MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What Is Christmas?

Is it bright lights on a tree
All strung so carefully with care
Causing children to squeal with glee
While others just stop and stare?

Is it parties that seemingly never end
Lasting long into the night
As we visit with family and friends
Even until morning light?

Is it people singing pretty songs
That lift our eyes above
This world and its wrongs
And fill our hearts with love?

Is it pretty paper and bows
Wrapping toys and other gifts so nice
Found up and down each row
and bought at such a high price?

Is it cards stamped and signed
Each with a message and our name
Sent to every name that we find
As who to send to becomes a game?

All of these things are fine
And may even have their place
To each of these there may be a time
As we go through life's race

But Christmas is really about a child
Born in a stable so very long ago
To a mother that was tender and mild
Who laid Him in a manger so low

But in that manger He did not stay
He went out and faced the world's strife
He lay down on top of a hill one day
And upon a Cross He gave His life

He was buried and rose again
To purchase eternal life for one and all
So that we can live a life without end
And make atonement for Adam's fall

So, Christmas is about One who was born
And now to His Father He does pray
For us when we feel so forlorn
That we may live with Him some glorious day

May we all remember the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Thankful For God's Help

Our Sunday School lesson this morning was titled "Delivered Because Of Grace" - it was about God delivering Lot out of Sodom - and it was my turn to teach the adult class.
I told the class that I didn't know what was going on with these lessons - the last time I taught, the lesson was about God destroying the world with a flood!
I said later that I didn't think the devil ever fought me on a lesson the way he did this one - but, the Lord helped me with it. In one way, I feel like I'm not the person that should have been teaching that lesson (and I still don't), but on the other hand, I've experienced so much of God's grace that this just gives me a fresh perspective on it.

You're Invited!

The Central PA Interchurch Holiness Convention will be held September 7 - 10 this year.
The Thursday evening service will be at the Lewistown God's Missionary Church at 7 pm.

Camp Work Day

Yesterday was Work Day at Penns Creek Camp. Over all, attendance was down but we had a good turnout from our church. Here are some pictures from the day.
Sis. Stoner vacuuming the front of the tabernacle.

Bro. Stoner proving that he really can operate a vacuum cleaner!

Jim Bair vacuuming seats.

Reagan Shaffer helped clean the piano.

Mom dry-mopped in the tabernacle.

It looks like Dad's answering somebody's question.

Father and son - Bros. Kenny and Alan Walters.

Joanne Shaffer vacuumed the platform and front of the tabernacle.

Al Fritz working on the rain spouting.

A big group of young people worked outside.

Bro. Jeff Stratton pulled weeds - his daughter was off to the side supervising!

Bro. Plank Sr. giving a speech before lunch - Bro. Plank Jr. is in the background listening.

Dad and Reagan going back to work after lunch.

Bro. Plank spreading mulch.

Dad taking a turn vacuuming seats.

Sis. Martin Sr. and Jr. worked in the flower beds.

Sis. Stoner spent some time on her knees - cleaning!

Bro. Plank running the weedeater.

Lauren Plank even showed up!

Thanks For Dropping In!

He Supplies Wants Too!

I think it's great how God supplies our needs right when we seem to need it the most. But I also think it's neat how, from time to time, He'll supply our wants too.
For quite a while now, I've been wanting a telescope, but just never did a whole lot about it. After all, in town isn't the best place to try to use a telescope!
When I came home from work yesterday, this telescope was sitting in the living room with a sign on it that said "For Sale Make An Offer." Mom & Dad had gone to some yard sales yesterday and found this at one of them.
Now I'm just anxiously waiting for the chance to use it.
By the way, Dad sold it to me for what he paid for it - so he didn't make any money off of me!

Thankful For God's Blessings And Help!

Although we weren't able to attend IHC in person this year. We were able to attend via the livestream of the services on the internet.
Words can't describe how thankful I am for the help and blessings that I received through the services that I was privileged to see either live or through the archives.
If you go to the convention website here you can go to the archives and see the services yourself!

Some Of My Projects

Yes, I still do like to do some woodworking . I don't do as much of it as I would like to though! I should do more considering how much I can relax when I'm working on these kinds of projects. Here are a few of my most recent projects.
You can click on these pictures to make them bigger.
I made this one for Dad to give to a friend of ours. These are his two favorite Bible verses. There are only 14 pieces of wood in this, but there are well over 100 cuts in the letters.
I made this one for Mom for Christmas. She has wanted a camper for a long time and this was the best I could do at the time! There are 115 individual pieces and 12 different kinds of wood in this one.

This is what I made Dad for Christmas. There are 55 individual pieces and 12 different kinds of wood in this.

This is a cat's paw back-scratcher that I made for a guy at work. He got me to make it for him for a Christmas gift for his daughter. He said she liked it.

This is my latest project. The Relay For Life team at work is going to be having a Crafty Coworker fundraiser in a couple weeks and the one lady asked me to make something for it. This is what I ended up making.

Getting Back In The Swing Of Things!

I just thought I would pop on here and say that I'm getting back in the swing of things after spending about 9 (or 10 - depending on how you count them!) days in Florida.
I'll try to get some pictures on here soon!
Thanks For Dropping In!