The CCJ Blog

Very few people comment on the blog when we post about something so I thought I might see what happens when I post about nothing. I had a great week. The weather is awesome. CSI was extra good last night. Hope everyone has a gret weekend.

Hey all:
I keep forgetting to tell everyone this. But if you’re doing a 99 Days event, it’s a good chance that you can run something in The Herald’s community pages. For instance, this is what I submitted today about my Autumn Expo (but you don’t have to write it like mine):

An Autumn Expo will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, at Christian Church of Jasper, 1981 A. St.
The expo will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is free to attend and open to the community. 
Consultants representing Arbonne International, Avon, Home and Garden Party, Lia Sophia Fashion Jewelry, Mary Kay, Stampin’ Up!, Taste of Home Entertaining, Tupperware and Wildtree Herbs will have tables at the event. Crafts will also be sold.
There will be giveaways throughout the day and refreshments will be available.
Proceeds from the refreshments, crafts and tables rented to consultants will be used to help the church build an orphanage in Haiti.
Directions to the Christian Church of Jasper can be found at the church’s Web site, www.ccjasper.com.
For more information, call the church, 481-2410.

Because I showed it was a charitable event, it’s guaranteed to run. I didn’t mention 99 Days in mine because I knew I’d have to explain what that is - today I’m pretty tired, so I’m not thinking of a real succinct way of explaining it. But don’t let that stop you from mentioning 99 Days - if the editors here ask me about that (on a different day from today), I will make sure there’s a correct explanation of 99 Days attached.

Anywho, you can send your announcements to Janet Epple, the society editor, at jepple@dcherald.com. And send them as early as you can - if it gets here early enough, Janet will run the announcement several times before the event. For instance, mine will probably run at least twice, maybe three times, and will show up in the calendar section too.

I’ve also been told that the other papers in the county - Ferdinand News and Huntingburg Press - will run these too, but I haven’t checked. (I plan to submit mine, just to see.)

Great job to everyone involved in The Burner. I’m not a grown-up, so I don’t drink coffee, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and watching the kids lead worship. Unfortunately, my kids were, well, my kids and we didn’t get to stay very long into the music but we enjoyed what was there when we were there.

Coming in October.

Narrow Path: The 99 Days EP

5 songs. 5 dollars.

… because it’s been too long.

This week we are studying Peter. We all know Peter is a great hero of the faith, but there was a time when it seemed he was doomed to fail as a follower of Christ. Pulitzer Prize winning historian Barbara Tuchman once explained that in writing history she tried to avoid, “Flash Forwards.”  When historians write about the Civil War, for example, they should resist the temptation to include words like, “Of course we all know who won.”  From the early months of the Civil War right through until Gettysburg, it looked as if the South might prevail.  Tuchman tried to avoid flashing forward to a later, all-seeing point of view; she sought instead to recreate history for the reader, conveying a sense that, “You are there.”

When we read the story of Peter’s failure, we know the end of the story.  It’s easy to ask, “Why didn’t he speak up for Jesus in the courtyard?”  We know that Jesus rises from the dead and ascends to heaven as the glorified Son of God.  But all Peter knows is that his leader has suddenly become the target of a politically motivated criminal investigation.  Everybody else has abandoned him.

Peter didn’t stay failing. Instead he repented and pressed on to be one of the greatest leaders in the church. That can be an encourgment to us to press on when we fail as well. I think back to times in my life when I acted like I was ashamed to talk about Jesus with my friends and realize now ho silly that was. We still have those moments but try to remember Romans 1:16 - “I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

I just sold my first sock monkey to the executive director at Southern Hills!  I am so PUMPED!  Wee!!!  This sale will allow me to buy enough socks to make three more monkeys!  All in praise of God!  After I make the rounds at Southern Hills with my prototype, I’ll being it to CCJ and solicit sales their.  Because my seed money left me but one penny, I have to ask that orders are prepaid.  It’s all for the children!  The sock monkeys are indeed a labor of love, but do take 8 to 9 hours to make, so I’m asking for a two to three week turn around time.  A friend here at SHCC offered to help if I get overwhelmed.  She’s a Christian and we became fast friends.  Coincidentaly, she and her family grew up near Darrel and his.  Darrel, does the name Kris Cornett ring a bell?

Sock Monkeys!!!!!

We played this song yesterday and it is one of my favorites. Not a lot of lyrics but the few that there are are rich.

The second half of the video (after the song is played) is more for musicians. How to play it, whatnot. But the first half of the video explains the thoughts behind the song.

Thanks to Angie for pointing me to it.

Here are the words for those who can’t watch the video:

Great is Your faithfulness oh God
You wrestle with the sinner’s heart
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
Your grace is enough
I’m covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me

Darrel’s Dabblings:
September is a great time of year. The weather can be beautiful, football has begun and if you like television the fall season kicks off. It just so happens, I like all of those things. I like warm weather the most, but isn’t it great that we are blessed with a change of seasons? I think it would be boring if it were the same all the time. It is just another picture of God’s wisdom.
The fall season at CCJ will be really exciting. There are so many exciting 99 Days events being planned, we have The Burner coffee house coming soon, and many other cool things upcoming.
My family also has something pretty exciting happening this fall. We are adding a boy to the Land family. I get a lot of people asking how Holli is doing and I would have to say she is doing well. She is really uncomfortable but well. Thanks for all of your prayers and help during this time.
Finally, I am getting a lot of questions about Profaite (Pastor from Haiti). Here is an update I received from Haiti Outreach Ministries.

“We have little new information about Profaite’s situation. The facts as we understand them are (1) the autopsy of his children is complete, but he is required to pay for the results, (2) his wife remains in police custody, (3) he has consulted with a lawyer and will need legal assistance for his wife for the indefinite future, (3) his wife has not yet been seen by medical/psychiatric professionals. He has a long list of needs and challenges in front of him and, understandably, is dealing with each day as it comes. He is unable to provide any additional information and is reluctant to do so until his wife has had professional examination. Accordingly, any additional comments would be conjecture and we can deal only with the facts at hand.”

So please continue to keep Profaite and the entire situation in your prayers.

Immediate Volunteer Needs:
Chair Crew
Contact: Stan Stewart
Job: Rotating crew to take up and set down chairs
Description: Please sign up on the list in the foyer of CCJ or contact Stan.

Safety Team
Contact: Justin Ackinson
Job: Multiple
Description: Coordinating safety and risk management for CCJ. Jobs include medical response (first aid, CPR, medical trained members need), emergency planning and preparation, facility security, and other tasks as the leadership designates.

King’s Kids
Contact: Cathy Scherle or Tina Hilgediek
Job: Workers for Wednesday evening program, King’s Kids.
Description: We have an immediate need for nursery help. We are also in need of volunteers as teachers and helpers to balance out our teacher/child ratio in the other classes as well.
To find out more needs, go to the Help page.

99 Days Announcement:
If you have any 99 Days events that you want advertised in the bulletin or if you have needs for you project, please let us know. You can call (481-2410) or email office@ccjasper.com Beginning in next week’s E-news, we will be running a list of scheduled 99 Events and Fund Raisers. Please send 99 Days events to office@ccjasper.com.
Known 99 Days Needs/Projects:
– Needed: Excess tomatoes or pint size canning jars. Please call Robin Norris (634-1718) or Sarah Krodel (482-4781).
– Needed: Candy tins (i.e. Altoids tins) any size, felt or scrap fabric, ribbons, pom-pom fringe and/or rickrack, buttons, scrapbook embellishments or clever clasps. Please call Krista Hessler (695-5060).

CCJ Calendar:
The Calendar does not reflect regular weekly events. The Schedule page has events for each week listed.
+ Thursday, September 20
WINGS Blind Auction
Join WINGS in raising money to help families this Christmas. Bring a wrapped gift valued at $5 or more to be auctioned off. Soup and dessert will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. If attending, please sign up at the guest table so those preparing soup will know how much to make. Questions? Contact Cheryl Shoemaker at 634-2979.

+ Saturday, October 5
What We Believe Class (9 a.m.)

Facts and Figures:
Attendance Numbers for 09/09/07
Total Morning Worship – 378
Oasis - N/A

Giving for 09/09/07
General: $24,902
BTB: $10,230

Serving this Sunday:
Greeters: Cullison family, Chastain family, Stewart family
Nursery: Denise Durcholz, Angela Hoagland, Meaghan Foxen, Audrey Case
Jr.Church: Tammy Stubbs
Pre-K: Phil Rottet, Cathy Rottet, Melissa Allen, Nash Jones, Jamie Ruxer, Tammie Bohnert
Meditation: Dan Smith
MediaShout: Amber Beasely
Servers: Byron Roth, Keith Ubelhor, Justin Ackinson, Stan Stewart, John Sermersheim, Terry Enlow
Communion Table/Count: Jeff Shoemaker & Tom Hilgediek
Communion Prep/Servers: Dan Kieffner

Bible Fellowship (6 p.m.)
Nursery: Amber Beasley
Grades K to 2: Rottet family
Grades 3 to 5: Liz Meyer

Visit ccjasper.com for all your CCJ info needs.

Tonight, I was reminded how fragile live is. We think we’re going to live forever. We don’t think this day or this minute may be our last here on earth.  Only God knows the number of our days.  I hear of people who have clinically died and come back and appreciate life more. Their life was changed. They have more appreciation for family and friends. Most serve God more for than before.

Ps 144:3  O LORD, what is man that you care for him,
the son of man that you think of him?
Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.  NIV

My prayer: “ Lord, let me live my life every day to it’s fullest, serving you… loving people and help me to be more appreciative of all I’ve been given.

What are some of the things you’re thankful for that you take for granted?

When all around is fading
And nothing seems to last
When each day is filled with sorrow
Still I know with all my heart

He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands
I’ll fear no evil
For You are with me
Strong to deliver
Mighty to save
He’s got the whole world in His hands

When I walk through fire
I will not be burned
When the waves come crashing ’round me
Still I know with all my heart

Written by Tim Hughes; Copyright 2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

It really is hard for me to think about 9-11 as six years ago. Six years ago today I was substitute teaching, searching Internet news sites as is my usual morning practice when I saw the first building had been hit. It seemed like a horrible accident. I immediately turned on the TV, which I was glued to for the next several days.

So what does this anniversary mean to me? Well it’s a time to remember the families of those who died. Those of us who did not personally lose someone can kind of put it behind them. But those who lost someone, their lives are forever altered in a more direct way.

Secondly it reminds me that there are heroes out there in everyday life. So many people really risked their lives to try to save lives and others did so much to make a difference.

Finally, it is a reminder that we must preach the love of Christ. Those in the world who think that killing people is a way to achieve a mission, need Christ the most.

This is an article I read on DIYplanner and it is awesome.  Really makes you think.  It took a little for me to read but was very, very worth it.  I just hope to implement my desire to simplify life…simplify thoughts…simplify material things, and to simplify activities.

Go to: diyplanner.com

I’m not sure who gets to name the street that’s coming in off of Hwy. 162 (my sources tell me Mayor Schmitt gets final naming rights, but that may/may not be right, I really don’t know). But if you could name the street that will be our new address, what would you call it?

Remember, we are sharing the street with Dubois REC, so something like “Holy Spirit Street” is probably going to be out.

Video found via Wade Allen’s blog.

I recently read the book this video is promo-ing called “Jim And Casper Go To Chruch.” I checked it out at the library a week and a half back and couldn’t put it down. The premise is this (from Amazon.com:

It could be the pilot script for a sitcom: a pastor hires an atheist to help him critique several Christian churches throughout the United States. For the authors, however, this experiment was no joke. Henderson, a veteran Protestant minister, truly believes that evangelism requires listening to the good, the bad and the ugly about Christianity in order to be a better minister. So he hired Casper, an atheist copywriter and musician, to serve as “fresh eyes” and observe how a variety of Christians engage the Divine through worship. Their travels took them to a mission-minded church, an Emergent church and to Joel Osteen’s megachurch, among others. In the book, Henderson peppers his partner with questions about each service, and Casper comments on everything from preaching to music to the geographical location of the churches. The take-home point, which is simultaneously simple, profound and of great importance to Christianity is, “Why are there such glaring discrepancies among churches regarding what it means to be a follower of Christ?” The two authors include some banal dialogue at times, but this is a minor distraction. Anyone interested in contemporary evangelism, especially pastors, will enjoy and learn from this humorous and heartening travelogue. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Your thoughts?