For Your Downloading Pleasure

The Message from Kelsey B last weekend on why you should teach End Times to kids

If you click the link above the download should start. When it finishes, BEFORE you press play, remove your shoes and socks lest they be blown clean off your feet.

Raise Your Hand if You are Sure!

This post is likely to provoke. I woudl encourage you two readers to skip down a few posts and read up from there to sort of set the stage a tad before diving in the deep end unless you are an accomplished swimmer.

Here at IHOP-KC we are in the middle of our National Children's Equipping Center (CEC) Conference. It wraps up tomorrow night after a day full of Daphne Kirke and her family. This will come after a very intense day of messages by Allen Hood to start to the day, Folks like Randy And Kelsey Bohlender in the middle and wrapping up with home grown Dana Candler. It really has been a day for the ages in KC.

I have been fortunate to be the head (or is it only) usher for the conference. I hand out the notes, greet people as the y arrive, tell the parents that really, truly, everything is OK and yes, we do this 24/7 365, that is we pray and worshp. Today I was blessed with a another task, the chore of being the recorder extrodinaire for one of the breakout sessions hosted by the Bohlenders on Teaching End Times to Kids.

Did you hear the sound of metal crashing in your head as you read that?! Yes, I said teaching end times to kids. This isnt the "repent, for the end is near" speech you hear from the whacko on the street corner. Granted there is a touch of validity to said whacko, but this is more intimate, more meat and potatoes (perfect for an Alaskan) and could not have been more timely.

Here is a question that the better session leader (Mrs B. :) posted.

"How many of you were saved because you knew it would keep you from going to hell?"
99 % of the room raised their hands. Here is the problem. That isnt a sustaining motivation. In fact, I challenge both of you readers to show me in the Bible where Jesus used it as motivation for His disciples.

Did Jesus say, "I will save you from hell, because that is the goal in the end of the age"? Or was He calling us to reign with Him in eternity, forever? I tell you, there is a lot more to this stuff than I ever knew. It doesnt matter WHEN Jesus comes back. The point is that He is, and what are you going to do abot it right now. Nothing you say? You say it isnt important to ponder what is going to take to be the pure spotless bride he is longing for?! What if half of what the Bohlenders said today is right? Then what?

Long Time, No Post!

As stated in my last post, life has been dealing this family a series of left and right hooks lately. Through it all, we are saying, "Praise God!" because we know that God is doing something good. Whenver we have setbacks or trials in life, we find that it is a moment of breakthrough into something bigger and better in our life.

A piece of our family passed away 2 weeks ago yesterday. Skylar Gettinger, 14 went home to be with Daddy. It was sad to see a mother lose a child, but we all know Skylar is much happier! He was severly disabled and is now free, not trapped by this mortal body. We flew up to Alaska to attend the memorial and be with the family.

While this trip could have been full of sadness, instead, there were many high points. THe first was a fmaily get together for dinner with Rachel's sister and family. We had a great time chatting, eating and me teaching them all to play pool again :). The best part however, was as we left at nearly midnigt, we saw the Northern Lights. They were dancing brilliantly. One of the kids commented how it made them think of Skylar dancing with Jesus! Precious.

Another high point was the kids getting to see thier friends at Chinook Montessori School. To us, this school is the best in the nation. It not only teaches these children well, but the family atmosphere is incredible, they require the parents to be involved and the success of this shows in the children. Kenny and Kassidy both thoroughly enjoyed seeing their friends and old teachers.

Next came two nights of feast and fellowship with friends. We were so blessed to reconnect with friends that we havent seen in 6 months. We were able to share with them what we are doing here in KC and spend sweet time together. It is difficult to put into words what they all mean to us, but one thing is certain, we would have never made it this far without them! We love all dearly and long to be living among them again.

One last high point was our forrays into he wilds of Alaska. The picture above is from Creamers Field Migratory Wildlife Refuge. This place holds a special place in our heart. It is so beautiful, and it is right inside Fairbanks. The geese, cranes, ducks and other birds come through there by the 1000's both in spring and summer. It is amazing to see and hear. During the fall, when the sun is shining through golden birch leaves and the air soaked with cranberries and roasehips it resonates deep in the soul. It was god to be... home.

God, thank you for kiss from You to be able to see Alaska at its prime. Bless those up there that we love so dearly, keep them safe and healthy and continue bringing us all into the better things of life that You have for us!

Thank you to everyone for your hospitality. It was a tremendous blessing.