First snow in 4 years!

"Daddy, Mommy, Look! It's snowing!!!!!" Our children were jumping up and down with excitement when they saw the first snow. This was the first snow they had seen in four years (three years in Tanzania and one in Dallas).

12 seconds and 120 feet that changed history

Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Orville and Wilbur Wright are credited with inventing the airplane because on December 17, 1903 they successfully flew the first manned, powered, controlled heavier-than-air machine. The first flight was 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds.

I'm just as amazed now as I was when I was a little boy. Such genius! Such courage!

When we find ourselves amazed at the awesome creativity of the human mind we should remind ourselves that we are created in the image of the Awesome Designer, the Original Inventor, the one and only Creator God.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Genesis 1:26

King Jesus is With Us

adapted from The Adoration of the Shepherds by Rembrandt 1646

It's that wonderful time of the year when we celebrate the advent of Jesus. One of our favorite names of Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. The theme of God dwelling with his people is woven through the entire message of Scripture. Join us for our daily Bible readings as we trace this thread from Genesis to Revelation. You can find our reading schedule here:

ADVENT-2015-Daily Scripture Reading

Enjoy!

a Minnesota worship experience

On our recent trip to Minnesota, we couldn't help but worship God as we enjoyed the beauty of his creation. Here's a little taste of what we experienced and how we worshiped.

Oh praise the one who measures the waters and commands each drop to fall!

Oh praise the one who fashions the majestic oak and bends its branches toward the sun!

Oh praise the one who generates every mighty wave and determines its perfect path!

Oh praise the one who designs dazzling color and transforms every leaf!

Oh praise the one who carves rivers through rock and teaches the eagle how to hunt!

Oh praise the one who traces the lines of the agate stone and paints them with delight!

Oh praise the one who upholds all things by the word of his power; from the rotation of the earth to the reflection of sunlight off the moon!

Oh praise the one who meticulously guides the driftwood to its final resting place!

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, 
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; 
bring an offering and come before him! 
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 
tremble before him, all the earth; 
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, 
and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

--1 Chronicles 16:28-31

From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee a Reformation Hymn

detail from Martin Luther Preaching by Lucas Cranach the Elder 1547

Happy Reformation Day!!!!

Here's a hymn by Martin Luther to help us celebrate today.

From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee

Martin Luther 1523

From depths of woe I raise to Thee

The voice of lamentation;

Lord, turn a gracious ear to me

And hear my supplication;

If Thou iniquities dost mark,

Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,

O who shall stand before Thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,

Grace, grace alone availeth;

Our works, alas! are all in vain;

In much the best life faileth:

No man can glory in Thy sight,

All must alike confess Thy might,

And live alone by mercy.

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,

And not in mine own merit;

On Him my soul shall rest, His Word

Upholds my fainting spirit:

His promised mercy is my fort,

My comfort, and my sweet support;

I wait for it with patience.

What though I wait the livelong night,

And till the dawn appeareth,

My heart still trusteth in His might;

It doubteth not nor feareth:

Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,

Ye of the Spirit born indeed;

And wait till God appeareth.

Though great our sins and sore our woes,

His grace much more aboundeth;

His helping love no limit knows,

Our utmost need it soundeth.

Our Shepherd good and true is He,

Who will at last His Israel free.

From all their sin and sorrow.

Where is the path to the dwelling of light?

I've recently become awe-struck when I see beams of sunlight piercing through these beautiful autumn trees. Sadly the photos can't compare with the real splendor but maybe it can help us worship the one who spoke light into existence.

I'm reminded of the book of Job. When Yahweh wanted to reveal his magnificence to Job, he questioned Job about the dwelling place of light in Job 38:19-20,

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?

Or I'm reminded of how the psalmist exalts the Creator God in Psalm 74:16-17,

Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

It's difficult to imagine that on the new earth we will no longer need the light of this beautiful, dazzling, awe-inspiring sun. Isaiah 60:19,

No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

(Revelation 21:23, 22:5)

Amen.

Look what God has done for the Jita people

We're so excited! The Holy Spirit is at work among the Jita people.

When we say, "DONE" we mean that these books have been Consultant checked and are ready to go! "In process" means I am still checking these books for accuracy and clarity and they need to be checked in the community and then Consultant checked. "Not started yet" means, well, we haven't started them yet. Of course, we could also add the rest of the Old Testament to that list.

Please pray for us as we bring God's Word to the Jita people.