Baptism revisted...

As promised...

Church in a bar?

Yesterday, our church (Flipside) started three new venues. We have two 'regular' services at Liberty H.S. (9:30 and 11 a.m.). We launched a softer venue (10 a.m.) at our activity center (Kev is the campus pastor there,) a service at the Lucky 13 bar (noon) at Ashlan and 99 in Fresno and another service on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. (again at our activity center. )

The goal is to make the Ranchos a difficult place to get to hell 'from'.

Here is a link from a news piece that ran last night about our church in a bar.

I guess the idea of a church in a bar is radical for some. We figure that these are the places where Jesus would be. So, we want to be there to.

They believed and were baptized

Wow, what a day! For about a year now, Lizzie has been asking to be baptized. We wanted to wait for a couple of reasons.

1. We wanted to make sure that she fully understood what baptism is (a symbol) and what baptism isn't (does not guarantee salvation).
   
2. We wanted her to be of an age that she will remember this day.
   
3. We wanted her decision to be based on her desire, not because a friend was doing it

Well, yesterday was that day. She can fully explain the meaning of baptism, just ask her. In our church, we don't do baptism classes. Our pastor sits down with those that want to be baptized (just prior to going into the pool) to talk with them and ask them if they've accepted Jesus as their Savior. In the Bible, over and over in the New Testament when it talks about baptism it says, 'they believed and were baptized.' Not, they believed, took classes, they were a certain age and the pastor said it was okay to be baptized. Nope, that's not it at all. Sometimes, in this day and age, I think we make a big deal out of stuff that really should be simple. They believed and were baptized. (pretty sure there is a sermon in there...) A beautiful picture.

Also, at our church, not only are we able to be in the water with her, but WE baptized her. It was a very sweet and special time. Again, no where in the Bible does it say that you have to be baptized by your pastor. Karl was with us, because we asked him to be.

It was an awesome day. Lizzie was delighted, thrilled, ecstatic, elated...well, you get the picture. We are blessed with a mature, sweet, incredible daughter. Thank you Jesus!

"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."

III Peter 1:4

I'll post pictures and video soon!

Mud Monkey

My girls never did anything like this...truly boys are different than girls!

A new chapter

We found out Wednesday night that Kevin has been accepted as a student at the MB Biblical Seminary to begin his master's program in marriage and family therapy! Wow, very cool. They let very few 'non-degreed' students in, particularly in this program.

This really ramps up his studies. Classes will be much more intense with schedules very sporadic (lots of weekend and evening classes). It will take a lot of communication between us to keep things running smoothly.

Classes start Monday, which brings me to a new prayer request; financial aid. Seminary is much more expensive than community college. Please pray that scholarships and grants will come through, we are really trying to avoid loans.

Congratulations Kevin!

Happy Anniversary...to us!

Today Kevin and I celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary. Wow, what a ride! God has been good and has blessed us and kept us even through our blindness.

Kevin and I met in September of 1987 and have been together ever since. We are grateful for each other, our children and a God that lavishes and teaches forgiveness. We look forward to a lifetime of learning more about each other and what God will teach us through our marriage.

A Day at Bass Lake

One of my biggest concerns moving to the Ranchos was knowing that we wouldn't be seeing some friends nearly as often as when we lived 'in town'. Well, God has taken that concern and has blessed us with new friends.

We spent last Saturday at Bass Lake with some of these new friends. Michelle and Daryn Sassano and their boys, Michael and Brandon, Karl and Shellie Roth and their boys, Kaleb and Wyatt and John and Michele Stephens and their boys, Trevor, Logan and Carson. See a trend her with the boys? Yup, my girls were the only girl (kids) there. We had 10 kids (under the age of 11) and 8 adults on one boat.

We had an amazing day! Karl and Shellie own a large (obviously) boat in which we cruised the lake and pulled the kids around on an inflatable raft. It was fun, relaxing and a great day. Thanks guys!

The tube crew...

Lizzie and Carson
Tori and Miss Shellie

Lizzie, Carson and Brandon

Sand Monkey

Mommie, Tori and Lizzie

Captain Karl and his co-captain