Yesterday we all got a chance to visit Washington DC. For me, this was my first trip there. We saw plenty of sights and even went into some museums. I was proud of how our kids handled themselves there and you should too.
Today we return to work. We are about to start our morning devotion and then have our sign language class. At the site I'm at, we return to work on our awesome ramp. I don't know where we're going with the ramp, but we hope to figure it out today. Well we are about to get started here. Everyone have a good day.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Update
Today we had our first full day in Baltimore. The biggest thing so far to strike me about Baltimore is the accent. For example I heard a person say "Pastor" but pronounce it "Pasture." A surprise to me.
We started out this morning (actually noon) with church service with the deaf and blind community. It provided interesting insight into how the deaf handle simple tasks we easily do with sound. For example, before the servicw began we saw a lady turn on the AC and then she held up a stick with a piece of fabric attached. Ed Smith pointed out that she did this to see if it turned on. We would have known it was on by the sound. The differences continued. Their "organ" was a big drum that made soundwaves that you could feel (and gave me a headache). I wonder if Jim would enjoy using that for a week? During prayer not a single head was bowed. Some of us might think that to be rude or disrespectful but they can't hear the prayer. They have to see the signing.
Which brings me to us learning to sign. I can tell you Pastor Tom has learned "Amen and amen" and I'm hoping he learns "Let me bring it on home." Most of the signing we have learned is "yes" "thank you" and some worship oriented stuff. Before we leave for our jobs tomorrow (breakfast is at 7 in the morning and the youth are SO excited to be getring up that early) we will be getting some more training.
Well that is all for this update. I will have more as the week goes on. But right now it is time for our evening devotion.
We started out this morning (actually noon) with church service with the deaf and blind community. It provided interesting insight into how the deaf handle simple tasks we easily do with sound. For example, before the servicw began we saw a lady turn on the AC and then she held up a stick with a piece of fabric attached. Ed Smith pointed out that she did this to see if it turned on. We would have known it was on by the sound. The differences continued. Their "organ" was a big drum that made soundwaves that you could feel (and gave me a headache). I wonder if Jim would enjoy using that for a week? During prayer not a single head was bowed. Some of us might think that to be rude or disrespectful but they can't hear the prayer. They have to see the signing.
Which brings me to us learning to sign. I can tell you Pastor Tom has learned "Amen and amen" and I'm hoping he learns "Let me bring it on home." Most of the signing we have learned is "yes" "thank you" and some worship oriented stuff. Before we leave for our jobs tomorrow (breakfast is at 7 in the morning and the youth are SO excited to be getring up that early) we will be getting some more training.
Well that is all for this update. I will have more as the week goes on. But right now it is time for our evening devotion.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Mission Trip 2K9
I thought I would do a favor for the people here at home, I'm highjacking my Sunday School's blog page and I will be providing updates on what happens during our mission trip. I'm going to be posting these via my mobile phone so don't expect huge updates, but I will provide little tid bits and thoughts. I'll try to do it on a daily basis (and I'm sure multiple times on some days), but that's going to depend on how each day goes. So if I miss a day, we didn't all die or anything, I'm probably just worn out.
I'll also be updating my Twitter at www.twitter.com/dan12r with thoughts. That'll be more up to date because it's easier for me to update that.
I'll also be updating my Twitter at www.twitter.com/dan12r with thoughts. That'll be more up to date because it's easier for me to update that.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Back in action
For those that haven't heard, I'm back (for the most part) from my illness. Class resumes tomorrow.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Notes for week 1
Here's what I drew up for our first week:
I'll start by giving you a little something from Ezekiel.
"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36: 22-26 (KJV)
Now let's focus on the last few verses here. It says that God will take the Israelites out of the nations ("gather you out of all countries") and bring them back to Israel ("and bring you into your own land."). Now this is one of those verses that makes me flatly say that the Bible is truth. What is the possibility that there could be a guy who says to a nation "This nation's going to fall apart and be taken by your neighbors but down the road, you'll come back together and form the nation again," and it actually happen? Israel was wiped off the face of the map for years. The Jewish people were spread across the nation. The fact that the Jewish people could even maintain an identity over that long of time with that much persecution and no home land is amazing in itself. That alone beats the odds.
But then the fact that they get their nation back is nothing short of amazing. In 1948 Israel became a nation again. This all makes Babe Ruth calling his shot look like child's play. The statistical probability of this just happening is crazy. If Vegas was taking bets on this, I imagine I could have became a millionaire by just betting a buck.
Still not impressed? Let's look a little further into the insight Ezekiel recorded for us.
"1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." Ezekiel 38: 1-3 (KJV)
Lots of funny names in here. Until we do some research. Let's look at this last verse here. "I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." What in the world is Gog? Apparently the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Well if you look up Meshech, you'll learn that Meshech set up a little known city called Moscow back in the day. Moscow happens to be the capital of a little known country called Russia. This whole translation of this is confirmed later on in verse 15 "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:" (KJV) It clearly says that this will come from the north. If you look on a map, Moscow is almost directly north of Israel.
So now that we've identified this party, let's keep going.
"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee." Ezekiel 38:8-9. So it sounds like this force (which we know to be Russia) will come against Israel (those "gathered out of many people"). But Russia won't be alone in this attack.
"Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet" Ezekiel 38:5 Two of these names can be found on a map easily. That's Ethiopia and Libya. But what about Persia? Do a little research and you'll learn that Persia is now called Iran. Wait? Isn't Iran run by Ahmadinejad who has said that he believes it's his God given job to wipe Israel off the face of the earth?
I don't know. But it seems like what Ezekiel wrote closely mirrors what we're seeing today in the newspapers. We have an Israel to talk about. Russia's to the north and is, as of this moment, not the most friendly country in the world. And Iran hates Israel and has announced intentions to attack. It's all really crazy stuff.
I'll start by giving you a little something from Ezekiel.
"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36: 22-26 (KJV)
Now let's focus on the last few verses here. It says that God will take the Israelites out of the nations ("gather you out of all countries") and bring them back to Israel ("and bring you into your own land."). Now this is one of those verses that makes me flatly say that the Bible is truth. What is the possibility that there could be a guy who says to a nation "This nation's going to fall apart and be taken by your neighbors but down the road, you'll come back together and form the nation again," and it actually happen? Israel was wiped off the face of the map for years. The Jewish people were spread across the nation. The fact that the Jewish people could even maintain an identity over that long of time with that much persecution and no home land is amazing in itself. That alone beats the odds.
But then the fact that they get their nation back is nothing short of amazing. In 1948 Israel became a nation again. This all makes Babe Ruth calling his shot look like child's play. The statistical probability of this just happening is crazy. If Vegas was taking bets on this, I imagine I could have became a millionaire by just betting a buck.
Still not impressed? Let's look a little further into the insight Ezekiel recorded for us.
"1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." Ezekiel 38: 1-3 (KJV)
Lots of funny names in here. Until we do some research. Let's look at this last verse here. "I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." What in the world is Gog? Apparently the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Well if you look up Meshech, you'll learn that Meshech set up a little known city called Moscow back in the day. Moscow happens to be the capital of a little known country called Russia. This whole translation of this is confirmed later on in verse 15 "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:" (KJV) It clearly says that this will come from the north. If you look on a map, Moscow is almost directly north of Israel.
So now that we've identified this party, let's keep going.
"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee." Ezekiel 38:8-9. So it sounds like this force (which we know to be Russia) will come against Israel (those "gathered out of many people"). But Russia won't be alone in this attack.
"Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet" Ezekiel 38:5 Two of these names can be found on a map easily. That's Ethiopia and Libya. But what about Persia? Do a little research and you'll learn that Persia is now called Iran. Wait? Isn't Iran run by Ahmadinejad who has said that he believes it's his God given job to wipe Israel off the face of the earth?
I don't know. But it seems like what Ezekiel wrote closely mirrors what we're seeing today in the newspapers. We have an Israel to talk about. Russia's to the north and is, as of this moment, not the most friendly country in the world. And Iran hates Israel and has announced intentions to attack. It's all really crazy stuff.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Your homework for the week
Hey. Just thought I'd give you a bit of homework for the week for those who want to be prepared for Sunday's class. Read Ezekiel 36-38. That's it for now. See you all on Sunday.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
New year!
Hello boys and girls! It's been a while as we all took a break for the summer. Well the fall is coming upon us quickly which means we're going to get back into the swing of things. So be sure to start setting your alarm clocks a little earlier on Sundays.
Now the topic of what we're going to cover has been an issue I've been wrestling for the whole summer. If we continue our path we've been on of working through the New Testament, I must admit, I don't believe I'll be qualified to teach such a class. I'm not the most familiar with the letters in the New Testament.
I considered a lot of things.
So after much thought and prayer, I've decided to start the class off this year discussing Bible prophesy and what it has to say. This has been a topic I have been interested in for years now and something I have studied at a fairly deep level. I also feel that this is a topic that we don't get too deep into at LUMC so this will provide you with a chance to hear something new.
If you think that this is a competely stupid idea then let me know. I don't want this class to be about me and my personal interests. The class isn't about me, it's about God. So if you feel that it would be better to go another direction, please let me know. I'm open to any ideas.
Anyways, I look forward to seeing you all again. Our first meeting will be the first Sunday of September.
Now the topic of what we're going to cover has been an issue I've been wrestling for the whole summer. If we continue our path we've been on of working through the New Testament, I must admit, I don't believe I'll be qualified to teach such a class. I'm not the most familiar with the letters in the New Testament.
I considered a lot of things.
So after much thought and prayer, I've decided to start the class off this year discussing Bible prophesy and what it has to say. This has been a topic I have been interested in for years now and something I have studied at a fairly deep level. I also feel that this is a topic that we don't get too deep into at LUMC so this will provide you with a chance to hear something new.
If you think that this is a competely stupid idea then let me know. I don't want this class to be about me and my personal interests. The class isn't about me, it's about God. So if you feel that it would be better to go another direction, please let me know. I'm open to any ideas.
Anyways, I look forward to seeing you all again. Our first meeting will be the first Sunday of September.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
