First let me start with saying that the Joy Group had a wonderful trip to the Applewood Farmhouse Grill this past Saturday. Everyone that went talked very highly about how good the company, conversation, and food was; but I think the one thing that was highest on the list was the apple fritters they served.
I would also like to to say a big thank you to the Joy Group bus driver, Eddie Humphreys, who is always willing to take the group just about anywhere.
This past week has been a very interesting one for me and my family. I know that in life we all have our ups and downs, sometimes those ups and downs can be small and almost unnoticeable; but every once in a while those ups and downs can be so big that they take us on a major emotional roller coaster ride. For me this has been a roller coaster ride.
It all began last week with a very sick young man. See on Tuesday and Wednesday our son had some kind of stomach bug and was unable to go to school for two days (that's a down). Then by Thursday and Friday he was much better, able to go to school and even football practice (that's an up). Though by Saturday my wife wasn't feeling very well and may have possibly gotten the same bug (that's a down). Sunday I was scheduled to preach at Tacoma Church of God in Johnson City, and I love to preach (that's an up). Unfortunately after me and my wife returned to Greeneville to get our son we found that his thumb had been injured playing basketball in the gym at the church that night; and after taking him to the doctor on Monday morning we found that he has a hairline fracture in the bone in his thumb (that's a down). The good thing is that it's a very small fracture and should heal very well within three weeks (that's an up). But while I was at home with him on Monday, we started to notice that the house wasn't as cool as it should be; so after checking a few things I realized, the heat pump was not working. And we would have to call a professional (that's a down). Thankfully, in my line of work I have become very good friends with our HVAC repair man; so I called him and he came out and looked at our heat pump. The problem was very small and easy to fix, but the amazing thing is: he did not charge us a single penny, all because of the friendship we have developed (that's an up). All of this has happened in the past seven day time span, and I have to say I'm wondering just what might happen next; the fact is I just don't know.
There is another fact to consider though; that is the fact that no matter what happens, I trust and know that God is in control. No matter if life is up or down God is always there.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
August - Joy Group Dinner
This past Thursday night, August 12th, we had our Joy Group Dinner. I would just like to really thank everyone that came out that evening for a time of fellowship and good food, we had 55 in attendance and we had so much food we could even share some of it with some of the youth group that was there for Bible Study.
After getting our bellies full, and then eating desert on top of the full belly, we took some time and played a little game of Bible Family Feud. The game was played much like the TV show Family Feud; where there was a survey taken and people gave their answers, and the top answers were on the board. We even had members of the Joy Group come up and be part of two families and compete against each other.
The interesting thing is I found the questions in the survey answers online from a website and I'm not sure who they asked the questions to, believers or nonbelievers, but some of the top answers for the questions kind of surprised me and the others that were in attendance during the game. Such questions as-name a person from Genesis, or name a miracle that Jesus did. Some of the answers for the survey were not exactly what I would have thought they should have been. I know this is based on the game show Family Feud (and we have all sat at home amazed at the answers that they get for their surveys). But, this did make me think; if these questions were asked to believers? Are people really studying the word of God, especially those that claim to be followers of HIM!
2 Tim 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
After getting our bellies full, and then eating desert on top of the full belly, we took some time and played a little game of Bible Family Feud. The game was played much like the TV show Family Feud; where there was a survey taken and people gave their answers, and the top answers were on the board. We even had members of the Joy Group come up and be part of two families and compete against each other.
The interesting thing is I found the questions in the survey answers online from a website and I'm not sure who they asked the questions to, believers or nonbelievers, but some of the top answers for the questions kind of surprised me and the others that were in attendance during the game. Such questions as-name a person from Genesis, or name a miracle that Jesus did. Some of the answers for the survey were not exactly what I would have thought they should have been. I know this is based on the game show Family Feud (and we have all sat at home amazed at the answers that they get for their surveys). But, this did make me think; if these questions were asked to believers? Are people really studying the word of God, especially those that claim to be followers of HIM!
2 Tim 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Love & Hate
Pastor Rudd told us that we could blog about anything we wanted to, so I'm going to do just that. I hate kidney stones ever since last Wednesday I have been dealing with trying to pass a kidney stone and this makes the 16th stone I've had since 2004, and folks they hurt - they are uncomfortable - they just make life miserable.
Now the thing is I love my kidneys, I have to have them, they are important to me; without them I couldn't live. But I hate the fact that my kidneys produce kidney stones.
I feel very sure that this is the way our Heavenly Father sometimes looks at us. He loves us, he loves us so much that he doesn't want anything bad to happen to us; we mean a lot to him. But I know he hates the sin that our lives can produce. I believe we can rest assure that God hates the sin - but loves the sinner.
One quick thing to think about! My kidney stones come from my kidneys but my lifestyle, my eating habits, my physical health, and the things I do in my life that is what causes my kidneys to produce the stones. It's the same in our lives - it's our lifestyle, our habits and the things we do that produce the sin.
You know, it might just be a good idea for me to change my lifestyle and my habits so that I will not have any more kidney stones; maybe for other people it might be a good idea to change their lifestyle and their habits so that they will not have sin in their lives anymore.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
Now the thing is I love my kidneys, I have to have them, they are important to me; without them I couldn't live. But I hate the fact that my kidneys produce kidney stones.
I feel very sure that this is the way our Heavenly Father sometimes looks at us. He loves us, he loves us so much that he doesn't want anything bad to happen to us; we mean a lot to him. But I know he hates the sin that our lives can produce. I believe we can rest assure that God hates the sin - but loves the sinner.
One quick thing to think about! My kidney stones come from my kidneys but my lifestyle, my eating habits, my physical health, and the things I do in my life that is what causes my kidneys to produce the stones. It's the same in our lives - it's our lifestyle, our habits and the things we do that produce the sin.
You know, it might just be a good idea for me to change my lifestyle and my habits so that I will not have any more kidney stones; maybe for other people it might be a good idea to change their lifestyle and their habits so that they will not have sin in their lives anymore.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
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