Clue 2

there were 19 little indians that helped build the Windmill Art. when it was all done they had made a great Carr Circle.  that is where i work.

A 

6:48 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

tough enough

"'Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah's kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders. They'll fight you, but they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way.' God's Decree." Jeremiah 1:18-19 (MSG)

Take a look at yourself: do you know your place in the Lord's army? We all have different gifts and abilities God's blessed us with. Some of us are leaders, while others are on the front lines. Even though many of us have different jobs in the Lord's army, we are all of importance. Our life is like a chess set: God is controlling the pieces. It doesn't matter which piece we are; we're all as important as the other pieces.

However, sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. We may even begin to look at ourselves as insignificant. Maybe you see a pastor and compare their knowledge of God with yours.  Or you see someone who's great with words and see how you aren't as gifted in that area. Maybe right now, you're at a loss as to what you have to offer. Are you listening to the lie that you have nothing God wants to use?

Hear me on this: God put us around certain people that are different from us, all with various gifts. Only you can offer what God has blessed you with. Some people may be caught up in trying to be better than everyone else. Read the above verse again and again until you finally understand that people will go against you but they will not scratch you. There are hard times coming; God never said there won't be. Yet He has placed you in accordance with how you best fit into His army. Everyone is needed, including you.

in Christ, lots of love

alan

7:34 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

this week the trend.....

Greetings from "the_gate.",

Holy cow was that Super Bowl or what.  I don't care who you were going for it was, in my opinion, one of the best Super Bowls since the Cowboys dominated.  However, it seems like in a defense dominated game like we saw the commercials are the real champions.  We had some good honorable mentions, the not so attractive lady with the mixed nut perfume, the talking investing baby, and the Timberlake getting slammed around the neighborhood.  However the undisputed champion was the Doritos guys getting pummeled by the giant mouse.  Now that's funny.  This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday so I hope to see all of you there for the service and then we will have a bible study after words.  Sunday is regular schedule and the meal is being provided by Knox/Brooks.  Remember, bring a friend, get 50 people, wax my legs.  Don't forget about the lock in coming up, Friday February 15^th.  It is a National Treasure style scavenger hut, and is just jam packed with surprises.  Cost is 25$ that includes t-shirt food and fun.  Hope to see you there.

"Honor your father and mother," Ephesians 6:2a (NIV).

Do you like rules? If you're like most people, you probably can't stand them. They get in your way and hinder all the fun you could have! Rules prevent us from really enjoying life and being able to get the most out of it…. or so we think.  What about promises of reward? Again, if you are like most people, you really enjoy rewards. If we stick to the rules and work our body physically, we get rewarded with a healthy body. If your parents promise you a new cell phone if you get all A's for this semester, we're happy to stick to their rules, because we know we'll be rewarded.  So often we are told to listen to our parents simply because they are the parents. It doesn't seem like a very good reason to us, but God has promised us a reward if we honor them.  "'Honor your father and mother.' This is the first commandment with a promise:  If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth,'" (Eph. 6:2-3).  The very first command God gives with a promise attached is to honor our parents. Sometimes that can be hard; but look at the promise of God with it! That makes it look like a better deal.  God doesn't make rules for the sake of rules. He wants our lives to be better; this is an example of that. Make a list of ways you could honor your parents, then make a list of things that might go better in your life for obeying them. It could be respect from your parents, more privileges in your life, or maybe even more love from them in your home life. Think about it, the reward might be worth the rule.

in Christ, lots of love

alan

7:23 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

the_basics.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)

Sometimes we forget the basics as to why we believe what we believe. Take a look at this verse; every person who has stepped foot inside a church has most likely heard it! How many people remember it though? How many people don't really dig in to what it truly means?

This verse is a simple as it comes. God loved YOU so much that He was willing to give up His ONLY Son so He could see you everyday of HIS life. That's right: Jesus gave up His life for you; His very own human life…for you.

Our Father God loves us! This verse is just one that portrays it. If you tell me that God doesn't care about you at all, you are blind! He gave His only Son to die for you. He died in a way that He knew ahead of time would be a slow and painful death. Think about it: would you sacrifice your child or someone you cared about for someone else you didn't love? Call me selfish, but I wouldn't.

It's true! God sent His Son because He loves you!

in Christ, lots of love

5:49 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

visit to monterrey

ok i don`t have a lot of time so here is the quick skinny.  the fella at the us consulate has been absolutely awesome.  he told us today that he is going to try and finish the investigation for hilda tomorrow or wednesday.  now our attorn. here in monterrey hooked us up at the mexican passport office there is a possiblity that we could have her passport as soon as tomorrow no later than friday. praise God.  will she be home by Christmas?  not sure but we are try with God`s help.  thank you for all ya`lls prayers.  got to run

in Christ, lots of love

alan

8:25 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Trust the Man Up Stairs

"Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?"  Isaiah

As a sinner and someone who falls short of the glory that God has for us this verse really strikes a chord for me.  I remember when I was a kid and my parents would warn against something like, touching a hot stove, but I really wanted to touch that pretty glowing thing.  Then one day when my mom was cooking she took a pot off the stove turned around and I touched it and burn the heck out of my hand.  Now I was really too young to remember so my mom tells this story to my boys all the time.  You know God's love is a lot that.  When we are children we do not have any self control and that is why I touched the stove and that is also why we have parents to look after us as we grow up.  The same is true with our Heavenly Father.  The world has no self control and the motto of our society seems to be if "if you want to do, then do!"  Trust in God, and his wisdom.  He made us, the world, everything, so why would we not trust Him.  Does the Creator not know His creation better that the one He created.  Trust in God and His wisdom.  Psalm 9:10 says, Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."  If you ask for God's help He will always help you.  He will never leave you vulnerable.  The Lord says that we will always have trouble in the world, but He died on the cross, is risen from the grave the over come the troubles of the world, for you!  He will carry you through the muck of this world, and deliver you.

Just say no to drugs.....

in Christ, lots of love

alan

8:26 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The worlds most sex-cellent and sex-tastic sex talk.

O.K. everybody here it is week 3 of the worlds most sex-cellent and sex-tastic sex talk.  It starts tonight at sex-o'clock and will conclude around 7:30.  Bring a friend, bring two just make sure that you are here for tonight.  It is going to be sex-mazing.  Remember that if we have 50 or more we get to shave Nate's head and Bean's gets to wax my legs so let's talk about sex the way God intented!  God created use as a sexual being so let's be responsible and honorable children of God.

Hugs not drugs!

Alan

(That's for you Zach)

1:28 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Today sucks!!
Current mood: pissed off

Do you ever have one of those days, I mean just one of those "you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders days and the world just crapped on your head while it was standing on your shoulders" kinda days?  Well that's what today was for me.  I just feel the pressure of changes at church, my youngest starting kindergarten, my daughter not here to start school.  I mean it just seems like it all hit me at once, yeah all of you reading this probably have felt like this and have had me say to you "turn it over to Jesus and remember that He is there to carry you."  Well, I know that he is there I guess that it just take a little time for my human heart to realize and feel the love of Christ.  I am always asking "where did you see Christ today?"  For me today, I do not feel like I saw Christ, from the crap of the world in my eyes.  And I have to say that makes for a pretty crummy day.  So this is a real blog for me, this is how I feel today, raw and pissed off at the world and how Satan is treating me!  I am mad and I am not going to take it.  My prayer right now is that Christ would show me the plan he has for me, turn this pain and badness into good, turn my heart, and make me glad.  Read it and laugh if you want, read it and relate, read it and comment, but the only thing that I ask is that afterwards you would pray, not just for me but also for you, for the times that you have these days that Jesus would lift you up and make you glad. 

Remember, crack kills

Alan

(that's for you zak)

3:04 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

***Sex Talk*** Wednesday night

Sex talk this Wednesday night, form 6:00 p.m. to 7:30ish be there or be square.  If we get 50 or more people there Nate is going to shave his head and Beans gets to wax my legs.  So bring a friend, it's going to be awesome.

in Christ, lots of love

alan

1:27 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

News Letter

Greetings from "the_gate."

Last week of summer, man I cannot believe how fast the summer has raced by.  Wednesday night is on regular schedule and we are having "The Talk" with the 8^th grader – seniors, and we will be having a bible study for 6^th & 7^th graders in the mid high room.  Then we are leaving Saturday morning for round up and Sunday is on regular schedule.  Hope to see everyone there plus a couple of friends. 

Now we have had a lot of interest in some mission work over the Christmas holiday and I have talked to David Smith at the House of Mercy orphanage in Pierdras Negras Mexico and I think we have something that we can do.  The last visit that Tracie and I took I was talking to Carla, the house mother, and she was telling me that there has only been one parent visit one time in over two months.  The orphans need outside love and attention in the worst way.  So over the Christmas break we would like to organize a church wide, family mission trip to the orphanage to prepare a meal organize a food drive and love on some orphans.  Sunday when Darrel was talking about God talking to us, I could not help but think about maybe sometimes God speaks in Spanish in small child like voice, and it absolutely warms my heart to hear them speak and accept love.  This would be open to any one that wants to go.  I will have more details to follow so stay tuned and if you are interested in going please contact me and we will get something arranged.   

Matthew 25:40 (New International Version) 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

in Christ, lots of love

alan

7:38 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment