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COMING UP tomorrow!

Laws Mennonite Church’s

 Annual 4th of July picnic

 at Shady Acres!

If you’d like to be with us, we’d love to have you!

Come anytime after 2:00 for games and relays and riding the Jones Express.  Young ones, (and old ones, too) bring favorite water ammunitions (squirt guns and such) and if getting wet bothers you, a change of clothes.  There has been interest expressed in a horseshoe tournament, so if you are interested in that, see Josh Slaubaugh.    We will plan to eat at 5:00 PM.  Hot Dogs and hamburgers will be provided as will paper products. Bring potluck picnic foods, favorite outdoor games and lawn chairs. 

This evening was the summer office picnic for the people who work with Certain Man at Public Health.  There were not very many people who could make it, but it was a really neat group of people, and the nice thing was that the group of people who were here were friends.

The rain this week had done wonders for the flower beds.

     

On the left is one of our side gardens, the right is a corner of our patio.

Jhe “Jones Express” was running, to the great delilght of the children:

 

Youngest Daughter had the pleasure of driving the lawn tractor.
(She really isn’t grouchy.  The sun was in her eyes.)

This is what came after.  Danielle, Jeron, Justin, and Mitch.

There were bikes to careen about, with little brothers braving the ride.
(Rachel was babysitting Justin and Jeron for the evening, so they got to be a part of things, too.)

 

Danielle always looks for the climbing tree.

 

 

And interesting things happen when you put bubble makin’s into the bird fountain.  (We should have really clean blackbirds, don’t you think?)

   

My Sweet Mama came, and brought her famous Chocolate Sheet cake.
(Everyone’s favorite!)

 

Joyce, Donna and Darlene discuss public health headaches. 
(Seriously, they were!!!) 

Certain Man talks to Eldest Daughter and Beloved Son in Law.
It was so nice to have them join us. 
They both helped out in numerous and necessary ways.

And then there was Ice Cream to crank!

 

Beth takes her turn.

 

Certain Man pokes down the ice while Beth’s husband, (the other Daniel) takes his turn at the crank

 

The children love to help.  Jeron makes me laugh to watch him. He cranks in an almost languid fashion, which is most unusual for this little guy!

 Here, Danielle gets herself set up to churn away. and as the ice cream starts to harden, she finds that she needs a little assistance.

 
Here she almost strains her gizzard to move the crank.

 

So, Justin tried the crank —  

And Lawson turned the crank (As did all the males present.)

And slowly and surely, the icecream got harder and harder.  Everyone had what they needed, and there was some even left over. 

All to soon, it was time for everyone to go home. Certain Man, Beloved Son in Law and Eldest Daughter helped pick up things and put stuff away.  Certain Man did not stop until he was satisfied with how things  were done, and the cars were back in the garage.  It was a sweet day!

Thank-you, dear friends for coming to share an evening with us

  Morning Prayer Journal   

      My heart is sick of the gods that raise their heads in my heart —  clamoring for time and attention.
     And I, so bedazzled by their noise and show and promise of satisfaction, hasten to give them room and board and honor.  Trying always, Lord Jesus, to keep you first, but finding out the crumbs that are left after feeding all these paltry gods are nothing fit for a King.
     Nothing satisfies for long, and my heart looks within and sees a once fine altar, ground there to sawdust, and weeps.
     All the excuses clang hollowly against the broken bell of liberty.  Where has my freedom gone?
     I say that life, particularly the losses of this last year, has changed me.  I never meant for it to be this way.  I hasten to say that  I’ve always wanted to be changed — by YOU, Heavenly Father, more and more into the image of your dear Son.  Instead, I find that the events of my life — which could have been used to make me more like you, have made me numb instead.  So numb that I almost cannot hear your voice.  So numb, I hardly know who I am. 
     And in that numbness, the mini gods of food and self-pity and sleep and Xanga have stormed the gates of my heart.  And WON.  Oh, Lord Jesus, they’ve won. 
     They have marched in with their foot soldiers of greed and laziness and impatience and indifference and jealousy and suspicion and a deep sadness and they’ve set up their camp and mapped out their strategy and they’ve commandeered my heart.
     . . .  And because of the grief also tabernacled there, I’ve had neither energy or will to fight.
     I cannot just blame the grief, Dear Father.  I’ve made wrong choices, too, given over strongholds without resisting, watching quietly while battles were lost.
     I confess there are situations that I don’t know what to do with.  And I know there are no easy answers.  But I also know that there is not a single situation that can be helped by my allegiance to these self-indulging gods and their devastatingly aggressive foot soldiers.
     And so, I choose you.  Once again, Dear Father, I bring you the sawdust of my heart, asking that you build anew the throne that is rightfully yours.  Take these things that can be so good, and let them have their rightful places so that you can reign supreme.  You are God, because you ARE.  May you be LORD in my life because my heart bows before your rightful place.

Well, I’ve been ordered to tell all — So here goes.   

Lucy, Miss Brooks and Dominie have a traveling shirt. We’ve seen it often upon their respective bodies in long ago posts.  And Lucy had it last and was supposed to send it back to Dominie.  Then one day I got this letter:

Now playing:  Harmony Boys Quartet:  Mansion over the Hilltop

 

This posts is directed to my friend, Lucy, in Iowa —

I am so perplexed, Lucy of Iowa — It seems that there is a shirt being passed around out there that is similar to one I have here.  Didn’t you say that this was one of a kind?  I found it a couple weeks ago, and there has been so much going on that I didn’t get to post pictures of it until now.  Is this a “Sister” shirt, or what?  It truly won its way to my house because of the similarity between it and the one in the pictures you have posted.  (I am not usually a “buyer of t-shirts” at Salvation Army, Milford.)  This one has to be from the same manufacturer.  I included a close-up of the tag.  I’m not sure how clear it is, but maybe you can decipher if it is the same one.  By the way, did you ever send yours back to Dominie???  Or are you still hoarding it for your own comfort?

 

 

 

This is the tag —

 

And so, another year of Bible School is history.

The last night had the usual things:

The extra people still did their diligent helping:

   

We tried to guess the offering and attendance

And we got the final talleys of both.:

 

This is a little hard to see, but the total attendance is on the pink chart up in the corner.
This table is the contributions made to the mini-food pantry that is maintained by Laws Mennonite Church

 

Joel kept our “mountain” stacked and neatly in order.

 

And this is the offering chart.  I suppose here is as good a place as any to clear up all the confusion.  Gospel for Asia (Not American Bible Society; not Global Tribes Outreach)but Gospel for Asia is the supplier of the Bible School packets that we were raising money for.  So, since each dollar will supply one, our little tiny Bible School will make it possible for over 700 underprivileged children to go to Bible School.

And, since it was the last night of Bible School, we also had a graduation for anyone who has completed eighth grade with at least four years of attendance at our Bible School.  We had one this year.  Here, Mary Beth awaits the final assembly.

  

Here she gets her diploma, and a rose, and she is officially graduated!

Mary Beth Sharp

And then, Our Bible School was over, and the children were going home.  Thanks to an energetic youth group who stayed and helped to get everything cleaned up.  Lots of good memories, lots of good times.  And what a blessing we were given with the ones who took care of all the practical things — I’m quite agravated that I don’t have a group picture of them, but Evanna and Brian, Christina, Donna, Joel, Abby, and Erick —  You all were great!  Your careful attention to detail made everything go more smoothly.  Thanks, you guys!

And thank you, Lord!

One more night of Bible School. 
Praise for a great week!

Random Photos from tonight:

 

We have a new student.  Kaleb joined us tonight.

 

Kaleb’s smile changes the whole classroom.

 

My three beloved students.  I have the best class in the Bible School.

 

But when I tried to get them to smile by saying,
“I kissed a monkey!” this is what happened.

  

What’s behind the bench is always more interesting than what’s up front!

 

“Pick me!  Pick me!!!”
The contest to guess the offering and attendance always produces lots of friendly competition.

 

I am so pleased to have gotten this picture.  These two boys are some of the best “Camera Dodgers” I have ever known.  So here you have them.  Matthew doesn’t know what hit him, but Roger sure looks worried.

P.S. This morning, my computer made a misstep, and I lost some of my e-mail.  If someone is thinking they should be hearing from me and aren’t, re-send your message.  I did some maintenance, and things are going better. 

     Come to Bible School, Come to Bible School!

Every weekday evening, come to Bible School!

Come to Bible School, Come to Bible School1

Every weekday evening, Come to Bible school!

 

And once again, it is that time.  Time for the wonderful week of Bible School at Laws Mennonite Church.

 

By soon after six pm, people start to gather in.  Our attendance is down this year, but the spirit is running high.

Here is part of our “crowd”.  Tonight we had only 42, but the good feelings have been evident to all.

And when the offering for the two nights was tallied up, we had over $230.00 already.  We are planning to use that for Global Tribes Outreach, who wants to put a Bible School packs in the hands of 100,000 children this year.  Each dollar given will provide for one child.  Our group of kids is so excited.  We are also bringing nonperishable things for our church’s “food pantry” and that has enjoyed a great deal o popularity.

 

Our fearless leader and superintendent, Pete, makes a point.  He’s doing a much better job at that than I am on this.

 

I happen to have only two kids so far.  But they are the best ones there, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn to know Rachel, on the left and Briar on the right, better.  Aren’t they beautiful??? And they are behaving so well.    Oh, and there is always room for more.  Call me for information. (302-422-5952)

 

And Of course, we have to have snack:

Don’t let this picture fool you.  Henry IS helping.  Yes, He IS!
And Evanna had a splendid time with organization, as usual.  Our snacks have gotten a bit more regimented.
A cookie, a salty and a drink.  It works wonders, and everyone knows what they are doing.  Of course, some will always ask for seconds, and some will try to sneak, but most of the children are content with what they have. 

After snack, if you were one of the littler ones, you might get the chance to go outside with your teacher and play a world famous game of SOCCER!.

This is Rachel’s Class.  It is her first teaching experience, and is doing very well.  This “soccer team”  created at her instigation, brought alot of enjoyment and  unsolicited instruction.  Don’t they look like they are ready to get out there and win!?!

Rebecca helps her two little sisters, Rachel and (*edit) SARAH. . .
(Everytime I think I have these names memorized, I find out I don’t!)

And then, it was back to class for the final minutes and getting ready to go home.

There was time to ponder the snack an how it was settling into small tummies.

Time to be thankful for a good night and a good time.

 

It was time to get the “chores” done so that  the classroom is orderly and inviting for tomorrow night.

And so they did, and then it was assembly and then it was the final;

Our Bible School is over, and we are going home.

Good bye, Good bye, be always kind and true

Good bye, Good bye, be always kind and true.

Laws Mennonite Church’s Bible School has always been a cause for celebration and it is no different this year.  We are just having a blast!!! Not many kids, as I said, but lots of spirit and co-operation.  We hope to increase our numbers, someway   But if not, even so, it seems like it will be another great year.

 

 He’s been home 6 Months — June 18, 2006

“If you could see me now,
I’m walking streets of gold.
If you could see me now,
I’m standing tall and whole.
If you could see me now,
You’d Know I’ve seen His face.
If you could see me now,
You’d know the pain’s erased.
You wouldn’t want me to leave this place
If you could only see me now!”
~Kim Noblett

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

 

 

(The song playing is “The Land of Fadeless Day” sung by Harding University College Choir)

Certain Man

 and his

Trusty Crew

 are

 HOME!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!