Baptism=

Proclaiming to the world, their Faith in Jesus.

Joshua 24:14

Johnny Cash's dogs.

Catch of the Day

Johnny's dogs
by John Fischer 
Yesterday's mention of black and white Christians reminded me of an interview Johnny Cash gave in Rolling Stone magazine after his "American Recordings" came out in 1994.

Towards the end of the interview, Johnny turns the tables on the interviewer by asking him, "Don't you want to ask me about the dogs on my album cover?"

The cover is a black and white photograph of Johnny standing out in a field with a dog on either side of him.

"Ah… yeah… sure, Johnny," said the interviewer, "tell us about the dogs on your cover!"

"Well, you'll notice that one is mostly black with a little white on him, and the other is mostly white, with a little bit of black. That's because even the worst of us has a little bit of good in him, while the best of us still can't seem to shake that bad streak. That's why we all need to be redeemed."

What a simple way of pointing out that our relative goodness or badness is irrelevant to our need for salvation. And what a great way to show how the gospel puts us all at the same level.

It's not how good we are. It's never how good we are. What unites us all is simply our need for Jesus. There are no black and white Christians. Only Johnny Cash's dogs.

HOLD FAST.

1Chronicles 16:34

I am thankful.

Whether it is the holiday season, or just the season our family is in, I have been trying to focus on all of the great things we have to be thankful for. As some of you know Royce has been laid off since late October which has caused us to really look at what we value and need in our daily lives. My motivation for making note seems like a great way to acknowledge all of the wonderful things we have been blessed with.



My little family of three

Our health

Restored relationships with my family

True friendships

Food on the table and in the pantry

A warm roof over our head

Modern medicine and wisdom of doctors

Cars that start when we need to go somewhere and are safe for levi

Being able to read our Bibles and go to Church with out being persecuted

Side jobs, anonymous gifts, generous family & friends

Psalm 80:18

Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

Let there be a revival in this country and this world of people Truly following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

the Ascension.

Photographic details of The Holy Bible designed and illustrated by
Barry Moser.

The Shipwreck.

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.

Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food- you haven't eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain in to the sea.

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces but the pounding of the surf.

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them form swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

Acts 27:27-44

Happy Easter Everyone!

Baptism!

Theresa and I are getting baptised today!
We've been hemming and hawing for quite a while now.
Finally we're going through with it.
We know it doesn't effect our salvation but a great step for us
to publicly proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ.
That he is the son of God.
Lived, died and resurrected to live again as our Savior.
How awesome is our God!
Pray for us: that we will be protected before, during and after.
Thanks
-r

Pray for food, shelter and safety
for the people of Kenya.

Parents and Angel.

Sao Paulo, Brazil.
A humungous cemetary in downtown Sao Paulo.