Apparently my walls were too clean...

So, it has become apparent that I will only post to this blog once a month. I guess I have just gotten busy, with Chiara's doctor appointments (which are plentiful lately, but still no flu so thank You, Jesus) and with my business (which is moving a little too fast for our liking, but I am working to reign it in).

Most of the families that meet in our little part of the Ekklesia have been meeting on their own lately, we have just not been able to coordinate schedules so far apart. But we did meet yesterday and have some exciting developments to share:

Doug Belton had been out of work for the summer, and he got a job managing security at the Coliseum in Minneapolis...a huge burden lifted for their family.

Carrie Ellison is still out of work, due to back problems that only get worse not better...Doug even offered her a job, but she can't be on her feet all day. Please pray for her body to cooperate and for the Lord to show her what she should be doing.

Chris Steiner's friend Marcus moved down to Faribault and they started a band. We are hoping that Marcus will meet with us soon, so far it hasn't worked out due to scheduling. Chris also showed us a copy of the first CD he produced...we are so happy for him, God is allowing him to use his gifts, now if he can just get a steady gig ;)

Kim Steiner has a friend from MOPS that is volunteering this week for a homeless shelter...apparently they have a Men's area and a Women's area, and then a family area. Her friend signed up to make coordinate a meal one night for 70 families...the volunteers provide all the food, serve and clean up. I said "we wanna do that!" so I am in the process of getting that info and our group is going to plan to committ to working there one night a month. What a great way to show the love of Christ to people who need Him!

I leave you with pictures of how Caden redecorated Cameron's room...Kim said "Oh look, now she can draw circles" I on the other hand was not as impressed with her artistic ability as her mother was...said mother now owes me 2 Mister Clean Magic Erasers

A real update on our part of the Ekklesia

Some of us got together a few weeks ago for UFC 102, and had a great time. We met early for grilling and some bible study, little fellowship, lots of food. Then we played games for a time while waiting for the event to start...Carrie and Kim both cheated at dice. When it got around to fight time, we all squeezed into the living room (there were a lot of us :) and watched one of the most knock-out packed cards I've seen in a long time. One of the guys who works for Brian came and brought his girl, she had worked all night and fell asleep, poor thing. Everytime something cool happened we all screamed and woke her up, but I think they had fun anyway ;)

Last week we got together twice...Friday night we went to Farmington and cooked out at the Beltons. Doug called Carrie "Kim" and I made a killer chili dip. We talked about Jesus, prayed for people we know and had a great time. Then on Sunday the Beltons came to Owatonna and we met at our house. Doug did a little teaching on Imago Dei...is that too heavy for this blog? He did an awesome job leading a great discussion about the image of God, but I cannot do it justice here. He actually wrote an article about it on his website, www.simeonconnects.com, and I highly recommend checking that out.

Here is what I learned...I have betrayed God, many times. And sometimes I feel like Judas, but I wanna be like Peter. They both betrayed Jesus, but while Judas just felt sorry for himself and killed himself, Peter learned to look inside himself, hate what he sees, and then truly change and live for the Lord. I want to be like that.

I think that's what Jesus meant when he said (of Peter) "on this rock I will build my church" (Follow me now, I know that if you read that in context it is really talking about building the church on the rock of Truth, not Cephas translated "the rock"....I payed attention in "church" and when Brian went to seminary I learned a lot of stuff. So I don't have that Catholic mindset that says the church is built on Peter, the rock) I think Jesus is saying that he wants us, the church, to be like Peter...to understand that we have betrayed him, learn from our mistakes, come out on the other side with a fire in our souls for the gospel, and spread it out to everyone like on the day of Pentecost. He wants to build his church from people like that...people like Peter, who weren't perfect even if they claimed to be, but realized it and got down and dirty with the truth so they could change. I wanna be like that...Make me like that. MR