>by Robin SchmidtHave you hauled out the holly? Decked the halls? Do you hear jingle bells? Silver bells? Are you simply having a wonderful Christmas time? The sounds of Christmas...music.Music is an amazing and powerful thing. It can set a mood, or take you back in time. Words and sound combine and together give expression to our deepest emotions.If I am alone in the house I will sit by the...
Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." This is my feeble attempt at examining my life.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
>The Horse Knows the Way
>"Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh in the white and drifting snow."I always think of that as a Thanksgiving song. Thanksgiving approaches and I begin to sing those lines in my head. It is very comforting isn't it? The road to Grandmother's home is so familiar the horse knows the way.I wish I knew as much as that horse....
Friday, November 2, 2007
>What did you do Wednesday?
>October 31 Grace Chapel families scattered to their homes, to await their neighbors....This was the first year the porch light was on at the Schmidt house, and it rocked my oldest daughter's world. So I sat on my porch steps (it was such a nice evening) talking to Anne on my cell phone and explaining why, after 25 years, we were passing out Halloween candy. I would interrupt our call every couple...
Monday, October 22, 2007
>Just Walk Across the Room Week 3
>Lord Jesus, as we continue to make our way "across the room" help us to craft our individual faith stories in a way that people can understand and relate to. At the same time, Father, guide us when we present the follow-up 'Good News' story about your Son to others. Am...
>Just Walk Across the Room Week 2
>Father, we thank you for the many groups that are forming. Thank you forthe new leaders, and the friendships that will come from this time together.Father, we ask for focus and time management as fall activities vie for ourtime. Bring each of us closer in our relationship to you. Show us thosepeople you want us to walk to and prompt us to hear their story and develop a relationship with...
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
>Life Chain 2007
>Submitted by Neil StolmanThis past Sunday 24 people took part in holding up signs supporting 'Life' along the Halsted entrance to Grace Chapel. From 2:30 - 3:30pm a steady stream of traffic worked its way up and down Halsted, along with the many cars leaving the strip mall across the street. Even though it was just for an hour, it seemed a bit longer as the hot sun was beating down on us...
Monday, October 8, 2007
>Just Walk Across the Room Week 1
>Would you join us in prayer as we study together this month?Father in Heaven, help us to realize that "The Greatest Gift" we can giveto someone is a personal explanation on how to become rightly connectedwith Jesus Christ. Give us strength and passion to leave our "circles ofcomfort" and take the "Good News" forward to others. Lord, help us tofurther realize the we need your Holy Spirit to speak...
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
>Happy New Year
>I was surprised to learn from Al Feria (our missionary in Paris) that in the French culture the beginning of the new school year is considered THE new year. The end of summer marks the end of the year, and the start of school marks a new year. I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Guess I'd feel right at home in France, apart from that language barrier problem.So, Happy New Year!...
Friday, September 14, 2007
>Good $ense
>Would you like to control your money, rather than having it control you?Regardless of your financial situation, the Good $ense program will give you the tools to develop a financial plan and budget based on Biblical financial principals. Practical and individual assistance will make it happen.Confidential pre-work in your course workbook must be completed before the start of class, so register...
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
>What's happening at Grace?
>Do you have the Good $ense to Just walk across the room to the Men's Fraternity?Let me be more specific...Tuesday, September 11th at 6:00am Grace Chapel will launch a Men's Fraternity study "The Quest for Authentic Manhood." Men across the nation will be gathering to discover the biblical principles of authentic manhood. This study is not limited to men who attend Grace Chapel, it is open to...
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
>What is your weapon of choice?
>Submitted by Robin SchmidtI watched a friend's eight month old baby for a few hours last week.Before I agreed to keep Austin I had made a list of things I was eager to do. I had just bought a carpet cleaner and wanted to clean the carpet on the back porch. While that was drying I hoped to plant four pots of decorative grasses in my front yard garden. And, of course, I had to make dinner for...
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
>More Brain Twisters from Romans
>by Ron SchwedlandIn my last Graceworks article we examined some of the difficult multi-syllable words found in Romans. I'm not sure I really want to tackle explaining the other tough words in Romans, like remnant, election, predestination, called, etc. These are some of the most controversial words in the Bible. But, here goes!Even though the original Christians were Jews, as they began to...
Thursday, July 19, 2007
>Tuesday
>You don't get anything for 3 days and then...BAM! 2 days of blogging just like that! The waiting of the blog is a lot like the waiting that we've been learning about in the...People of Promise our theme for Tuesday!The story of the people of promise begins oddly enough with Genesis 11 and the tower of Babel where humanity is so high on themselves that they've forgotten God. God scatters the...
>Monday at Merge
>So sorry for not getting a word out to y'all sooner, but we have been busy. Good busy.Hey the last word I sent you guys was that we would be dealing with the theme of separation...have you felt separate from us? Yeah, that's my fault, not intentional at all. Just busy doing what I sense God has been wanting me to do. Now, I sense, it's time to blog!Monday---Separation. In the morning we heard...
Monday, July 16, 2007
>Merge Trip Day One - Sunday
>Mike Gorr, Tom Ghena, Susan Holland, Kendal Slack and fourteen students loaded the bus Sunday morning and headed for Chicago. Ron Schwedland was at the wheel. The attending students are: Sarah Brigham, Carissa Cangialosi, Dani Douglas, Sarah Gee, Alishia Gneco, Allison Schmidt, Stephanie Walker, Tommy Douglas, Garrett Fisk, David Gee, Connor Ghena, Graham Nash, Michael Schmidt and Ian Van Tassel....
Friday, July 6, 2007
>Independence Day Sale
>by Robin SchmidtPerhaps national holidays are best reserved for Art Van furniture sales and not introducing new Blogs? I base this observation on the underwhelming response to our first blog posting. The number of responses we received, well, look for yourself.I take heart, really, that maybe you were all busy with real life and not screen life. Maybe you took this holiday time to enjoy family,...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
>There Are No God Forsaken Places
>By Doug WalkerThe poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. Mark 14:7The scene was a dinner party, and Jesus was the guest of honor. Everyone was reclining at the table, sharing stories and enjoying one another's company. Then a woman, perhaps an uninvited guest, approaches Jesus, and without a word breaks an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and pours...