Dom and a soilder during WWII.
Dom and my peeps in 2005.Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Persistence
A few weeks ago, I really needed to talk to a pastor. There was a ministry issue I needed guidance on.
I picked up the phone and called....Steve. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I dialed...Paul who is my advising pastor for RivRunners. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I wasn't about to give up. I next dialed Noel. The phone rang and rang and went to voicemail. Now I was a little frustrated so I went to Dan's phone # and...I realized it was Tuesday. Horror came over me as I realized they were all in a meeting...together. I prayed none of them had their cell phones with them but about 20 minutes later...
Steve left me a voicemail. Paul e-mailed me. Noel called me.
"Hey, Holly."
"Uh...(embarrassed)...hey, Noel."
"Normally, I don't call people back who don't leave me a message but I just had to find out what you wanted. It was pretty funny because we were sitting in the pastor's meeting and one by one, our cell phones went off. Well, except Dan's. He felt left out."
Needless to say, I won't be pulling that little stunt again.
I picked up the phone and called....Steve. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I dialed...Paul who is my advising pastor for RivRunners. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I wasn't about to give up. I next dialed Noel. The phone rang and rang and went to voicemail. Now I was a little frustrated so I went to Dan's phone # and...I realized it was Tuesday. Horror came over me as I realized they were all in a meeting...together. I prayed none of them had their cell phones with them but about 20 minutes later...
Steve left me a voicemail. Paul e-mailed me. Noel called me.
"Hey, Holly."
"Uh...(embarrassed)...hey, Noel."
"Normally, I don't call people back who don't leave me a message but I just had to find out what you wanted. It was pretty funny because we were sitting in the pastor's meeting and one by one, our cell phones went off. Well, except Dan's. He felt left out."
Needless to say, I won't be pulling that little stunt again.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Happy 5 Year Birthday
5 Years ago…
The Space Shuttle Columbia was reported to have been broke apart and disintegrated over Texas as it embarked on its final approach to a landing after its 28th space mission. All seven crew members are considered to be lost.
Record producer Phil Spector was arrested in relation to an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old woman in Los Angeles. Press reports identify the woman as the actress Lana Clarkson.
United States military officials anonymously confirm to the Washington Post that two Special Forces units have been operating on the ground inside Iraq for over a month, making preliminary preparations for a large-scale invasion.
In Chicago, IL, a stampede at the E2 south side nightclub kills 21 people.
The Station nightclub fire: A fire started by pyrotechnics set-off by Great White, a rock band playing a nightclub in West Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island kills at least 96 and injures nearly 200, with 35 in critical condition. Fatalities from burn injuries are expected to increase.
I walked into Riverview church for the first time on February 16, 2003. There was no headline which would commemorate this event in my life. In fact, it didn’t even have much of an impact on me. I felt sick from the numerous Jack and Cokes the night before. I didn’t know anyone except for the person who drove me there. We sat on the far left side, toward the middle with his parents. Paul DenHerder took the stage and started singing songs like “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” and “Amazing Love.” I wanted to throw up. Steve Sommerlot was next and he asked us to take a moment and ask the people around us what we had or had not received for Valentine’s Day. I could barely stand it. Steve then opened his teaching. The title was “Are you in a Rut?”
Five years ago, I walked into that church and held on tight to myself. I was clinging to myself, clinging to everything I thought was right and good. I held on to my partying lifestyle. I held on to my right to have relations with whomever I wanted. I held on to what was most important in my life: me, my family, my friends and my freedom. February 16, 2003 opened a door in my soul. For the first time, someone was asking me if the way I was doing things was really working. Someone was asking me if I wanted to change for the better. Someone was asking me if I needed and wanted help. Of course, that someone wasn’t Steve. It wasn’t Joey or anyone else I knew.
The second time I went to Riv was a few weekends later. Christ spoke to me in such a compelling way. I saw things right in front of my face which were hidden before. Jesus made Himself known and planted these questions in my heart: Will you cling to me? Can I be your reason for everything? Can I be your family, your friend, and your freedom? Will you try it my way? Will you give up yourself to be someone new in me?
It wasn’t until later that summer when it all clicked. Someone threw down a bridge diagram during church and I saw it all—finally. It still blows my mind how I thought I was a Christian until I actually became one. It still blows my mind that I’ve never rejected Christ even though I’ve rebelled, come back, rebelled again and stayed fast with Him. The Holy Spirit is strong inside of me. It still blows my mind when I remember the rejection from friends and family who thought I was taking this Jesus stuff a little too seriously. That continues to happen, actually. It also still blows my mind when I see people who “give their lives to Christ” and then walk away from Him for one reason or another. I pray that never happens to me. Right now, our bond is so tight, I don’t know how it could split…but really, we’ve only been together for five years J
Happy 5 year birthday to me and thank you, God for saving my life. Thank you for showing me how living for myself doesn’t work. Thank you for showing me how doing thing my way doesn’t work. Thank you for the fiancé you’ve given me. Thank you for the friends in my life who inspire and help me. Thank you for the family that (for the most part) supports me. Thank you for Riverview and the people who lift me up and get honest with me. Thank you for the pastors who teach, reveal, and answer my calls. All of these people are beautiful, wonderful gifts.
Riverview did not change my life as I so often say. Christ used Riverview to soften my heart and prepare me for Himself. February 16 was just the beginning.
I found this online and I could really relate:
Before Christ--The Self-directed life
Self is on the throne. Interests are directed by self, resulting in discord and frustration. Christ is outside the person's life.
A picture of me before Christ:
With Christ--The Christ-directed life
Christ is on the throne. Self is yielding to Christ. Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan.
The Space Shuttle Columbia was reported to have been broke apart and disintegrated over Texas as it embarked on its final approach to a landing after its 28th space mission. All seven crew members are considered to be lost.
Record producer Phil Spector was arrested in relation to an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old woman in Los Angeles. Press reports identify the woman as the actress Lana Clarkson.
United States military officials anonymously confirm to the Washington Post that two Special Forces units have been operating on the ground inside Iraq for over a month, making preliminary preparations for a large-scale invasion.
In Chicago, IL, a stampede at the E2 south side nightclub kills 21 people.
The Station nightclub fire: A fire started by pyrotechnics set-off by Great White, a rock band playing a nightclub in West Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island kills at least 96 and injures nearly 200, with 35 in critical condition. Fatalities from burn injuries are expected to increase.
I walked into Riverview church for the first time on February 16, 2003. There was no headline which would commemorate this event in my life. In fact, it didn’t even have much of an impact on me. I felt sick from the numerous Jack and Cokes the night before. I didn’t know anyone except for the person who drove me there. We sat on the far left side, toward the middle with his parents. Paul DenHerder took the stage and started singing songs like “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” and “Amazing Love.” I wanted to throw up. Steve Sommerlot was next and he asked us to take a moment and ask the people around us what we had or had not received for Valentine’s Day. I could barely stand it. Steve then opened his teaching. The title was “Are you in a Rut?”
Five years ago, I walked into that church and held on tight to myself. I was clinging to myself, clinging to everything I thought was right and good. I held on to my partying lifestyle. I held on to my right to have relations with whomever I wanted. I held on to what was most important in my life: me, my family, my friends and my freedom. February 16, 2003 opened a door in my soul. For the first time, someone was asking me if the way I was doing things was really working. Someone was asking me if I wanted to change for the better. Someone was asking me if I needed and wanted help. Of course, that someone wasn’t Steve. It wasn’t Joey or anyone else I knew.
The second time I went to Riv was a few weekends later. Christ spoke to me in such a compelling way. I saw things right in front of my face which were hidden before. Jesus made Himself known and planted these questions in my heart: Will you cling to me? Can I be your reason for everything? Can I be your family, your friend, and your freedom? Will you try it my way? Will you give up yourself to be someone new in me?
It wasn’t until later that summer when it all clicked. Someone threw down a bridge diagram during church and I saw it all—finally. It still blows my mind how I thought I was a Christian until I actually became one. It still blows my mind that I’ve never rejected Christ even though I’ve rebelled, come back, rebelled again and stayed fast with Him. The Holy Spirit is strong inside of me. It still blows my mind when I remember the rejection from friends and family who thought I was taking this Jesus stuff a little too seriously. That continues to happen, actually. It also still blows my mind when I see people who “give their lives to Christ” and then walk away from Him for one reason or another. I pray that never happens to me. Right now, our bond is so tight, I don’t know how it could split…but really, we’ve only been together for five years J
Happy 5 year birthday to me and thank you, God for saving my life. Thank you for showing me how living for myself doesn’t work. Thank you for showing me how doing thing my way doesn’t work. Thank you for the fiancé you’ve given me. Thank you for the friends in my life who inspire and help me. Thank you for the family that (for the most part) supports me. Thank you for Riverview and the people who lift me up and get honest with me. Thank you for the pastors who teach, reveal, and answer my calls. All of these people are beautiful, wonderful gifts.
Riverview did not change my life as I so often say. Christ used Riverview to soften my heart and prepare me for Himself. February 16 was just the beginning.
I found this online and I could really relate:
Before Christ--The Self-directed life
Self is on the throne. Interests are directed by self, resulting in discord and frustration. Christ is outside the person's life.
A picture of me before Christ:
With Christ--The Christ-directed life
Christ is on the throne. Self is yielding to Christ. Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan.
A picture of me now:
"One Sunday I listened to the preacher
And i knew he was preaching to me
I couldn't help it I walked up front
And I got down on my knees
Right then and there I swear I changed when I found the Lord
Glory Hallelujah Good God Almighty
I never wanted nothing more
No i never wanted nothing more"
Never Wanted Nothing More ~ Kenny C.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Phil makes me laugh.
A note to the Riv ministry leaders from Phil regarding the building phone:
Also, we added Caller ID on our phone system, so if Satan calls we’ll know not to pick up.
Also, we added Caller ID on our phone system, so if Satan calls we’ll know not to pick up.
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