TimHowey.Com

Aug 1...It's a Date!

Starting today, I'm taking a "blogging-break" in the month of July.  (Can you believe it's July already?).

What does this mean?

 - Yes, I'm taking a short blogging sabbatical
 - Yes, I'm coming back again (Fri, Aug 1)
 - Yes, I'll help you "store up" in this entry  :-)

So, a number of things are on my mind as June ends:

• Yesterday, I failed to mention how much I appreciated the "visual-worship" the children did with the fluorescent scarves during "Indescribable."  It was AWESOME.  Who came up with that idea???  You are the (wo)man!!!  Anyone else like it.
• I started my week #3 (of 18) in my Hal Higdon Advanced 1 Marathon Training Plan.  Haven't missed a day yet, though I didn't do yesterday's 3-mile run until 11:30 p.m.!  (If you're checking on me, I shifted the whole plan 1 day early...I do Monday's run on Sunday, Tuesday's run on Monday, etc.)
• Today, my son took the bike he got for a birthday out for a spin.  Dad was so proud of him (he could barely make it on the bike).  Mom wanted to look away for fear he was bite it, big time.
• I got a haircut today.  My daughter kept telling me, "Can you put a baseball cap on?"  :-)
• Next Sunday is going to be AMAZING with this guy speaking at Grace.
• It's summer vacation time for a lot of families I know.  Like so many dads, I can say, "Yes!  I am Clark W. Griswold, Jr."
• There are some things coming this fall for Grace Church that I am ABSOLUTELY PUMPED about  (and I can't wait)!
• Don't forget to check back on Friday, August 1!

See you soon!

Web Bonus - MythBusters

Today was a blast!

We busted the same "5 Myths About Jesus" that our elementary students studied this week during their annual Summer Breakout (i.e. Vacation Bible School).  We just took them on from an adult perspective.

Here are thoughts from today:

• The kids did a GREAT job today in their SBO performance!  Kudos to the
• My wife sent me the final SBO registration numbers.  Of the 317 registered elementary students:
  
  • 124 (39%) were children of members
  • 71 (22%) were children of visitors
  • 122 (38%) were children of NON-attenders
• I had a great response to "Flannelgraph Jesus".  One guy told me he was going to buy a nice, soft, safe, easily-controllable "Flannelgraph Jesus" to put on the rear view mirror in his car.
• To dig further into the "Myths about Jesus," check out The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.
• For those of you who were there, which Jesus picture was your favorite?
  • French Fork Jesus?
  • Rico Suave Jesus?
  • Ultra Softy Jesus?
  • Hardcore Hunger Jesus?
    
  • Rambo Jesus?
    
  • Shredded Jesus?
• We had at least 6 people (3/service) raise their hand to say they prayed with me to receive Christ today!!!

L8R.

Will It Blend?

Ok, this website is one of the funnier websites I've seen in a while.

   Question -- "Will it blend?"
   Answer -- "Usually, yes!"

And this site fits in perfectly with our Summer Breakout (VBS) theme this year of "MythBusters"!

Nutty News Stories

Here is yet ANOTHER example of how God designed the Bible to help us process things we hear every day (including news stories).

• Some Dutchmen expect the world to end in 2012
• But the Bible says you CANNOT know the day & hour
• Ergo, if someone sets a date, they're wrong  :-)

P.S. Yes, we had 1 family leave our church back in 1999 (before The Millennium Bug brought the planet into utter chaos).  They left to (1) buy property in the country, (2) build a compound, (3) dig a well, (4) stockpile food, & (5) stockpile ammunition.  I guess he wanted to defend himself against the needy, instead of helping them.  In that sense, they probably weren't the best "fit" for our church family.  :-)

The Bacado

Every Tuesday, I meet with a group of guys at this place at this location for breakfast & Bible Study.  We've been taking turns leading a discussion through this book over the year.  Today, Eric led us through a discussion of this chapter (& I LOVE how that chapter foreshadows Christ in SO many ways!).

Anyway, we're men.  We each have our own culinary habits...what we typically order.  When pressed for time, Dave always orders "The Bacado" omelette.  Mmmm...the perfect blend of "BACon + AvoCADO + Eggs + Cheese."

• To make it at home, click here
• To enjoy it's nutritional value, click here

But we brainstormed today on a way to IMPROVE "The Bacado" (if it's possible).  We call it "The Balardo."  Mmmm...the perfect blend of "BACon + LARD + Eggs + Cheese."

So, if you are a man (& daring), join us on a Tuesday morning & order "The Bacardo" or "The Balardo."  :-)

Web Bonus - Help!

Yesterday, we finished our series, "Don't Forget the Lyrics."  The topic?  How God intends the Bible to affect everything about our daily lives, world-view, personal relationships, & relationship with God.

We took a look at the final stanza in Psalm 119...v.169-176.

Some final thoughts:

• Psalm 119 is absolutely one of my FAVORITE Psalms.  It was very instrumental in fostering a love for the Word of God.
• We went 6 for 6 on the volunteers guessing our "mystery song" lyrics.  Kudos to the ladies to "represented" yesterday on stage!
• You can enjoy yesterday's song here.  (Is it me, or does Ringo look bored?)
• I think it's interesting that God ONLY preserved the lyrics (not the music, except for occasional directions) in His "song book" (the Psalms).  I guess I'm thankful too.  Otherwise there would be a whole contingent of "the-Psalms-are-the-only-godly-sound people" running around!  :-)
• This week's cutting-room floor:
  
  • Rom 16:25 - God "establishes" your life with the Word of God
  • Php 4:6-7 - God says to "be totally candid" when we talk to Him
  • Jas 4:2 - God says to "ask specifically" for things when we pray
  • Ezra 8:31 - Ezra saw "the hand of God" during Israel's journey
  • 1Pet 5:6 - We are told humble ourselves under "God's hand"
• Yes, I could probably make 5 more messages each week from the verses that hit the "cutting-room floor."  :-)
• If you want to dig deeper into Psalm 119, I'd recommend Psalm 119: A Journey into the Heart of God by Jeff Adams or The Golden Alphabet (available online here) by Charles Spurgeon.
• A little girl named Aubrey presented this picture to me after worship.

Next week, we "bust" some common myths about Jesus together!

New Neighbors

We're getting more of an idea of our future neighbors to the south of our property.  From the recent article in the KC Star, looks like it's causing quite a stir (check it out!).

Here's the deal, from our perspective:

    - We are EXCITED about having neighbors, in whatever shape or form
    - We KNOW that God will use any decision made for our good (Rom 8:28)
    - We're looking forward to befriending, serving, & loving the people we'll meet

P.S. We'll be pumped, too, when 159th is open next to us again (& there is an interchange at 69 Hwy & 159th someday).

Once an Arafat Man

I recently finished an advanced copy of Tass Saada's new book "Once an Arafat Man."

I was hooked from the very first chapter...a riveting description of Tass' first-hand battle-account.  A clip of it can be found here.  I couldn't put it down.  Read the ENTIRE book in one night.

   - The story was about Tass' lifelong journey from the Middle East to KC & back
   - He was a PLO Sniper, a Yasser Arafat driver, & a KC restaurant manager
   - The book tells the story of his incredible spiritual journey

P.S. I am PSYCHED that the author Tass will be speaking at Grace on Sunday, July 6!!!!  (Mark your calendars & bring a friend!)

Wednesday Thots

Here are a bunch of random thots from this week.

  - My son played baseball yesterday.  The team seemed to be asleep, but he had fun!

  - Monday night, our third service planning team met to pray & nail down a "straw man" plan to add weekend services as needed in the future.  We landed on adding a 3rd Sunday morning service first, then a Saturday night as needed.

  - Today, I made some real progress for Sunday's "Don't Forget the Lyrics" series conclusion.  Check out Psalm 119:169-176.  And don't forget to come to the first worship at 9a, to free up those primo 10:45a visitor spots.

  - I started marathon training this week for a potential fall marathon.  I'm using this training plan as a guide, sent to me by Eric.

  - Finally cut & trimmed my 8" lawn tonight.  Took for-ev-uh!  I considered using a machete.  If I waited any longer, I'd have to hire someone to bail it.  :-)

  - Flipped on the College World Series & Stanford is up on Miami in the 9th inning, but there are no outs & Miami is rallying.  Loser goes home.  Keep hope alive!!!  (I KNOW you're all praying for a Stanford World Series win!)

My Bible Journey

Read Job 22-32 today in my daily Bible journey.

Here's what jumped out at me...

• ch.22 -- Lord, how is Job supposed to deal with this mixture of truth (v.12) and false accusation (v.6-7)?  Eliphaz is just kicking the man when he's down!
• ch.23 -- This is what we talked about on Sunday, Lord.  Those times we cannot find You (v.8-9) and we are just DESPERATELY hanging on to the fact that You will use this trial in our lives (v.10).
• ch.24 -- Job sees the fact that, sometimes, God lets wicked people "get away with stuff" (v.12), but it's only for a short time from God's perspective (v.24).
• ch.25 -- Wow.  Bildad is so ticked at Job that he can only spit out a few words!
• ch.26 -- Job asks probably the GREATEST questions anyone can ask to evaluate what their life has meant (v.2-4).
• ch.27 -- What a statement!!!  The man has been totally crushed, & he is battling not to give into the temptation to blame God (v.2-4).
• ch.28 -- True wisdom only comes from God (v.20-21).  'Nuff said (v.27-28)
• ch.29 -- I cannot imagine making this statement...losing all your kids in one day (v.5).
• ch.30 -- It was prophetic chapters like this that originally drew me to Christ & faith in His word.  Can't you see the prophecies of Jesus on the cross? (v.1, 9-10, 12, 17, 20, 22-23, 25-26, 28, 30)
• ch.31 -- GREAT advice, men!  (v.1)
• ch.32 -- Elihu's speech starts out so "spiritual." (v.21-22)  But he's about to fall into the same trap as Job's other three "friends."  Lord, may I never make this mistake!!!

Awesome time!  :-)