THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT ‘LIVING IN OREGON’…
• If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you live in Oregon.
• If you’ve worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon.
• If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon.
• If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon.
• If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Oregon.
• If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon.
• If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon.
• If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Oregon.
• If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Oregon.
• If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon.
• If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon.
• If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon.
• If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Oregon.
• If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon.
• If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the “Walk” signal, you live in Oregon.
• If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Oregon.
• If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Oregon.
• If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Oregon.
• If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Clatskanie, Issaquah, Oregon, Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Oregon.
• If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Oregon.
• If you know that Boring is a city and not just a feeling, you live in Oregon.
• If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Oregon.
• If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon.
• If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon.
• If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon.
• If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon.
• If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your OREGON friends, you live or have lived in Oregon.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
A new church adventure
Today the three of us had a new adventure! The entire garrison closed chapels due to the snow fall that hit early this morning dropping 4 to 5 inches of beautiful snow on the ground. Making the road conditions to RED.
So, instead of driving in to post for chapel, we walked about 30 steps from our front door to the door of the local evangelical church right outside our windows.
We had been there before mid week to view the architecture and the beautiful murals that are on the ceiling. The church dates back to the 12th century and is pretty impressive. Marble columns, stained glass windows, cathedral altar area gated off to the public, preaching points where even Martin Luther is to have visited and preached.
As you can imagine, it doesn't look anything like the churches in the states or even on post here. It is unique and beautiful.
Well, part of the adventure was that the entire service was done in Deutsch including the 6 songs we sung. It was interesting trying to catch words and phrases we know and understand but the fun was the hymn numbers. Instead of saying one hundred and sixty two, they say the two then the sixty then the hundred and by the time my mind reversed it all, I forgot the number...oh well...thankful for the Rosetta Stone we were blessed with and need to keep working on it.
The other interesting adventure was we were never verbally greeted by anyone there. When we walked in, we were handed a hymnal and a song sheet. We greeted them with the standard, Guten Tag, meaning Good Day. No response back.
We made our way to three seats and sat there. No one greeted or acknowledged us. When we left, no one thanked us for coming except for one man that I approached and initiated a conversation in some Deutsch and mostly english. Even at that, it was all business about the question I asked.
My take away from this adventure, it is crucial to greet people, welcome people and engage them in conversation when at church. The isolation that I felt in a church that didn't speak my native tongue and did things differently, was very not inviting or welcoming. That makes me aware of what I need to do when I see someone at chapel that I don't know or have never met.
So, instead of driving in to post for chapel, we walked about 30 steps from our front door to the door of the local evangelical church right outside our windows.
We had been there before mid week to view the architecture and the beautiful murals that are on the ceiling. The church dates back to the 12th century and is pretty impressive. Marble columns, stained glass windows, cathedral altar area gated off to the public, preaching points where even Martin Luther is to have visited and preached.
As you can imagine, it doesn't look anything like the churches in the states or even on post here. It is unique and beautiful.
Well, part of the adventure was that the entire service was done in Deutsch including the 6 songs we sung. It was interesting trying to catch words and phrases we know and understand but the fun was the hymn numbers. Instead of saying one hundred and sixty two, they say the two then the sixty then the hundred and by the time my mind reversed it all, I forgot the number...oh well...thankful for the Rosetta Stone we were blessed with and need to keep working on it.
The other interesting adventure was we were never verbally greeted by anyone there. When we walked in, we were handed a hymnal and a song sheet. We greeted them with the standard, Guten Tag, meaning Good Day. No response back.
We made our way to three seats and sat there. No one greeted or acknowledged us. When we left, no one thanked us for coming except for one man that I approached and initiated a conversation in some Deutsch and mostly english. Even at that, it was all business about the question I asked.
My take away from this adventure, it is crucial to greet people, welcome people and engage them in conversation when at church. The isolation that I felt in a church that didn't speak my native tongue and did things differently, was very not inviting or welcoming. That makes me aware of what I need to do when I see someone at chapel that I don't know or have never met.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
What's in a box?
Just yesterday, our boxes that we shipped over in the two crates that some great men of God built for us ARRIVED! A 40' tractor and trailer backed up to stairs to our flat. Myself, Randy Adams, Dan Haas and Chris Johnson began to unload 72 boxes!!
Up and down 41 stairs, we finally completed this in about 48 minutes!!
With the arrival of our stuff that we did ship, mind you we left our furniture and other boxes in the states, Julie, Debbie Bickel and Monica Brown began to open boxes, sort and yes, put things where they were to go!!
Melanie and I had to leave just shortly after all the boxes were unloaded to go to Refuge, our youth group that we have the privilege of leading. What struck me the most was that, although we had an inventory list, we still wondered..."What was in the box?"
It reminded me of the days as a boy that my folks would get us each a box of Cracker Jacks and we would excitedly open the box just to see, "What was in the box!!" Well, we have that same feeling going on in our home now...
I am reminded though, you can't tell what is on the inside of the box by how it appears on the outside. It takes us opening the box, looking at the contents to truly know what is in the box.
You know, the same is true with our hearts! We may look all put together on the outside. We might say the right answers and attend the right church or chapel. We might even give our money to the church and all but, the question is really this..."What's in the box?" In this case, "What's in the Heart?"
If we fill our heart with everything that is superficial, that is what we are. If we fill it with all that we desire, then it will be empty and used up. However, if we fill our heart with the ONLY TRUE ONE that can FILL IT, we will find, peace, hope, joy, love and the void that was there, will be filled.
What's in your box? What is on the inside? Have you looked lately? We know that the world offers so much blink and distraction and yet, God offers fulfillment and so much more. If you haven't recently reflected on what is in your box, I challenge you too. If you know what is there and yet, you aren't feeling the fullness of His Joy in your life, take a moment and confess that to Him. Ask Jesus to fill that void and emptiness and to make Himself real to you once again.
Only HE, JESUS, can fill our heart!!! He is waiting to do that!
Up and down 41 stairs, we finally completed this in about 48 minutes!!
With the arrival of our stuff that we did ship, mind you we left our furniture and other boxes in the states, Julie, Debbie Bickel and Monica Brown began to open boxes, sort and yes, put things where they were to go!!
Melanie and I had to leave just shortly after all the boxes were unloaded to go to Refuge, our youth group that we have the privilege of leading. What struck me the most was that, although we had an inventory list, we still wondered..."What was in the box?"
It reminded me of the days as a boy that my folks would get us each a box of Cracker Jacks and we would excitedly open the box just to see, "What was in the box!!" Well, we have that same feeling going on in our home now...
I am reminded though, you can't tell what is on the inside of the box by how it appears on the outside. It takes us opening the box, looking at the contents to truly know what is in the box.
You know, the same is true with our hearts! We may look all put together on the outside. We might say the right answers and attend the right church or chapel. We might even give our money to the church and all but, the question is really this..."What's in the box?" In this case, "What's in the Heart?"
If we fill our heart with everything that is superficial, that is what we are. If we fill it with all that we desire, then it will be empty and used up. However, if we fill our heart with the ONLY TRUE ONE that can FILL IT, we will find, peace, hope, joy, love and the void that was there, will be filled.
What's in your box? What is on the inside? Have you looked lately? We know that the world offers so much blink and distraction and yet, God offers fulfillment and so much more. If you haven't recently reflected on what is in your box, I challenge you too. If you know what is there and yet, you aren't feeling the fullness of His Joy in your life, take a moment and confess that to Him. Ask Jesus to fill that void and emptiness and to make Himself real to you once again.
Only HE, JESUS, can fill our heart!!! He is waiting to do that!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Boy is HIS timing ever good!!!
Copied from my recent post on Facebook regarding the travels of my ladies and how God uses the lessons of the week during my sermon prep to see Him Move!!! The girls were unable to get on the first two flight options. Looking at about a 8 hour wait for the next flight that was full, the counter staff at Delta said, "we can make it work!"
In doing that, they fly from PDX to St Paul then to Atlanta!! There in lies the Here and Now!! HE had it planned along and God met them there at the airport and met a heart felt desire and need for Julie to connect with her mentor and life coach!! WOW....That is great!!!
To God be the Glory!!!
Here and Now!!!! Just saw the Lord working...Julie wanted so badly to connect with many of our friends and all but time, pressures and house consumed her time, energy and focus. Then preaching the sermon God gave me today titled Here and Now, I see why they didn't make their flights. Her life mentor and coach is in Atlanta and she really wanted to see her and her husband. The only way that would happen is if she missed her flight and had to stay over in Atlanta...well, they board at 3ish Sunday afternoon via St Paul to arrive at midnight and then spend most of the day with Mary Pinkerton and Mike!!!!!!! God is so GOOD!!!!! WOW...Here and Now!! Julie McCaw Shackelford you get a blessing to see them!!!! Thank you Lord!!!!
In doing that, they fly from PDX to St Paul then to Atlanta!! There in lies the Here and Now!! HE had it planned along and God met them there at the airport and met a heart felt desire and need for Julie to connect with her mentor and life coach!! WOW....That is great!!!
To God be the Glory!!!
Here and Now!!!! Just saw the Lord working...Julie wanted so badly to connect with many of our friends and all but time, pressures and house consumed her time, energy and focus. Then preaching the sermon God gave me today titled Here and Now, I see why they didn't make their flights. Her life mentor and coach is in Atlanta and she really wanted to see her and her husband. The only way that would happen is if she missed her flight and had to stay over in Atlanta...well, they board at 3ish Sunday afternoon via St Paul to arrive at midnight and then spend most of the day with Mary Pinkerton and Mike!!!!!!! God is so GOOD!!!!! WOW...Here and Now!! Julie McCaw Shackelford you get a blessing to see them!!!! Thank you Lord!!!!
Just had to share this with those that don't have Facebook but read our blog!!
Here and Now!
Today I had the opportunity to preach at one of the Chapels on post. The title to the message the Lord gave me was Here and Now. We looked at Psalms 13, John 14:1-4 and Philippians 3:13-17. In all three of the texts, the writer is either experience a traumatic or life changing event. They are encountering difficulties that Here and Now are big to them.
As we worked through the passages, it was evident that in our times of needs, difficulty, struggles, trial and LIFE, the only constant thing that we can hold on to is...THE LORD IS FAITHFUL!!!
He is our Rock! He is our Fortress! He is our Salvation! He is our Refuge! He is our Anchor! He is our GOD!!! He is EVERYTHING!!!
Because He is, we can rest in the uncertainties of everyday living and life. Julie and Melanie are flying back home to Idstein on standby and even though they didn't make the flight as it was full, I KNOW that the Lord Knows!! I know He is working it out!! He has something else planned that right now we don't see but tomorrow or next week or next year, we will know exactly why.
What is your Here and Now moment? Do you see His hand on you? Leading you? Holding you? Taking you through the times is His opportunity to show Himself a little more to each of us! His will and His way for HIS GLORY!!
I trust that you will find encouragement in the lessons of life as you seek Him for the Here and Now!!
As we worked through the passages, it was evident that in our times of needs, difficulty, struggles, trial and LIFE, the only constant thing that we can hold on to is...THE LORD IS FAITHFUL!!!
He is our Rock! He is our Fortress! He is our Salvation! He is our Refuge! He is our Anchor! He is our GOD!!! He is EVERYTHING!!!
Because He is, we can rest in the uncertainties of everyday living and life. Julie and Melanie are flying back home to Idstein on standby and even though they didn't make the flight as it was full, I KNOW that the Lord Knows!! I know He is working it out!! He has something else planned that right now we don't see but tomorrow or next week or next year, we will know exactly why.
What is your Here and Now moment? Do you see His hand on you? Leading you? Holding you? Taking you through the times is His opportunity to show Himself a little more to each of us! His will and His way for HIS GLORY!!
I trust that you will find encouragement in the lessons of life as you seek Him for the Here and Now!!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
When ministry is not only a blessing it is FUN!!
Ministry comes at you in so many different ways and sometimes it is extremely difficulty and challenging. Other times, ministry is not only a blessing it is FUN!! Today was one of the latter!!
After a full morning of PWOC for the ladies in my house and running ministry errands and doings some last minute paperwork, we borrowed a friends suburban and drove home. Now, yes, for a moment I felt like I was back in the states driving a full size suburban and it was FUN!!
Once we arrived at home in Idstein with the suburban, the three of us began to help our german neighbor moving a large armoire as well as her paintings and other boxes. She is moving after living there for over two and half years. We have only known her for four months and it has been great!
We have had several opportunities to practice our Deutsch with her and she her english with us. We will miss that! One thing though, Julie has had the opportunity to have a couple of spiritual conversations with her. She has experienced a lot of heartache and pain but despite losing her son to be with the Lord a couple of years ago, she knows that he is in heaven.
Knowing that, at the end of our day moving and literally wrestling the armoire down 6 half flights of stairs, we made it and got it set in her new house. We really wanted to give her something and I remembered that our friend and team mate, Randy Alcorn and given me copies of his Heaven book and Grace and Truth books in Deutsch. We presented them to her and as she left the flat on final time, she pointed to the title of the Heaven book and said...when I leave here, I will be there too!
With hugs and tears, we really found that ministry was FUN!!!! Hard and emotional but FUN!!! To know that she knows our Jesus, was a real thrill!! We will miss her and now, praying that the Lord brings another good renter to the small studio that Brigett has left vacant. Wish Melanie could rent it...that would be fun for her!!! Oh well, the Lord knows who He wants there that we can minister to as well.
So the next time you think about reaching out to your neighbor, do it!! It is FUN!!!
After a full morning of PWOC for the ladies in my house and running ministry errands and doings some last minute paperwork, we borrowed a friends suburban and drove home. Now, yes, for a moment I felt like I was back in the states driving a full size suburban and it was FUN!!
Once we arrived at home in Idstein with the suburban, the three of us began to help our german neighbor moving a large armoire as well as her paintings and other boxes. She is moving after living there for over two and half years. We have only known her for four months and it has been great!
We have had several opportunities to practice our Deutsch with her and she her english with us. We will miss that! One thing though, Julie has had the opportunity to have a couple of spiritual conversations with her. She has experienced a lot of heartache and pain but despite losing her son to be with the Lord a couple of years ago, she knows that he is in heaven.
Knowing that, at the end of our day moving and literally wrestling the armoire down 6 half flights of stairs, we made it and got it set in her new house. We really wanted to give her something and I remembered that our friend and team mate, Randy Alcorn and given me copies of his Heaven book and Grace and Truth books in Deutsch. We presented them to her and as she left the flat on final time, she pointed to the title of the Heaven book and said...when I leave here, I will be there too!
With hugs and tears, we really found that ministry was FUN!!!! Hard and emotional but FUN!!! To know that she knows our Jesus, was a real thrill!! We will miss her and now, praying that the Lord brings another good renter to the small studio that Brigett has left vacant. Wish Melanie could rent it...that would be fun for her!!! Oh well, the Lord knows who He wants there that we can minister to as well.
So the next time you think about reaching out to your neighbor, do it!! It is FUN!!!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Offsite office time in a familiar place!
This morning we found ourselves getting up at 0300 hours to take a dear friend to the Frankfurt Hahn airport about an hour and fifteen minutes from our house for a flight he had to England. Well, we brewed a pot of God's brew and went out the door. We made it on time, he made it on time and all is well.
We decided though that we would take the opportunity to have the girls spend the day with a team member of our ministry in Kusel. We stopped in this morning early, caught up, visited and then they were off for a girls day! Window shopping, lunch, thrift store visit and then dinner.
Now you maybe wondering what this has to do with an offsite office time for me...well, I did say "girls time" so I made my way to the Java Cafe where sixteen months ago, it was my office! Coffee, quiet time, ministry prep, sermon prep and just some good old office work!!
That is right, I made my way back today to Baumholder, Germany! Where we began the physical part of our ministry journey to Germany! So, only fitting that after some lesson prep, planning time for the upcoming fall events and a sweet time of Face to Face (F2F) that I would do some office time here!
We were truly blessed that the Lord would allow us to come here over a year ago and be ministered to, minister to others and find a new start to a season of life that is exciting, ever changing and fresh! Ministry with the military has been and will continue to be a solid passion and commitment we are engaged in!
During my prep time, I was reminded that the Lord is faithful in all deeds to all of His people. We have experienced that in so many ways! We know that He is and always will be FAITHFUL!!
Thank you Lord for always being constant, faithful, loving and real! Thank you for allowing us to have this time in our lives to serve You, Your people and those that need to know you! Thank you for the opportunity to minister in so many fun, unique and wonderful ways!! We are Yours and we are glad that you choose to and want to use us!
From an offsite office, thank you ALL for being a part of what the Lord is doing in our lives and the lives of our students and their families!!! Without each of you on our team, Pray, Play and Pay, we couldn't do this!!
We decided though that we would take the opportunity to have the girls spend the day with a team member of our ministry in Kusel. We stopped in this morning early, caught up, visited and then they were off for a girls day! Window shopping, lunch, thrift store visit and then dinner.
Now you maybe wondering what this has to do with an offsite office time for me...well, I did say "girls time" so I made my way to the Java Cafe where sixteen months ago, it was my office! Coffee, quiet time, ministry prep, sermon prep and just some good old office work!!
That is right, I made my way back today to Baumholder, Germany! Where we began the physical part of our ministry journey to Germany! So, only fitting that after some lesson prep, planning time for the upcoming fall events and a sweet time of Face to Face (F2F) that I would do some office time here!
We were truly blessed that the Lord would allow us to come here over a year ago and be ministered to, minister to others and find a new start to a season of life that is exciting, ever changing and fresh! Ministry with the military has been and will continue to be a solid passion and commitment we are engaged in!
During my prep time, I was reminded that the Lord is faithful in all deeds to all of His people. We have experienced that in so many ways! We know that He is and always will be FAITHFUL!!
Thank you Lord for always being constant, faithful, loving and real! Thank you for allowing us to have this time in our lives to serve You, Your people and those that need to know you! Thank you for the opportunity to minister in so many fun, unique and wonderful ways!! We are Yours and we are glad that you choose to and want to use us!
Middle school boys Bible study in Baumholder
Overview of the town and installation of Baumholder
Some of our students from Baumholder 2011
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