Xanga

TFC’s Northeast Region Winter Retreat

Friday, February 17 – Sunday, February 19

Cerwin (left) praying for our speaker, Glen Sell before the opening service on Friday evening.

Glen Beiler sharing a testimony on his 70th Birthday.

Arlene & Earl Sauder listening to Glen Sell during the evening program.  Earl serves on the Northeast Council and the International Board.

Scenery outside our meeting room.

(Nadia and the Schildt family – these pictures are for you.)  I had to take separate pictures of Mary and Paul Schildt for their volunteer chaplain ID badges.  Paul also serves on the Northeast Council.

Rose Gehman (TFC Ministry Material Coordinator) getting her breakfast on Sunday morning.

(Rodney and Jody, we are anxiously waiting to hear the news of the arrival of your new baby.  Grandma Rose is ready to head for Iowa!  I am so pleased that your dad is having “the time of his life” on the Rebecca St. James concert tour.)

Nancy & Harry Sensenig reading the latest issue of the Highway News.

The Sunday morning communion service was led by Chaplain David Roberts, Lead Chaplain, Harrisburg, PA.

Worship leaders, Merle and Floss Hunsberger (center front – he is wearing beige slacks), did an awesome job of preparing and leading us in songs concerning the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  Trisha Hoy (right – wearing pink), wife of Chaplain David Hoy prepared us for each meeting by playing hymns on her new digital keyboard ten minutes prior to every service.

Our faith was strengthened as we were reminded of the “Living Hope” we have in Jesus Christ.

Special thanks to Sam Rittenhouse for the work he did behind the scenes in preparing for this retreat.  This is the first time he and Alice missed a retreat in the sixteen years he has served as Northeast Region Assistant Director.  That was due to the fact that Alice was in the hospital.  We are glad to know that she is home and doing well again.

Camp Hebron’s

Sweetheart Banquet and Overnight Package

Thursday, February 16 & Friday, February 17

I’m back online earlier than I expected.  Camp Hebron now has Internet hookup for guests.  Special thanks to Chaplain Sam Houchins for spending several hours on Friday configuring my laptop to log on to the Internet.

The Sweetheart Banquet & Overnight Package is part of Camp Hebron’s winter program, and since it is a win-win situation for them and us, they always schedule TFC’s Winter Retreat & NE Staff Conference the weekend following their Sweetheart Banquet.  We swell their crowd, and it is a much needed break for the NE Region Staff.  The Sweetheart Package includes a Thursday evening banquet, program, overnight stay, and Friday breakfast.  After breakfast on Friday the other guests leave, while TFC Staff and friends stay for the weekend.  TFC’s Winter Retreat begins with Friday evening’s meal.

Twenty-Five of TFC’s staff & friends enjoyed Camp Hebron’s Sweetheart Banquet.

Cerwin and his Mom.  She enjoys the TFC Winter Retreat, so comes along with us whenever possible.

The Concert by Marie Barlow Martin was fabulous!  She was trained in Broadway musicals, and now sings gospel.

I will be away from Internet hookup until Tuesday morning.  

²²²

If you are reading this, I lifted you to our Heavenly Father.

I asked Him to bless you with peace and strength and wisdom.

²²²

Pray for us as we oversee a TFC Staff Conference.

God’s Mercies Are New Every Morning

Yesterday when I saw the sunrise outside one of our eastern windows, I thought, “I have been watching sunrises outside this window for thirty-eight-plus years, but there is always something that causes me to stop and enjoy the beauty of another morning.”

This time I enjoyed the glow of the sun on the snow and the morning mist.

I tried to imagine God being able to watch sunrises across the world, in all kinds of settings, and wondered if sunrises ever take His breath away!

The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 

Lamentations 3:23 CEV

Plan purposefully.  Prepare prayerfully.

Proceed positively.  Pursue persistently.

We always pray that God will show you everything He wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives.  Colossians 1:9b  CEV

…asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to His will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the way in which God works.  Colossians 1:9b The Message

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A great lover is not one who romances a different person every night.  A great lover is one who romances the same person for a lifetime.

“God is love.   When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us.”  1 John 4:16 The Message

Snow!

It seems like we waited all winter for this.

The birds had to work for their food yesterday.

My brothers’ farm a quarter mile south of us.

Decorative grass looks pretty in the snow.

Our House

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.  For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.  Job 37:6 NKJV

Wait for the Lord;

 Be strong

 Take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 NIV

We Have This Moment

Last night at our Sunday School Class’ Winter Banquet, we were reminded that the only moment we are promised is the one we have right now. 

Be serious about serving God.  Be dedicated and honest in your studies or work.  But never forget to take time to encourage and bless; hug and kiss; and laugh and play. 

Special thanks to everyone who made our evening beautiful, delicious, and relaxing.

The punch bowl contained a delicious strawberry/cranberry/orange drink.

Each couple received a beautiful Primrose.

It seems a certain truck driver was in route to deliver 500 penguins to the state zoo when his truck broke down, so he waved down another trucker and offered him $500 to take the penguins to the zoo.

The next day the original truck driver arrived in town and saw the new truck driver crossing the road with 500 penguins walking in single file behind him.

He jumped out of his truck and asked, “What’s going on?  I gave you $500 to take the penguins to the zoo!”

The new truck driver responded, “I did take them to the zoo, and I had money left over, so now we’re going to see a movie.”