This, that, and the other.

Thoughts from underground:

Graduation is getting close, and students are counting down the final days until summer. As the school year winds down, the youth group will begin participating in work days and mission projects as they prepare for the summer mission trip to Dallas, Texas. If you know of work opportunities that they might participate in, please contact me. In addition, Youth Sunday is quickly approaching and is set for Sunday, June 10, 2007.

I’ve Been Thinking:

The weather seems to finally be turning nice for us. This past month has been especially unpredictable. It was funny seeing all the children on Easter Sunday wearing their winter coats outside for the Easter Egg hunt. Living in the Midwest requires the ability to put up with unpredictable weather all year long. Sometimes its pleasant, warm, and beautiful and other times, cold, windy, and even rainy. Reminds me of our relationship with God at times. Some months, things are great, the sun is shining, we have a warm hearted quiet time, we’ve been faithful in daily prayer, a friend calls us up out of the blue just to say hello, and we find it very easy to praise God. But then other times, life blows in like a tornado, angry and unannounced, and we find ourselves scrambling for shelter, and refuge. We are consumed with conflict, work, family, finances, and we have little time to do anything but hold on, and wait for the storm to pass. At other times, things are just sort of okay. The sun isn’t shining, but it’s not raining. We aren’t having a bad week, but were not exactly having the best week either. Although our lives change from day to day, and week to week, as frequently as the weather, one thing always remains the same: God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Never changing. Never waning. Never faltering. Always faithful. And even though my faith may wane, and my trust may falter, and my word may fail, God’s doesn’t. Never did. Never will. Never has. He is forever faithful. He is the impenetrable solid rock that we stand on. And when the skies become dark and the thunder begins to peel, I know that He is always with me.

Isaiah 43:1-4

But now, this is what the LORD says-he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;