A Soap Manufacturer

Thanks to Paul Dymoke...







A soap manufacturer who was a non-churchgoer walked down the street with a minister.

'The Gospel you preach hasn't done much good,' he said. 'The world is still filled with wickedness.'

They passed a little girl making mud pies, and very much involved in her work. 'Soap hasn't done much good, would you say?' asked the minister, pointing to the child.

'It's useful only when applied,' said the manufacturer.

'Precisely,' said the minister.

Narrow Way

I love this picture!!! Let's take a moment and read God's Word:


"Go in through the narrow gate.
The gate to destruction is wide,
and the road that leads there is easy to follow.
A lot of people go through that gate.
But the gate to life is very narrow.
The road that leads there is so hard to follow
that only a few people find it." Matthew 7:13-14

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Now.. Take a look at the picture above.. After reading the Scripture above, what do you see.

*****

I'm going to throw something to you.. Here's a thought. Did you know that:

Early Christians were not actually called "CHRISTIANS", but "FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY?"

In other word, accepting Jesus is not a decision, but A JOURNEY.

Again... Look at the picture... What do you see?

We must rediscover our faith as a "way" of life, not simply a system of belief. It's hard to deny that many Christians have lost "the way" of faith in God, simply giving intellectual thoughts to a system of beliefs that they hope will give them to Heaven when they die.

The early Christians were called, "Followers of the Way." Could the same be said of us?

How are you "following" Him?

Heavy Heart....

I've been having an awesomely heavy heart in the last week.. I just got off the phone with a dear deaf Romanian brother in Christ of mine. His name is Gandy Mihai. He lives in Pitesti, Romania along with a couple other Romanian Deaf Christians.. I surely miss being with them. Gandy asked me when I will be back in Romania to teach them the Word of God in Romanian Sign Language. I had hoped to go sometimes very soon to encourage the Romanian Deaf brothers and sisters in Christ. I love their country, too! It is so beautiful! It's almost like Kansas and Colorado where they have the plains full of wheat and mountains full of springs. And their dracula castles, wow!!!!

The next time I go, I want to bring my wife along. In the near future, I'll be bringing along my daughters, first Amanda, then Angela then Alyson. That's the goal!

If you haven't done so, go and experience life in the Third World Countries. It'll change your life, forever... It changed mine and that's why I'm elsewhere serving the Lord!

Oh, You Talkin' To Me???

Yes.. I'm talkin' to you.. :)

I was asked by someone, "When you preach, how do you really know what to say??"

Good question, huh??

I sometimes suggest this, "Before you say anything, stop and think. Think before you speak." I love the book of James. James (through God) as if he is alive, speaks to us today. He talks about life, example, temptation, grace, forgiveness, faith and many more. To stop and think is much more wiser than to be quick to answer. James said, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry,.." James 1:19 (niv)

I know a few of whom I walk beside as we walk on our way to Heaven who is such a great and awesome example. They do so well with their faith with God.

So, what is my advice?

I like this advice:

"Stop and T.H.I.N.K.." Ask yourself:

Is this TRUE?

Is this HELPFUL?

Is this IMPORTANT?

Is this NECESSARY?

Is this KIND?

True? Helpful? Important? Necessary? Kind? There's nothing else that is better to answer this question. We are to THINK before we preach, THINK before we say anything, or THINK before we make decisions that may appear to be rash.

I need this advice, maybe we should stop and THINK before we express in signs (ASL) or open our mouths at all. ;)

Proverbs 15:28: "Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking."

Mess...

"Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?" Ecclessiastes 7:13 (niv)

We must have an eye to God and to His hand in everything that befalls us. Ecclessiastes reminds us about life on earth and life before God. We ask God to silence our complaints concerning any events. Let u consider the hand of God in them and not open our mouths and hands against that which is His doing. Whatever befalls us is a product of His eternal counsel and guidance.

In the picture, you'll notice many wirings, cords, plugs, cables, etc. This is exactly how we're feeling right now. We know God has His reason for us being in this state. Despite of all this messy wirings, we're still faithful to the Lord. Despite the disorganization, we cannot mend it overnight but we'll make the best of it as time goes.

Pray for us as we continue to pray for you all!

Blessings!

Walking with the Family of God

We welcomed and prayed for two new additions to the family of God @ Overland Park Church of Christ. Aletha (Joann) Hampton and Charlotte (Peachie) Strunk stood before the deaf congregants announcing their commitment to serve our Lord Jesus Christ!

Both, Joann and Charlotte were baptized in the past. They have been searching highs and lows looking for a deaf church family to continue doing the Lord's will. We're extremely thrilled that they're committed with us! May the Lord bless them, keep them, protect them and inspire them into new heights for the glory of God!









Charlotte Shrunk










Aletha Hampton

Deaf

Amen!!! Love this ASL song about Jesus riding motorcycle!!!! :)

God of the Universe

You know what? I love the Universe that the Lord has made. Everything in the Universe is mind-blowing. Peaceful. Beyond words. Beautiful. Harmonious. Glorious. Awe-inspiring.

Imagine this! This image, per the scientist with the Hubble Space Telescope, is a mind-blowing 400 million light years away! Light years, people! An extremely wicked mind-blowing thought! God is good!

It made me take a glimpse of David's words as he looks into the skies declaring God's glory:

Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

That's why I'm proud to be called one of His children and that we bow before Him, our God and King of the Universe!

Pumpkin Carving With My Girls

Last Saturday, we went to a neighborhood Halloween party with my brother and his wife. It was FUN!!! :) Our girls got to carve the pumpkins. It was good being with them and helping them out. Amanda created a "BOO"! Alyson created a "Jack O' Lantern" and Angela created a "Spider design"..

Keep the faith with God, Bloggers!!! Have a great weekend!

Time Warp- Mind Bending Slow Motion

This video is awesome!! A thought... In order to see clarity in life, we need to slow down...

Enjoy!

Overland Park Church of Christ Deaf Ministry

Here's the latest "freeze frame" of our Sunday's Deaf Worship room, thanks to Carol Cox for supplying the picture!! :)

Scissors

Third part of "The Office" sermon series based on Isaiah 64:6.

Cardioconversion

A testimony of how doctors shocked my heart, literally!

The Crowd or the Cross

Superb! Remember the cross. Follow the cross. No matter what people say, just simply, the cross!

Why Go?

Morning, Bloggers....

First of all, I had a pretty good scare with my heart and was admitted into the hospital with Atrial Fibrillation (an irregularity of my heart)... I had to stay in the hospital for 2 days including a "Cardioconversion" (shock) of my heart. It was an interesting experience!! I'm "living" to tell about the "conversion" of my heart!! :)

I was asked "Why do you go to church? Why do you worship God? Why do you read the Bible? Why??" Here why....

1. I get the time to be with my fellow brothers and sisters taking steps toward Christ our Lord. How often do I get to sit with them? No often enough as I want but I made every effort to do so.

2. I get to watch God work in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ. They come to pray about their next steps for the upcoming week. They are responding to God's Spirit and I get to watch them from a front seat (with popcorn: Bible)!

3. I need time in the shadow of the Cross with my fellow Christians like me, on the journey beside me.

4. The worship enriches my soul and deepens my love for God.

5. They challenge me to new heights (some say, "Oh yeah, tell me about it!".) ;) I'm a better guy because I'm worshipping God. True! When I'm back home, I'm stronger than I was when I left home to worship God.

Post Its

Second "The Office" sermon series....

Sunrise on the Lord's Day

We're glad to be able to leave at 7 in the morning on a 2 hour trek back to Overland Park to worship God! Of course! We would do anything for the Lord, including waking up in the wee morning hours to be where God desires us to be! :) And He gave us an awesome treat!!! He painted the skies with heavenly hue (colors)!!! This was taken while we were driving south on 177 toward I-70!! Below the colorful sunrise is the Konza prairie!! As always, we enjoy driving between the two prairies toward Manhattan as well as leaving Manhattan!

Thank You, Lord, for displaying this beauty!! You're an Awesome God!

Whoooooooooooooo!

The HDV cam is here!!!! Now, I'm anxious to try this techie stuph out and be ready to spread the gospel in person rather than text!!! Whoooooooo!

Pray all is well with each of you, bloggers!!! Are you connected to the Lord!!!!

"He has lost connection with the Head from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow." Colossians 2:19 (niv)

Paper Clip part 1

Can we get a "spiritual perspective" from a simple paper clip?

Paper Clip 2

Can we do a "spiritual perspective" from a "paper clip"?