as a means to get to the adults in their lives. I do think that Family Night is very important. It is the one opportunity we have to reach the parents of some of these kids. The only time they will ever set foot inside a church building is to come and see what their child has been learning that week. So we will have a full gospel presentation during our program that will reach children and adults, as well as any older siblings they might have that come. Thank you so much for praying for these precious souls. I will let you know how things go. I love you all.

Bethany