BEYOND So All Can Hear

It’s time again for my favorite few weeks of the year…  Missions Convention 2014!!!  Tomorrow is Local Missions as we welcome Chaplain Jay LeRette from Transport for Christ and the Rochelle truck stop.  He will light you up!  Next week is Home Missions and Todd Lucas from Chicago Chi Alpha as he reaches out to university students in the great city of Chicago.  And then in week three it’s World Missions and Susan Clift who works with exploited people in Asia.

So buckle up and be a blessing all month long as we lift our eyes up on the world.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 8:17  I love those who love me [wisdom],and those who seek me find me.

Scripture of the Day:  Luke 14:23  Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’

Quote of the Day:   If God wills the evangelization of the world, and you refuse to support missions, then you are opposed to the will of God.  – Oswald J. Smith

 

Well, Well, Well…

It’s a rainy afternoon and the outdoor baptismal has been postponed so maybe it’s time to refire up the blog.  It’s not like there hasn’t been anything going on in my life and at the church.  If anything it’s been crazy.  I’ll try to catch you up over the next couple of weeks.  Vacation, Isaac’s new college, Ethan’s huge opportunity, Jeremiah’s ICU, just to name a few.  So thanks for coming back.  Here are a few Bethel notes to get you going though.

 

New Website!  Our last site was mediocre and the platform was years old and difficult to work with.  Finally we had almost given up and left it stagnate.  But now we’re off and running with a totally new site.  Check it out and keep going back for all the info you need to know.

Bethel Website

 

-Our Back to School Kid’s Crusade kicks off tomorrow.  It goes for three nights (Mon-Wed, Sep 16-18) from 6:30-8 each evening.  Our guest children’s evangelist is Mike Shepherd from WI who has worked some of our camps in the past.  Great music, fun, and God’s Word just for kids.  Our offering emphasis is One Day from Convoy of Hope.  We’ll feed a bunch of kids around the world this week!

-Financial Peace University starts up next Sunday.

-Our trip to the Creation Museum is just 2 weeks away.

-Our Outdoor Baptismal and Communion Service has been reschedule for next Sunday, Sep 22nd at 3 pm.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 15:8  The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Scripture of the Day:  John 3″16-18  ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Quote of the Day:  Blogging:  Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.  (Despair.com)

 

Relax and Reach

The Bethel Summer Sip ‘n Dip Pool Party was a great hit last night.  A lot of swimmers and those just coming out for great fellowship and food on a beautiful summer evening.  A few dark clouds stayed away and there were a lot of smiles on the way out.

Then it was back to work Monday morning as our youth mission’s Mission Peoria team loaded up the trailer for 6 days of ministry in the inner city of Peoria.  Keep them in your prayers as they serve this week.  They will be doing service projects (paint, cleanup, landscaping, etc) in the mornings, backyard Bible clubs/VBS in the afternoon, and worship services at night.  The week ends on Saturday with a huge outreach in the park and school backpack give away.

Your Bethel team is Debbie, Cynthia, Steph, Nathan, Elizabeth & Jeremiah.   Go Ye Uth!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 22:6  Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Scripture of the Day:  Acts 1:8   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Quote of the Day:    “God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.” — Hudson Taylor, missionary to China  (Jeremiah’s middle name is Taylor. He was named after Hudson Taylor)

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God” — William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions  (Elizabeth’s middle name is Carey. She was named after William Carey)

 

Sip ‘n Dip!

For the last several years Bethel has taken a midsummer break with softball, a hot grill, and good friends.  Not a full blown picnic but a fun night of letting the kids run and hanging out at Sycamore Park.  Tomorrow night with the same idea in mind we’re switching over from the Grill ‘n Chill to the Sip ‘n Dip.  We’ve reserved the Sycamore Park Pool from 6:30 to 8:30 for a mid-summer night break.  They have a large picnic area so bring finger foods (sandwiches, desserts, chips, fruit, etc) and we’ll provide the lemonade and paper products.

If swimming isn’t your thing, come on out for a beautiful summer evening with friends.  There is a large seating area, picnic tables, and a covered seating area.  Ahhh Summer.  God made it, so let’s enjoy it.

Just in case you’re still not in the mood, here are a few pictures from the Uth trip to the Warren Dunes in Michigan yesterday to get you searching for your bathing suit.

See you at the pool!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Provers 20:19  A gossip betrays a confidence;so avoid anyone who talks too much.

Scripture of the Day:    Psalm 23:1-3   ¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  ²He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  ³he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake.

Quote of the Day:   Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~John Steinbeck

Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James

 

 

Teen Camp 2013!

The Greatest week of Your Life is about to begin as the Bethel teens head south to camp 2013.  Here’s a picture and your prayer list for the week.  Go Camp!

Abbi

Brandon

Christopher

Dustin

Efrain

Elizabeth

Emily

Fabian

Grason

Heidi

Isaac

Jeremiah

Julianna

Justin

Kaleb

Karen

Karl

Khloe

Kirsten

Maggie

Matthew

Molly

Stephanie

Staff:  Julie, Beth, Greg

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:    ³² “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.  ³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

Scripture of the Day:   Deuteronomy 23:14  For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

Quote of the Day:  A lot of parents pack up their troubles and send them off to summer camp. Raymond Duncan

 

The BOSS

No it’s not a singer from New Jersey, it’s the new Bethel bus.  The B.ethel O.f S.ycamore S.huttle.  OK, so I’m not sure that’s the official name yet, but it’s a front runner.  The Sr Saints got the inaugural run on their trip to WI to see the Down East Boys at The Fireside.  Rather than a caravan of 4 vehicles we loaded them up with room to spare.

The next trip was off to Kid’s Camp!  We had such a huge load that it only fit half, but once again it saved another caravan.  Thanks to Highland for their extra bus seats.

But the best part was the miracle of the BOSS.  2007.  55,000 miles.  New tires and battery.  And probably at 1/2 the price of the market rate.  Cool God.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 26:4  Do not answer a fool according to his folly,or you yourself will be just like him.

Scripture of the Day:   James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Quote of the Day:    Some years ago there was a study to discover the most stressful occupation. It turned out not to be the head of a large business, football manager or prime minister, but rather: bus driver.   Jonathan Sacks

 

Kid’s Camp 2013!

Kid’s Camp 2013 is underway!  41 campers and 12 staffers hit the road to Carlinville yesterday for the best week of their summer.  Here’s your prayer list for the week:

Bradley

Amanda

David

Maxwell

Brianna

Jackson

Kayla

Bri

Eliza

Jennifer

Tirzah

Alexis

Alexa

Caden

Skyler

Greg

Giselle

Megan

Jason

Jake

Nicole

Micalah

Joe

Anna

Jayna

Lydia

Spencer

Autumn

Dylan

Tyler

Abi

Grace

Cynthia

Anna

Paiten

Paige

Chyann

Jasmine

Samantha

Sarah

Asia

STAFF:

Ray

Rainbow

Jolene

Nikki

Jodie

Karen

Zachery

Jeremiah

Emily

Julie

Greg

Isaac

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverb 18:10    The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Scripture of the Day:   Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.  (Amplified Version)

Quote of the Day:  Put your children in the path of God.  (Unknown)

 

Triple Threat Weekend

We stacked up the family celebrations this weekend.  First of all Happy 17th Birthday to Jeremiah on Saturday!  He’s heading into the senior year of HS and is working as staff at Kid’s Camp this week.

Sunday was Father’s Day.  A great morning at church and then BBQ pork chops on the grill, a nap, and a Spurs win to cap the night.  I’m a blessed man!

And then today is mine and Sonya’s 24th Anniversary!  I realllly am a blessed man!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 17:6   Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Scripture of the Day:  Mark 10:7-9   7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Quote of the Day:   Our wedding was many years ago.  The celebration continues to this day.  ~Gene Perret

 

Congratulations Isaac!

Congratulations to Isaac as he graduated from high school on Memorial Day weekend!  We held a home school graduation ceremony for him and four other local home schoolers.  They have grown up together and it was neat to honor them all together.  I said it could have been a commercial for homeschooling.  2 beautiful young ladies and 3 tall dark and handsome young men who were educated, poised, connected, articulate, athletic, and all headed for college.  Their tables in the lobby filled with awards, scholarships, trophies, ribbons and accomplishments from years of hard work.  Well Done Isaac!

Thanks to everyone who made it out to his open house after the graduation also.  It was cool and a light rain off and on but everyone was a trooper and made it through.  I’m not sure how many came through but there were about 70 lbs of brisket, pulled pork, and chicken gone by evening.

Isaac plans on attending Southwestern Assemblies of God University this fall and majoring in ministry.  Less than 3 months!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 6:20-22   ²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
²¹ Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.
²² When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.

Scripture of the Day:  Ecclesiastes 12:12b  Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

Quote of the Day:   A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that ‘individuality’ is the key to success. Robert Orben

 

Hello?

I’ve never wanted to have the spirit as a pastor that says, “Let’s just get through Sunday.”  But I have to confess to a little bit of that leading up yesterday from the last couple of weeks.  It had nothing to do with the church, but Ethan’s leaving for his internship, Isaac’s graduation and open house,  District Council, mowing for the parents, getting the house ready for the open house, etc, etc.  But today is an “Ahhhh!” day.  Memorial Day off, gray and rainy, breakfast for lunch, don’t do much of anything day.

I’ll try to get the blog re-fired up this week, but today is relaxation.  Thanks to the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country that I could worship freely yesterday and enjoy my family without fear today.

Be Refreshed!

Proverbs of the Day:   Proverbs 27:2   Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;an outsider, and not your own lips.

Scripture of the Day:   John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Quote of the Day:  “Are they dead that yet speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language? Are they dead that yet act? Are they dead that yet move upon society and inspire the people with nobler motives and more heroic patriotism?” — Henry Ward Beecher