Church on the Mountain!

We had so much fun! Kortz', Gaines', Smiths, Dysons, and Durans went up on Friday. Corbie and fam went early so they could save the spot. Great spot. We had plenty of room for everybody. The spot had cooking places and lots of room in the middle for tables, it had fresh cold pump water, and even an amphitheatre. (I know, it looks like it's spelled wrong, I did look it up tho)

We sang around the fire Friday night. Making up songs to the guys playing guitars. Laughing till coffee snorted! Skip!

Saturday brought more folks up. Janelle, Mike and family, Niki and Bryce, Talberts (though only Taylor stayed the night), and finally Pat (Alec had to stay in town).

The kids brought their bikes and enjoyed the country side. We did some hiking, shooting, staying out of the rain, 4wheeling, and I think some were even going to fish on Sunday.

Corbie and Tray had a delicious dinner and Corbie's devotion was was inspiring. I'll see if I can post it. That evening we had s'mores running out of our ears. With strawberry marshmallows!

Pastor and Lonnie came back the next morning and after another great meal by the Kortz' we had food for our spirits. Pastor preached out of Matthew, talking about having the authority AND the power. That's a pic of her preaching at the beginning of this blog. We parted company filled up and flowing over.

No volleyball, cleaning and putting everything away when we got home was fun enough!

Until next week!

DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

Last Sunday, August 22.
Pastor preached out of Luke chapter 18:1-8. Talking about Heavenomics. Receiving from God. Ever have anyone ask "if God is so good, why is there so much sickness and pain in the earth, why am I hurting and broken?" You can tell them the answer, because I have no faith.
Some of us only have pretend faith. Sort of hoping, sort of wishing that God will answer our prayers. Sometimes church walks by feeling. Faith isn't feeling. We did not get saved by feeling but by faith. Faith believes what God says. By faith we are healed, by faith we receive from God.
Faith comes by hearing, hearing comes by the Word of God. Renewing your mind by the washing of the water of the Word. Some people have faith in faith. That doesn't work, faith in Him is what works. Can't be God bless me if you can, can't be I didn't feel anything. Do you have faith or just religion?
Mark 11:24 says whatever you desire when you pray, believe you have it and you shall have it.
What do you need from God? Ask Him for it, believe you receive it, and then guard it!
(this blogger went up for prayer and got healed!)



Ron spoke about abundant living, John 10:10. Our world is full of unhappy and dissatisfied people. For this reason, people everywhere are looking for answers to the emptiness they feel inside. These people will try anything if it might bring them some sort of satisfaction or happiness. Perhaps this explains why there is so much divorce, suicide, thoughts of suicide, drug dependency, alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, prostitution, sexual impurity, depression, pornography, eating disorders emotional and psychological disorders. We are messed up. So, what is the solution?
Materialism and wealth?
Pleasure and prestige?
Religion?
Wisdom and understanding?
There is an answer to the eternal question, "how do I find happiness and satisfaction in life?" Jesus said "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Jesus is our answer, in Him only can we find happiness and satisfaction.


Oh man volleyball!!!!!! This blogger stayed out of the game and took notes from the sidelines. It was SO exciting!! We had a ton of rain that afternoon but that didn't stop the game.
Now last week I reported that the adults won. That's what I had in my notes. But they say that we didn't. So whether we did or whether we didn't, only the Lord knows for sure.
I DO know that we won this night!!! Both games. 15-9 and 15-13. The youth huddled up beforehand, shouting, trying to psyche us out. Didn't work. We had several new players. Ransom, he was amazing! Josh and Jordon came too, they were on the adult side. Jordan with her volleyball shirt played fantastically! Josh wasn't even rusty, he played like he never left!
Judy, Starla, and Mike were our hot players of the night.
Our first game started out like a a drag race taking off, squealing tires, smoke and rubber flying, and LOUD! Dylan served 'em hard and fast, seven in a row! Had the adults scrambling! Roger even wanted to pray, ha! Power servers were Dylan, Zack, Jessie, and Alec.
Mike smacked it right into some one's face. (cannot read my own notes) The youth played like pinball, the ball hitting them one by one till it stopped. Was very funny. Daryn hackey sacked it even. Janelle slipped in the mud, Pastor stepped up and got the hit right over her head. Serious play of the evening!
Last game was the guys against the girls. I thought, this ought to be good. The guys spent their time talking smack. No shopping here was one of the milder ones. They did beat us 15-3.

Next week, no volleyball, or church for that matter. We will be having church on the mountain. See y'all there!

My Hope is Jesus

I cannot believe the week is already over and tomorrow is Sunday, here I am again, blogging about last Sunday the day before the next Sunday! I apologize, next week I'll try to be better, things have to settle down!





Pastor preached out of John 14: 1-21. You believe in God, believe also in Me. Jesus is speaking to our hearts today. It's a comfort in times of death to know that Jesus has gone to build a place for us. To have hope in our daily lives. To know that if we are His, we have the hope of salvation. That in these days of lack we don't have to worry because He is faithful who promised, to His.
We cannot ride the line, we have to choose where we are going. We don't go there by default.
God is Holy. If you love Him, you will keep His commandments. Everybody wants a Savior but few want a King.
You say I'm good. What is good? Mother Theresa good or Jeffry Dalmer good? How good do you have to be to get into Heaven? Doesn't matter if you call yourself a Christian, how do you live? Do you keep His commandments? Salvation is free but you pay a price. Your life. If you don't take up your cross and follow Me you're not worthy to be called a Christian.








Ron's message in Sunday Night Light was called BMWs and Other Cool Stuff. Interestingly his message was out of John too. John 4:7-14. The woman at the well. She was the first woman evangelist!
God's call on your life is forever. But He doesn't ask you to do the impossible and then leave you hanging. He gives you what you need to succeed. You do have what it takes!
He talked about James Bond and all the goodies he had to do his job. The tools of his trade. The remote control BMW and such. When you think about it, it is the tools, in a sense that make our action heroes somewhat believable. The idea that an ordinary man can do extraordinary things if given the right tools. The tools allow us to view them as a hero instead of as a superhero. The primary difference is the source of their strength.
God has not called us to be superheros. He has called us to follow Him, to be that which He made us to be. He has given us the tools we need to accomplish that. HE is the source of our strength. You DO have what it takes to succeed! You are somebody's hero.







And succeed we did! Volleyball was very exciting! We had a ton of folks playing. In fact, in addition to the three rows, we had a special row. You were special once everytime around, LOL!!!
We were glad to Dylan and Justin back from the summer in Texas. We missed them.
There were a bunch of newbies, Janelle, Mike, Tiffinie, Makayla, Zach, Heather and David. David was our hot player of the night! He went after that ball like a chubby Policeman goes after donuts! My apologies to the Police and the chubby folks, one of which am I. (Whoa, tough crowd huh Starla?)
Anyway.....back to the game. Mike and Janelle were really good too! In fact, the fact we had them and David, was the reason we won. It was a high pressure game, one of which you didn't take your eyes off the ball for any reason! I did and lost it to the bushes.
Kuria made 9 points in a row serving the first game. She was unstoppable! This little girl has improved her game so much this summer I hardly recognize the champ I see across the net. Look out High School!
We volleyed long and hard, fighting for the win. The adults have lost several weeks in a row and we weren't about to let that happen again. We slaughtered them at 15-8. TC came back with a vengeance in the second game. They came on strong pushing us back and forth till we finally gave in at 15-11, their win.
You should see Taylor and Jessie hit the ball. It actually looks like their hands bend way back and they've hurt themselves. No, they've slammed it right over and into your side like nobodies business! Taylor got hit upside the head with choruses of "way to use your head!" Hilarious!
We had a play of the week but I can't remember it, ha! You guys sure I didn't hit my head?
We divided up for the last game and were more evenly matched. And it was ON! Of course after I stopped pouting at being picked nearly last. Our newbies let loose the last game and really went after it. I'm surprised the fire department wasn't called, we were hot! That's where David showed his metal. He came from the back row catching and returning that ball with the force of Star Wars! Onlookers were gaping!
Pastor again spiked! This time Dylan. I think she's been practicing her jumps during the week!
The game ended with several very exciting plays, 15-12. We were exhausted but happy.

Sometimes A Lot Is Less

Ok, sorry this has taken longer than usual. This week has been crazy so now I'm blogging about last Sunday on Saturday!

Sometimes a lot is less was Pastor's message. Genesis 13:1-14, You know the story about Abraham and his Nephew Lot. How they were so great with all their flocks the land couldn't sustain them both so Abe wanted to separate. He gave Lot the choice to go this way or that. Wherever you go, I'll go the opposite. Lot chose the land near Sodom.
Choices. Our lives hinge on our choices. Our choices should be based on God's Word not what we feel. If you're a Christian you should walk by the Word not by your feelings. When you make bad decisions there are consequences that sometimes follow you the rest of your life. That's why we need to trust Him.
Don't settle for anything but God's best for your life.
Lot choose by what he could see and feel.
Lot thought he was blessed because of Abram's blessings when he lived with him. Lot didn't ever make the decision to follow God on his own. Next thing you know he's living right in the middle of Sodom, living the way of the town people. Because of his choices, he lost his children (but two), then his wife. He lost everything he had because of his choices.
If you're going to call yourself a Christian then you better be living it! Choose right!


The good news is that the bad news was wrong was Ron's Sunday Night Light message.
1 Samuel 17:34. David cared for his flock. Not only cared but went so far as to deliver them from the mouth of the lion and the bear. He stood up and refused to let the enemy have the victory. The lion never counted on anyone coming after him and taking the sheep back. He thought he was free and clear. David grabbed him by the beard and made him let go. The sheep was unharmed. That's what we need to do with our children who have let the devil take them captive. Go after them! It's never too late. We need to grab Satan by the beard and take back whatever he's stolen from you, be it children, health, finances, or whatever. Don't sit there and whine and complain about your loss, or just accept it, DO SOMETHING!
Shift out of the natural into the supernatural,
Shift out of the visible into the invisible,
Out of the realm of senses into the realm of faith.
David got angry that the lion had the audacity to come and take one of his sheep. However instead of taking the loss, surely the lamb was dead by now, he was fed up and went after him.
No matter the evidence, we need to take back what the devil has stolen, and not settle for leftovers!


Volleyball. It seems that the youth are getting a lot better than in previous years where we constantly kicked booty. They are making us youth plus work harder just to keep up with them! They all are taller, more organized, and faster than before. Less arguing and more intensity.
Pastor actually spiked Alec by jumping under him! Looked like we were going to win the first one then it took a turn for the worst. We missed Smidgett, he helps our side quite a bit, ha!!
TC won the first 15-7.
Second game was very close, TC winning again 17-15. Trenton ate the net halfway through. He's a constant source of amusement, always falling and biffing into things and people. His Power serves are really funny too. But when he does connect, look out! We missed Jessie and Daryn too. Roger was the only guy on the SNL team. He was getting frustrated as us girls kept hitting it out of bounds and into each other. All in good fun though, we got to get after him when he did it too!
Judy and Jamie, our newbies, are getting really good! Smacking that ball .
Arlene was our player of the week. She served them breakfast! HA!
Funny of the week was when Starla bent down to tie my shoe and Tray, Zack, and Trenton came and put their shoes over for her to tie.
The sun finally went down enough we weren't blinded, ahhhh sweet relief. Last game was tense, youth and youth plus playing fiercely. Each wanting the win. Time stood still as the ball went back and forth, back and forth. Each side striving till the youth started pulling away. We tried to keep up with them but it was a sad night as they won yet again, making a three game win. 15-7 was the final score as we youth plus trudged off the field vowing to get them next week.

OMG!

Welcome to the dog days of summer! Or should I say the humid, wilting, leaden sky days of summer. You'd think we live in Texas with the humidity at 70%!

Our Sunday was filled with joy and laughter. We had a Saturday meeting with our conference Bishop Larry Herrera and his lovely wife June, and the leftovers were not only the salad and bread sticks! Good times!

Sunday School was a lively discussion, we are reading the Bible through the year and are currently in Psalms. Everyone talked about their favorite, reading aloud what touched their hearts. I was amazed that the same passage was several folk's favorites.

Corbie's special flowed out touching and melting hearts. The Lord had us pray for a young lady even before the message got started.
Pastor had a powerful word from 2 Kings 6:15-17. "There's more that stand on our side no matter what you see." Elisha's servant came out that morning and saw that they were surrounded by the enemy. His response was OH MY GOD, calling out to the Lord.
She went on to say that no matter what life throws at you or the how the enemy comes at you, our God is a BIG God. If our focus is on our problems, they seem bigger. But if our focus is on God, our problems seem small.
Ever thought about how things look in the rear view mirror as you drive away? That's how He looks as we get away from the vision, the reality of who God is. Remember though the text on the mirror, objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear. Call on Him even if it seems He is far away. Anoint my eyes Lord to see those who need to be here next Sunday.




We played volleyball so long there was no evening message.

We played five games! It was on friend! (James told me in the morning that we were going down, haaa!!!) Well, turns out he was right. T.C. won the first three games. 15-8, 15-7, and 15-12. Alec was back and they had their secret weapon, Sloan from next door. That little guy can really play! His shirt even said, power hitter. Little goober, couldn't wear his batman shirt that night!
Arlene was our hot player of the night. She served till they got tired of running after the ball. We had a newbie, Michael. He was very quiet but after he warmed up made that ball soar! TC couldn't stand still or decide who went where, in fact Smidgett wasn't paying attention and his Mom Corbie served it upside his head! It was SOOO funny several had to run for the bathroom!
I don't think Trenton ever made it over the net, he and other "power servers" kept slamming it into the net, or over our heads. Pastor tried to spike it only to get tangled up with Trenton in the net. Her earring even landed on the other side! Kuria, who does not run after it, slammed it every time it came her way. Even with a headache she popped that ball right back over the net, once Corbie actually caught it.
Tori and Bodie dropped in too, all the way from the Front Range to play!
Corbie and Starla actually crashing into one another, each wearing their orange shirts. Called it orange crush LOL!!! (see re-enactment pic below)
Play of the week: Daryn caught the ball with his toe two inches off the ground sending it flying, I kicked it a second time, then he slammed it over the net at the last second. Talk about screaming! The crowd went wild! Another wow moment was Pastor running out of bounds and saving it just above the ground. The scouts will be looking her up after that!
After three games we divided up and played another two. We all went after that ball like an obsessed dog. Nobody was staying in their place as we all raced from one side to the other. I'm talking knuckle cracking, head banging, split sliding, (Daryn 3 times!) EXTREME volleyball! Each side won once. We were exhausted but happy, limping off the court with bruises, swollen knees, and ball prints on the sides of heads.