Ministry Updates

Welcome to 2012! And what a better way to ring in the New Year than with good news. Joni received the fantastic news of a clear PET scan and we are thanking and praising the Lord for her positive progression in her health journey.

Keeping that joyous feeling alive, take a look at Joni taking a ride on the wild side while at Disney's California Adventure park with Ken and her sister Kathy. Talk about a whirlwind!

Can you believe that NRB is next month? Make sure that you schedule in the Joni and Friends^® Hymn Sing Monday Feb ...

Last night I shared Anne Graham Lotz's book, Heaven with our AWANA Sparks.  Back from the Christmas holidays, it was a full-house of wide-eyed, inquisitive and yes, energetic little 1^st-2^nd graders who not only really enjoyed the book but asked and answered some very insightful questions during the counsel time.

My favorite was the little boy who responded to the question: What are you looking forward to most in Heaven? 

His answer was a simple, "Smiling, all the time."  

We closed in prayer with an invitation to place trust and faith in Jesus Christ.  I don ...

Do you have a habit of putting off doing things that you really want and need to do?  Do you let things go until they become huge tasks?  

My daughter and I laughingly, share a common saying ... "I'll do it on Monday!"  This usually refers to dieting, or a major cleaning task, but I can tell you that "Monday" rarely comes around!  Good intentions just don't counteract laziness! 

It's a new year!  Let's start fresh, with some help from Emilie Barnes.  Since most of the tasks we put off are not things we like to do ...

With U.S. troops now returning home from Iraq, there's been a surge of surprise military homecoming videos on T.V. and the internet.  If you're anything like me, you enjoy every opportunity to watch these videos, maybe even more than once :-)!  

Here's a recent video of a soldier that not only surprised his daughter at the end of her dance recital, but his wife too! I couldn't help but be moved emotionally after watching this one ... happy for this family's sweet reunion, but also concerned for their future.  

Statistics report that since 2001, the ...

Chris Brogan, New York Times Bestselling author challenges people to forego the idea of a resolution, and instead, come up with three words to help define their goals and experiences for the coming year. 

He shares that resolutions are often too vague, or too directed towards one goal. It might be "lose 20 pounds" or "get hired." While he notes that these goals are fine, he challenges others to "dig deeper", to find three words that could be used as "lighthouses to guide you through stormy seas . . . words that will bolster you and give you a direction that goes beyond ...

Newspaper headlines this week are very retrospect . . . notable events of 2011 and those individuals who left a mark. 

As we bid farewell to 2011, we said goodbye to Steve Jobs who wanted to "put a ding in the universe."  Another significant passing was that of Betty Ford whose personal battles inspired many to seek treatment for their own struggles.    

I can't help but wonder . . . what kind of mark am I leaving on those around me --- on my children in particular? 

The first week of "Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson" is a great way to start the year off ...