A man is walking home alone late one foggy night when behind him he hears . . .
BUMP. . . BUMP. . . BUMP. .
Walking faster, he looks back and through the fog he makes out the image of an upright casket banging its way down the middle of the street after him.
BUMP. . . BUMP. . . BUMP. . .
Terrified, the man begins to run towards his home, the casket bouncing quickly behind him.
FASTER. . . FASTER. . . BUMP. . . BUMP. . . BUMP. . .
He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door behind him. But the casket CRASHES through his door with the lid of the casket clapping.
Clappity-BUMP. . . Clappity-BUMP. . . Clappity-BUMP. . .
On his heels, the terrified man runs upstairs to the bathroom and locks himself in. His heart is pounding, his head is reeling, his breath is coming in sobbing gasps. With a loud CRASH the casket breaks down the door, bumping and clapping toward him! He screams and reaches for something, anything, but all he can find is a bottle of cough syrup. Desperate, he throws the cough syrup at the casket!
And. . .
The coffin stops.
Wednesday, October 31
Tuesday, October 16
A Little Word Study...
I need your help...
I came across a Bible verse recently that, after briefly talking to a friend, I decided to study out. I won't reveal what verse it is yet because I don't want to "taint" any help you all may have to offer. So...here's how you can help.
How would you define desperation? Or being desperate? What does that mean and/or look like to you?
I came across a Bible verse recently that, after briefly talking to a friend, I decided to study out. I won't reveal what verse it is yet because I don't want to "taint" any help you all may have to offer. So...here's how you can help.
How would you define desperation? Or being desperate? What does that mean and/or look like to you?
Wednesday, October 10
Remembing...
Today has been a day of remembering for me. One year ago today my friend, Mark, went home to Heaven. It's been a day filled with old memories, lots of smiles, and the occasional shake of my head as I remember some weird or funny thing Mark said or did. Mark was always the first one to laugh at himself! I've thought a lot about Mark's legacy - his life of worship - and how that has affected me. I am much more aware of how I live my life because of knowing Mark Houghton and having the privilege of walking alongside him as he lived his life of worship. I came to the realization this week that I used to think Mark legacy was somehow "tied" to SoulFire. I guess because, as SoulFire, we shared so much beyond our music. And we knew that music was not what defined us as a band...contrary to what people thought and, to some extent, still think. What defined us was worship...and more specifically...how we lived our lives of worship on-stage and off. I think Mark did more to define that for us than anyone, or anything, else. And I think that's why, when God brought SoulFire to an end even though it was very clear this from from Him, it struck a little fear in me. I didn't want Mark's legacy to die. But God has patiently shown me that Mark's legacy is not tied up in a band...it's tied up in me, and Tim, and AJ, and Geoffrey, and Mike, and all the others whose lives were impacted by Mark. And the greatest way to keep that legacy alive is to continue to live out our lives of worship before a world who largely does not yet know that they were also made to worship.
So, it's been a day of remembering for me...but it's also been a day of worship as I thank God for what He has shown me and continues to show me on this journey.
I still miss Mark very much. It's true that "I've never been more homesick than now" and I can't wait to get a tour of Heaven someday from my friend...
So, it's been a day of remembering for me...but it's also been a day of worship as I thank God for what He has shown me and continues to show me on this journey.
I still miss Mark very much. It's true that "I've never been more homesick than now" and I can't wait to get a tour of Heaven someday from my friend...
Wednesday, October 3
November in Brasil...
Hello everyone,
I find myself writing you, once again, to tell you of an opportunity I have to travel with my church on a short-term mission trip. A group of seven of us will be traveling to South Brazil November 9-20. This trip will be special for me as it will likely be the last time I travel to Brazil on a short-term basis. God has been working in my heart and life and has given me clear direction to pursue full-time missions in Brazil. I am currently completing the application process with ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) and will make this journey “official” in February when I am appointed a missionary after attending the Candidate Seminar at ABWE.
But for now I have the incredible privilege of taking this trip with my church family. We will be working alongside two missionary families and several Brazilian couples that serve in the churches there. Our prayer is that we will be an encouragement to them as they labor in this country and also that we could help strengthen the partnerships they have with other local churches. We will also be learning about their vision for the ministry in South Brazil and we’ll be able to do some acts of service, drama, and other events to help bridge the gap between the church and the community. One of those things is baseball. They have recently started a baseball ministry and we will be able to help them in teaching the Brazilians about baseball.
As you know, I cannot do a trip like this alone. Nor would I be wise to try. I desperately need your prayer support…our team needs your prayer support. Without that this trip would be in vain. The people of Brazil are no different than you or me. They were created in the image of God to be worshipers of Him. It’s just that some of them don’t know that yet. It is our prayer that we will be able to share that truth with these people whom God so desperately loves. So, I humbly ask for your prayers. For safety, for boldness, for us to be compelling examples of our purpose on this earth. You and I were made to worship. And our lives will never be full until we are worshiping the only One worthy of our worship.
It also takes finances to make this trip possible. I have already started putting money aside for this trip and would like to give you the opportunity to come alongside me financially. The total cost will end up being just over $1700 and some of that is due immediately as we need to secure our plane tickets and Visa to enter Brazil. If you would like to help, please make your check to Fellowship Community Church with “Amy Miller – Brazil Trip” on the memo line and send it to:
FCC
255 North Avenue
Norwalk, IA 50211
You also have the opportunity to give online by going to FCC’s website at www.fccnorwalk.org and click on “Online Giving” in the upper right-hand corner. Put the dollar amount in the “Other” category and make sure to specify that it is for my trip to Brazil. Every gift given, whether by check of online, is tax-deductible.
Let me thank you, in advance, for your prayers and financial support. Many of you have been part of my “team” for many years and I owe a great deal of thanks to you for your sacrifice, whether financially or by giving of your time to pray. Your prayers and your giving have a lasting, eternal impact…I hope you know that.
blessings,
amy
Revelation 5:9 – “…with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
I find myself writing you, once again, to tell you of an opportunity I have to travel with my church on a short-term mission trip. A group of seven of us will be traveling to South Brazil November 9-20. This trip will be special for me as it will likely be the last time I travel to Brazil on a short-term basis. God has been working in my heart and life and has given me clear direction to pursue full-time missions in Brazil. I am currently completing the application process with ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) and will make this journey “official” in February when I am appointed a missionary after attending the Candidate Seminar at ABWE.
But for now I have the incredible privilege of taking this trip with my church family. We will be working alongside two missionary families and several Brazilian couples that serve in the churches there. Our prayer is that we will be an encouragement to them as they labor in this country and also that we could help strengthen the partnerships they have with other local churches. We will also be learning about their vision for the ministry in South Brazil and we’ll be able to do some acts of service, drama, and other events to help bridge the gap between the church and the community. One of those things is baseball. They have recently started a baseball ministry and we will be able to help them in teaching the Brazilians about baseball.
As you know, I cannot do a trip like this alone. Nor would I be wise to try. I desperately need your prayer support…our team needs your prayer support. Without that this trip would be in vain. The people of Brazil are no different than you or me. They were created in the image of God to be worshipers of Him. It’s just that some of them don’t know that yet. It is our prayer that we will be able to share that truth with these people whom God so desperately loves. So, I humbly ask for your prayers. For safety, for boldness, for us to be compelling examples of our purpose on this earth. You and I were made to worship. And our lives will never be full until we are worshiping the only One worthy of our worship.
It also takes finances to make this trip possible. I have already started putting money aside for this trip and would like to give you the opportunity to come alongside me financially. The total cost will end up being just over $1700 and some of that is due immediately as we need to secure our plane tickets and Visa to enter Brazil. If you would like to help, please make your check to Fellowship Community Church with “Amy Miller – Brazil Trip” on the memo line and send it to:
FCC
255 North Avenue
Norwalk, IA 50211
You also have the opportunity to give online by going to FCC’s website at www.fccnorwalk.org and click on “Online Giving” in the upper right-hand corner. Put the dollar amount in the “Other” category and make sure to specify that it is for my trip to Brazil. Every gift given, whether by check of online, is tax-deductible.
Let me thank you, in advance, for your prayers and financial support. Many of you have been part of my “team” for many years and I owe a great deal of thanks to you for your sacrifice, whether financially or by giving of your time to pray. Your prayers and your giving have a lasting, eternal impact…I hope you know that.
blessings,
amy
Revelation 5:9 – “…with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
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