Life in the Big Potato

This is where we meet and worship on Sunday mornings. I just thought this picture was cool.

You'll never guess what site comes up in the top three or so when you Google "how to grow a big potato". Well, since you are here you probably would guess it. I'm sorry that we don't have any information about growing potatoes. I don't know how to do that. Please pray for us as we plan for our 2007 Disciples Now. We are really emphasizing a devotion to scripture for the next few months as a church and as a youth group. For the next 5 weeks we are exploring how hearing God speak changes your life. We are looking at examples (strangely enough) from the Bible. Then our Dnow is focused on the why's and how's of the discipline of scripture study. Most of our youth are young and really ready to start growing in their faith. Pray that they will take this part of their lives seriously. Our Life Group is studying 1 Peter. We plan to go all the way through 2 Peter. It is going very good. We are currently praying about how God wants us to launch another ...

First, I must tell you that I had a wonderfully written post prepared for you. I was halfway through crafting a witty, insightful missive when we blew the breaker. We don't know why we blew a breaker. It just sometimes kicks off. This happens pretty regularly now. Each time it makes our pastor start grumbling things about getting a new building and our worship pastor wonders when one of us will be electrocuted. Now, I must tell you that it is 14 degrees Farenheight and it is lightly snowing. But I am inside at a comfortable 67.

here are some pictures from our trip to see Mom and Floyd. we did a lot of laughing and selling property in Monopoly. Mom also decided to model the converse. isn't she cute?

Christmas: Part 2 Coming Soon Family at the Lake Opening Presents with Dad Surprise. A new digital photo frame. Let's see how do I get into this. We love playing with our younger cousin's toys. Out on the town for New Year's.

Bennett got a Marsh-Mallow Blaster from his beautiful wife for Christmas. Jana got a kiss from Frosty. Emma got a pretty Barbie with crazy wings. Jana was able to assist in the building of a Gingerbread house, while Bennett dominated in a game of Trouble. You're a good man Charlie Brown. And we know you will go very far.

we are surviving the winter (woo hoo), and we are actually having lots of fun. here are some fun pictures from this month. we wish all of you a very merry Christmas. the snow boarders getting ready. that's bennett in front. we actually get to ski and board in Narnia. it's magical. and our life group felix navidad party. we are thankful for the community God has given us. and this is our first Christmas tree from K-mart. "and they will call him Immanuel which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

You may be wondering how things are going with us. The church as a whole seems to be doing pretty well. I mean, we are filling up the "pews" (they are actually padded chairs that hook together) each Sunday morning. About a third of our people are involved in small groups. There are about 15-20 children involved on Sunday morning. Our youth group is only consistently around 6 or so. But we have a good group of adults who want to help with the youth. We are looking forward to starting many mentoring relationships. Our building fund is up to around $300,000 ( I think). That means that we are ready to move forward with plans for a new building. We still have to come up with another $300,000 before all is said and done, but we are far enough along to begin the process, which is very exciting. We have a new Associational Missionary or whatever we call it here. Joe Boney will be DOM for our association and the one south of us. Whispering Pines, I think it is called. Jana ...

I have now lived in snow longer than ever before. Not that there was a large reccord to beat. I guess the most days of snow I've ever seen was maybe four. Even then I was on a mission trip in Indianapolis. But here we have had 12 days with a significant amount of snow on the ground. The temps are ranging a few degrees above freezing now, but the snow is still several inches deep. We did get a chance to go skiing last week. As we rode up the ski lift into the fog we really felt like we were riding into Narnia or some other magical winter wonder land. It was so beautiful. I snowboarded and Jana skiied. We both took the lessons that were included in the package we bought. I ate a lot of snow, but eventually started having fun. I can't wait until you come visit so we can ski lookout pass together. See ya on Huckleberry Ridge.

Here are some images from our trip back home during Thanksgiving. Actually we went to Birmingham, Houston, and Hattiesburg. That sweet tea didn't stand a chance. We helped decorate Sue and Floyd's Christmas tree. I still think it needs more color. Emma and I are trying out for the next L.L. Bean catalog. Here the younger folks are discussing how things have changed since we were kids. This was supposed to be a leaf pile, but it is actually a stack of pine needles. Sandy didn't care. She did get a little sappy. This is probably right before the second half of the Fenton bowl. Jerry's team makes their game plan The Fenton boys have now taken up rocketry. This is the first attempt at hydrogen fuel for energy. Thanks to our families for feeding us and encouraging us this Thanksgiving. We love you!

Join with us in prayer this Fall - That our relationships with the youth would continue to grow into discipleship relationships - That our church would be moved to be body of passionate prayer, gleeful giving, and sacrificial service. - That our focus will be Christ alone. - That our life groups would be vibrant. - That our staff will be unified. - Pray for the UISBC (Utah/ Idaho Southern Baptist Convention). There are many churches dealing with conflict and bitter spirits. Pray for them to be humbled and for peace and unity to reign. - Pray as we begin to prepare for our trip to East Asia in the Spring that God would prepare the hearts of the college students we will meet.

my pop-in-law sent this to me ... Remember.... The will of God will never take you... Where the grace of God cannot keep you Where the arms of God cannot support you Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs Where the power of God cannot endow you. The will of God will never take you... Where the spirit of God cannot work through you Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you Where the army of God cannot protect you Where the hands of God cannot mold you. The will of God will never take you... Where the love of God cannot enfold you Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you. The will of God will never take you... Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears Where the Word of God cannot feed you Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Last night we got snow here in Northern Idaho. You can see the remains on the mountain in our "back yard." There is not much left on the ground, but we have our ski jackets out and ready!

Here are some pictures from our trip last week. This place is really in the middle of no where. . Yes that is the famous Lottie Moon in the last picture, and that is literally how tall she was. They have the picture in the children's building. I guess so they can know even when you are small you can make a HUGE impact. ****

We are currently sitting at the library of the Missionary Learning Center in Richmond, Virginia. We arrived last night close to midnight. All I can say is, "This is so cool!" The "compound" is on a massive plot of land in the hill country. We went through two security gates and down a very long entrance drive to get to the campus. It is surrounded by pastureland with cows, trees, creeks, and a large pond. The leaves are turning and while they are not as brightly colored as the ones we left in North Idaho, the trees are beautiful, old and seem much more "treeish" to me. We are very excited to be here and see what God is doing. Prospective Jman, Masters, and ISC missionaries are here this week too. It's neet to get to see first hand, what we have heard so many people talk about.We are here meeting with an IMB consultant who is in charge of helping state conventions mobilize churches to be mission focused. We get to represent North Idaho.

Dear Friends of NorthStar: As most of you know, NorthStar Church was planted with a clear vision of becoming a birthing center to other congregations. God has provided us land in the explosive growth corridor of one of America's up and coming communities, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Last April we shared with many of you God's vision for a ministry center that would serve as a missions outpost for the entire Inland Northwest.  We understood that securing a permanent home for NorthStar would be foundational if the dream of planting other churches would become reality. The plans called for $500,000 to construct this facility. We asked for 500 partners to stand with us in reaching this goal. The members of NorthStar began to pray and to sacrificially give. In six short months, God has blessed our fellowship us with over $60,000 of our goal...until this month when, through three generous donors, we have seen God ...

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday sweet Sandy. Happy birthday to you!

"I can't think of a youth movement that connects people more profoundly across demographic lines. This is a movement of cowboys, skaters, punk rock kids, nerds, drop-outs, cheerleaders, goth kids--you name it. And they all talk about how their faith and their faith community gives them a sense of identity, pupose, and community, which they say they can't find outside Christianity." "...many of the members of this Disciple Generation I met are extremely articulate, thoughtful, creative -- they are quite astute, I believe in many of their criticisms of the secular world as empty, consumerist, and purposeless." "I met pastors, students, organizers, you name it, with rhetorical power and quick wits which would put many people I know to shame." "...there is no doubt that this generation are finding very valuable and powerful things in their modes of living." "This is a movement that is more of a grassroots movement than one that follows a...