Down Time

We have a one day down time today -- hooray. Not to say we don't have some things to do (such as this blog, get ready for Bible study tomorrow night, and prepare the main dish for our fellowship meal), at least there are no pressing issues or urgent needs.

Our 8th annual God's Worthy Women's retreat was yesterday and what an amazing day it was. I cannot believe that I forgot my camera, but in a few days, please check crmintl.org as our IT man will have a video of the conference - perhaps not all of the sessions, but hopefully most of them. The Dunnemans, a husband/wife duo who had the women standing on their feet, was spectacular !!!! A multi-talent couple who have given their lives to the Lord and really sing His praises. Myra Green of Bible Alive Theater presented a full stage production of Mary of Magdala - a beautiful story of love and forgiveness. Myra and her group travel the US with their presentations - check it out on the Internet and see if your church would be interested in booking her for an evening. You will surely be blessed. Myra also does great Bible studies - she taught us to live in the Light - the Light of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was certainly with the 140+ ladies yesterday as we enjoyed a full day of spiritual uplifting. Although I am trying to catch my breath (and trying to catch up on sleep) we are already planning next year's conference. We just pray and let God take the lead as we follow His plans.


We really did not do to much this week as the GWW retreat's last minute planning took most of our time. I did get a short reprieve as 4 of us ladies went shopping for the conference with lots of laughs and fun involved. We stopped at a new place for lunch and I had an authentic Chicago hot dog. It brought back memories of my days as a child living in Chicago and stopping at the neighborhood hot dog stand - except on Fridays of course when my Catholic mother would not let us eat one!

Tonight we will be attending a benefit concert at our park for the couple whose 5th wheel was burned up in the fire a few weeks ago. Robert McArthur, an extremely talented park resident and his group of big band friends are presenting a Dixieland Gospel concert. It should be awesome. I envy anyone who can play a musical instrument (my brother is multi-talented in that area) as I am really am totally useless. I did play clarinet in high school (and I use that term "play" very loosely). It was a struggle for me - as well as singing. Even our daughters do not want to be around me when I try to warble the notes!!

We had a guest chaplain this morning in church - Chaplain Bob Ruesch - who is the general director of Christian Resort Ministries. His sermon titled "Truth Decay" was so very appropriate in this day and  age especially during this election year, when truth seems to be just a distant memory. In order to know the truth, read the red letter Bibles - just the red letters - the Word of God, which is the truth. He cannot lie. We often reveal our beliefs, and even non-beliefs during times of crisis. Our actions are the true measure of our beliefs. So many times we are afraid to reveal these beliefs to others - are we standing between someone going to heaven or to hell? God was not shy about His beliefs as He preached His Father's Word to everyone who would listen (and sometimes to those who refused to listen). Chaplain Bob told us the story of 3 ships and 3 captains - the Titanic which sank in 1912, the Carpathia which came to the rescue, and the Samson, which was a much closer ship but chose not to respond to the mayday call of the Titanic because they were harvesting illegal seals. A really interesting piece of history - are you a Carpathia - a person who speeds to the aid of others, or are you a Samson who runs away at the first sign of doing something illegal or unethical. A thought provoking sermon.

This coming week is already March as we are looking forward to Easter - not the chocolate bunnies,  the ham dinners, the colored eggs, or the peeps that I love so much (but only after they are a few days old!), but the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, who gave us salvation through His death on the cross.