NUMBER 1!!!

Getting to this point will be unavoidably anti-climactic.

So...She is the best woman I know. Period. No arguments. No question.

The last song for the Countdown to 43.



You can see all the posts on '43' by clicking the countdown to 43 label

Countdown to 43...#2

2. I can imagine being w/ anyone else. To me she has no equal.

Countdown...#6,5,4,3

6. She loves people.
5. She has boundless energy.
4. She loves me.
3. She is wise.

Here's today music...



I apologize for all the country music attached to these posts. It's just that Ted Nugent never wrote a good love song :-)

Sunday Wrap Up

This Sun PM was our big kids Christmas Program.

The kids did a fantastic job. Alyson, Eli, and Brianna did an excellent job in their leading characters. Jim and Lydia did great as our underprivileged rappers.

It was a fantastic night, well attended and well received.

Countdown to 43...#13-7.

13. She is so enthusiastic about things she loves.
12. She works fine behind the scenes. She doesn't need the limelight.
11. She is forthright. She isn't into flattery.
10. She is beautiful but doesn't realize it.
9. She knows what she wants. She isn't trying to find herself.
8. She considers being a wife and mom a high calling.
7. She's content without being complacent.

For the music this week we will go with an old standard...I Will Be Here

Convicting words from an atheist

There's nothing to add. Except maybe...ouch.

Action Ministries

Tonight about 5 of us went over to Action Ministries in Latonia to help organize the food products. The youth served in this same manner last month.

I was very impressed by the professionalism. To understand that it was run solely by volunteers was phenomenal.

AM provides a much need services to struggling families. Their work seems to be top notch.

To use a phrase on our way home (with donated Crunch Ice Cream Bars in hand)the two hours we put in were 'meaningful'.

My hat is off to the leaders and volunteers @ AM.

Countdown #16,15,14

16. She has a beautiful smile.
15. She is thoughtful.
14. She has a great voice.

We'll let Steven Tyler give us our music for today's post...

Countdown to 43...#19,18,17

My musical thoughts on what I often think about...



19. She feels very deeply.
18. She has the respect of her peers.
17. She gets prettier w/ age.

Countdown to 43

On my continued quest to narrow down to 43 things I love about my wife as she approaches her birthday...

25. She is good @ whatever she does.
24. She doesn't enable whiny-ness.
23. She doesn't do anything half-way.
22. She is beautiful.
21. She runs the day to day details of family life very well.
20. She models a godly wife to the kids.

For my musical tribute...

Lord's Supper reflections

As is often the case the Lord's Supper was moving and thought provoking.

On the previous post you can listen to some music we used. The first 3 songs were pre-service music. The last song was a closing congregational.

One of the best changes of the church over the last decade was to move the service from being an after service after thought to an 'ancient, quasi liturgical, service'.

There is always a greater sense of gravity. There is solid participation from the church w/ readings etc.

This time was special in the fact that we had father/son teams serving. The Bamforths, the Kohls, Ayers, Dutys and Mike Kay.

I think it is past due for the leaders to not always be the default servers. They need to be w/ their families. Plus others need the honor of serving.

Lord's Supper Music

What Have We Done by Mars Hill band: Northern Conspiracy

"

Come Thou Fount by Sufjan Stevens


My Jesus I Love Thee
"

Jesus Messiah

Today my son turns 17

Zak is 17 today.

All the cliches are true. It has went by too fast. I am not ready to see him leave for college. Etc, etc.

He is a good kid. I've been continuously proud of him.

If I were to narrow down one prayer for him on this birthday it would be...
"Lord make him the kind of man that you can use. Make him the kind of man that will matter in your church and your kingdom. Make him the kind of man that a godly wife can trust and lean on. Make him the kind of man that rules his family well and his kids can respect. Make him the kind of man that an employer would want. Make him the kind of man that will provide for his family, give to his church and help those in need. In it all help him to believe the words of Jesus, "Without Me you can do nothing."

Clarity

This Wed I am teaching on the value of modern translations. I'll use these clips to show both speeches are powerful. But the Mel Gibson speech has the added benefit of clarity.

In today's world of language the KJV is still powerful and majestic. But the faithful modern translations gives the added plus of clarity.

This is the prologue from one of my fave movies Henry V


This is a clip from We Were Soldiers...

Mission Trips

In case you aren't a geography major it is Mexico, Kenya and Peru.

visited 4 states (1.77%)
Create your own visited map of The World or try another Douwe Osinga project

States we've done mission work in...KY, New York, Vermont and Montana


visited 4 states (8%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or try another Douwe Osinga project

New-vember 30th Family Service

~ The set up was excellent. It felt like being in someone's living room @ Christmas. We even had a fireplace.

~ Cooperation and leadership was great. People pitched in and knocked out the work very efficiently.

~ The solos of music, poetry and even origami was really fun and well done.

~ Why can't we have cookies in all of our servies?!

~ Preached on getting involved in the Kingdom of God beyond just our local church. It was a good theme, well received I hope.

~ New-vember has been great. I'll miss it when things get back to normal.

~ Next Sun PM...Lord's Supper!!

I know what you are asking...

Ron could you recommend a good headbanging Christmas song circa 1984? Break out the net tank tops, parachute pants and crank it up!!

Heavy Christmas by 220 Volt

Countdown to 43 part 4

As we march towards my wife's 43rd bday I am glad to list 43 things I love about her. Here are a few more from an ongoing series of posts.

29. She is a leader.
28. She is smart and driven.
27. Responsible to the extreme.
26. She is fun to be around.

Here's my song for today's countdown...