Don't you love finding something that's a bargain? How about free?

We love good preaching and teaching, but stocking a home library with cds and cassettes of some of our favorite teachers can get very expensive. That's why I visit www.oneplace.com often.

They have so many great preachers and teachers available online, as well as kids dramas and family shows, too.  Some we like are Love Worth Finding, Insight for Living, Let my People Think, Revive Our Hearts, Adventures in Odyssey, and many others.

Quite a few of these have FREE mp3 downloads, some have a small charge. I just downloaded 26 messages from Chuck Swindoll and Ravi Zacharias today for free for us to listen to as we work in the office.  Enjoy!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

~~Matthew 11:28

"The Bible is God's message to everybody. We deceive ourselves if we claim to want to hear His voice but neglect the primary channel through which it comes."

~~Elisabeth Elliot

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Have a blessed day!

Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

~~~~~~Ephesians 4: 31-32~~~~~~~

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

I just read a really good article by Chuck Swindoll in my email inbox. I'd like to share part of it here:

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What is the purpose of life?
How did the world come to be?
How can we know what truth is?

Walk down the street today, and ask ten people these questions. You’ll likely get eleven different answers for each one! An atheist will tell you that the purpose of life is whatever you want it to be. An agnostic will say that we can’t know how the world originated. And truth? Good luck with that one.

Now ask the same questions in your local church. You will be even more shocked. In his book written in 2003, Think Like Jesus, researcher George Barna surveyed a group of born-again adults and found that only 14 percent believe in absolute truth and base their ethical and moral decisions on Scripture. Let that sink in for a moment. Six out of seven Christians believe that truth is relative—that it is open to personal definition and interpretation—and live their lives based on that misguided belief.  

When I ponder those disheartening statistics, I am reminded of the apostle Paul’s strong words: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is” (Romans 12:2). What Paul was addressing, and what Barna’s research so clearly demonstrates, is the desperate need for God’s people to reject the thought patterns and practices of a world that often ignores, dismisses, or disparages God. In other words, Paul calls us to develop and maintain a thoroughly Christian worldview.

Why is this so critical? The world’s way of thinking is infiltrating the church instead of the other way around. That’s the reason I thought of Romans 12:2. Our decision on this matter is like a continental divide determining the direction in which our thoughts and actions flow. And here’s the challenge. Nothing in this verse happens easily or automatically. Paul’s command requires consecration, transformation, and evaluation. Allow me to define these briefly.

Consecration is the radical separation from a secular worldview and the dedication to a godly mind-set.

Transformation is the deliberate determination to think biblically and to act accordingly.

Evaluation is the unguarded, vulnerable appraisal of our spiritual condition.

As followers of Christ, we must be willing to turn away from the world’s system and to embrace the biblical way of life. No matter the personal, professional, or social cost.

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The Insight for Living website is definitely one to visit--see www.insight.org .

The Bible study is ON for Thursday! KIDS ARE WELCOME!  I'm not sure what will be on the back of my stove to eat, but it'll be something good. It's from 12:30 to 2:30--can't wait to see you all!  We're going to talk about joy and thankfulness [mainly], and who knows what interesting little birdwalks we may take beyond that. 

We've had weather issues for our previous meetings, this time it might be flu problems. Our church attendance was way down because so many had the flu---but at least they stayed home to not spread it!  Local public schools have been out since last week because of it.  This may sound odd for a homeschooler to say, but I'm thankful for a wise public school superintendent who knows it's better to have a few days off to try to let this stuff run its course without spreading infection unnecessarily!  We all know that some folks send their kids to school ill if the doors are open.  So thanks----my Dad wishes he worked for you! He said at his school yesterday kids were walking around sick, many were sick at their stomachs, and the evidence was everywhere [trying not to be too graphic here, folks.]  Bless their hearts.

Anyhoo--the meeting is on, let me know if you can come, and if you're sick.....best wishes for a speedy recovery!!!!!!!!

See ya' later blog pals--got to vote, drop off dry cleaning, return library books, get school done [out for election day? Perish the thought! It's a ready-made field trip!], and HOPEFULLY get my house clean. Yikes!--how come we are so messy?

Well, as I expected, some of the group won't be able to make it. But any reader from Friendship Church, friends, or  family that's in the area are welcome!  You don't need a copy of the book, just bring your Bible and some paper!

I'm preparing for the fun, cleaning house and getting ready to go make some copies of stuff for use to use [NOT THE BOOK THOUGH! ]. 

Just drop me a line through email or on my cbox in the sidebar if you can make it!

Blessings dear sisters--in Christ, Gin

My friend Lisa sent me this. You've probably read it before, but it's worth reading again.

 Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."    

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.      

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to ho ld the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:  "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."  She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.    

The man answered yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he ha d to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully  refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If to day you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.