Evel Knievel, one of my childhood heroes, passed away back on November 30, 2007. This great motorcycle daredevil stood as one of the great American icons in pop culture. I can remember, as a boy, building ramps with my friends in the alley behind my house to ride our bikes over and emulate the great stunts we saw Evel doing on tv.
During the 80’s, the only news Evel Knievel seemed to make was that of his money and tax troubles. Things were not so good for him. But as the 1990’s rolled around, his career began to take an upswing and he was able to turn his celebrity into and income, endorsing various products and motorcycle equipment.
Unfortunately, the 90’s also broght about the beginning of a long health battle that seemed to stem from Hepatitis C, which he contracted during one of his many post-stunt-crash surgical operations.
Of all the great things Evel Knievel accomplished and accumulated in his lifetime, his crowning glory was not jumping the Snake River Canyon or any other motorcycle feats. It was his discovery of Jesus and subsequent acceptance of Jesus as the Lord of his life. Watch the video below to hear about it in his own words.
You might have noticed that the Children’s Ministry table (sometimes called the Hub table) was covered with materials from the Uplink table. This wasn’t a mistake. Uplink now has two tables to meet the needs of Grace members and attendees. The Children’s program wasn’t using that table for very much, so we gave up the space to Uplink.
You will still find the sign-up sheet for Parents Night Out on the same table, and brochures for the children’s program are now being handled by the information booth for newcomers.
Hi, everyone! I just wanted to update everyone regarding the sale of 7575 Danbro as well as our ongoing search for facilities.
Pastor Nathan and I met today with some board members from World Team (the agency sharing 7575 Danbro with us) and they sounded interested in the purchase of our space. They have a meeting next Friday to discuss it, so please be in prayer. This would be a great hurdle for us to overcome toward getting new facilities, as it would free up our equity in the property.
Pray that World Team would be interested and that the conditions for sale would be good. (For example, we may agree to lease back for a period of time to give them time to find a renter. Pray that they wouldn’t ask for too much time, as we want to get free from this property altogether ASAP.)
I also met with a real estate agent who is looking into potential properties for us. I am hoping to look at one within a week or so. Pray we might find a perfect space that we could afford that would allow us to do the ministry we desire to do. Prayer makes all the difference!
To me, some of the most interesting, and sometimes inspiring, stories of faith are those of celebrities or personalities whose lives would be the envy of many, yet who secretly long for more.
I’m not the type of person to find a whole lot of entertainment value in the Hollywood jungle. The daily musings of Britney Spears, Brangolina and Tom Cruise do little for my personal enlightenment. But I do, sometimes, imagine what it would be like if some of those people discovered that God loved them and wanted to have a relationship with them. What a story it would be if poor Britney could find hope and direction through a personal relationship with Jesus. “What if” Celine’s next CD was a collection of worship songs where she used that angelic voice of hers to praise the creator?
These things do happen!
Most of you probably don’t know who Brian Welch is. Some of you who do, probably wouldn’t admit it! Brian was the guitarist and co-founder of one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the last decade: Korn. Here’s a rich guy, multiple Grammy award winner who has discovered that his true hope and purpose in life come from a relationship with God through Jesus.
For those of you who do not attend the Old Testament Survey class at 11:00 (and that’s most of earth’s population) you might not have learned that discoveries in recent (25 or so) years have led archaeologists and biblical scholars alike to rethink the location of Mt. Sinai, where God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. Sadly, not too many Christians I’ve spoken to recently know anything about the exciting discoveries being made that staunchly defend the biblical account of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, being miraculously provided water in the desert, and saved from the Egyptian army.
Here are some links to videos and notes that you’ll find fascinating:
On Tuesday, February 12, we’re looking forward to our 2nd annual VALENTINE’S FIESTA. Last year, in addition to enjoying a fantastic Tex-Mex dinner, we had a poetry reading contest. Kris Markham won - hands down - with a song he wrote for Maria.
This year, we’re hoping to hear Kris and others share their love in the “Karaoke Love Songs” competition. Mexicali Rosa’s is putting up first prize!
Thanks very much to Pastor Bart for not entering just to give the rest of us a chance!If you want to practice (and Kathy Baranowski has offered to coach anyone who wants it), download the song list.
That’s a quote. Right from the Bible. That’s what Job’s wife told him to do after they had lost all their wealth, their children and Job had been afflicted withs sores all over his body (Job 2:9).
Job was holding on to his faith. He was grieving emotionally. He was hurting physically. His perspective was a simple one though; “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
I cannot, for a moment, imagine the grief and suffering that Job must have been enduring. I honestly can’t imagine being dealt a hand like the one he was dealt. I sometimes ask myself if I would be able to muster the same love for (and trust in) God to still praise Him when in such a deep, dark place.
There are many in our church today that are working through some newly dealt challenges. There is sickness. There is unemployment. There is relational strife. It is a really tough time for some in our family.
For those of you who find yourselves in this state, I am not sure what I can do to help you other than to offer my prayers and to offer encouragement through song.
This Sunday, we will worship together with two songs that I hope will be an encouragement. The first below, Matt Redman’s Blessed Be Your Name, is a song obviously inspired by the story of Job. The second, Brenton Brown’s Everlasting God, is one of hope inspired from Isaiah 40:31.
Brian was the guitarist and co-founder of one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the last decade: Korn. Here’s a rich guy, multiple Grammy award winner who has discovered that his true hope and purpose in life come from a relationship with God through Jesus.