Views From Our Room

We're having a great time in Mazatlan. It's been good to see and experience another part of the world. Yesterday, we took a tour of Mazatlan, saw much of the city, and also learned much about it. As I traveled the streets, I couldn't help but think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Yours". For as Steven sings about the streets of London, Uganda, and Nashville all belonging to God...that's what I keep thinking here in Mazatlan...it too is all yours Lord. I've put the lyrics below in case you're not familiar with the song...

I walk the streets of London, and notice in the faces passing by...something that makes me stop and listen...My heart grows heavy with the cry. Where is the hope for London....You whisper and my heart begins to soar....as I’m reminded every street in London is Yours

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda...I see the scars that war has left behind. Hope like the sun is fading...and they’re waiting for a cure no one can find. And I hear children’s voices singing... of a God who heals and rescues and restores...and I’m reminded that every child in Africa is Yours...

It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours... From the stars in the sky, to the depths of the ocean floor...and it’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours You’re the maker and keeper, Father and ruler of everything...It’s all Yours

I walk the sidewalks of Nashville...like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai.... I brush by the beggar’s hand and the wealthy man...and everywhere I look I realize. Just like the streets of London...for every man and woman, boy and girl. All of creation, this is our Father’s world

It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor...and it’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours You’re the maker and keeper, Father and ruler of everything

click here to listen

Breaking News

Live from Phoenix. With the Beltz's. Too much time on our hands. Heading for the border, and I don't mean Taco Bell. But I hope there's a taco bell there. Denny took this fabulous picture. There were about 15 people standing around who could've taken the picture for us, but NOOO he had to set the timer and run back to his spot, because that was more fun.

Train Me in Good Common Sense...Psalm 119

There are a couple of people, who are very close to me, who don't know to follow God. So in turn, they "wander" all over the place, in every area of their life. Because of that, they are suffering through much trouble right now. My prayer is, that their troubles will turn out all for the best. That their troubles will force them to learn from God's text book. That their troubles will in turn, set them on the right path. The path that their divine Creator has designed for them to walk on. Here's Psalm 119:65-72

65-72 Be good to your servant, God; be as good as your Word. Train me in good common sense; I'm thoroughly committed to living your way. Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I'm in step with your Word. You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness. The godless spread lies about me, but I focus my attention on what you are saying; They're bland as a bucket of lard, while I dance to the tune of your revelation. My troubles turned out all for the best—they forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine.

FireProof The Movie

Never Known Love Like This before

I once heard someone say that the “mark” of a great song, is that you can remember where you were the first time you heard it.

Well, I heard a GREAT song this weekend. Mostly why it was so great to me is because I could really relate to it. This weekend, even in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, I felt God’s presence immensely. I’m not sure why, I only know that I loved it.

In my life, I have known that certain people love me. For instance, I know that my Mom loves me, and I “feel” loved by her. I know that my husband loves me, and I “feel” loved by him. I know that my children love me, and I “feel” that love from them. Those are STRONG love ties, but strong as they are, they don’t compare to the love of Jesus.

I agree with you Ayiesha Woods…I’ve never known love like this before.

Here’s the lyrics to the song “Love Like This”. If you’d like to hear it, click here.

I want to stay in Your presence all day
And I don't care if the time slips away
There's no place I'd rather be
When You're here surrounding me with Your love

I'm finding out that nothing compares
With these endless moments we share
Now I have peace of mind
Fulfillment of a greater kind when I'm with You

And I… I've never known love like this before
My heart is Yours
and I... I've never known love like this before
You take my breath away

Lord I can't imagine not having You here
And I find it so amazing
What I feel when You're near
When it's just me and You
There's nothing that I can't do
So take me away
I never want this to end
I am surrounded by Your love - it's everywhere
And all that I am is Yours forever

And I… I've never known love like this before
My heart is Yours
I... I've never known love like this before
You take my breath away

(if I was singing this song, I would TOTALLY go into Rex Smith’s “You Take My Breath Away” :-)

Written by Ayiesha Woods and Christopher Stevens © 2008 Emack Music / Original Peace Music (ASCAP) – Admin by EMI CMG Publishing, Regisfunk Music (BMI) – Admin by Simpleville Music

Praying today that you know and experience God's love.

The Autumn Fest

Seems like everywhere I went yesterday, people asked me if I was exhausted. The answer to that is "no". I'm the entertainment chairperson of the Marshall Autumn Festival, and there's alot of work that goes into that both leading up to, and during the event. For instance, I was there Thursday night for set up, Friday morning from 7am to 10pm. Saturday from 8am to 10pm, and Sunday from 8am to 4pm.

That's alot of hours, however, I'm not putting in that many more hours than the vendors who have booths there. It takes alot, from alot of people to put on a festival. The best part for me is seeing all of the people (the community) enjoy it. We have a great festival, but it's not because of us, it's because of the people who show up and have fun there.

I think one of the reasons I'm not exhausted is because I had help this year emceeing things. Thanks to Lisa B for emceeing Friday night, and Tim Sanders for emceeing Saturday night. They both did an awesome job, and were a HUGE help to me.

I think the other reason that I'm not exhausted, is because of sitting with April all weekend, knowing what she's going through, and thinking, "how can I complain". April, who is over the Autumn Fest, just recently found out that she has a tumor at the base of her brain stem. She saw four different doctors on Friday who assessed her situation. It looks like she's facing surgery. I won't go into all of the details here, but I do want to ask you for prayers for her. Prayers for comfort, prayers for healing, and whatever else the Holy Spirit may lead you to pray for.

Love Shaun's Post

I love this post by Shaun Groves called "Before You Forward That". Click here to read it. I especially like the last paragraph that he has typed in bold. "we as Christians should love every candidate and each other enough to learn and disseminate only that which we can be certain is true".

Love every candidate. That was the whole point that God was making with me this spring with the whole Hillary thing (if you recall that). We don't have to agree with the individuals viewpoint, but we should still love the individual...and not slander them. Learn the truth.

Welcome Back....

Christy Sutherland!! So glad that God has brought Matt and Christy back to us again! Christy will be singing in all three services tomorrow. First Christian Church, Marshall, Illinois, 8:30a, 9:45a, and 11:15a...join us!

God Is Our Fuel

"God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

C.S. Lewis "Mere Christiantity"

God and Ninja Turtles

Today, Josh had his buddy Kaleb over. They were in Josh's room playing Ninja Turtles on the Nintendo, while I was cleaning out Joshua's closet.

They were passionate about getting to the next level. While fighting the bad guys together, they both started standing up and shouting, "believe in God! Believe in God!"

Calling on God for their victory. Wow. Praying that they always call on God for their victory.

Small Town Public Peeing

Last night we went to the Marshall High School football game. While walking across the campus, in the somewhat crisp fall air, with campfire aroma, you could hear the roar of the crowd, and the band, and the PA guy calling the game, and I said to Denny, "ahhh...this is the stuff life is made of." Little did I know how much "basic life" stuff we would see that night.

Fast forward to half time. Josh has to go to the bathroom. I look at Denny and say, "it's halftime. Your line will be ALOT shorter than mine." So, Denny and Josh, go to the restrooom.

They weren't gone very long. "Josh won't go". "What do you mean, Josh won't go?" "They're all peeing with the door open, and Josh won't go." "You mean you can just walk by and see them peeing?" "yep". I thought to myself, "nooo way...."

"C'mon Josh, I'll take you to the bathroom". In order to get to our bathroom, we of course, have to walk by the men's. Sure 'nuff there they stand. Door wide opened. Lined up, with their backs to us, peeing. I was appalled, and had these random thoughts, "you guys are weird." "shut the door". "like we want to see that." And then I walked by again. JUST KIDDING! (that's gross)

So, a little later, we run into Tim and Jennifer (our youth minister and his wife) and I tell them about it...

Tim informs me, "oh yeah, it's always been that way. In fact, one time I had to go to the bathroom, and someone had the door locked, and I thought, 'who's the NERD that has the door locked to the bathroom!" (silly me. I thought it was abnormal) He said that it ended up being a man who had taken his little boy to the bathroom...(so between that boy, and the fact that Josh wouldn't pee with the door open, there may be hope for the next generation)

But nevertheless, this public peeing has become SO acceptable that the one who shuts the door is deemed strange!?! Even by the youth minister's standards? That makes me laugh. Where's the camera when you need it.

Will's Excellent Adventure!

(This was such BIG news, that Denny and I both wanted it on our blogs!)


Tonight, when we got home from work, we were greeted by our oldest son smiling from ear to ear. This was quite strange since he typically doesn't even acknowledge our presence when we walk in the door.
"What's that you're waving in your hand son?" "WHAT?? Your DRIVER'S PERMIT?!? For crying out loud, you haven't even been in driver's ed for two weeks yet!" YIKES!!!

So, we all emptied our bladders (to avoid any accidents due to extreme fear) and we piled in the family mini van to go on Will Milbourn's maiden voyage. Well, actually, we've let him drive before, but only in the cemetary. We figured he couldn't hurt anyone there :-). But this was the first REAL trip. The first time he'd driven on a real highway. With real cars coming at us. With live people in them. With steep ditches on the sides of the road. In the rain.

"How do I turn on the windshield wipers?"
"Wow!" "The turn signal goes off by itself?"

I was freaking out because he was taking the corners too fast. Missy was about to have a cow because he was so close to the edge of the road. Good thing we took that potty break :-)

All in all, he did very well. We are super excited! And celebrating this new journey with him!

It is now 9:09pm, Will just came up from the basement where he was doing his homework.
The first words out of his mouth "Do you want to go for a ride through town?" Do you? DO YOU?? Can we take the Honda this time?(which he will be driving when he gets his license)

Do the turn signals turn off by themselves in that car too? (yes. and the cup holders work :-)
I think its going to be a looooonnnnng year, until he turns 16.....

I Need A New Car

I need a new car. My cup holders are broken. I cannot live like this.

If you think I'm being extreme, then come ride with me. We'll go through McDonald's, get a couple of large drinks, and then do some driving, and turn some corners. Bring an extra set of clothes.