For Dads

Hey fellow dads out there! I found an article that was both humorous and thoughtful on the subject of fatherhood. It's the first in a series, so I'm looking forward to more, but if you'd like to read the first installment, click here.

Church Tomorrow

If you attend New Hope Christian Fellowship, don't forget we are meeting at the McMinnville Senior Center for the next couple months starting tomorrow, June 17th. The Senior Center is located on 2250 NE McDaniel Lane, in between the DMV and Wortman Park. See you there!

Puns for you

I'm not exactly a big fan of puns, but I thought some of these were pretty funny!

* I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
* Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
* Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
* The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.
* To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
* When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
* The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
* The thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
* A thief fell and broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.
* Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.
* We'll never run out of math teachers because they always multiply.
* When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.
* The scientist discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.
* The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
* A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.
* What's the definition of a will? It's a dead giveaway.
* A bicycle can't stand alone. It's two tired.
* A backward poet writes inverse.
* Time flies like the wind; fruit flies like bananas

Report from Rebecca Hardin

We recently got an email report from Rebecca Hardin, a member of our New Hope family who is serving in Surabaya, Indonesia...

Hi Everyone, Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I just wanted you to know that your prayers for me here in Indonesia are not only being answered but greatly appreciated. It is truly the greatest gift you can give me. May all glory be given to God.

Things are going well here in Surabaya, although the enemy (satan) is always trying to destroy the works of the Lord. I am so glad that we serve the one true LIVING God and that the battle has already been won. Praise God!

I have been helping out at two schools here (Xin Zhong and EFEX) and will soon have some classes of my own to teach, so please keep me in your prayers as I begin this new adventure. I can't thank the Lord enough for providing me with so many blessings. I not only have a job but also live with the family I work for and I'm considered one of the family as well.

The school, called English for Excellence (or EFEX), is the result of this family answering a call from the Lord to come to Indonesia and do work for Him. We are able to reach many lives as we teach English as a second language here. We have other avenues too, like the street ministry and such. So there is a lot of soil for seeds to be planted in. Please keep me (and everyone here) in your prayers and I will try to do better with posting updates and reports.

In His Love and Service....Rebecca Hardin

Lauren McCain's Legacy

The other day Dee Bryson sent me a link for a video she found online that really encouraged her, and she suggested I share it on the blog.

Back on February 22nd, Campus Crusade for Christ interviewed college students on Virginia Tech University's campus in a project to compile these students talking about their faith in Christ. One of the girls interviewed was 20-year-old Lauren McCain.

Two things struck me about Lauren's video footage. First of all, it was clear to me that she had spent a lot of time in the scriptures, because almost all of her answers were accompanied by truth from the Bible. And second, I sensed a genuine joy as Lauren discussed her faith and her beliefs. It seemed obvious to me that her relationship with Christ was not just an act, but was the core of who she was. These two things encouraged me as well.

Fifty-three days after the video was taken, Lauren McCain died in the now infamous Virginia Tech massacre on April 16th. In her interview she talked about the joy of seeing God when this life was over, and now she is enjoying that great reward.

If you'd like to see the video, it is included in an article in the Hampton Roads, Virginia Daily Press. I hope it will encourage you, as well, in your own spiritual journey to a relationship with Jesus.

Summertime in Oregon!

First of all, sorry it's been over a week since my last entry--last week I was really sick for 4 days and the rest of the week I was catching up! I am looking forward to a much better week, and I hope your week is going well for you!

Anyway, it's almost summer, and there is just nothing better than summer time in the Northwest! One nice thing about summer here is that we finally get to see more of our neighbors. We Oregonians like to be outside when it's warm and dry, doing yardwork, playing in the yard, firing up the barbecue, etc.

We really need to take advantage of these beautiful weeks and get to know our neighbors! Why not pick a date in the next week or two and invite some neighbors over for a barbecue? Or if you're really ambitious, you could try organizing a block party! As Christians we tend to huddle together and often fail to connect with others who need Christ.

So make a decision to be "salt and light" in your neighborhood this summer! Chances are your neighbors feel a little bad that they don't know you very well, either, and most will really appreciate being asked over. And don't get caught up in thinking of them as "evangelistic projects". Jesus simply said to "love your neighbor as yourself", so just go into the season trying to be a good friend and showing love to the people around you!

(If you'd like some suggestions on how to spiritually make the most of a neighorhood meal, you might find a couple ideas in this article: Summer Cookouts Can Nourish Souls, Too).

Thanks Ethan!

Well, tomorrow is Ethan Barske's last Sunday with us at New Hope Christian Fellowship. Ethan finished his studies in Math and Music and graduated from Linfield last week. He'll be heading home now to Anchorage, Alaska, and plans to get his pilot's license up there.

I've really appreciated Ethan's talent and attitude from my first Sunday serving in McMinnville, and we'll all miss his piano contribution greatly. As a worship leader, having a good pianist who can play well in several styles opens up many more musical possibilities, and it's been a real pleasure having him playing along with us!

Pray for Ethan as he moves that God will lead him in finding work and finding a good church there in Anchorage. (And if you've appreciated his service, feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the "comments" link here at the bottom of this blog entry!)

Thanks again, Ethan, and God bless you!