Amazing Grace..

Amazing Grace..how sweet the sound..that saved a wretch..like me. I once was lost..and now I'm found..was blind but now I see.

I love that song. When you give your life over to Christ, that song becomes so meaningful. You understand what it was to be lost and then found, blind and then given sight.

I've had a week filled with highs and lows. For you that know me, and have been reading this blog, you can see that I'm a very high energy, emotional, uplifting kind of person. I do have such joy in my heart that I can't contain it. It spills over onto this blog!

When I get low...I don't feel like writing. When something is bothering me, when my heart is burdened, I tend to curl up in a ball and not want to talk to anyone.
I've been feeling that way this week.

The incident with Ally and Josh and Gary has been a nightmare. My heart hurts so badly for these kids, I feel like I can't function. I keep thinking about it.
I have to let it go and give it up to God. I need to release it. I need to pray for everyone involved and ask God for healing. (please pray for us too) God hears our prayers!
I think I'm just going to be quiet this weekend. I need to spend more time with God. I hope your weekend is a good one! Love God and Love others!! Make a difference in somebodies life this weekend! Do something kind for someone! Love someone that is hard to love. Ask someone to forgive you. Forgive someone.
Susan

Solid Rock

Met with Tim and Sue and our newly formed Team tonight...


All I can say, is wow. You wouldn't believe it..you just wouldn't believe what's happening. What God is giving us. Our dreams are all coming true. Our dreams and many, many more... It's nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Jesus.

Last Nutritionist Appointment.

I had my last nutritionists appointment today! I've been going for six months in preparation for my gastric bypass surgery. Now, the doctors will send the info to the insurance company and if I get approved we will set up the appointment with the surgeon! wow..I can't believe it's almost time.

I'd like to give a shout out to LINDA!! Hi LINDA! She has been a fantastic nutritionist! She's given me great advice and she's very encouraging and uplifting! Linda and I are going to set up a lunch get together, after my surgery! I want to give her a guided tour of Volant! She's a soapmaker and antique lover..So I'm sure she'd fall in love with our little community! We've made a wonderful connection and I'd like to get to know her outside of UPMC! She's a good story teller! She's also very sweet and kind. I love making new friends. Linda would be a great speaker at the woman's health fair, that we are going to bring to New Castle!!! Hmmmm..I'll have to tuck that away for later!
So, I could have my surgery date set this May!! Everything in my life...all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together... so exciting..almost surreal!

How quickly your life can change...

Monday at approximately 1:30 pm, Ally called me at home, from her cellphone to tell me there had been a bomb threat at her school. They were sending everyone home. She and her boyfriend Gary and her friend Emily were walking home together. Ally was very excited. 15 minutes later, I get another phone call from Ally and she is hysterical. Something horrible had happened. Ally's former boyfriend Josh, jumped Gary and knocked him unconcious and beat him severely. Ally was so panic stricken that she ran away from the fight. The police were called and Gary had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. Josh was taken away in handcuffs. The police interviewed Emily and Ally, then told them to go home.
Gary ended up with a broken nose in two places, and a broken cheekbone. He may have to have surgery, but they won't know until the swelling has gone down. He is in very serious shape. Ally is still hysterical. She can't stop crying.
Josh has been suspended from school for 10 days, perhaps expelled. I know Gary's parents are pressing charges.

Joe and I are heartbroken. Ally, Josh & Gary's lives will forever be changed. Ally has been traumatized. She doesn't want to go to school. Tommorow we are taking her to the guidance councelor to talk it out. She is an emotional wreck.
Gary.. Our hearts are all breaking..he is in severe pain.
Please pray for everyone involved. These families all need your prayers. Please blanket us all..please. Gary, Josh, and Ally and our families.
Thank you friends, SLH

How can I make the world a better place?

Make a commitment. Maybe the hardest, but definitively the most fundamental and important step. Most people and organizations don't take this step, so whatever they do, they aren't doing it to make the world a better place. Most of the direction of what is necessary to do to make the world a better place flows naturally from this commitment.

Take ownership of something bigger. If you don't feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself, it's hard to feel like improving something bigger than yourself. I suggest you aim to make yourself a part of all of humanity and all of the planet. Why stop at something smaller?

Pick a Subject. It can be almost anything. World peace, the environment, recycling, better communication systems, education...

Define 'better'. How often do we hear about making 'computers better'? What do they mean by that? What do people mean when they talk of making the city 'better for our kids'? Define your criteria for 'better' or you'll just be flapping in the wind.

Keep a continual dialog. Chances are you won't be right. Keep talking with those who you respect and your peers and sometimes with those you don't even like. Maybe they have something more radical to teach you or a fresher perspective than those you usually agree with? And then go back, again and again, to keep talking. Talk is never cheap and there is no such thing as 'just talk' if it's part of an active dialog.

Implement something. You don't have to solve the whole problem in one go. Just do something. Just a bit. You'll see, the world will change. For the better.

words

I woke up this morning before everyone else..I love mornings. It's quiet. I spend a lot of mornings with God. I opened the windows and let the morning air exhale through the window..I felt it dancing all around me and it made me smile. I breathed in. my first breath of the air was deep. I let my lungs suck it in and I held it before, I let it out. It was cool and crisp and clean. I heard the birds chirping and I saw my neighbor Mr. Harvey sitting in his garden working the soil.
I saw him in the grocery store yesterday and he told me he already had lettuce and brocolli and cauliflower and ..other vegetables planted. His vegetable garden is his pride and joy. His face lights up when he talks about his garden. Everyone in the neighborhood has gotten a tour of his garden and gifts layed upon their doorsteps on a summer afternoon. Seeing Mr. Harvey in his gray t-shirt and faded black shorts, is a sign that spring is here.
I turned the radio on and listened to a sermon from the President of Moody College..I forget his name..Michael.. something.
After it was done, I read from Proverbs. I prayed some specific prayers and then I asked God to continue to guide me with this "marriage" that seems to be taking place between Cross Current and Solid Rock. I asked for His wisdom and discernment.
Then I woke the girls up, and Joe. We went to church. It was amazing. I've never felt the Holy Spirit so strongly in one place before. Tim Preaches with such conviction. We could listen to him go on and on and on..nobody wants Him to stop.
Joy said to her mom that she wishes she didn't have to go home..and to tell you the truth, that's how I feel too. It's incredible. I wish you could experience it with me. I'd like to see what others think..if they can feel it too. God is at work. He is doing mighty, mighty things. Miracles. Signs. Wonders. : )
We came home from church and Joe, as usual, makes us a big breakfast. He is such a wonderful cook. When my girls grow up, they are going to tell their spouses and their kids, what a great cook their dad is!!! *Not their mom* haha!! It's true!
Then Lauren and I, met Karen and Joy and we went to a baby shower at the church! It was so much fun! We already feel like part of the family there. How amazing is that?
Ally and Joe went out to lunch and to Sam's club. They went to Barnes and Noble and guess what Ally asked Joe to buy her? A Bible!!! She asked him for a Bible! My kids are coming to God my their own choices..not because it's what they're supposed to do! That makes me heart leap wildly! Today, I also saw her tithe her 10 percent of what she made at work yesterday. I am one proud mother!
Talking about my kids... Please pray for Lauren. We are taking her computer away from her, because she is way to addicted too it. She is going through serious withdrawl. I know it might sound funny..but it's her drug and she is crying..depressed..feeling a lot of anxiety. We let her spend too much time on there, and we are realizing how wrong it was. Please pray for my baby girl. She needs God's strength and courage. Thank you!!
This evening we all went outside and played frisbee and baseball and roofball..*roofball?* yup..roofball! Lauren and I played yahtzee, connect 4 and scrabble. While we were playing scrabble, I made a move and Lauren pretended to bite my arm. She looked at me very seriously and said, "What if you were sleeping and suddenly woke up, and I was eating you." She was serious!!! I said, "hmmm, that would probably hurt" She's so funny. Honestly.. Lauren has a sense of humor that is hilarious!. She comes up with very funny lines..and thoughts.
She is brilliant : ) Like her mom!! hahahah
I am really rambling aren't I? If you're reading this blog for the first time, please check out the other blog posts..they're not usually like this one!
So that was my day today. It was a good day.
I hope you had a good day today. I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather!

The day they took God out of the schools.

Wow! This is TRUTH!! So Powerful!! It makes me feel so ashamed. I want to change this! Don't you? We can!! Joe and I have been talking about this alot lately. He says, "Sue, you can't change government..you can't change the world!" I said and I say Yes you can! You start off by changing YOUR heart and you talk to your friends and family and you try to change their hearts, and then we are going to try to change our community..it starts with making them aware of the problem. This video is a great way to get people thinking. You see, when we have a tragedy like what happened with NYC on 9-11, or at Columbine High School, or the Amish community in PA, or Virginia Tech, people rise up, but then they go on with their lives and forget about it. I believe people want to change the world, but they don't know how! They need leaders! We can't change the way America has become all at once, but we can make changes in our own houses, and then carry that to your churches, and don't keep it in your churches..take it to the communities!! People..we've got to change!! Please, if you're reading this, pray! Pray for God to use you to help change the world!
Joe and I have combined our vision with the vision with the people at Solid Rock Church, led by Tim Klein. We are going to make a change in our community! We are going to help people to change their lives. We are going to take back our community!! We are going to stop all this madness!! God is the head of our Army, and we are His soldiers, and we're ready to wage war! It's a spiritual warfare going on here. Are you a soldier? Are you willing to fight for God? What are you doing for God? What are you doing to stop the things that this video points out, from happening? I'm going to copy this video in my email, and send it out to everyone I know. I'm going to ask them to join me in prayer, for our community, for our nation! Please join me. Please email me netgirly@yahoo.com if you want to do something! Please Pray for our community, our nation, and for God's army that is forming! Susan

My sister Dianna..

I love my sister Dianna. I wish I had a picture of her to share with you. She is a beautiful woman inside and out! She is very intelligent and oh so funny!! We have great conversations together. She always tells me how proud she is of me and when she says that to me, it reminds me of my dad. I can feel my Dad's spirit inside of her. When I'm with Dianna, I think about, and I feel my dad a lot. We talked on the phone this morning and she told me about what's going on in her life.. She made me laugh so hard, I asked her to write it out for me, so I can put it on my blog.
You may have to know her, to find it so funny...but I can picture her exactly feeling this way.. I hope you enjoy her story..maybe you can relate : )
Oh..and I met her real-estate partner.. he is REALLY narcissistic!!! I wanted to do a karate chop to his private area after talking to him..

Here's Dianna...
As I lied in my bed the other morning I tried to get up I really, really did! It felt soooo wonderful drifting in and out of my beautiful dream world where I was rich and successful and my children had no cares but as I opened one eye and then the other I just kept pulling my covers up higher and higher and I thought to myself Yes, YES I CAN PULL THE COVERS OVER MY HEAD because I am a 49 year old single mom going thru menopause with five children and the oldest living out of his car and I am embarking on a real estate career that everyone but me thinks is just the thing to do and I am stuck with a partner who is the most narcissistic man I have ever met and I have a wonderful more mature man looking out for my best interest while I am having a great time talking to my construction “buddy” who lives with his girlfriend and her mother.But because I am a child of a loving and forgiving God, I got up and started one of five loads of laundry and feed the dog and vacuumed the house and planned the evening dinner and got dress and put a smile on my face and headed to the real estate office and thanked my partner for waiting patiently for me so he could tell me just how wonderful he was.

Va. Gunman's family feels hopeless

My heart is crying for the family of Seung_Hui Cho as much as it is crying for the families of the victims. My friends, please pray for this family. I pray that somebody points them to Jesus. That's where they will find their hope. Oh..I hope people embrace this family...

Va. gunman's family feels hopeless, lost By ALLEN G. BREED and AARON BEARD,
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The family of Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho told The Associated Press on Friday that they feel "hopeless, helpless and lost," and "never could have envisioned that he was capable of so much violence."



"He has made the world weep. We are living a nightmare," said a statement issued by Cho's sister, Sun-Kyung Cho, on the family's behalf. It was the Chos' first public comment since the 23-year-old student killed 32 people and committed suicide Monday.

The family reached out to Raleigh, N.C., lawyer Wade Smith, who provided the statement to the AP. Smith said the family would not answer any questions.

"Our family is so very sorry for my brother's unspeakable actions. It is a terrible tragedy for all of us," said Sun-Kyung Cho, who works as a contractor for a State Department office that oversees American aid for Iraq.

"We pray for their families and loved ones who are experiencing so much excruciating grief. And we pray for those who were injured and for those whose lives are changed forever because of what they witnessed and experienced," she said. "Each of these people had so much love, talent and gifts to offer, and their lives were cut short by a horrible and senseless act."

The statement was issued during a statewide day of mourning for the victims of the worst massacre in U.S. history.

The family's whereabouts are unclear. But authorities said they are under law enforcement protection.

"We are humbled by this darkness. We feel hopeless, helpless and lost. This is someone that I grew up with and loved. Now I feel like I didn't know this person," she said.

"We have always been a close, peaceful and loving family. My brother was quiet and reserved, yet struggled to fit in. We never could have envisioned that he was capable of so much violence."

She said her family will cooperate fully with investigators and "do whatever we can to help authorities understand why these senseless acts happened. We have many unanswered questions as well."

___

Cathy Jones

Cathy has been doing "art" since she was a child. For over twenty years she has experimented in various mediums, primarily concentrating on two dimensional fiber/steel/mixed media. She also continued to draw and cartoon during that time.

Experimentation in mats and framing led to a small home based business in the MidWest. Cathy has created many unique and creative frames and mats for customers and family.
Cathy received her undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University in 1982, majoring in both psychology and art. She went on to receive her masters in art at the University of Notre Dame in 1985. She has since furthered her education with a business background, passing the CPA exam in 1996.

I had lunch today with Cathy ! That's her in the pic up there and also that's her biography taken from her webpage! Cathy is a new friend that God brought into my life. She is a friend that is postive, inspirational and motivational! She lifts me up! She inspires me! She teaches me new ways of thinking! Check out Cathy's web site!
www.wideeyefish.com You should see the jewelry she makes!!

I'm sitting here trying to think of a good word I can use to desribe her and all I can think of is incredible, but I already used that! So I went to my online thesaurus and looked up a synonym for incredible and this is what came up:
amazing, astonishing, astounding, awe-inspiring, extraordinary, fab, fabulous, fantasmo, far-out, glorious, great, prodigious, superhuman*, unreal*, wonderful!! Cathy, except for superhuman (maybe you are and I just don't recognize it yet?? haha!!!)but all of these words can describe you!! You are awe-inspiring and wonderful and you know you are fantasmo and far-out!!!hahah!!! I can't wait to get to know you even more! I have a feeling we are going to have lots of fun together in the future!!!!!
(Cathy and I are going to go and check out the museums in Pittsburgh including the Warhol museum and the Mattress Factory!!!!!) I am beyond excited!! I love art but I've just never had anyone in my life that likes it too!! So this is a whole new kind of friendship for me! I've been telling God that I need more fun in my life, and I think maybe through Cathy, I'm going to learn to have some more fun!! Cathy might come to our Sunday night girls group too! Also..I keep thinking, wow..I'd love Lauren to get to know Cathy. Cathy teaches both art and creative writing at Butler Community College. I am going to take her class next fall!
Cathy taught me how to make morning papers...to just write...write anything..because writing gets the creative juices flowing..and she's right!
Thanks for the time you spent with me today Cathy! I can't wait to get together again! : ) Susan

How to post a comment!

Hi friends!
Yesterday, I had a record of 37 hits on my blog! WOW! That's awesome. Thank you friends for sharing my life with me. I hope I can inspire you to live the kind of life that God intends you to live.
Many people have been asking me how to post a comment. Here are the instructions..it's very easy : )
underneath this post, you will see it says 0 comments (or maybe another number..),
click on that.
It will take you to a new page with a comment box on the right of the page.
Type what you want to say in the comment box
then beneath the comment box you will see "choose an identity"
Just click on the circle that says other
then type your name in the name box
you don't have to type anything in the your web page box
then click publish comment

It's that easy!!!! I look forward to hearing from you!

Jesus's Mom was So smart!

Another great post by Perry Noble! PLEASE READ THIS! Don't just read it..BELIEVE IT.. DO IT!! It's true, I promise you it's true! Do you ever wonder why I'm so happy? Somebody once told me that I hide all the pain in my life by being extra happy.. and for a little while I thought it was true..and maybe I do hide pain..I try not to think about negative or hurtful things..BUT, I AM FILLED With incredible JOY! I can't contain it!! I'm bursting with love and happiness. I can't wait to wake up each morning to live another day!! What's God going to do today??? It's so exciting!! I've said this before..it's not that everything in my life is perfect...I have my troubles too, but it's different when you are surrendered to God. You know that God is going to be there for you no matter what...and ..I wish I could explain it better. The greatest thing ever..it's not a secret!!! YOU can have this kind of happiness too!!! Accept Christ into your heart...that's the first step. But you've got to realize ..That's important..accepting Him into your heart, but that's just the first step!! Now once you've asked HIm to forgive you for all the sinning you've done (believe me I had lots!!!!..and I continue to sin...like I said my life is not perfect and I am far from perfect!! I mess up constantly!)
Then you've got so start conversting with God..realizing that praying is not just asking Him for things..or saying memorized prayer..it's talking to God..he hears you when you talk to him and Guess what?? He talks back to you!! You have to learn to listen for his voice and the voice of the Holy Spirit inside of you, and you have to read the Bible too!! That's really important. I would recommend the New Living Translation life application study Bible! It's a regular Bible, written in words that you can understand, (no thee's and thou's) and the life application part...shows you what God's words mean for your life...how to apply them to your life! Then you've got to start going to church..because church is a place where you are love and accepted, and you are around people who will support you, learn with you, love with you and a whole lot more.. You've got to keep learning..keep surrendering your heart to God..keep being obedient to Him.. LIke Perry says.. JUST DO WHAT HE SAYS!! Don't analyze things too much..don't feel that need to have to know all the answers... Just do what He says! : ) I love you so much.. YOU, who is reading this.. I LOVE YOU!! Have an awesome day!! Make it great!!
Jesus’ Mom Was So Smart
Yesterday I was preparing a message for May 20th…and in doing so began reading in John chapter two when Jesus changed the water into wine. (Popular miracle with some…not so much with others.)

Anyway, if you’ve read the story then you understand…Jesus and His disciples are hanging out at a wedding (so much for Him being boring) and the celebration is going great…until…they run out of wine. Now in this culture and time period…this is BAD, REALLY BAD…and Jesus’ mom comes to Him and asks Him to help out.

Some servants are evidently standing near Jesus and she turns and looks at them and says one of THE single most profound statements in Scripture…

“His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’” (John 2:5)

STOP for a minute! She didn’t say, “Oh wow, we have a problem–hey servants, SIT here and sing songs to Jesus for an hour, if that doesn’t work then use the prayer of Jabez to try and manipulate Him, and then if that isn’t doing the trick then here are some verses I heard from a TV preacher that will unlock the secrets of blessing…”

Nope…she said DO–WHATEVER–HE–TELLS–YOU! In other words–He’s going to tell you what to do and then you are going to need to take action. Yes, He is capable of handing the situation…but He is going to handle it through your willingness to obey Him and take a risk!

One of the greatest tragedies in Christianity today is that too many Christians are sitting around “waiting on God,” when in actuality they are using excuses such as, “Well, I’m praying about it,” and, “I don’t want to get ahead of God.” What I have discovered is that MOST of the time these are excuses for laziness, fear and a lack of faith.

Christians DO NOT need another Bible study…another book…another seminar…most of us need to simply just do what we know we should do…that desire inside of us that we know is from Him!

Bottom line–do whatever He tells you.

Is there an area in your life that you need to do whatever He tells you to do…maybe…

You need to forgive someone
You need to have that tough conversation
You need to begin to worship God with your money
You need to invite that person to church
You need to start a church
You need to give something away
You need to admit your addiction
You need to spend more time with your family
Do whatever He tells you!

Many times it is not that we don’t know what to do–its just that we don’t want to do what we know we should!

I wrestle with this just as much as anyone else. There are times when I feel the Lord speak straight to my heart…and I argue, rebel…and even at times try to bargain with Him…but life is so much better when I just do whatever he tells me to do.

Uh, speaking of things getting better…once the servants obeyed Jesus…things got a lot better at the wedding. Jesus never screws anything up–EVER!

Corrinne Bailey Rae, John Legend, John Mayer

Sweet music

Perry Noble on the Virginia Tech shooting

I AM PO’d

Posted: 19 Apr 2007 07:58 AM CDT

The Virginia Tech thing has me FLOORED! I have waited to comment on it…and thought maybe I would not until last night when NBC broke the news that the shooter had mailed them information…and has now, because of their stupidity and a desire for ratings, showed anyone in the world how to make themselves famous–even if they are not around to enjoy it.

It didn’t take long for political “experts” from both sides to jump all over this tragedy and try to use it for their gain. The gun control people are screaming…the anti gun control people are screaming back…finger pointing is going on all over the place…it’s a mess and people are trying to figure out what in the heck happened.

I have a theory…it’s a simple one…but I believe it is true. This is WHAT happens when people do not know Jesus! Maybe the problem isn’t political or social at all…maybe this is exactly what happens when sin manifests itself inside a person and expresses itself through the most horrid act of violence one could ever imagine.

I have seen in society AND Scripture that the potential for evil inside a human being is pretty much limitless…and what happened at Virginia Tech proves my point.

What does do to me personally? Well…it didn’t make me want to jump on the gun control bandwagon. It didn’t make me want to try to make our society a safer place. NO–it STOKED MY FIRE for evangelism, this tragedy screams a fact that Scripture has been screaming for centuries–PEOPLE NEED JESUS!!!

It makes me mad…AND it convicts me…when I look at the church and then this tragedy. I believe we live in a fallen world–sin happens, and when it does it is always gross. HOWEVER, I believe less and less of these things will take place in the future IF the church will freakin’ wake up and begin to do what we were commissioned to do in the first place–take Jesus to the world!!!

I am through fighting!!! THROUGH! I will not engage in the emergent vs. emerging debate any longer. I will not entertain the traditional versus contemporary…nor will I involve myself in the missional verses attractional debate. I can’t–PEOPLE ARE DYING AND GOING TO HELL ALL AROUND US…and to engage in meaningless arguments that are NOT going to matter this side of eternity–OR the other side, well, that is playing right into the hands of satan. If we are passionate about anything other than Christ and reaching people for him…he is not threatened.

NewSpring…we are called to reach people for Christ!!! We will ALWAYS be a church where you know you can bring your friends and family members who do not know Christ…and they WILL hear the Gospel in a way they can understand. We are going to do church the way God has called us to do church…and people who do not like it can scream all they want…and we will keep ignoring them and reaching people for Christ!!! We will no longer cater to the naysayers and the critics–there is WAY too much at stake.

We WILL preach Jesus…we will honor His word…we will worship with passion…we will do church in an excellent and creative manner…and I am praying that one day God will allow us to see over 3,000 people saved in one day…just like in Acts 2!!!

People need Jesus!!! PEOPLE NEED JESUS! If the church does not get serious about reaching the world for Christ–we are going to see WAY MORE of what happened at Virginia Tech happen all around our country!

Question–who comes to your mind when you read this? Who in your life needs Christ? Pray for them right NOW!!! And…make it a point to get them here…I promise you they WILL hear about Jesus–He is my King & my God…He SAVED ME…HE CHANGED ME…HE HAS MADE ME NEW!!! I was overwhelmed this morning in my quiet time as I thought about where He found me and how far He has brought me…and I prayed right there that NewSpring will continually see thousands and thousands of people being found by Jesus each and every weekend!!!

One more thing…God is using our church in ways that I never imagined. On Tuesday morning I received an e-mail from a student who attends NewSpring during the summer…but goes to school at Virginia Tech. After reading it I called him because his story was incredible. He said that the night before the shooting he was watching a NewSpring service on the internet…and when the invitation time came around he received Christ. He said he just knew it was the right thing to do. And so when the shooting happened the next day he told me that he was not in the building where it had taken place–but if he would have been there then he would have been ready!
It’s our COMMISSION to get people READY!
We live in a fallen world–sin IS real and nasty–but we serve a RISEN KING…HE REIGNS…HE IS GOD…and HE HAS CALLED US TO REACH PEOPLE FOR HIM. WOW…while this tragedy has broken my heart and I have grieved–and it has awakened me to what is important…and this church will NOT stop until we IMPACT the entire Southeast…and then the WORLD for Christ!

Amen Perry! I feel the same way here in New Castle!!!!

words of wisdom

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

—James 1:22, TNIV

A day in the life..Thursday.

Went to bed last night at 3:45 am
Woke this morning at 6:30 am
took kids to school at 7:20 am
It's now 7:55 am
Have to make three phone calls this morning starting at 9:00 am.
girls get picked up at 11:45 pm (1/2 day..don't know why)
Lunch with girls at 12:00 pm (It's our tradition on 1/2 days)
Lunch with Kim at 1:00 pm(She's leaving for NY tommorow)
coffee with Brenda @ Steamers 3:00 pm
Footloose with Emily, Virginia & Dottie at 7:00 pm
What are you doing today?

don't be afraid of failure

Inventor James Dyson says in Fast Company magazine that he failed 5,126 times at creating the gitchy Dyson vacuum cleaner before succeeding on the 5,127th try. It took 15 years and nearly his entire savings account to create the best-selling vacuum on the market, making him of the richest men in England.

Becoming unafraid of failure is a prerequisite for success.

A letter to starbucks from some people who love their coffee!

My brother Alan is a wonderful, intelligent, creative, Godly leader who's been very supportive and encouraging to me these past few years. We both share a deep love for our Savior! He's feeling called to get back into the ministry. He's been with me on this journey of trying to bring a new church to our area, so I invited him to Solid Rock this past Sunday and he felt the same way I did, the minute he walked in the door. After church,we sat down and talked with Pastor Tim Klein for three hours. We only stopped, because I felt like I was going to pass out (I have hypoglycemia)since I hadn't eaten all day. After the meeting with Tim, Al told me that he believes this is where he's meant to be, and he wanted to jump in and start doing something! AWESOME!!!!!
So yesterday, Al sent me a copy of a letter that he's sending to Starbucks to try to get some coffee donated to Solid Rock. I wanted to ask, anybody who is reading this, to please pray over this letter. Al is stepping out and being proactive, to try to make Solid Rock a better place, which will attract more people to come and love God and each other. Starbucks is not just coffee!! I love that! Also...I am so impressed with this letter. Al, you have a gift!! I am blown away by this! Great job bro!!!! You Rock!!!
Check it out...
Dear Starbucks

Please let me introduce my self, My name is Alan Short, I live in a small town in Pennsylvania 10 miles north of New Castle. I’m just your average guy with an above average dream to see God move among his people in the city of New Castle Pennsylvania.

I attend a most incredible church here , Solid Rock Ministries, Pastor Tim Klein. This ministry isn’t your run of the mill or every day church, we don’t have an upscale congregation or even many believers attending but the people of the street, drug dealer who have given up that way of life, drug users and recovering alcoholics, prostitutes, homeless, the down and out, unemployed and impoverished people. I’ve seen men, woman, children and teens seeking a new beginning and new start in life thru Christ.

Please bear with me as I give you a small bit of local history of New Castle.

New Castle was once a bustling, thriving economic boom town in the 40's. It was the steel industry specializing in Tin that brought acclaim to the city. New Castle at one time was considered one of the richest cities in America. It all came tumbling down on the whim of one man that vowed to collapse the industry here and bring this town to it’s knees, Andrew Carnegie. He kept his word and did as he said.

Today New Castle struggles to maintain some sort of stability and put it’s storied past behind. Today New Castle is a shell of it’s former self, looking to the future to become a viable economic center again. Like a worn out boxer who took too many blows to the head the city has struggles to adjust to change. One thing standing strong is that the people didn’t crumble when the city did and remain today strong and vibrant, willing to tackle the future.

This town may not warrant having a Starbucks coffee house here due to it’s poor marketability and lack luster demographics but the people here are still some of the finest that can be found anywhere.

Solid Rock Ministries moves by faith, every month the bills come in and God provides. Pastor Tim works hard as a full time painter 50 - 60 hrs a week but still puts his time in every day, night and weekend to fulfill his vision for the people of New Castle.

The Solid Rock coffee house open on Saturday evenings and the 5th quarter program for the teens provides a place for people to come and forget about their lot in this life and be apart of something bigger than all of us. The coffee house provides a warm cup of coffee and food to those who want to sit back and just be loved by God.

The coffee house is set up to let people come in and not worry about anything or any one around them. They can enjoy a small part of humanity before heading out to the streets again to tough out some sort of life for them and their families. We use the time while having a coffee or food to minister to them.


The 5th quarter is a program to bring the youth of the community together after the local football games in the fall. It’s a safe and inviting environment providing them with cold drinks, coffee and food. We see 200 or more come and take advantage of the facility and what we have to offer.

We also draw the people in on the weekends to play some games and be ministered to while using the coffee house atmosphere.

I know that you are bombarded everyday with so many requests from groups and organizations to donate to them. I not asking for money but for your helping hand to give back to a community of people that have endured so much and continue to stay faithful to the area they grew up in, live in, work in, struggle in and die in. I have a vision to give the people who come in off the street an opportunity to partake in some of the finest things our society has to offer and what better and most simple of the pleasures than a cup of hot comfortable, aromatic slice of life, a Star bucks coffee. I know that most all people have heard of the coffee giant but so many haven’t been able to afford or even get to a Star buck to have one. With a population of 37,000 people, New Castle is the only place of it’s size with no Star bucks. I believe that serving a cup of Star bucks coffee to the people who come would be giving them a piece of the proverbial decadent pie.

Today I appeal to your gracious heart and ask for your help to partner with us in this small way to bring humanity back to the struggling people of New Castle.

We use 4 - 5 lbs of coffee a weekend, buying what we can or what’s on sale to serve the people who come.

I believe that " If you never take the shot you’ll miss the mark every time" well I’m taking the shot.

In some small way a good cup of coffee reminds us of days gone by, being home with the family, better times, friends and days of prosperity . Please consider being our partner and help us achieve our dream of reaching the people of New Castle thru such a simple way of giving a cup of coffee to someone who can’t do for themselves. Every hand that lends itself to another for help creates an unbreakable chain of devotion and friendship. If you find it in your heart to partner with us please contact me at albbac2@hotmail.com Or

Solid rock Ministries 303 Pearson street New Castle, PA. 16101


Sorry, our web page is under construction currently.

We would be proud to display the star bucks logo and tell all that you chose to partner with us in this epic struggle to reach the lost for Christ.....

Thank you

In Christ’s Name


Alan Short and

Solid Rock Ministries

Isn't that amazing? I am so proud of my brother!!

Today's horoscope

April 18, 2007: Good news! The stars do not control your destiny. You do.

Virginia Tech shootings

What happened at Virginia Tech is a tragedy beyond description. It hits home when you know someone who is in college and you realize it could just as easily been at his or her campus. It makes it personal on some small level. Pause.... and Pray... For all those students, and their families.... for all of the parents and the brothers and sisters... for the staff and investigators and all the law enforcements officials. Pause... and pray... for the counselors and all the ministers who will be on the front lines ministering to those students and families... pray for the family of the individual who did the shootings, Cho Seung-Hui... remember he is somebody's son....Pause and pray.... Life is not normal today nor will it ever be again for so many people because of this tragedy. Pause.... and Pray.....

It's late Monday night..

and I'm a bit more relaxed. : ) Joe and I picked the girls up from school then went home and took it easy. We made tacos for dinner then afterwards we went to baskin robbins for some ice cream. We watched American Idol together, and now I'm working on my new internet business idea and Joe's working on the new menu for our Restaurant. I've been so busy these past few weeks, so I'm trying to relax a little bit more this week!
Tonight,I'm learning more about the blogging industry and how to make money with your blog. Money has never been very important to me, but in order for me to be able to work in the ministry, I'm going to have to find a way to bring in some income, just to be able to pay our bills. The restaurant generates enough income, if both Joe and I work there, but without me making tips waitressing, we just don't make enough.
So, I am working on a new blog (I will still maintain this personal blog) that will hopefully generate more of a steady readership, which in turn will hopefully attract some advertisers. That's one of the ways to make money from a blog. If I can develop at least 20 unique visitors a day, I can begin placing some ads on the site. Every time someone clicks on one of the ads (you don't have to buy anything...you just have to click on the ad), I will get paid. For example, as an experiment, I put one ad on this personal blog. See in the upper right hand corner, the blurb about donating money for Hurricane Katrina victims. If you click on that, I will be paid! So click on it!!!! Now, when I commit to having a series of ads, not just that one, they will change daily (I think), so each day if you visit my blog and click on the ads...more money will be generated.
I don't get many visitors to this blog, mostly just friends and family, but if i make a blog that interests the general public, I will get more visitors, who hopefully will click on more ads, which will bring in an income for my family!!
Cool, huh?
I think God is providing a way for me to be a full time pastor! Please pray that I have the wisdom and strength and patience and ability to stick with this blogging idea.. Thanks for reading! I hope you're having a good day and/or night! Tommorow I will try to add some fun blog posts..

This is a book I want...badly.

Joe and I also went to Barnes and Noble to check out some new literature..
I saw this...read an excerpt...wow..I've got to read more!!

Check out this interview...

There have been a number of books written about U2 and their iconic frontman, Bono, arguably the world's most famous rock star. But not till now has Bono himself come out to tell his own story. In the new book, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books), the rocker shares his thoughts on numerous topics with a French music journalist and friend who has been with the band virtually since the beginning. In a series of honest conversations presented in Q&A format, Bono discusses, among other things, his upbringing (including the death of his mother when he was a teen and the ensuing rocky relationship with his father, who died just a few years ago), U2's beginnings, his bandmates, his marriage, fatherhood, his passion for social action, the effects of celebrity, and, fittingly, his faith and how it intersects all of the above.

The following exchange between Bono and Assayas took place just days after the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, an act of terrorism that left 191 dead and more than 1,800 wounded. The two men were discussing how terrorism is often carried out in the name of religion when Bono turned the conversation to Christianity, expressing his preference for God's grace over "karma," offering an articulate apologetic for the deity of Christ, and giving a clear presentation of the gospel message.

Bono: My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don't let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that's my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that's not so easy.

Assayas: What about the God of the Old Testament? He wasn't so "peace and love"?

Bono: There's nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that's why they're so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you're a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross.

Assayas: Speaking of bloody action movies, we were talking about South and Central America last time. The Jesuit priests arrived there with the gospel in one hand and a rifle in the other.

Bono: I know, I know. Religion can be the enemy of God. It's often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship. Why are you chuckling?

Assayas: I was wondering if you said all of that to the Pope the day you met him.

Bono: Let's not get too hard on the Holy Roman Church here. The Church has its problems, but the older I get, the more comfort I find there. The physical experience of being in a crowd of largely humble people, heads bowed, murmuring prayers, stories told in stained-glass windows …

Assayas: So you won't be critical.

Bono: No, I can be critical, especially on the topic of contraception. But when I meet someone like Sister Benedicta and see her work with AIDS orphans in Addis Ababa, or Sister Ann doing the same in Malawi, or Father Jack Fenukan and his group Concern all over Africa, when I meet priests and nuns tending to the sick and the poor and giving up much easier lives to do so, I surrender a little easier.

Assayas: But you met the man himself. Was it a great experience?

Bono: … [W]e all knew why we were there. The Pontiff was about to make an important statement about the inhumanity and injustice of poor countries spending so much of their national income paying back old loans to rich countries. Serious business. He was fighting hard against his Parkinson's. It was clearly an act of will for him to be there. I was oddly moved … by his humility, and then by the incredible speech he made, even if it was in whispers. During the preamble, he seemed to be staring at me. I wondered. Was it the fact that I was wearing my blue fly-shades? So I took them off in case I was causing some offense. When I was introduced to him, he was still staring at them. He kept looking at them in my hand, so I offered them to him as a gift in return for the rosary he had just given me.

Assayas: Didn't he put them on?

Bono: Not only did he put them on, he smiled the wickedest grin you could ever imagine. He was a comedian. His sense of humor was completely intact. Flashbulbs popped, and I thought: "Wow! The Drop the Debt campaign will have the Pope in my glasses on the front page of every newspaper."

Assayas: I don't remember seeing that photograph anywhere, though.

Bono: Nor did we. It seems his courtiers did not have the same sense of humor. Fair enough. I guess they could see the T-shirts.

Later in the conversation:
Assayas: I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?

Bono: Yes, I think that's normal. It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.

Assayas: I haven't heard you talk about that.

Bono: I really believe we've moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.

Assayas: Well, that doesn't make it clearer for me.

Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.

Assayas: I'd be interested to hear that.

Bono: That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I'd be in deep s---. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.

Assayas: The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.

Bono: But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there's a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let's face it, you're not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That's the point. It should keep us humbled… . It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.

Assayas: That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?

Bono: No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched …

Bono later says it all comes down to how we regard Jesus:

Bono: … [I]f only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. …When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s--- and everybody else's. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that's the question. And no one can talk you into it or out of it.

From Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, by Michka Assayas, copyright © 2005 by Michka Awwayas. Used by permission of Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. For online information about other Penguin Group (USA) books and authors, see the website at www.penguin.com.

Great book!

This is a fantastic book I've recently read. It causes you to think differently..I like books that make you think differently!


DIFFERENT FATHERS-DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT MONEY

My highly educated dad had a strong belief that the love of money was evil. That to profit excessively meant you were greedy. He felt embarrassed when the newspapers published how much he made, because he felt he was too highly paid when compared with the schoolteachers who worked for him. He was a good, honest, hard working man who did his best to defend his point of view that money was not important to his life.

My highly educated, yet poor, dad constantly said,

"I'm not that interested in money."

"I'll never be rich."

"I can't afford it."

"Investing is risky."

"Money isn't everything."

MONEY SUPPORTS LIFE

My rich dad had a different point of view. He thought it foolish to spend your life working for money and to pretend that money was not important. Rich dad believed that life was more important than money, but money was important for supporting life. He often said, "You only have so many hours in a day and you can only work so hard. So why work hard for money? Learn to have money and people work hard for you, and you can be free to do the things that are important."

To my rich dad, what was important was:

1. Having lots of time to raise his kids.

2. Having money to donate to charities and projects he supported.

3. Bringing jobs and financial stability to the community.

4. Having time and money to take care of his health.

5. Being able to travel the world with his family.

"Those things take money," said rich dad. "That is why money is important to me. Money is important, but I don't want to spend my life working for it."

Enlightenment

Today was Joe's day off. Ususally he's been going over his dad's on his day off, but he went last night, so we got to spend the whole morning and afternoon together. We had a good morning : )
We went to Panera Bread for lunch. I LOVE Panera Bread! I've said it before, I can just sit there and be inspired. I had my usual lunch, 1/2 Roast Beef sandwich on an Asiago bagette with a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup and a fresh brewed ice tea! yummmm. Joe and I talked about our life. God is changing us, molding us, growing us...in a tremendous way. I sent a letter out to some of my close friends, telling them that I was literally shaking with excitement at what God is doing... It's true. All of a sudden God is pouring vision and ideas into BOTH Joe and I..we can't keep up with them all. It's like a both of our light bulbs went off, or a paradigm shift happened, or if anyone's read the book "The tipping point", it's like ours happened. I can only say that GOd is raining His blessings upon us..not in the way we thought..(typical, isn't it)..and it doesn't mean all good things are happening..we are both still going through difficulties.. his dad..my mom is having some difficulties (I'm praying for you mom)..the restaurant has been extremely slow.we have NO money(I hate saying that..because we have no idea what true poverty is..)....but inspite of all those things..Joe and I both feel like the can is about to burst and spill out.. the can of what?? I don't know...I can't explain it..
It;s very weird. Has anyone reading this ever experienced what I'm talking about?
Enlightenment?? I think it's something like that.. we all of a sudden see things in a different way!! So am I nuts? Maybe..but if being nuts feels this good, then bring it on!!

How do you start your day?

The person who begins the day by asking, 'What will I wear and how will it look?' may work just as hard as the person who asks, 'How can I serve God and save the planet?' It is not the effort put into their actions but the meaning derived from their lives that will vary greatly."
J. Matthew Sleeth, Serve God, Save the Planet

How do you start your day?

The Zimmers "My Generation"

Mika: Grace Kelly

I love this song! : )

The Seed Must Lead
Today's Scripture
"The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of
the crops."
(2 Timothy 2:6)
Can you imagine a farmer who just decides one year that he really
doesn’t feel like planting? He tells himself he’s so tired that he is
just going to wait around and hope that the harvest will come. But even
people who aren’t farmers know that a farmer has to get his seeds
into the ground while the time is right to plant if he ever wants to see a
harvest. In farming, the seed always precedes the harvest—and
that’s true in our lives as well. In other words, if you want to reap
happiness, then you have to sow some seeds by making other people happy.
If you want to reap financial blessings, you have to sow financially.
If you want to reap friendships, you have to be a friend first. And
when you do these things, you’ll be able to share in the harvest along
with those you have blessed!
A Prayer for Today
God, thank You that I have the good seed of Your Word and Your love
within me. Help me to sow these blessings generously in the lives of
others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

When was the last time you danced?

Yesterday was an exhausting day. Actually, last week was an exhausting week. I am just unpacking TODAY from my Easter trip to Maryland!! It's been 6 days since I got home..and I haven't been able to unpack! Jimminy Crickets! It has been exhausting BUT it has been the kind of week, where I wake up each morning...dancing! Dancing? Yeah..dancing!! My heart is filled with so much Joy, I feel as though I might burst. You can't keep still, when your heart is filled with joy like that! You've got to dance! I'm dancing and singing and smiling. I'm getting my groove on!!
All the pieces of the puzzle of this vision that God has poured into me, are finally coming together and they are fitting together oh so perfectly. If you can visualize pieces floating together in a space and seeing them gradually coming closer together..closer..and closer..you can start to see the puzzle picture and it's BEAUTIFUL!!!! Oh,it's so beautiful..and very soon those pieces are all going to connect together..and *sigh* You see Jesus.
What are your dreams? To win an Olympic Gold Medal? To win the lottery? To win American Idol? That's how I feel right now. Like I've won American Idol.
Planting a church, becoming a pastor, seeing people accept Christ as their Savior, Starting a Revival in New Castle, like they've never seen before...Seeing lives changed.. I think it's all coming together : )
My dreams are coming true! I can't stop dancing.
When's the last time you danced?

vision

* I asked a leader of Solid Rock Church what their vision is *

She said, "simply...to reach the city of New Castle for Christ"

Anyone that knows me..and knows the burden in my heart..knows how my heart bleeds for this city...knows what God has called me to do...knows..that is my personal vision as well. wow. I'm still amazed.. It never ceases.

Saturday night @ The Solid Rock Cafe

Saturday night at the Solid Rock Cafe. Schweeeet! Spent the night talking to a new friend and some old friends. This shout out goes to Joy and Carl! I can't tell you how awesome it is to spend time with you guys. WE ARE FAMILY!
It's really crazy how God works..but I feel like I found a new church home and I think a Church home may have found me! I'm sleepy..headin off to bed. Church tommorow and then Relaxation all day Sunday!! Smiling as I fall asleep...dreaming...I love you God. I thank you Lord for all YOU are. You Rock. Peace, Susan

The Inner Life of a Cell

Wow! I love technology!

some thoughts...

Hello friends!
I apologize for the inactivity on this blog. I've had so much business and personal stuff to take care of, it's just been impossible to take the time to update. I'm not through with blogging, so please bear with me for this brief period of time, until I can get back on track.
There's so much going on in my life, it is truly hard to keep up with many things..all of them important.
Please pray, saturate my family with prayer, love on us like Jesus would, and ask Jesus to go before us, stand beside us, dwell inside of us, carry us, lift us up, and take the wheel!!!
When amazing things are happening to further the Kingdom, Satan and his demons try to attack, soo Joe and I and the girls covet your prayers!! Thank you!
Joe's dad is not doing well, and the situation is such a difficult one. He won't go to a hospital or nursing home, no matter how we try to present it to him. We've tried being soft, we've tried being firm, we've tried being logical, we've tried everything we can.. he won't go, but he desperately needs to go. Yesterday, we got a call from a nurse from His doctor's office, who told us a nephew (from Florida)was talking to Glenn on the phone and said Glenn sounded very disoriented, and confused. He was very frightened so he called the Dr.s office to try to get someone to go over there. The nurses office called us. Joe called his dad, and said his dad sounded okay. (you have to know his dad, like we know his dad..other people might not understand him..) So i called the nurse back and told her that Glenn was okay, his son talked to him on the phone. She was very nasty with me and said that somebody better go and check on him and she was recording the info, that she told us that we should go but we didn't. IN other words, she made me feel like we were being negligent! I guess they were trying to cover themselves in case something happened, because of all the sue happy people there are. I understood, but still she made me feel like crap.
So I called Joe again and said, I think we should go over there and check on him just to make sure. So Joe had to call in help to work at the restaurant, and we went to see his dad.
His dad was all alone, lying in a bed, looking like he was about to die at any moment. It was horrible. He was confused and his hands weren't working right, and he couldn't even sit up. I was so scared and felt so bad.
After we started talking to him, he began to feel better and he eventually got up and walked out to the kitchen and ate some dinner. It's like he came back to life... He told us that he got really sick this morning. He wet himself because he couldn't get up. We pleaded with him to let us take him to the hospital to get checked, but he wouldn't go. We told him he needs someone to help take care of him, but he won't leave the house.
But..that's not all....There's even more to it than that..but I can't go into it.
To sum it all up. Joe's dad won't leave the house, but he needs round the clock care. We are trying to get that for him! Joe's dad is cantankerous and stubborn and says inappropriate things,(you can't help but to love him though!!) so we are worried that nobody will put up with him. We have tried to talk to him about that, but he won't give in. His mind is fine..but his body is shutting down. He has emphysema and can't get enough air.
He's also very prideful,so he won't let people help him. His nephew, who lives right up the street, offered to let him stay with him, but he refused. He doesn't want to be a burden on anyone..but it's stressful, and burdensome because he won't accept help!!
ack.. please pray! : )
Also..in other news, Lauren got a 4.1 on her report card. Way to go Lauren!!! All A's..two A+'s! She competed in a Lawrence County Trivia competition yesterday, but her team didn't do very well. It was her first time competing, and she didn't prepare like she should have. Lauren is very smart, but doesn't like to work hard.
Ally got all A's and B's Yeah Ally!!
I was very proud of both my girls!!! They are fantastic daughters!!
Ally is going to a new youth group on Wednesdays and Lauren will start this week. Ally has been asking lots of questions about God..she is being drawn in! That tickles my heart! Do you know that feeling? It's incredible!
So much more to talk about.....lots happening....but I have to get ready for work. It's a special event *Garden Party* in Volant today, so we should be busy!!! Woohooo! Tonight we are going to Solid Rock for family fun night..dodge ball tournement! Anyone who wants to come..it starts at 7:oo pm.
I hope you're having a great weekend. I love you all so much!

Peace out! Susan

Guitar Hero

My family discovered something wonderful over the Easter Break!

Nappy Headed Ho's

My Humps and Nappy Headed Ho's. We are just weird.

My humps

This video is a sarcastic interpretation of a VERY POPULAR song, that a lot of young people listened too. It's hilarious! Hilarious in the way, that you can't believe these words! Tell me what you think!! Crazy, isn't it??

I'm back!

I'm back from my Easter Break! I have so much to share with you. Remember, a few weeks ago, I told you how I was prophesized over. The prophet said that God is going to pour His blessings down on me very soon! It's raining! : ) I will try to give you more details this weekend!
Since I've gotten back, I've been very busy trying to get caught up with all the people I've been connecting with these past few months! I had lots of phone calls to make, and emails to write and people to meet with. Today, I am working all day at the restaurant! Not enough time for blogging, but believe me, when I do get some extra time..I have lots to say!!!
My former Pastor, and a very good friend of mine, Mark Eberly is coming in town today, and we are meeting for lunch at my favorite restaurant, where it just so happens I will be working today!
Joe and I are meeting with a coffee purveyor to talk about possibly opening up a coffee house somewhere, or even adding that element to our place!!
Well..I must go shower and get ready for work!
My friends...Have an incredible day today!!! God loves you so much!!!! Susan

A good video for today

"Do this in rememberance of Me."

Reflecting..

The events leading up to..and the death of my Savior

Matthew 26-27 (New Living Translation)

Matthew 26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man[a] will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating,[b] a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table[c] with the twelve disciples.[d] 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”

23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”

And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant[e] between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,
‘God will strike[f] the Shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away[g] unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[h] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus before the Council
57 Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.
59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council[i] were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand[j] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[k]

65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”

67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

Peter Denies Jesus
69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.[l]”

72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Matthew 27
Judas Hangs Himself
1 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

6 The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”[m] 7 After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. 8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,

“They took[n] the thirty pieces of silver—
the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10 and purchased the potter’s field,
as the Lord directed.[o]”

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas.[p] 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)

19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”

20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”

The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”[q]

26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters[r] and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
32 Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,[s] and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 34 The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[t] 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37 A sign was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries[u] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus
45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[v] lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[w]
47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”[x]

50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54 The Roman officer[y] and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

55 And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

The Burial of Jesus
57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, on the Sabbath,[z] the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.