Journal topic

Do you believe things happen for a reason (destiny/fate) or are they just random? Why do you believe this?

This was the journal topic of the day that my parapro picked out...sparked some great discussion -- because what you believe is the answer to this question literally affects every waking moment of your life.

Some questions the kids raised and/or we raised in response to their thoughts....

1) Is there someone even out there making a plan?
2) How do we know that plan is good for us?
3) How do we know what is good and/or evil?
4) How do you know what you believe is right?
5) How do you know that religion wasn't just created to keep everyone happy and not go around killing people?
6) What would happen if we got what we really deserved?
7) How do we know what the Bible says is true?
8) Where do choice versus God's plan for our lives intersect?
9) Do we really have a choice in what we do each day or has God already planned it all out? -- And if He already knows what we are going to do, why doesn't he stop us from making bad decisions if he really loves us?
10) Where do we get hope?

This is a sampling from the 4 different classes, but I was excited to see some of them actually thinking through spiritual things and wrestling with some deeper ideas -- and some genuine interest in some in investigating and finding out the truth. Lord, help them to see you...

gathering montage

God does the impossible.
God uses improbable people.

God uses improbable people to do impossible things.

The Gathering started again last night and that was Matt Ballard's points. (You know you have probably been in a group too long when you are pretty sure you have already heard that message and its points before...nonetheless, it was excellent!)

It was such an encouraging message to me. I often feel very inadequate to fullfil God's plan. The heroes of the Bible are also actually a long list of losers and people who make huge mistakes. It gives me hope.

But, I guess that is also what makes a good book or movie. I have always been a sucker for the underdog movie (as well as the teacher movie where s/he is helping the underdog achieve their God-given potential/plan)

This video is a montage of movies with unlikely heros = excellent!

Video - by Scott and James - very inspiring...

Mary Lee Fain

Not to go all morbid in my very first post, but..............

A piple in my granddad's trailer down at the beach broke and flooded the place. I was helping to clear it out, and found a box of copies of this letter under the bed. I was nine when my uncle read this at my grandmother's funeral, so I remember it very clearly. I post it for my younger cousins who were not there and may not have ever heard this....

A Tribute to Our Mother

New Resident – Mrs. Mary Lee Fain
c/o The King of kings and Lord of Lords
Gold Street on the River of Life
HEAVEN 77777

Dear Mom,

We miss you!! Is it like we thought? Have you actually talked to Jesus? I bet it was great seeing grand-daddy again, and all those others who have gone before. Have you been able to pass on the Scovill’s message to David yet? Heaven must be so wonderful; we can’t wait to join you.

Things just aren’t the same down here without you. Dad especially is going to miss you this Saturday on your 42ne anniversary. You were such a wonderful wife. From trusting God for daily needs through Seminary years to traveling intermittently in the rigors of evangelistic work, you were always by Dad’s side. Supportive, sensitive, gentle, and flexible, your love for Dad simply overflowed out of your life. Your model as a wife made a tremendous impact on all of us. The girls year to live up to the high ideals you set for them, and they are doing a traffic job. Believe me, all those sons-in-law greatly appreciate that. As far as my dating years were concerned, I always had one goal – to find a girl like you, Mom. Praise God He gave her to me.

Not only does Dad miss his wife, but we miss our mom. Somehow language doesn’t seem an adequate vehicle for telling you all that you mean to us. Our hearts yearn to express their deep seated feelings of love to you. How can we tell you how much it meant to have you always there, willing to help, always an encouragement. You were never critical, but let us know at an early age that we have been given to God, and that He desired to do great things through us. You always made us feel special and cared for, a rare quality indeed in this age off selfishness and self-centeredness. As the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, you poured yourself into your family brining great glory to the Name of God through your life and actions.

Who could forget all the “little things” that made an indelible mark on our lives? The hours you spent sewing, making sure your daughters were “cute,” the patience you showed when we lived up to the image of “preacher’s kids,” the understanding we always felt no matter how perplexing our problems seemed, these and hundreds more proved to us that you were real and approachable. Mom, in the boundaries of your love, we were set free to be ourselves – thank you.

More than anything else, we would like to honor you for the rich heritage which you gave to us. Remember those cold early winter mornings when we would surround the bed for prayer? You prayed for each of us individually, and it was then that your deepest feelings were exposed. You and Dad laid the foundations for our lives and beyond into eternity. Now that you are gone, we have seized the torch from your hand, and as we move ahead with the light of God’s Word, our prayer is that we would be just as faithful in imparting the faith on to our children as you were to us. Your impact will be felt for generations to come, never forget that Mom.

So, our minds wander often to those precious memories of your time here on earth. We tried to sympathize and help you during your last months of pain, but only you could understand the depths of the suffering you went through. Would you do us a favor? Would you give God a big hug for us and thank Him for letting us have the honor of having been in your family? Also, thank Him for sending His angels and taking you Home peacefully while we were there with you. He knows how often we asked Him for this, and we praise Him for this privilege.

Do you remember the medieval night, Bayard, whom I read you about a couple months ago? He was a man of unusual courage and valor. In his final battle, somehow he broke his back. Turning to his paige, he asked to be propped up against a tree so that he might face the enemy until the end. Mom, as Bayard, the enemy broke your back but he was defeated in your life, and a grand victory was wrought for the King through your testimony in those closing days. Because of your overcoming spirit, we decided to put the following on your tombstone: She fought the good fight; she finished the course; she kept the faith.

It won’t be long, our dearest mother, until we see you again. We love you!!

Your son,

John Boy

John
June 20, 1984