DBOB 2007

Wow! What a weekend! It was way too fast! Next time, we're aiming for a Thursday night start so we can have a rewarding DBOB (Deaf Band Of Brothers) Retreat next time! Wamava was so good to us! Our "Secret Agent" for this year's retreat was Mike Atteberry from Denver, Colorado. God did an outstanding job through Mike this weekend! Thanks to Mike Atteberry for being with us!! Thanks to his family for allowing him to spend time with us!

Mike's lessons on "Dressed To Kill" was superb. We learned a few things surrounding the "Armor of God" based on Ephesians 6:10-17. The theme of this year's DBOB was centered around Romans 13:11-12.

Here are some pictures recapping the DBOB Retreat at Camp Wamava. Events includes "Who Am I? game", "Mallo'WAR'", "Tug-O'-War", "Being Wise Men (shaving cream) based on Prov. 16:31, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor, it is attained by a righteous life.", Mike's lesson, Bringing Our Struggles to the cross, bonfire (singing, confessing, burning our "temptations written on black paper") and many more! It was a great and uplifting weekend! I'm already ready for next year's DBOB retreat!!! Enjoy!!

Are You The Grinch?

Lord willing, there's a movie (short one) coming out in December.. Here's our "Dry Run Freeze Frames" before filming.. I am anxious for the filming to begin! Looks pretty exciting...

DBOB 2007

Here are some pictures of last year's DBOB!! We're excited about this weekend's DBOB (Deaf Band of Brothers) Retreat at Camp Wamava!! It'll be a nice and cool weekend. And we're anxious for our secret agent (speaker) to come and douse us with the love of God and His Word..

Lost, Last, Least Of These

Morning, Bloggers...

It seems like we're never let down during this October month. It's all non-stop from Zoe conference to our daughter's birthday to a Block Party at the church to chaperoning 50 some 4th through 6th graders to visiting deaf families to preparing for a Christmas movie. Now, this weekend, the deaf men are retreating to Camp Wamava for the Second Annual Deaf Band of Brothers retreat!! It's fun to be busy for the Lord. I need to listen to my body. It does need more rest!

I was listening to one of Zoe's new song, "To The Least of These".. It's a great song! I mean that this song spoke to my heart. Here's the song:

Give us a heart for the hopeless,
the weary and wounded,
For all who are hungry,
helpless and poor.

Let us see the sorrow,
the pain,
and the heartache
that all the abandoned endure.

To the last,
to the lost,
to the least of these,
Let us be Jesus today.

May we reach out to the broken,
the beaten, the battered.
To all who have fallen,
disgraced and ashamed,

May we be a comfort,
loving forgiving
and offering grace
in Your Name.

To the last,
to the lost,
to the least of these,
Let us be Jesus today.

Touching song, right? Do you know anyone that is hurting, beaten, battered, disgraced, ashamed, in sorrow, abandoned, fallen and broken hearted? Jesus shared a story about those who show love and those who don't. In Matthew 25:35-41, Jesus clearly portrayed two different people. I encourage you to read this passage. Matthew 25:40, "..I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

We have a deaf family in great, great, great need of our help. We're one of the first deaf congregation to respond to their cry for help. It's a beautiful family of four. The husband had a very serious health crisis this past August. He ruptured his esophagus and it has a hole in it. He almost died. He's a graduate from Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind and now a teacher for a public school in Maryland. He's now bedridden until December before he returns to the hospital for diagnosis to determine whether his ruptured esophagus has healed or requires extensive reconstructive surgery. He has a "mile-long" scar on his side. He also has an opening on the side of his neck to allow fluids to drain from there. He has a feeding tube running from the bottle into his stomach. He has not eaten anything since August. He said he loves and craves for a smoothie from his mouth down into his stomach. But now, he can't.

The downside of all this is that the medicinal food that's feeding into his stomach costs $250 a bottle. It's not a big bottle. So they are needing $2750 a month from now until the middle of December when he sees his doctor for decision whether his esophagus has healed or not. Not only this, his wife quit her job to spend 24/7 beside her husband. She had to send her 3 year old daughter to be with her grandmother in NY. Her 7 year old is with them. His insurance isn't covering for this medicinal food because it's categorized as "food". It's a long story and one of our benevolence ministry leader is working hard trying to find an open door for this family. Dennis Cesone and I were glad to see them last Saturday afternoon.

So far, we have two deaf churches in the state of Virginia: First Baptist Church of Alexandria (deaf) and West Hampton Deaf Baptist (Hampton, VA) working to help this family in need. We're asking for the following:

1. Safeway gift card (send to Fairfax Church of Christ) or donate food items
2. If you would like to donate $, please contact me at mark.lowenstein@fxcc.org.

Also, remember that there are deaf souls in prisons throughout the United States. They need to see Jesus, too!

Minister's Appreciation...

Michelle and I had a surprise last Sunday following worship service!! Steve Williams came up to say a few words. As he was coming up, I thought he was going to say a "confession" or make a simple announcement. But I was wrong, dead wrong! He started talking about us working with the deaf in the DC area and how God used us and continues to use us for His glory. It's been almost 9 years since we moved from the good ole state of Texas to Virginia.

Michelle got flowers (it's for me, too) ;) and we got a token, I mean, a huge token of appreciation for our love and service to the deaf community. Two night stay at a Middleburg Country Inn (it's a bed and breakfast).. In the picture below is one of several rooms (and a jacuzzi).. ;)



We were extremely OVERWHELMED with such a generous love offering from the deaf church. So Michelle and I quickly made reservations for our nice and quiet get-away. It will be a much needed time together!! We'll need a fireplace crackling and a couple of comforters to snuggle in during our two night stay.. Just tonight, I made reservations reserving a table for two lovebirds at "The French Hound" restaurant.

To all my brothers and sisters in Christ at Fairfax and from the bottom of our heart, soul, mind and strength, we give you our love and thanks for this love offering! We will never forget it!

Do You Say, "I Can't?"

Then watch this video.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RiTJzcTFQE

Evan Almighty

Tonight, we had a great time together as family.. Despite the estimate on our car repairs (tires and alignment), getting another hefty estimate on our daughter's dental plans (the one that fell exactly 4 years ago losing root and tooth and 48 stitches), we did two great things to lessen the mental burden of future financial matters: seeing Rachel Williams' newborn baby girl, Jordyn Mitsou Williams, born sometimes around 5:41 p.m. today on our daughter's tenth birthday (congrats go to Steve and Melanie Williams, proud new grandparents of Jordyn) and watching the movie, "Evan Almighty" together as family!!

***

I was singing Zoe's new song, "Everlasting God", most of the day today. I love the lyrics that reads:

"Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord."

This gave me a strong reminder that we must remain strong in the Lord as we wait for His good will to unfold in our daily lives and as we see the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, soon!.

I was watching this movie, "Evan Almighty", a must-see, Lowenstein Movie Buff five-star rating!! It made me think of how Noah and his family had to endure 120 years of mocking by those living around Noah. Remember, it never rained where they lived (possible). Genesis 2:5 quotes that God had not sent rain and plants/food grows from the streams from the ground.

I feel for Noah! He was a righteous man before the eyes of God! I receive my share of mocking, too, for preaching His Holy and Everlasting Word. Like God called Noah to build the Ark, God called me to build on His Kingdom bringing lost and hurting souls to Jesus.

At the end, Evan was calling people to come into the Ark to avoid destruction of their lives. Remember, this was filmed last year, 2006 or so. I'm not saying that this is the "truth". This is just an analogy. Something, destructive, was about to unfold. Yet, the town, neighbors, news reporters, police officers, politicians and friends continue to mock and belittle Evan. At first, he didn't understand what God has in mind.

I'm not going to tell you how this story ended. See the movie for yourselves. I can relate a whole lot to Evan, better a truthful and a man of God, Noah! Warnings that I preach from the Bible are often unseen because people closed their eyes and look away. They do not want to hear (see) it. Or, it reached a "hard heart" because the teachings were too tough to accept.

My question is, as you watch the movie (for the sake of analogy), are you one of the people on the ground or are you a part of Noah's (Evan's) family in and on the Ark?

"While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (niv)

Happy Birthday, Girl!!

Sniff.. It's hard to believe that our daughter, Angela, is 10 years old today!!! Happy birthday, girl!!

Zoe 2007

Zoe in Nashville this past weekend was awesome! I learned about the three "S": Sabbath, Simplicity and Silence. When I have a chance, I'll explain the three in the near future. I'm sure glad I got to go and experience Zoe this year!

Also, I'm eager to bring how we worship God into the next level. In the passage, John 4:24, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." We are to draw to God with a true heart; not a superficial heart. In the next few Sundays, we're expecting to change the way we worship, yet worship God in spirit and truth.

Enjoy these pictures!

LinkASL

Check out LinkASL at www.linkasl.com.

The Maize

Last Sunday, 18 of us from Fairfax Deaf Ministry went to the Temple Hall Farm, "The Maize" in Leesburg, Virginia. It was another great day for fellowship! Everyone had a great time! Here are some pictures of the Maize event. :)

Big Schloss Hike

Last week, I went with a friend on a hike to Big Schloss. It was an amazing hike and awesome scenery! The last time I was there was 2001 and it was cold, windy and flurries were coming down. This was the best day to hike. It was cool and the air was so fresh. We thanked God for this hike! It was a much-needed escape!