Leap Year

Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. However, that hasn't always been the case. When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years. That day was February 29th.

My Next Occupation

With many of my friends close to retirement, I have been contemplating that special time in my life. If you don't start to plan or prepare for that time in your life, you might have real difficulty.

In just a few years, I hope to be placing the donuts in the display cases at Dave's Daylight Donuts somewhere in the southern part of the United States.

That has been my dream for many years. Many people look at me like I'm crazy, but there are some reasons why this could be the very best job after working as an educator and administrator........

1. People are happy when they are eating donuts.
2. I wake up every morning around 3:00 a.m. anyway, why not go to work?
3. Its just me and my flour, other ingredients and fryers.
4. I can close when all the donuts are sold.
5. Golf can begin at noon each day.
6. I get to eat donuts every day.
7. No board meetings.
8. I do not have to drive the roads and decide if it's safe enough to make donuts today.
9. People love donuts
10. Debbie never has to fix me breakfast again.

A Summer Movie

In July of 1981, Debbie and I had just been married and were spending our second day of our honeymoon in beautiful Branson, Missouri at the lavish Kirkwood Motor Lodge. Being a big movie fan back in my younger years there was a movie that I had been wanting to see that summer. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was a big adventure movie that was the talk of the summer. Just across from the lavish Kirkwood Motor Lodge was the beautiful Branson Cinema (where movies cost $2.50) We decided to go watch this movie and enjoyed the action packed adventure.

This summer the fourth installment is coming. Here is a preview of the new adventure that will hit theatres this summer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPTJ4v6KPrg

Thought for the Day

"A disciplined follower of Jesus is someone who discerns when laughter, gentleness, silence, healing words, or prophetic indignation is called for, and offers it promptly, effectively, and lovingly."

John Ortberg

Harding University

A big recommendation for Harding University in 1988............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFff_bV_8Jw&feature=related

Interruptions

I remember that hot sunny day playing golf in Mississippi fives years a go. Debbie and I were on a links golf course just outside of Memphis having a great time. Debbie had just teed off on a par three hole and made a great shot. I was next. I was in the middle of my swing and my cell phone goes off. I got a lot of grass on that swing.

Interruptions happen daily in our lives. Sometimes they are tough to handle. Not prepared (much like the cell phone going off) for what is about to happen. Sometimes we have prepared knowing it will happen at some point in time.

Just this past Saturday an elderly lady, who was a gracious caregiver to so many in Osage City, was killed in a car accident. Interruptions can happen at any time. The family was devastated, as well as the community.

How do we prepare for interruptions?

By fixing our eyes on the Master each day. By giving him all of our troubles, sorrows and successes in life. By being prepared if this might be our last day on this earth.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mother's birthday. I know she is going to have a special birthday, because she is going to a special event tonight.

She is a very special woman who has taught me many important things in life. Her spiritual direction that she gave me has influenced my entire life. Her laughter and love of basketball has also.

I am looking forward to sharing with her this special day as we celebrate in the very best possible way.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Love,

David

P.S. Don't Forget Your Red Sweatshirt Tonight!!

Rescue the Perishing

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September 1985 a celebration at a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at any New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, two hundred people gathered, including one hundred certified lifeguards.

As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, thirty-one, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.

I wonder how many visitors and strangers are among us drowning in loneliness, hurt, and doubt, while we, who could help them, don’t realize it. We Christians have reason to celebrate, but our mission, as the old hymn says, is to “rescue the perishing.” And often they are right next to us.

Think It's Cold in Kansas?

Valentine's Day

The day of love is finally here. I have noticed that this special day has been so commercialized this year that it has lost a lot of its significance.

The day after Christmas the stores were packed with Valentine’s gifts. Candy, cards, perfume, flowers, teddy bears……What is a guy suppose to buy for their sweetheart?

I’ve tried it all. Debbie has appreciated all my gifts to her. The item she appreciates the most is a card with my thoughts and feelings each year and a night with no meetings or school activities.

I hope this Valentine’s Day 2008 will be one that you can share with that special person in your life and tell them how much you care and cherish their love.

Love

Love is the greatest medicine.
I ask to be healing medicine for others.
I ask my heart to expand its boundaries
and to love others as they wish to be loved.
I ask my heart to expand its boundaries
and open to my being loved
as I wish to be loved.

Julia Cameron

Love Never Fails

Though I speak with the tongues of people and of angels,
but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains,
but have not love,
I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned,
but have not love,
it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself,
is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity,
ut rejoices in the truth;
bears all things,
elieves all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13: 1-8

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

I'm not sure if there has ever been a more beautiful song ever written. As we begin a week centered on LOVE there is nothing greater than the love God has for us.......

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

-George Matheson

All the Way to the Bottom

One night a man was brought into New York’s busy Bellvue Hospital. He appeared to be just another bum with a slashed throat.

He had been brought in from the Bowery, which in many cases was the last stop before the morgue. The Bowery was a synonym of filth, loneliness, cheap booze, drugs, disease, and the dead end of many a life.

He looked like all the rest. It was obvious that he had only lived to drink. His health was gone. He was cold and starving. On that icy January morning, this man who looked twice his age, was found lying in a heap, naked and bleeding from a deep gash in this throat. His forehead was badly bruised and he was semi-conscious.

A doctor was called…however, time ran out. The man died…and was sent to the morgue.

There among dozens of colorless, nameless corpses with tags on their toes, the man was identified. When they scrapped together his belongings, they found a ragged, dirty coat with 38 cents in one pocket and a scrap of paper in the other. This was all his earthly goods. Enough coins for another night in the Bowery and five words on a piece of paper; “Dear friends and gentle hearts.”

Once upon a time before his tragic death at age 38, this man
had written songs that literally made the whole world sing:

Camptown Races
Oh! Susanna!
Beautiful Dreamer
Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair
Old Folks at Home
My Old Kentucky Home and over 200 more.

The bum found in the Bowery was Stephen Foster. What happened? Who knows for sure, but one thing is obvious. Sin and Satan can and will take a person to the bottom!

Services Cancelled Tonight

Services have been cancelled for tonight. Stay safe on the roads.

Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop

A Week Without E-Mail?

What would happen if I decided on March 14 not to check my e-mail for an entire week (including weekends)?

I couldn’t imagine the amount of e-mails I would have stored up. I usually receive about 100 e-mails a day as a school superintendent. Some are family related, some church related but the majority are school business.

Spring break would be a quieter period to go e-mail free for a week. Could I make it?

Many involved in business are trying to practice this once a year. A way to reduce stress and have a “quiet down period” of rest.

Debbie and I are thinking about taking a much-needed relaxing spring break trip to a warm southern state. Could I actually go e-mail free for that week?

The only bad thing…………when I get back from the trip and check my e-mail I might need another vacation.


"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."--Matthew 11:28

Order of Worship

Order of Worship
Sunday, February 3, 2008

Welcome: Roger Hamm
Worship Leader: David Carriger

144 O Worship the King
96 I Stand in Awe
Doxology
Glorify Thy Name

Prayer:

454 Rock of Ages (Verse 1 only)
361 Nailed to the Cross (Verse 1 Only)
Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Lords Supper

Contribution

Dismiss 2x2

Jesus You’re My Firm Foundation

Message Evan Burdan

Invitation 679 Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Verse 1 and 4 Only)

Announcements

Closing Prayer

Days of Elijah