Pics from 80's Party

I know these are making the rounds, but I couldn't resist posting them here. I had a great time- I think we had 11 or 12 couples, good times, excellent attire. :) Thanks again Larry and Natalie for hosting! Looking forward to our next social event on September 12 @ the Brown's house- cookout/game night!

80's party

Hi guys! Hope everybody had a great weekend! Looking ahead to our 80's party this Friday night, I wanted to share some details with you:

Party is at Larry and Natalie Dohanos' house, 114 Saranac Trail Friday 8/22 6:30pm.

For childcare, email me by Wednesday afternoon and let me know how many kids you are bringing. You can drop them off at the church at 6:15 and they will need to be picked up by 9:00 pm. Cost is $5 per child.

What to bring: finger foods- just surprise us!, drinks will be provided. Also, each couple needs to bring an 80's white elephant gift to exchange! We have such a good time with it at Christmas, we thought it would be fun to do this for the 80's. It could be an 80's cd, movie, or some treasured memorabilia sitting in your mom's attic. Wrap it up and bring it on!

What to wear: You MUST wear 80's attire of some sort. No fun if you don't! Hit up Goodwill if you don't have anything to wear. The crazier, the better.

Please remember to email me for childcare.... Otherwise, I will see everyone there!

Loren (for Natalie)

Ouch!!

Has anyone else ever felt like God is taking them through a season of growth? I am there right now. All of a sudden, he is using people and circumstances to open my eyes to myself- and I don't like what I see. I want to be better for him because he has called me to step it up to the next level and really get my hands dirty and my heart clean. I know that sounds great, but man, it HURTS. It is like the "next level" is a HUGE step and it stretches every muscle I have to get there. And I don't like exercise!!

Here is what I am talking about: Three times in the past month or so I have been confronted about things that I said to people, off-hand and unwitting comments that hurt or bothered or affected them negatively. My former reaction would be to blow that off, labeling them "too sensitive" or "no sense of humor". For some reason, God is laying this message on thick: He can take away my sarcasm, my bitterness, my unforgiveness and anger. I have got to pray every day that he will heal me of these things, because they hurt me, hurt others, hurt my witness. Wow!

Here's an example: The other night a woman who I really think highly of told me that I had hurt her by making a comment about a movie character that I didn't like that she saw parts of herself in. Of course I was thinking of another person when I made the comment, someone who I have been harboring anger, bitterness, unforgiveness towards. When she told me it had upset her, it clicked for me- FINALLY- forgiveness really is not for the person you are mad at. My unforgiveness had hurt a relationship I care about, and it did not hurt the person that I am mad at one iota. It sucked to hear that a friend was upset with me, but how cool is God to use that to show me that big truth? I have been praying that God would take away my anger towards this person, but I didn't know he would do it in a painful way. I guess I thought I would pray and then poof! It would be gone one day and I would turn into Mary Sunshine. That ain't never gonna happen! But I can be a better me.

So, I am writing all of this because A. You guys are people that I love, trust, care about deeply. and B. I think God is doing the same thing with our Church that he is doing in me. He is stretching, growing, changing it into what he wants it to be. I am praying- and I hope you will- that he will reveal the yucky stuff and take it away- even if it causes pain. And it probably will.

Love, Loren

If You are Happy and You know It...

Leslie, your email makes me smile.

There is something about the Spirit coming over us. Sometime we cry - not because we are sad yet quite the opposite. Maybe it's overwhelming joy, sensing God's deep love for us, or maybe it's just realizing how much God cares for us. Whatever the reason I want more of it.

Do you know that God is crazy about you? He wants the best for you. He create you to have a relationship. Have you taken your disappointments to God lately? It seems we take our troubles to friends, spouse, and relatives. But have we taken them to God? The bible says "Anyone who is having trouble should pray". Maybe we don't want to trouble God with our issues or hurts. Oh no, I forgot God has a few billion people to think about and what about those wars and everything else He has to worry about- He won't care about my little struggles- you think? What if we let God to decide that one. That makes me think about a wedding where He cared enough to provide more wine. And what about Peter tax payment where he provided him a coin. Remember the women at the well? Hear this...HE CARES ABOUT YOU- everything about you. May we learn to take our concerns to him (the little ones and the biggons)

I'm grateful and love you deeply. s

AMAZING Grace

I just wanted to share with everyone how much yesterday's worship spoke to my heart. When we started singing Amazing Grace I got chills all over my body and the tears began to fall. At some points in the song I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn't get the words out of my mouth! All I have to say is there was only one thing missing from the service: KLEENEX! My face was wet with tears. WOW!

Love,
Leslie