Many of you that have been following my posts know that we have a home-church.  Today, I thought I'd share with you a little about our origin - how our church started.

Our church was born in a home over 55 years ago.  My Uncle Roger (Maslin) had graduated from theology school and was called of the Lord to start a church in the suburbs of Chicago.  He was commissioned to do this from a church in Michigan.

My Uncle Roger and his wife started meeting in the home of a devout Christian lady named Mrs. Marie Vosnos, and her sister, Edith, began to meet with them, too.  Pretty soon, there was a little nucleus of believers.

Along came my father, Louis Maple, graduated out of Wheaton College, called to be a pastor. He began to work with my Uncle Roger in building this church.  Uncle Roger eventually left, but my dad stayed and continued to grow this little church. 

This (below picture) is the original church building that the church members built. There used to be a steeple on top of the center of the building that had a bell in it.  It would play church bells every Sunday morning.  I always loved that.

The blue house next to the church building was the church parsonage.  It is the home I grew up in.  The Sunday morning church service was held in the church, the adult Sunday School classes in the basement of the church, and the children's Sunday School classes were held all throughout our home.  I remember crying because I couldn't go to my bedroom one Sunday morning because there was a Sunday School class going on in there.  Every room was filled up with classes.

 Eventually, we grew too big and we built another church building in a different location. We kept the little church building and used it over the years for a Christian bookstore; a soul-winning tract printing press; and later, as a home for various families that needed a house.

My father stayed as the pastor of this church for some five decades. It eventually all came full circle again.  The bigger church building was sold to a Korean (Christian) church; and we moved back to the home of my childhood (meeting in the basement), and eventually, restored the church building back to be met in once again. 

My father went to be with the Lord 14 years ago (this very week); but his work goes on.  Some of the same members that he discipled are still active and growing in the Lord.  Although we meet in our own home for the majority of the time, the original church building is still used.

We met here for church on December 28th. 

 This very room that you are looking at used to have pews in it some fifty years ago.  People met here to worship in the same way that we are here.

 Sometimes it is hard for people to separate the church building from the church itself.  I know I did.  Did you know that the original Greek word for the church (for the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language) is Ecclesia?    Ecclesia means the Called Out Ones.  The word 'church' in God's eyes, has nothing to do with our building (or lack of one.)  It is the people that are the church. Whether we have stained glass, pews, and an alter has nothing to do with worshipping God in spirit and in truth.  He tells us that where ever two or more are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them. 

I have found that homechurch is similar to when homeschooling first started.  It was hard for people to imagine a school without a school building.  Seventeen years ago, (when we first started), before homeschool found its way into mainstream, the word homeschool was uncomprehendable to many that I met. 

If you would like to read more about our church, go ~HERE~.

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Don't forget to go visit our host, Mary of Canada Girl and visit other S&T's.

I have often told my children the story about a newlywed wife that was preparing her first roast.  She carefully cut off the ends of the roast and placed it gently in the pan.  Her husband upon noticing this, asked her why she cuts the ends of the roast off, thinking this to be quite unlike her normally thrifty nature.  She answered his question by telling him that she did this because her mother had always done it this way. With this answer, he accepted it, although he still didn't really understand.

At a family gathering,  when this same couple were visiting the wife's mother, the son-in-law noticed the peculiar habit of his wife's mom preparing the roast by cutting off both ends. Striving to have his curiosity quenched, he inquired to why she did this.  She answered the same thing his wife had said, simply, because her mother had always done it this way.

Finally, at a time when they were visiting his wife's grandmother, he noticed that certainly Grandma also prepared the roast in this same fashion. He just had to know the answer to this riddle, and he asked her, "Grandma, why do you cut off both ends of the roast?" 

She replied,

"Because only then will it fit in my pan."

I have often told my children this story because I wish to explain to them that this is often common to human nature.  We do things just because it has always been like this. Or we believe things just because our parents or our religion has always believed this way.  But just because it has always been done like this, does not make it truth. We must search the Scriptures and pray that God will lead us into all truth, and not do things or believe things just because it has always been like this.

In our home, we do many things different. One of these, is "Home Church". 

 This is  a pattern that was established in the first New Testament churches.   It does not take a building, pews, a pulpit, or programs to have a church. The Greek word for 'church' is Ecclesiasa, which means, "The Called Out Ones".   As in the past it was hard for many to understand how one could have "Home School",  the same is true today for the concept of "Home Church".  It is very hard for many to separate the building known as "church" and the actual meaning of the word.

Today, our members started to congregate around 11:00 a.m. in our living room.  We fellowshiped for a considerable amount of time, not having seen each other for two weeks (because of our recent island trip).  After serving coffee, tea, and an English muffin for those that had not had breakfast (and one that has diabetes that needs to keep her sugar level even), we began our continued study in the Book of Revelations.  Today, we studied the passage in Revelations, chapter three, the subject having to do with the Church of Dead Orthodoxy.  We discussed what this passage meant to us as the church of Sardis was once a thriving and a good church, but had come to a point that they now just did everything out of a religious type of orthodoxy, the outside motions, but not the heart felt passion for Christ that they once had. 

The particular point that we all seemed to be drawn to was the fact that this church no longer had the quickening power of the Holy Spirit.  We discussed this point at quite length.  It seems that there is two sides to this. There are religions that are considered Charismatic that talk quite a bit about the Holy Spirit and His annointing, and then there are those that seem to stay quiet about this subject, and even seem to think that it is somehow wrong.  And thus is the background of almost all present attending today, our childhood denomination being of one that seemed to be afraid? of the work of the Holy Spirit, outside of salavation or saying anything more than that the Holy Spirit is the indwelling Comforter.   Our background is such that it is almost "doctrine" to say that miracles today do not happen, God only uses doctors and medicine and things of this nature to perform healing. 

One of our families in our church was born in India and is of Indian descent.  Approximately six years ago, our brother in Christ, Dan, was convicted while reading a passage in the Bible about going back to his brothers and sisters in his homeland to tell them of Christ.  It was then that our little church began to sponsor crusades for him to go back once a year, a month at a time, to preach the gospel at crusades and to give out Bibles.    They had recently (very recently) just came back from one of these crusades and after our Bible reading and prayer time, they shared several dvd's of the crusade and other ministries in India.

Culturally we share nothing in common with this other family. Yet, because of the shared blood of Jesus Christ, this thread unites us in love and complete unity of spirit.  I praise Him for my children to be  a part of a loving church that transcends our American cultural concept  of what 'church' is. My prayer is that for our church to continue to grow in Christ and to bear much fruit, and to know the quickening power of the Holy Spirit in a way that I believe we have not even touched upon yet. 

(Originally written May 20, 2007)

When we first started meeting in our home for church services, those mornings were panic-filled, trying to get the house company ready.  It was so nice this morning, knowing what the past has been like, getting myself and the kids ready, the meal cooking, that the house was basically company ready, with minor pick-ups.  That was a Sunday miracle in itself.

We had a visiting speaker this morning, his name was Pastor Joshi, from Andrea Pradesh, India.  It was a powerful message. I will have to write a blog just about his message, later.  You could tell that his life was a living testimony and his message was both in his sermon and in his life. 

Our church is a living, breathing, organism.  There is nothing stale and lifeless about out church.  We are small, but we are fruitful.  I have seen spirtual fruit being brought forth in the individual lives of the members, and people being saved and baptized each year.  We don't go out and canvass door to door. We meet as families with our children and grand-children.  Over the years I have invited friends and have seen God work in their life because of it. 

We are not about numbers, as in attendance.  We are about meeting together, fellowshipping, praising God, singing hymns, having prayer, praises, and reading of Scripture.  The kids sit with us and  are welcomed to share their praises, prayer requests, pick out favorite hymns, and even sometimes helping in reading Scripture, or opening/ending with prayer.  They are treated as spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is something you can not attain in most churches, but a home church lends itself to this involvement beautifully. It teaches the children, in a non-verbal way, that they are important to Christ and to His Church.  They are an integral  part - their prayers, praises, and comments about Scriptures of what they mean to them..  They are a part of the family of God. A significant part.  Dan and Bob are the elders, they lead, but their open leadership to children is a huge blessing to our own family. 

When everyone arrived, we had a fellowship time of coffee and talking for about an hour.  Then, when church 'officially' started, I played hymns that people requested and we sang together.  Then there was praise and prayer time.  Dan opened with a Scripture reading of something he wanted to share with everyone, and what this passage meant to him.  Bob then shared with everyone what he and I have been reading in II Corinthians, Paul's letters when he rather complains about the "Super Apostles" as he calls them, in the NIV.  He also refers in chp 10 and 11 that he wasn't much of a speaker, he was a good letter writer, but not a gifted orator.  The people of the church of Corinth seemed impressed wtih these Super Apostles that spoke entertaining messages and performed miracles, signs, and wonders.  When Paul arrived, they would say that he could write a great letter, but boy, was he boring.    Dan didn't seem to have ever heard of this, so we opened the Scriptures and read this together.  He seemed to be very encouraged by this ( he loves to preach, perhaps it was meaningful to him to hear this of Paul, that he wasn't a flash in the pan, but look how God has used him over the centuries, his life and his message has been time-enduring.)

When both Bob and Dan had finished, Pastor Joshi stood (Bob and Dan generally sit as they share their passages).  Pastor Joshi was probably used to a pulpit I am sure, he has traveled extensively the past few months visiting in the U.S. and has been preaching in large congregations and at conferences. Now here he was, at a small church service meeting in a home, in a fellow believers home, just as in the first New Testament churches.  Pastor Joshia gave us an introduction about himself, how he got saved, got called into the ministry, what his ministry was over the years, and how God has used him.  After his introduction, (about 30 minutes) he then gave a powerful message. 

No one was looking at the clock.  We don't start punctually at 10:00 a.m. We arrive, we fellowship, then we start.  We don't finish punctually, at 12:00 p.m.  No, we finish when we finish. 

It was Kristi's birthday, before potluck we all sang happy birthday to her.  When Becky and Adam, Seth & Abraham came a little later, she opened her presents.  It was a wonderful family day, both our biological and our spiritual within the church.

(Originally written August 7th, 2006)

We had a sweet church service Sunday morning.  We started with gathering at the big farm table, sipping coffee, and discussing what God has been doing in our life and teaching us.  My husband shared what he has been learning about the confessions of our mouth and that for every idle word, we will be held accountable for.  We shared our struggles and burdens and how God has been faithful to us teaching us more about Him through these trials.

I felt exceptionally weepy eyed this morning.  I had gone to bed despondent Friday night, waking often throughout the night, thinking about Taylor and Taya.  Throughout Saturday and into the evening, they were in my thoughts. When we were gathered this Sunday morning, and Dan began to talk about the impact of my father on his life, I could feel the tears swelling up with in me.  I kept whispering to Him a silent prayer, “Lord, help me. Help me not to lose it here. Help me not to cry.”

My dad was a preacher of an Independent Baptist church for more than 40 years.  As a child, I would accompany him when he visited the Glenview Naval Air Base.  This base was swarming with growing families and we would often visit each dwelling, going door to door together, telling those that lived there of God’s love, and inviting them to our church.

I helped on my dad’s bus routes to the suburbs of Chicago.  I have vivid memories of going to the homes of these children that came to our Sunday school, and inviting their parents to our church.  I sat with my dad in countless living rooms sharing the simplicity of the gospel.  I watched as my dad introduced person after person, family after family, to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

As an adult, I have often reflected on the impression that my father has left on me.  He went to be with Jesus almost 14 years ago, but I still see life through his eyes. When I see children, I can’t but help but see them  through the lens of my father’s eyes – children that need God, that need to be told of His Son that was sent to us to die on the cross to pay the penalty of sin, for us. 

So when Dan began to share this Sunday morning that he was a disciple of my father’s life and what an impact he had made on him, I couldn’t help but feel great emotion swelling up within me. I had thought of my father a lot this past summer.  When I looked out from my kitchen window at the cottage, seeing the kids in the street on their skateboards, I thought of my dad.  I thought about how much he would love them, if he were here.  And when the neighbors all came to us in a tizzy about the problems they were causing, I thought again about my dad.  If my dad was here, he’d be talking to them, inviting them to his church, loving them. 

I think when our heart is broken, it is then that God can speak to us most clearly.  Well, let me rephrase that.  God always speaks clearly; it is us that do not always hear very well.  But when our heart is aching, it seems that there is a direct correlation to our ability to hear the voice of God.  Perhaps because of this acute sensitivity today, every aspect of our church service seemed especially sweet.  As I played the hymns on the piano, I wanted to sing out loud my praises to God. 

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Before prayer, I shared my burden of Taylor and Taya and all that had transpired throughout the summer - my opportunities, my failings, and their tender hearts when I shared the gospel with them.  Each person, young and old, prayed for them when we went around in a circle beseeching our Heavenly Father, as we often do.  I was reminded of His promise that when two or more are gathered in my name and agree upon anything, you may ask what you will and it will be given to you.  I claimed this promise.  

We were all in agreement, praying together, for Taylor and Tayla, that they would indeed get the Bibles I had left for them (there was a big question if they would be back to get them; if only their father came back for the final truckload of stuff, would he give it to them?; it was Halloween night – would other children see these pretty bags stuffed with tissue paper and a gift and take them before Taylor and Taya ever knew they were there?

We prayed that where ever they would move too, that the seeds planted of the gospel of Jesus Christ, would be watered.  That another child of God’s would show His love towards them and tell them more about Jesus, leading them to salvation. 

After church, I kept running to the phone every time it rang.  Would they call me?  I had left my phone number (and address) in the front of the Bible cover.  If they had indeed received the Bibles, they could contact me if they so desired.

It was late afternoon.  The horses were being saddled up for a family trail ride.  I was in the dining room serving lunch to those that needed to eat before going riding, and I heard the phone ring.  I almost always just let it ring and let the answering recording take it.  But not this time.  I ran in to the family room (the only phone) and lo, and behold, it was Taylor. I couldn’t get to the phone fast enough.

I was so happy I wanted to cry, just hearing the voice of Taylor and knowing that she had received the gift I left for her.  She told me that she had already started to read the Bible.  She’s moving to Tennessee, to live with her Grandma.  “We are going to come back some day, and start a new life.”  

Being grateful Him that He’d given me this one more chance to share the gospel, I again told Taylor that it is imperative that she get a time by herself -to ask Jesus to forgive her of her sins and to ask  Him to come into her heart. 

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10)

Taylor told me that her sister wanted to talk to me, too.  Taya is the older of the two (around 15), and she gave me their new address (in Tennessee) and phone number.  I felt so touched that they called me and wanted to talk to me.  To have their address and phone number for the future was all part of this answered prayer.  And again, not knowing what the future will hold, I urged Taya to accept Jesus as her personal Savior.  I felt an unparalleled urgency in this – there is no time to be wasted.

After talking for quite some time with the two of them, I finished my Sunday with thanksgiving to Him.  I had so much praise and gratefulness in my heart for this answered prayer.  I went to bed with rejoicing, unlike Friday and Saturday night.  I woke up and praised Him in my early morning prayer.  He had heard my prayer, and the prayer of our church, agreeing together in this matter.     “I tell you the truth, whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.   (Matthew 18: 18, 19)

Church went well. We met in our living room and 11 people were present. We sang hymns, read Scripture, and prayed.  Every Sunday is just a little bit different and I like it like that.  I love informality.  Our church resembles more of the church in the first century then the 21st.  When the church first began in Acts,  the first century Christians met in homes, not church buildings.  Paul addressed the churches in his letters as "to the church that meets in the home of..... ".  It wasn't until the time of Constantine, 100 years later, that church as we know it today was instituted.  Constantine had pristine buildings built to worship in and people were required to become Christians (opposite of the previous century where you were persecuted if you did become a Christian).  This was the beginning of the Catholic church.  Eventually, Martin Luther came along and broke off of the Catholic church , establishing the belief that we are saved by faith, not works.  However, the church as Constantine had established it, stayed the same.  The formality, the church buildings, and the elevated position of a  priest (pastor).   Even after the AnaBaptists broke from the Lutheran church, the church never did return to the pattern of the first century. 

I find the study of the First New Testament churches fascinating.  Here are some books if you do too:

Going to Church in the First Century, by Robert Banks

Revolution, The Story of the Early Church, Volume I by Gene Edwards

Beyond Radical, By Gene Edwards

The House Church, by Del Birkey

The Church in the House, A Return to Simplicity, by Robert Fitts

The Church Comes Home, by Robert & Julia Banks

How to Meet in Homes, by Gene Edwards

After church, we had our usual potluck.  The Williams brought their favorite Indian dish, chicken curry with rice.  I made blackened salmon, lemon pepper tilapia, corn bread casserole, peas, and sweet and sour rice. 

After everyone left, around 2:30 p.m., I went to my room and took a quick nap before expecting the next round of company, my mother and father-in-law, and sister-in-law.  After about an hour, my husband came and told me they were here.  I got up rather drowsily (I had been up since around 4:00 a.m.), and joined everyone on the porch.  We have a big wrap around porch with comfortable seating. It seems to be a favorite gathering place for company and family.  I brewed a fresh pot of coffee and we fellowshiped outside. When the conversation was busy between my husband and his parents, I would sneak back inside, as I was making my second dinner for the day. I made a fresh batch of lemon pepper tilapia, and had pulled from my freezer a bbq meatloaf and cornbread casserole that I had made several weeks ago.  I served the blackened salmon I had served for the potluck (I had set some aside to save for this company) and served more sweet and sour rice (a pre-made package from Walmart - also very delecious!)   

(Originally written August 28, 2006)

At our homechurch, you never know just exactly what a Sunday might have for you.

There have been many times we have had our service on our front lawn, even having special

music with  a synthesizer and other instruments moved outside.

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In the winter, our service is always inside, but you never know what room...

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The family room by the fireplace works nicely on those really cold mornings.

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But there isn't always a comfortable pew (or chair)  in which to sit on.  You might just get the stairs!

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There's a great piano to accomodate the music, but the pianist doesn't quite match the instrument's quality...

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There have been times that we've all sat around the dining room table, with coffee or tea by the side of our Bibles.

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We've had a service, or two, in our parlor, and again, there isn't always enough seating so the floor has to do!

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There are times we are all dressed casual.

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 And other times, very dressed up!

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Because of my dear friend, Baghya, I have many sari's in which to pick from!

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After church, we always eat.

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Sometimes we have a birthday party.

(That candle on the cake is from India - when you light it, it sings happy birthday to you!)

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You also never know what just might happen after church.

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 We've often gone to Starbucks before everyone leaves to go to their own home. 

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 Other times, we've checked out the progress of one of the buildings our family company is working on.

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Many times, we have had horseback riding....

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 And paddle boating...

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 Which all leads me to this very last Sunday.   We had our service on our front porch.

As everyone arrived, I served pineapple orange juice, with cantelope slices, just in case anyone

 had come hungry.

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Afterwards, we went fishing.

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Within just about 30 minutes, we had some bass!

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 (Check out Canada Girl for more Show and Tells)

 Our church services are very informal.  We meet in our home, just like the first churches

of the New Testament did.   We are studying the book of Revelations together. 

 After our time of praise, prayer,  reading & studying of His Holy Word, we fellowship at the dinner table.

This is Solomon, Shanti, and Lucas Joshua.  They have come to the U.S. from India just last fall.

They are an answer to prayer for me.  I had been praying that we would have another family join

us in fellowship.  Isn't it wonderful when we see God answer prayer?

 Lucas Joshua is an answer to prayer for myself and  many others.  He was delivered a few weeks premature.  There were complications and he had to stay in the hospital for several weeks before coming home.  There were many prayers beseeching the throne of God at this time. 

Baghya is a retired registered nurse. She was at the hospital daily and helped Shanti and Lucas Joshua through the first few weeks after he was able to come home.

 (I couldn't decide which picture I liked best.)

Please pray for Dan and Baghya.  They leave for India next Sunday night.  For the past seven years they have been going back to India for a month long of gospel crusades, sponsored by our home church.   Over 100,000 Bibles have been distributed thus far.

 We had a special guest this Sunday - Kevin.  I love having guests. 

Our church abounds with love and unity.  This, too, is an answered prayer.  It was not always like

this.  The throne of God was beseeched daily, and for many years now, love has reigned.  And

isn't this the highest calling of His church? 

 This is Dolly with her son, Micah.  Our children look forward every Sunday to his arrival.

Before leaving one another, we often take a drive to go for a cup of coffee.

First, we stopped at the construction site.

 Then we made our way over to Starbuck's.  We often come here and fellowship more.

 The kids have their own room to congregate.

 Sunday's are always such a sweet time.

 Back home, refreshed, uplifted, and stengthened spiritually through the assembling

of the saints.

I took these pictures on Sunday with hopes to post them on monday (my 'm' cap for monday won't work

today!)  but I felt a little bit under the weather.  I spent almost the entire day on the parlor room futon, enjoying my children through our multiple classes of bible (and now the 'b' cap won't work), reading, science, and math.  It was an enjoyable day.  Sometimes when one finds themselves without the desire or energy to clean house and do multiple tasks, it turns out to be a blessing in disguise.  Instead of accomplishing all the things I had planned for this day, I focused just on enjoying and being with the children.

 Had you been able to be with us this past Sunday, you would have sat among us in our family room, singing hymns, prayer (everyone prays), and you would have had heard a special message from Elder Dan

Williams (sitting in front of the fireplace/under the moose). 

 Yes, that's me in my goofy reading glasses playing the piano. 

 It was a very cold and snowy day - everyone dressed warm and comfy.  Other Sunday's,

you might find us more dressed up than this.   We sit around the room, and there is

always someone that claims the steps.

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Pastor  Dan Williams gave us an inspirational message on our hope in Jesus Christ.

"But in this hope we are saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."  Romans 8:24

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 After our church service, you would have been invited to join us in a simple meal sitting around our table together in sweet fellowship.  We had chicken curry, coconut rice, and taco soup. 

(Yes, my Christmas tree is still up.)

 And if you like to have fun, there's plenty of that afterwards.  Anyone that wanted to freeze ride horses was welcome to give it a try.

Your welcome to join us! I'll be looking forward to seeing you.

It was a nice weekend.  Not a relaxing one, but nice.  Lots of kids. 

I made a huge breakfast.  On the menu:

Blueberry Pancakes,

Blueberry Pancakes with pecans,

maple syrup,

scrambled eggs,

eggs easy over,

hash browns,

bacon,

turkey sausage patties,

"home-made" (from the store) rolls,

fresh strawberries

raspberries

orange juice,

milk

chocolate milk

Our area got hit with a snow storm. Local churches were closed.  People that would travel to our

homechurch could not because of the roads.  However, we were able to have church with ten people

present. 

We sat around the table and opened our Bible.  We read from the book of Proverbs. 

Each person present prayed as we went around the table.  I always remember the

verse that promises us that where two or more are gathered in My Name there I

am in the midst of them.  I also love to recall the verse that says that if two of you

 agree on anything, you may ask and whatever it is, and it will be given unto you.   

 I love that Jesus loves children and that he told them to come unto Him. 

 I love that my children are an active part of a living organism called, 'the church'. 

 It's not a building, it's not a program, it's not a preacher, a choir, a song leader,

 a pulpit or pews.  It's just people.  People gathering in His name. 

 Just like the

first churches in the first century.  The churches that met in the home.  It is simple. 

Just like His gift to us of salvation.  We don't have to earn it.  Just receive it.

 "That whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  (Acts 2:21) and John 3:16,

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."     

This is my beloved father-in-law.    He comes to our home-church as often as he is able to. 

He is eighty-seven years old.  A few years ago, my mother-in-law had a stroke, and he now takes care

of her (with help from my husband's sister).     The Sunday that this picture was taken, he had just been diagnosed with a tumor in his kidney and told that it would need to be removed.  

After our church service, he came and sat down by Pastor Dan William and told him that

there was a special bond between them as brothers-in-Christ, and further explained to Dan that

he sensed in him a very close walk in the Spirit.  He requested that this picture be taken.

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My father-in-law, is one-of-a-kind.  I have never met anyone more in love with Jesus than he. 

He reads His Word all day long, and meditates on it.  He claims the Promises, all of them.  

If you start talking to him, there is only one subject - and that is Scripture. 

If you are a stranger, sitting on an airplane next to him (I was on a trip with him to Hawaii

 and witnessed this myself), he will turn to you and start telling you about God and the gift

 of His Son.  If you come to his door and look for lawn work, (this has happened),

he will begin to ask you about the condition of your soul and ask you if you know

where you will go when you die.  He will explain to you that you can not go to God

 by your good works,  you must accept what Jesus did for you when He died on the cross,

paying the penalty of your sins,  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that

 not of yourselves; it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."  (Ephesians 2:8,9)  You will not feel "preached at," when he tells you this.  He has the spirit of humility and this emanates out from within him. 

**

As his daughter-in-law, I have never spent time with him that He did not begin to uplift me with Scripture.  He can not say goodbye without quoting Scripture. 

**

Today, he is undergoing surgery to remove the kidney.  Please remember  him in prayer to the Great Physician.    Thank you.

It all started about a few weeks ago.  A business associate invited herself and her family to come for the day and go riding.  It sounded like an o.k. idea, until, that is, the day before she arrived.  I started walking around my home, noticing things that have been there all along, but now, it was all prominantly jumping out at me.  The scribble on the walls in the family room that my youngest drew a few years ago.  Not a small drawing, mind you, but a few feet long and wide. 

*

I walked into our guest bath, and at course, I've noticed this for a long time, but the wallpaper is peeling off, in not just a few places.  The wallpaper was a gingham robin egg blue check, and I always liked it - I had inherited it from the previous owners almost a decade ago.  I didn't really want to get rid of it, but now, it wasn't only peeling in numerous places, but I now noticed that there was rips and tears in it. 

*

I walked into our eating area, a very small cubicle of a room, and noted that the walls were definitley awful.  There was a light fixture missing in the ceiling, also. 

*

And then it happened.  I snapped.  I called off the company ("raincheck").  And then I called in the troops, a major overhaul of the cosmetics of this house.  I enlisted the help of my brother and Mike, and started painting the walls of our family room, our guest bath, and our eating closet  room. 

*

And as long as I had all this help, I decided to have Ruthie's room painted, too.  Out the mattress went into the hallway, and in went the tarps, tape, and paint. 

*

At course, as you already know, our kitchen is already a major construction zone.  It was being painted at the same time as all this was going on.  White dust everywhere, furniture moved out of the way in every room, and basically, a chaotic mess.

*

Now, comes Saturday night.  It's not close to being done, yet (it was not a rested Sabbath, totally poor planning on my part).    Around 5:00 p.m. I start up painting, thinking in my way-out fantasies, that maybe, just maybe, I could have this all done in time for church.  I stayed up until Midnight, painting.  Up again at the crack of dawn, more painting.

*

No, I did not make it in time.  The house did not improve by the time church started and people arrived.  However, there is a lot of love in our church.  It did not matter to our fellowship.   

 Because the family room, our usual meeting place,  was completely torn apart, we met in the parlor, and some sat on the floor.  

 This is my good friend, Baghya, with Shanti (left).  She just arrived in the U.S. a few weeks ago.

Rachel and Dolly

(and that's Solomon with that big smile behind them)

Our Family Room:

 Guest Bath:

Our Dining Spot for the last year: 

This Sunday, as often it happens this way,  the children began the service by each taking turns praying,  Jacob (6), Ruthie (8), Micah (9), and Joshua (12).  I love this about our church.  The children's faith is considered as important as us big people.  They are welcome to ask questions, contribute their thoughts, pray outloud, and to help pick out songs. We read the Holy Bible and studied the book of Revelations (chapter six) for over an hour. 

**

Yes, I suffered a little bit of humiliation, mind you.  Not the way I like to host people in my home, but it was a wonderful service just the same. 

This last Sunday was such a special day for me.  I couldn't think of a better thing to "show and tell" this week.

It was the Sunday of my daughter, Ruthie, baptism.  Our church meets in the living room of our home, just as the first New Testament churches did in the first century after Christ's resurrection.  As Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, we had our  baptismal service here on the property of Shekinah Farms.

 This is Micah, who has been attending our church since he was a baby. 

 Our church service was outside, sitting under the walnut trees.

 The pastor's of our church were appointed by the church membership almost eight years ago ("Biblical Eldership"). Just as the New Testament first churches always had multiple pastors, so do we. This is Dan, giving the message of Jesus Christ. He explained to all present that we do not believe that it is the baptism of these children that saves them from their sin and from eternal hell.  Rather, it is their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour who has saved them.  Baptism is a public proclomation of this, an ordinance given to the churches.

 We sang songs and worshipped together.  There were some songs in the language of Telegu that were beautiful.  Wish you could have been here to hear them!

 After the worship service was completed, we walked down to the lake for the baptismal service.

 When the baptisms were over, we had a group picture to remember this special gathering this day.

That's my oldest daughter, Becky, in the green dress - she's pregnant eight months, expecting her third child.

 We had a picnic after the service.  We had a lot of unusual ethnic food - very spicy!  Lots of chicken curry.

 This is Baghya and I.  We are special friends. We have been in the same church together for almost as long as I can remember.  She calls me faithfully once a week to see how I am doing.  She prays for me and always tells me that she loves me.  She is a very special sister-in-Christ, as well as a very good friend.

 Every year, Baghya and Dan, go back to India to conduct evangelistic crusades.  Our church sponsors this ("Save India")  and have been able to see multitudes come to the Lord through these.  Over a hundred thousand Bibles have been distributed so far.  

When Baghya leaves for India, she always asks me what color sari I would like.  I told her that next year, please bring me one the exact color as Sheila's - that beautiful green!  

 We had a blast giving those that were guests a tour through Shekinah Farms - around the lake, on the trails through the forests, and alongside the creek.

 Dan's family was Hindu a few generations ago, but were brought to Jesus Christ through Canadian missionaries.

 My grandchildren, Seth and Abraham. I thought it was so neat that we matched this day!

 Our church has always been multi-cultural.  Miguel and Rafiel are from Mexico. This was their first Sunday visiting us and I was so happy to have them!

 Ben and Mike are from Viet Nam and have attended our church for over a decade.

 Just one more picture of my grand-baby - Abraham.

If you would like to read more about our home-church, look on my sidebar and you will see a category called HomeChurch. 

For Show and Tell this week (hosted by CanadaGirl),  is my daughter, Ruthie, in a beautiful sari from my good friend, Baghya.    Dan and Baghya were born in India and then came over to the U.S. about 20 years ago.  They are members of our church.  They go back to India each year for crusades and pastor meetings and have seen many people come to the Lord.  Our church supports them in our program called, Save India.  Each year they bring back to us these beautiful sari's. 

 It is a beautiful morning. I am sitting outside on my porch enjoying the early sounds of the day. At this time I can hear three or four different types of bird calls in the trees around me, and in the distance, I hear a loud call of perhaps a hawk. There is a misty fog that has set and I can not see too far into the pasture. I hear the sound of trickling water coming from the small fountain beside my porch. My horses are staring at me (I wish you could see them), begging for pasture. An owl has begun to hoot, and a dog barks loudly in the distance. A blue jay has just landed close by.

I love the early mornings. It is a time of restoration within my soul. If I do not receive this quiet time with the Lord, after just a few days, I will feel as if my battery has run low and in need of recharging. I crave this time. I choose to go to bed, most evenings, early, in order that I will be able to get up long before anyone else even stirs in their bed.

It was a serene weekend. We did not travel to the lake, and that turned out to be a very good decision, as the weather was overcast and cool for the most part of the weekend. It was nice just hanging out. On Saturday, we stayed at home, each doing their own thing, on the first floor of our home. Some slept in for a very long time. We went out to eat at Bob Evans around 4:00 p.m., and then went to a birthday party for baby Abraham, just turned one. He is my oldest daughters 2^nd baby. On our way home, we stopped at Starbucks with our son, Matt, and his wife. The chai tea was good, but it also kept me up into the evening, until around midnight. I regretted this the next morning!

On Sunday, we read further in the book of Revelations. We have finished the letters to the churches. What is the most meaningful to me, so far in this study, is that in these seven letters to the seven churches, there is no hint of perfection in any of these churches. They all had flaws. This is comforting. Even way back then, much closer to the time of Christ, churches that He cared about so much He would send a personal letter, He loved, in spite of their imperfections, flaws, and sin.

There is no such thing as a perfect church, just as there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, a perfect family, or a perfect person. Were all flawed. And when we come together as a church, we are all sinners, yet saved by grace. He is longsuffering, full of mercy, patient, and slow to anger. Yet, it still lingers within my mind, that He requires us to not just be satisfied with our personal salvation, as if just saved from hell’s fire. He wants us to be “hot” for Him. He has strong words for us if we are not. He says that He wants to “spew us out of His mouth.”

We cannot just “choose” to be righteous, or “choose” to be “hot” for Him. If we try to do this on our own efforts, we will certainly fail, for it is impossible to achieve in our own human efforts. Just as it requires trusting in what Christ has done on the cross for us to receive the gift of salvation, ("For by grace are ye saved through faith,and not of works, lest any man should boast"),  it is also true that we must still look to the cross, as we walk daily desiring to be more like Him.

I love the verse that he gave to the lukewarm church, “Knock, and the door will be opened unto you, and I will come in and sup with you.” That verse speaks to me. I pray daily, all throughout the day, Lord, help us (me, our church) to not be lukewarm. Make us “hot” for you. You have promised that if we ask, if we knock on your door, you will open it. You will open the door and you will come in, and sup with us. Lord Jesus, I knock. I invite you in. Please, come in and sup with us.

It is another beautiful morning. I sit on my porch with the company of only the sounds of birds chirping. The alfalfa field was cut and harvested over the weekend and I am admiring what a steep, sloping hill it is for this part of the country. The weather is comfortable, as I sit with only a sweater on. I can hear the owls still hooting.  

I have often listened to people tell me what an awesome sermon they heard on Sunday by their pastor. I always, inevitably, proceed to ask then, “What was the sermon about?”  “What was it that spoke to you? That inspired you so much?” I have often been met with a rather blank look, accompanied with the words, “Well, I can’t remember right now,” and then watch them as they desperately try to recall just what it was that was so inspiring.

If you can remember the next day what it was that you gleaned from your worship time together, if it has been used to convict you, and then to meditate upon it and pray about it, that is the litmus test of an inspirational Sunday at church. It is not what the outside façade of the building looks like, the eloquence of the preacher, the prepared sermon that he has delivered, or the inspiring music.

Time in prayer this morning was sweet. I prayed quite extensively for our church. We had read in the book of Revelations, yesterday in church, about the church that was lukewarm. He had said that it would be better if this church of the Laodiceans were cold, than be tepid. When you think about that, this is contrary to our way of humanly thinking. This church was still alive and kicking, and doing good things, yet He said that He would rather this church be like the one in Sardis, that was cold and dead, than to be just half way.

From historical records, it has shown that this church of the Laodiceans was still receiving many new members. From my own perspective, it seems, that if a church is receiving new members, that means the Holy Spirit must be working. This church also had a large and prosperous congregation, impressive facilities, and an active program. To our own human reasoning, this would not appear as a lukewarm church. It was doing things, and even having an evangelistic outreach.

God does not judge churches, or people, from the outward appearance. He looks at the inward man. His judgment of a church and how he measures success is much different than ours. We look at the building, the programs, the pastor and his eloquence of giving a sermon. We look at results that we can see, that are tangible for us right now.

As strong as a rebuke that was given to this lukewarm church, there was still hope, because they were being invited to repent. The famous verse in Revelations 3:20 was used here in address to them. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Our study was thought provoking. I prayed this morning, quite extensively so, that our church would not be guilty of being lukewarm. I prayed for the elders of our church, that they would lead our church in sound doctrine. I prayed for them as individuals and for their own relationship to God.

I prayed for many things regarding our church. As I prayed, I looked back upon over 20 years of answered prayers regarding this same church. I remembered each and everything that I have prayed for over the many years, and mentioned them to Him, thanking Him. This reflection on the past answered prayers regarding our church, encouraged my faith now as I prayed.

How encouraging it is to bring new prayer requests to Him, knowing that He hears and that He answers. I prayed, again, for those requests that I have petitioned Him, what seems like a hundred times and then some, as I feel He has not told me, “No,” but rather, “Wait.”  

There are some things I pray for regularly that I must learn the virtue of patience. I must continue to learn to trust Him. If there are particular prayers still unanswered (and there is), then I can rest assured that I am in God’s perfect will for my life. What I think I need so badly, I don’t. I can feel confident in this Truth, because He has told me, promised me, that He will meet all of my needs. If I don’t have it “right now,” then I don’t need it “right now.”  He will provide, in His timing.

Meanwhile, He teaches me to wait on Him. To pray without ceasing. To not give up. To have faith, and not to fear. If He gave me everything I wanted, when I wanted it, I would be like a spoiled child. By making me wait, He is producing within me the Fruits of His Spirit, that will lead to spiritual maturity.

Waiting is never “fun.”  I really do want it “right now,” and sooner, rather than later. But God does not serve my tantrums, or give into my begging and pleading.  He knows in His ultimate wisdom that I really do not need what I think I need so desperately. His ways are so much higher than mine. By telling me to “wait,” He is deepening my trust in Him, and ultimately, my faith.

It is early this Sunday morning as I write this on my porch.  There are a hundred things to do, it seems, to get ready for our church service in our home.  We have just come home, late last night, from the lake. My hair needs to be washed. My hair is long and thick, so to wash, blow-dry, and straighten it, means at least an hour of time, maybe more.   My two daughters also need to do the same, and they will need help from me to get it dry and straightened. They too, have very thick and long hair.

My house is not church-ready either.  We have had my two little nieces here this week.  We have had a lot of fun, but house-keeping was way on the bottom of the totem pole. 

I generally fix lunch for those that come to fellowship with us.  There are some that live very close that join us, but others, will travel  over an hour.    When everyone gathers together this Sunday morning, given the informality of the setting, we will fellowship  with one another for the beginning part of our time.  I serve coffee during this time, and sometimes we have donuts, toast, and orange juice. 

Whenever it seems that all have arrived that will be attending, we open in prayer. Every Sunday is a little bit different, so I cannot tell you exactly what we do each and every Sunday. There are times that we spend a lot of time in singing hymns, as everyone has a favorite they want to sing.  There have been some Sundays that we didn’t have any hymns at all.  There have been many times that we spent a significant time in corporate prayer, each person present praying, even the littlest of ones  joining us in prayer.  Some pray  short, heartfelt prayers, others, pray a long time.  Our prayer time together is always the sweetest moments of our gathering.

We are studying the book of Revelations. We do not have a pastor that has spent hours and hours this past week studying the Word of God, ready to give us a prepared sermon.  We do not have professional musicians. We rarely have special music.

What we do have is the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and  brothers and sisters in Christ that have gathered together to worship our Lord Jesus Christ.

It has been such a busy week with guests 24/7.   While spending time in prayer this morning, before daylight , it felt so good to just sit in His presence, to pray and not feel hurried. Just communing with Him, thanking Him for things,  for events that happened this past week, and praying for people that I feel a burden for.  I wanted to just linger and commune with Him, having moments of silence when words did not come.

After praying, I read a chapter  in Matthew, about when Jesus went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane and told his disciples to watch and pray.  I thought about that word, watch. It struck me as having some kind of deep, significant meaning,  I just wasn’t sure what it was.  I have heard that word at times in sermons and in books.  Were to be watchmen, I have been told, in prayer.  I stopped when I read these verses how the disciples had fallen asleep three different times, after he had personally, specifically, asked them to watch and pray.   I wondered just how this word applied to me in my prayer time.

I  read aloud, being outside on my porch by myself.  I read with reflection and animation in my voice, as if reading the passage to little children.  Reading His Word this morning was as if I was having a spiritual breakfast for my soul and spirit.  I did not have a concordance sitting at my side to look up hard to understand words, as I have done at times .  I just read.  Reading His Word, just the very simple reading of it, was like being bathed in water that has sprung from a crystal clear spring. 

As I prayed this morning, I told Him how much I look forward to our church service this morning, and asked Him to bless it.  When Jesus left this earth,  upon His ascension, He had established His church, the called-out-ones, to gather together. He promised us that when we would do this, He would be among us.  He will be there, is His promise.  What a glorious thing to look forward to this morning. The presence of the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ, will be in my home.  He will sit among us, although we will not physically see Him.  We will break the bread together, that represents His body, and drink the cup of wine that is symbolic of His blood that was poured out for us.

It is time to get my house stirring. May God bless you this day!

On Sunday, our church family came here to worship in our home.  It was a blessed event. I can't tell you how much I enjoy worshipping God in our own home, just as the Christians did in the first century after Christ ascended.  There is something very intimate and real about it.  There is no tradition, no programs, just the fellowship of believers corporately meeting together to worship God, to praise Him, to sing songs of worship together, pray together, and study God's Word together. 

Every Sunday is special in its own way.  This week, we had a visitor, an Indian Hindu. He received the gospel as he has before when he's attended in the past.  I am always so thankful to be a part of sharing God's plan of salvation when a visitor comes among us. 

We had the sweetest time in prayer.  After singing about a half dozen favorite and requested hymns (I play the piano), we opened with prayer.  Unlike your typical Sunday morning service where the prayer is offered by the pastor or some significant person in the church, our entire body of Christ prays.  Some of the children prayed first.  Rachel, Ruthie, Joshua, Micah, Jacob, then a few adults followed in prayer, and then my nieces, Amanda and Amara offered very sweet and sincere prayers to Him. My brother prayed, which his very presence among us was a blessing and an answered prayer.  There were 13 in attendance in all.  "When two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be in the midst of them." 

After our church family potluck, as we customary do on our Sundays together, and after some had gone home, our family and my brothers went to the pumpkin patch to get our yearly ride on a horse-led cart that carries us out to the pumpkin patch.  The kids get out and pick their favorite pumpkins, and then are taken back where the little ones get pony rides and we all drink hot apple cider.