We had a great trip to Indiana for Jaime's 13th (yes, 13th) high school reunion at Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton, IN. (30 miles west of Indy) It's a long story why it was the 13th, so maybe she'll explain it on her blog.
It was also nice to reconnect with her family/extended family while in Indiana...Faith got to demonstrate her walking skills many, many times. She can now turn around while in motion, and she no longer sits down to applaud herself every few steps anymore.
Oh, and she now waves goodbye! According to the experts, that was supposed to happen at 12 months, but she waved for the 1st time to a sweet little girl at Bob Evans (our going away breakfast with Grandma Kinder) yesterday morning. Too precious. By the way, Bob Evans is always a great way to start a 580 mile day. Traveling with a 15 month old, and a wife who is 26 weeks pregnant is no quick trip. Jaime was/is an awesome wife, and the conversations you can have on a long road trip like that are so fun.
If you've ever driven west on interstate 70 through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio...wow, aren't those views amazing? The mountains are absolutely breathtaking anytime of year. Keep in mind I've spent most of my life in Memphis/Dallas, so those are MOUNTAINS! :) But the vistas from the interstate are truly amazing, and help to make the long trip do-able. Some of the best views are on 15 once you've crossed the Potomac as you're coming south through Lucketts and Leesburg...those Virginia horse farms are beautiful! And we drove in around 7:30 pm, just as the sun was setting!
We are thankful to be home safe, and to start gearing up for an awesome Easter.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
BIG Faith Announcement
Ok, friends, we have big news to share about Faithy. Check Jaime's blog
www.murraysanderson.blogspot.com
it'll be posted sometime today
and WOW, the GOOD NEWS singers from Harding University were totally awesome last night...
great blend, great volume, great song set, great facial expressions....down to the last one of them, they were great worship leaders. And one of them is MAJORING in Worship Ministry at Harding University.
To know that Harding University, one of the most conservative Christian colleges out there, now has a formal worship ministry major just encourages me to no end. There is such a great future for our movement worship-wise!
www.murraysanderson.blogspot.com
it'll be posted sometime today
and WOW, the GOOD NEWS singers from Harding University were totally awesome last night...
great blend, great volume, great song set, great facial expressions....down to the last one of them, they were great worship leaders. And one of them is MAJORING in Worship Ministry at Harding University.
To know that Harding University, one of the most conservative Christian colleges out there, now has a formal worship ministry major just encourages me to no end. There is such a great future for our movement worship-wise!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
A Talking Donkey
I've just finished reading the incredible story of Balaam & his talking donkey from Numbers 20ff.
It just makes me smile every time I read it...our God is so awesome, so creative, so interested in interacting with us and guiding us and leading us the right way. But He's also curious (not in a "i don't know what will happen" sort of way, but in a "let's see how he/she will take this..." sort of way) about how much we will trust Him or listen to Him.
I think my favorite part in the story is when Balaam and the donkey are talking...yes, talking, as in having a conversation. It's not enough to simply be in awe that the donkey spoke, Balaam has to talk back to her. Let's listen in...
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.
It's such an amusing story. Go to www.biblegateway.com and look up Numbers 22 to see how it ends. You'll have to go into chapters 23 & 24 as well.
After reading that, I have a new sense of openness to the Lord's voice, as I just really don't know where it might originate! :)
It just makes me smile every time I read it...our God is so awesome, so creative, so interested in interacting with us and guiding us and leading us the right way. But He's also curious (not in a "i don't know what will happen" sort of way, but in a "let's see how he/she will take this..." sort of way) about how much we will trust Him or listen to Him.
I think my favorite part in the story is when Balaam and the donkey are talking...yes, talking, as in having a conversation. It's not enough to simply be in awe that the donkey spoke, Balaam has to talk back to her. Let's listen in...
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.
It's such an amusing story. Go to www.biblegateway.com and look up Numbers 22 to see how it ends. You'll have to go into chapters 23 & 24 as well.
After reading that, I have a new sense of openness to the Lord's voice, as I just really don't know where it might originate! :)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Names for Baby Sanderson
To see what names we've picked out for our second baby, who is quite the kicker, click here
www.murraysanderson.blogspot.com
Random thoughts...we went to Occuquan yesterday and had the best time strolling the sidewalks and window shopping. Loving the spring weather...
And then we went to IKEA! Words cannot express how cool that store is...we made a long list of "when we hit the lottery, we'll get..." I've always heard about IKEA and everyone was right, much to my surprise ( I thought people were just exaggerating.)
We had game night at small group tonight, very fun.
www.murraysanderson.blogspot.com
Random thoughts...we went to Occuquan yesterday and had the best time strolling the sidewalks and window shopping. Loving the spring weather...
And then we went to IKEA! Words cannot express how cool that store is...we made a long list of "when we hit the lottery, we'll get..." I've always heard about IKEA and everyone was right, much to my surprise ( I thought people were just exaggerating.)
We had game night at small group tonight, very fun.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
IMMEDIATE URGENT CHURCH-WIDE SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Would you be willing to prepare a meal for one of our families?
Church family, the Schwambs need our help. They would never ask for this, so I am happy to stand in the gap for them.
Baby Lauren has hit some very rough spots on her road to recovery recently. To sum it up, she was born on January 14, 2006, 2 months premature, and immediately had major health complications. She has been in the hospital for much of her little life. Last night, she had to be transferred urgently from Walter Reed to Children's Hospital in D.C. The doctors believe she is stable now, but she still faces a long hospital stay, perhaps two weeks.
Tim & Cristi have kept everything going for their family of 5 with smiles on their faces, rarely missing church even amidst major health challenges and crises. Big sister Addison, age 8, and big brother Brennan, age 6, have been incredibly supportive and helpful during all of Lauren's trials. And hats off to their wonderful small group that has been encouraging them and holding up their arms every step of the way. But this family needs our prayers, love and support now more than ever.
Now, 14 months into this trying time for the Schwambs, we want to broaden the "helping hands" base beyond their small group, and beyond the church staff.
Would you be willing to prepare a meal for the Schwambs?
Regarding food allergies, Cristi doesn’t tolerate dairy products well. Brennan is severely allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. But don’t let these restrictions intimidate you. Cristi assured me that Brennan is fine with eating a different meal from the rest of the family, custom prepared by mom.
It would be helpful for them to have meals or snacks they can easily transport to the hospital and throw in a microwave up there.
Grocery store gift cards are great, too, if you’re high on cash and low on time.
You may deliver your meal to the hospital, to the Schwambs’ home directly, or to the church office.
Contact Murray at murray@fxcc.org or 703-631-2100 for more specifics, and to register your desired “date of delivery”. We can accommodate more than one meal per day, but my goal is to even it out reasonably.
Thanks, everyone.
Church family, the Schwambs need our help. They would never ask for this, so I am happy to stand in the gap for them.
Baby Lauren has hit some very rough spots on her road to recovery recently. To sum it up, she was born on January 14, 2006, 2 months premature, and immediately had major health complications. She has been in the hospital for much of her little life. Last night, she had to be transferred urgently from Walter Reed to Children's Hospital in D.C. The doctors believe she is stable now, but she still faces a long hospital stay, perhaps two weeks.
Tim & Cristi have kept everything going for their family of 5 with smiles on their faces, rarely missing church even amidst major health challenges and crises. Big sister Addison, age 8, and big brother Brennan, age 6, have been incredibly supportive and helpful during all of Lauren's trials. And hats off to their wonderful small group that has been encouraging them and holding up their arms every step of the way. But this family needs our prayers, love and support now more than ever.
Now, 14 months into this trying time for the Schwambs, we want to broaden the "helping hands" base beyond their small group, and beyond the church staff.
Would you be willing to prepare a meal for the Schwambs?
Regarding food allergies, Cristi doesn’t tolerate dairy products well. Brennan is severely allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. But don’t let these restrictions intimidate you. Cristi assured me that Brennan is fine with eating a different meal from the rest of the family, custom prepared by mom.
It would be helpful for them to have meals or snacks they can easily transport to the hospital and throw in a microwave up there.
Grocery store gift cards are great, too, if you’re high on cash and low on time.
You may deliver your meal to the hospital, to the Schwambs’ home directly, or to the church office.
Contact Murray at murray@fxcc.org or 703-631-2100 for more specifics, and to register your desired “date of delivery”. We can accommodate more than one meal per day, but my goal is to even it out reasonably.
Thanks, everyone.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Vision Coming Soon
I am so looking forward to our new vision, which will be forthcoming by June 2007...a bold statement of faith and belief and action which we will all sign up to and support...obviously it will be some expression of Matthew 28:19-20, but it will be tailored for our unique time, place, resource pool, etc.
There's such great talent and resource at FXCC...with God, there are no limits to what He can accomplish through us, once we all get on the same page behind a common vision.
And thanks for the incredible response to the survey...over 500 were completed.
Keep praying! Work is going on behind the scenes...although perhaps the most important work is your continued prayer.
There's such great talent and resource at FXCC...with God, there are no limits to what He can accomplish through us, once we all get on the same page behind a common vision.
And thanks for the incredible response to the survey...over 500 were completed.
Keep praying! Work is going on behind the scenes...although perhaps the most important work is your continued prayer.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Various
My mom is here for a week's visit, we're having a great time. Headed to the spy museum tomorrow...
Faith is getting cuter every day, she's started blowing kisses now...
We're singing an "oldie but a goodie" on Sunday, "Salvation Has Been Brought Down" at Melissa B's request...be ready, it demands your best. (which you should always bring to God in worship)
SUNSHINE...what a concept! Today's a great day, and I'm proud to report we need no shovellers to come early on Sunday AM...
Chris Tomlin's new CD "See the Morning"...incredible...at least spend 99 cents & download the 6th track, 'How can I keep from singing' ...
Father Daugher Diner is tomorrow evening, my first event with Faithy! How fun.
Happy weekend everyone. See you Sunday!
Faith is getting cuter every day, she's started blowing kisses now...
We're singing an "oldie but a goodie" on Sunday, "Salvation Has Been Brought Down" at Melissa B's request...be ready, it demands your best. (which you should always bring to God in worship)
SUNSHINE...what a concept! Today's a great day, and I'm proud to report we need no shovellers to come early on Sunday AM...
Chris Tomlin's new CD "See the Morning"...incredible...at least spend 99 cents & download the 6th track, 'How can I keep from singing' ...
Father Daugher Diner is tomorrow evening, my first event with Faithy! How fun.
Happy weekend everyone. See you Sunday!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Rich Man who went away sad...or eventually glad?
I read today the story in Mark 10 about the rich man who kept all the commandments and still wanted to know if there was anything else he should/could to to inherit eternal life...it always makes an impact on me.
Did he only go away sad, or did he go away sad at first, then to proceed to do what Jesus said? Most scholars say no, because he was sad, and that surely meant he had no intention of doing it. Or what about Jesus' statement as he walked off...how hard it is for the rich to capture the meaning of KINGDOM. Did that mean the rich man was never going to "get it"?
I just want to throw out the option that the man DID INDEED turn his life more toward God at this point. Yes, he was sad as he parted with things, property, etc. to share with others. But his earthly sadness could have yielded to a much more mature, deeper joy as he released the tight grip he had on his own obedience, his own wealth, his own ACTIONS to earn God's favor...maybe he realized the joy and grace of living in a totally surrendered, simple lifestyle.
I'm not a rich man by Fairfax County standards, but globally, I am rich. Extremely rich. Can I turn away from Christ's pervasive call on my life, my finances? Can I share in Christ's vision of the Kingdom of God? Will I experience a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance? Or will I just get sad?
Turn our mourning into dancing, Lord, as we discover each day how to give ourselves away.
Did he only go away sad, or did he go away sad at first, then to proceed to do what Jesus said? Most scholars say no, because he was sad, and that surely meant he had no intention of doing it. Or what about Jesus' statement as he walked off...how hard it is for the rich to capture the meaning of KINGDOM. Did that mean the rich man was never going to "get it"?
I just want to throw out the option that the man DID INDEED turn his life more toward God at this point. Yes, he was sad as he parted with things, property, etc. to share with others. But his earthly sadness could have yielded to a much more mature, deeper joy as he released the tight grip he had on his own obedience, his own wealth, his own ACTIONS to earn God's favor...maybe he realized the joy and grace of living in a totally surrendered, simple lifestyle.
I'm not a rich man by Fairfax County standards, but globally, I am rich. Extremely rich. Can I turn away from Christ's pervasive call on my life, my finances? Can I share in Christ's vision of the Kingdom of God? Will I experience a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance? Or will I just get sad?
Turn our mourning into dancing, Lord, as we discover each day how to give ourselves away.
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