If you can stomach this...

I LOVE listening to sermons as I go about my daily tasks here at home. PArtly because I get lonely and enjoy the "adult" conversation...but also partley because I know it is falling on the ears of my 2 young toddlers who roam about unsuspecting as they play. I have my favs that I like to listen to...but toady I decided to do something alittle different...and I made sure it was during nap time because I had a feeling I would not be encouraged by truth as I listened in.

I was presented with the opportunity to listen to a sermon by a man that I would not normally listen too; However, his "sermon" topic and some chatter I had seen on facebook peeked my interest and I decided to listen in to the sermon. Needless to say, I was unimpressed and indeed a bit cynical as I listened to this man rant about why young men are leaving fundamentalism...and my lasting thought was...no sir, you have it all wrong..."sermons"-more like a soap box- like this are the reason so many young men are leaving (running as fast as they can) away from fundamentalism!

Pastor Dan Sweatt from Berean Baptist Church in Georgia. This session, entitled Young and Restless was recorded at the South Regional Fellowship of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International which met at The Wilds, a Christian camp in Brevard, North Carolina April 6-7 of this year.

I was super duper relieved to see that Dr. Kevin Bauder wrote an essay as a rebuttle against this presentation entitled: Time to Speak Up and if this rebuttle were in audio format I would have gladly played both in the presence of my toddlers.

If you decide to listen in to this session, please promise me that you will do yourself the wonderful favor of reading the essay Dr. Bauer wrote after you listen in...if you can stomach the entire session!

ENJOY (if that is the right word!)

I will be tuned in to see what comes of this as Dr. Bauder gives a wonderful call to action at the conclusion of his essay.

Town Hall for Hope

(click on the link above for more info and to watch a short video explaining the event)

okay...I don't want to burn anyone out on Dave Ramsey, but I just had to share this event with all my readers. Mark and I have known about it for a little over a month...but I hesitated to put it on here since some people still have no idea who Dave Ramsey is apart from the fact that he cuts of people's credit cards while he talks.

When Dave dreamed up this event he was hoping for 500 locations to host the webcast and for 200,000 people to attend the event. The event will consist of a 30 minute talk from Dave and then an hour of questions from the live audience as well as twitter, facebook, e-mail and You Tube. Dave will cover facts of the economy because he feels the general public is being fed FEAR instead of FACT and he feels complled to share facts to try and empower people to live without FEAR no matter what the media/government is feeding them.

Now is where I will interject that the Dave Ramsey radio show is now airing in our area every night from 6:00-9:00pm on AM850. The show has been airing for a few months which means that enough people called and requested this show to be aired in our area that they decided to pilot it...and when the numbers and excitement continued growing...the radio station has kept it rolling! In fact, Mark was in a Starbucks a few weeks ago and was pleased to see a couple from the community teaching another couple how to set up a budget and work through the Ramsey plan to debt free living! WAHOO!!!! He didn't interrupt to say anything to them...but it encouraged me to continue to pray for my community and for my boldness to share Christ with them via finances. The potential is unbelievable when people catch how contagious it is to truly live with Financial Peace because you walk with the Prince of Peace!

As I listened to Dave the other night...he was testifying about how God has truly grown this town hall for hope meeting. He said that God had opened up the locations to 6,000!! and the total people signed up to attend one of those locations was already over 1,200,000!! PTL! He also shared that the Fox Business channel is going to air the meeting!! Did you hear me!!! again PTL!!! and also several radio stations that air his radio show are airing the live meeting! again...PTL!

So I ask you all...please pray for your community! If you can attend I would highly encourage you to attend seeing as how you will get a first hand glimpse at how motivational Dave is and how excited people are at his info. I guarantee that if you attend this event and are open to talk with people around you...you will make contacts with needy people in your immediate community who need encouragement and guidance!

Again...please don't just roll your eyes at this post. Pray...even if you think Dave is ridiculous...pray for Mark and I as we are coming into contact with more and more who are open to learning a new way of living...which can open their eyes to their own spiritual debt and the true Freedom they can have through Christ! This meeting will not be a "gospel" event...but I am fervently praying for gospel opportunities to come from it!

Also, please pray for Dave Ramsey. He is a Brother-in-Christ and needs our encouragement and prayers as he continues to share hope to some truly uninformed and scared people. Pray that this webcast will be free of technical difficulties. Pray for clarity as he speaks to many many people...pray for him to continue to grow steadfast in his walk with Christ. He is truly in love with Christ...and we all know that passion for Christ brings indignation from others...

If you are interested in attending, just click on the link above. you can enter your zip code and find a location near you...even if you think no one in your area knows who this guy is...I GUARANTEE you there are people in your area who will be attending with open minds and lots of questions...are you ready? Has the gospel truly changed the way you view your finances! What an opportunity to share your faith and if you are missing it...I encourage you to learn...even if not from Dave...LEARN...
NOTE: just to clarify for those of you local readers this meeting will be on the radio at 8:00pm on AM 850 April 23rd.

Northland International University

Gotta say I am so proud of NBBC making this name clarification. I can only imagine all the hype and talk this name change will spark.

The Core values are the same

Honesty
Obedience
Wisdom
Service

They are still pursuing Great Commission Training in

Academics - what we know
Actions - what we do
Attitude - who we truly are

And they are still in love with the same God and Gospel that scripture teaches.

As for my concern of the intent of this change...who cares? The above 3 items (Gospel, Core, and Principles) were my concern. after all the university started as a local camp, then God grew it and they became a regional camp, then God grew it and they changed the name to a Bible Institute, then God grew it and they changed the name to Bible College, then God grew it and they began the Graduate program, then they began opening up extensions of the college on foreign field...so, they changed the name to University.

I had the opportunity of getting to know several of the administrators as I attended the college...and let me say that their vision was so huge and passionate! Doc O knew he needed someone with more skill to help him flush out his vision...so Dr. Horn came along and completely revamped the academic side of NBBC...which was not welcomed by most students at the time, but has greatly impacted NBBC for the better! Dr. Olson came along with such vision and a deeply rooted love for the local church and missions! Now, they realize that more skill is needed and they are adding Dr. Jack Klem to vamp up their graduate program...and I personally think they couldn't do better than asking him!! Dr. Jim Bennett is the Vice President for Academic affairs (and has been for a few years) which only further grounds my excitement for the potential of NIU in the days ahead. I remember chuckling to myself after hearing a few of them talk about their vision for NBBC...I was thinking...in your dreams! Well...here are some dreams that are becoming a reality...and the advancement of the Gospel is central to those dreams!

So, officially, NBBC still exists as the undergraduate program of Northland International University...whew! At least now I know my memorobilia hasn't lost any of its investment value...and I am also quite certain that their AMAZING (lol) Alumni perks are still valid b/c after all I am a card carrying graduate :)

However, when someone asks me where I graduated from...I will say Northland International University (for SEVERAL reasons but I'll refrain from my soap box right now :) and under my breath I will ask God to continue to bless and grow the vision and passion of Northland as it endeavors to passionately and effectively train servants for Gospel living!

for some helpful explanation the administrators sat down for 2 round table discussions that were recorded and I found them extremely insightful. Here is the link to the chats!

now....I wonder if they would ever consider doing away with DEMERITS! that would truly be internationl! In International countries...well let's just say their forms of discipline seem so much more effective ;)

Tip #4 Journal for change

If you have an area of your life that you want to see improved...journal your existing habit to begin with!
Yes, it is proven that writing down the specific habit in disapprove will greatly improve your chances of changing for good.
Hello??? Weight control, budgeting, time management...etc
Truth is, if you can't stick to journaling down your existing problem area...then you probably are not ready for a real change!
Once you journal the way you use your time for 2 weeks...or the way you use your money for 2 weeks...or what you eat for 2 weeks...or the way you___________ for 2 weeks, you will more than likely see a pattern that needs to be addressed verses a flippant thought that you try to act on and end up exactly where you started!
(I like to add a list of the pro's and con's of the habit change I have in mind...)
For example, when I was beginning to have a desire to change my time management one of the first things I did was write down in detail how I spent every minute of my day. Did it take time to do?? Yes, but it was the first step in the process to disciplining myself to change. After 2 weeks I was able to zero in on the specific times of day that were issues for me...and I began to make calculated changes as to ways I could "redeem the time" during those hours. If I had not written down my time...I would have just decided to change one day and started writing a strict schedule for myself to follow...get up early....breakfast at 8:00....YMCA at 9:00 and by day 3 I would have been exasperated! However, with the 2 weeks worth of journalling, I was able to see that the after noon hours were the hours that I needed to focus in on..and with just a few changes I was able to tweek the schedule to be more efficient...making the change more intentional and concrete.
This is not a guarantee...but I truly go through this process before I make calculated changes. That way..I am not always saying..I need to change this...or I need to change that!!!
The more calculated your intentions are ...the more efficiently your energies will satisfy!!

Financial Peace University

We have officially begun our Financial Peace University class at Cornerstone Bible Church on Sunday Evenings. It is a little bit of a drive for us, but we jumped on the opportunity to be a part of and encourage other believers as they endeavor to live like no one else so they can give like no one else:)
There are 20 couples taking the class and 2 singles...so it is a large class! There are several couples who are NBBC Alumni who attend CBC and are taking the class, so needless to say we are thrilled with the prospect of spending more time with them as well as learning together how to better give save and spend. Most of the couples are debt free and are truly just looking for a system to help them get on track to be able to give give give. My heart was thrilled to be surrounded by so many who desire to be gospel centered even in the area of spending...because truly as believers...there needs to be a difference!
I will make sure to update you all as we progress together...but already it has been a joy to my heart and I look forward to the next 12 weeks of class:)

Apples of Gold

Tonight, I attended our Ladies Fall Fun Night at church...and what an enjoyable time it was for me. Colonial is a larger church than the ones I have ever been a part of, and there are some wonderful things about being in a large ministry...but also, some down sides. One of the greatest burdens on my heart has been the great difficulty it has been to get to know some of the older women in the church body and truly learn from them. Growing up, we attended a church where we were encouraged to participate with all generations...and it was easier to facilitate this mingling.
Tonight was such a sweet answer to prayer. We were able to kick back and all laugh together and play games that made us all laugh. I met Bashful Brenda, Lumpy Linda, Lovely Lisa, Joyful Joy, Ditzy Deb, Happy Heather, Sunny Sue, Irresitible Irma (see ladies...I still remember your names!...but more importantly, Martha Davey layed out some direct thoughts from Titus 2 on the importnce of women realizing that those commands are not options....they are necessary in order to truly be a church that looks like Christ. After she shared the leadership's burden to see this fleshed out in our church...they began sharing with us the mentoring program they are going to be beginning in the winter months.
Apples of Gold...my sister had been a part of this program last year and truly was blessed and encouraged by the wisdom and friendships she was able to glean from it. However, I figured that even though the program was wonderful..it was not "Traditional" enough (Unfortunately!)for our Fundamental circles due to it's association with Focus on the Family.
I am excited to see this ministry launched in our local body...but as they encouraged tonight, we need women to pray about the responsibility of mentoring...and with such a large church...this will be no small feat! However, my eyes filled with tears tonight as I saw women challenged with Titus 2 and then given a direct avenue to practice their God commanded roles in our challenging and busy culture. I desire this not only for myself, but also for the women I co-labor along side with in the gospel. This ministry has been deep on my heart...and I encourage each of you to take a look at this menotring program if you have not had the chance to. You older women....I know it is intimidating...but we younger women need you more than you know. God designed us to need you...so don't be intimidated by how "put together" and "busy" we may seem...
And younger women...let's break down some prideful barriers and allow Christ to work through these older women to help shape us to be like Him.
A woman who fears the Lord....she shall be praised!

Now...if only we could get a Financial Peace Class going......that's my next burden...can you "Imagine what the People of God could do for the Kingdom of God if they were debt free."