I apologize. We have been having trouble with our recording equipment at the church so some weeks record and others do not. We are working on correcting that error. Thank you for your patience. full story

Over the last three months I have been eagerly preparing for May 27th, just a week from this Thursday, when I will fly to Colorado to begin the Ellerslie Training program. A round trip ticket to Denver has been purchased, and the tuition is paid in full. I am down to the last 64 of 722 pages of Scottish Chiefs, the “not required but highly recommended” pre-arrival reading. A ten-week leave of absence from work has been approved. And finally, prayer upon prayer has been offered up to God asking Him to go before me and prepare me for the weeks that lay ahead of me.
  full story

I was happy to be enlightened on Saturday, April 10, that “Not everybody needs an iPad”, according to the humble opinion of the Akron Beacon Journal columnist. I hope he was right because I don’t happen to have an extra $500 laying around the house. Apparently, the iPad does have a few amiable features, such as an interface that “moves fluidly under your fingertips”, as well as enough apps to ensure that you need never again spend time with real people doing real things. full story

Two weeks ago I wrote an article titled “Opening the Door for God.” We often ask God to open doors for us, but we also ought to be opening doors for Him- praying with specificity, giving sacrificially, and living with expectancy. The confident faith that “opens doors” honors God, because it gives Him an opportunity to remind us that He is indeed the God the Bible says He is and that He alone is worthy of our praise and devotion. It is a faith that is willing to step out onto the water as Peter did and say, “The only possible way this will work is if You really are God. Show me, Father!” full story

Have you ever opened the door for God? It sounds backwards, I know. I’ve heard many prayers, and have prayed many times myself, that God would be the one to open the door. Please God, open the door for me to do this. Open the door for me to minister to this or that person. Open the door for me to use my gift here. Open the door for me to have a conversation with so and so. And often in these prayers, the choice is then often left up to God to close the door, if something is not in His will. And if one door closes, He is then asked to show His direction and open another door. full story

A few weeks ago I was at a family gathering and some of us were watching the U.S. and Canadian hockey teams vie it out for the gold medal. I’m not a fan of hockey and know nothing more about the sport than what I learned from The Mighty Ducks trilogy a decade and a half ago (those were great!), but no matter what the sport is and no matter how much is known about the rules, athletes, and strategies, there is something riveting about watching two teams compete for such a treasured prize. Each individual had to go through hours and days and years of training, playing, and improving to finally arrive at the center of the rink- face to face with the opponent, five minutes left in the third period, 2010 Olympic gold medal at stake. full story

Two weeks ago I felt an itch on my lower left leg and discovered what appeared to be a small mosquito bite. I scratched it a little here and there to relieve the itch but tried not to mess with it too much. Why would I have a mosquito bite in the dead of winter? I wondered. When the area began to swell, becoming bright red, white in the middle, and very tender, I realized it wasn’t quite a mosquito bite I was dealing with. I reasoned it was a spider bite right on its way to being infected and asked my mom to make me a doctor’s appointment ASAP. full story

I love to remember. I love to remember people, events, inside jokes, and life-changing moments or seasons, especially if I can remember them with someone else.

 

Remember that time we made snickerdoodles and didn’t realize we had forgotten the flour until the pans were already in the oven? (Actual event. I was ten.)

Hey mom, remember that time you accidentally sprayed Endust on the pan instead of Pam oil right before putting the chicken in the oven? (Good thing she realized it before we ate it.)

full story

 This past Christmas one of my best friends gave me a very meaningful gift. She had started with a blank spiral journal made of “brown bag” paper. She then collaged both sides of the front and back covers with beautifully patterned paper, encouraging scripture, and inspirational words. On the front cover, the word “PRAY” was spelled out using large, patterned scrapbook lettering. It was a simple gift, and yet one of the most meaningful gifts I have ever received. As God had been (and still is!) revealing to me the mighty power of prayer and what a precious weapon it is, I decided to use the journal exclusively for recording three things: answered prayers, God’s “extra blessings” (when God has blessed me with something that I haven’t specifically prayed for/about), and encouraging scripture He has given to me. full story

As soon as the story began to unfold last Tuesday evening, the wheels in my head began to turn. For four days I have beheld the images of destruction plastered on every screen and front page. I have read both tragic statistics and individual accounts. And I have glimpsed into the desperate eyes of hopeless victims- hundreds of miles away from my own reality. Yet, only hundreds of miles away. And I have wrestled with one question.

                Why Haiti?

                Why did such unfathomable suffering and calamity have to fall on a people that were already doing all they could just to survive? They don’t deserve this! I protested. They had nothing. Why, God, would you allow the course of nature to take even that?

full story

 I had just arrived in the small town of Lakeside, MT to begin a five-month Discipleship Training School with YWAM. It was the day before the school started and all of the students were wandering around the dorms and the base, exploring their new home and meeting people of all ages from all over the world. Being a bit shy, I was hoping to somehow connect with someone right away. That’s when I spotted Rachel holding a deck of Dutch Blitz cards in the girls‘ restroom. I said something I can’t remember about the game, and then blurted out, “Are you Mennonite?” She was. Awhile later I was standing around in one of the dorm room with some other girls when I noticed one of the names on the outside of the door: Detwiler. “Are you Mennonite?” I asked Mandy. She also was a Mennonite. full story

I’m guessing I’m not the only one who left last Sunday feeling encouraged. And challenged. And humbled. During the service my dad shared that someone in Washington recently said it would be a shame to waste the recession that America is walking through. Whoever it was that said it, he was right. As odd as it may sound, a recession like the one Americans are currently walking through is something like a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was apparent from many of the testimonies during the sharing time that many in the congregation are having a fresh revelation of this- and not just thinking hard about it but allowing it to change their hearts and daily lifestyles.

full story

Due to the nature of the service being a sharing service, we didnt record it. We want to protect the privacy of those who stood and bravely shared. I am sorry if this inconvenienced any of you. We will have next week's sermon online though. Sorry again and thanks for your understanding. full story

A couple years ago an old friend was telling me about a weekend trip he was getting ready to take with a group of men from his church. I formed a picture in my mind of what the weekend would look like- food, laughter, worship time, a funny and yet challenging speaker, “male bonding” (whatever that may include), prayer, more food, etc.

            “So, it’s men’s retreat?”

            “No,” he said. “We call it a men’s advance.”

            It sounded a little odd to me. “Why do you call it that?” I asked.

            “Because men don’t retreat- they advance.”

             I was intrigued. full story

I think I could get used to these spa night fundraisers.

            I just returned from a wonderful two hours down in the fireside room at the church. It was a “Ladies Spa Night” fundraiser to benefit Lauren Triola’s trip to YWAM next month. Ladies of all ages were invited to come for massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, and foot massages. The ladies giving the services were donating their time and abilities, and the fee for the services was by donation. I don’t often like to spend a lot of money at the spa, but that all changes when the money is going to support a dear friend on the mission field!

full story

My trip to the local shoe store for a pair of new running shoes quickly turned into an educational experience. My head was already spinning from the vast array of shoe choices facing me on the wall, when a group of three shoppers on a similar mission arrived and stood next to me. Two of the shoppers were teenage boys, perhaps 14 or 15 years old. The third shopper was a father who had been enlisted to provide transportation to the store for his son and his son’s young friend. In a matter of moments, two things became abundantly clear. First, the young man only valued his father’s presence as the one who held the car keys in one hand and a wallet in the other. Dad was simply there to drive and pay. Second, this young man lacked the character to keep his mouth and behavior in check.

full story

Today when I came home from work, I went right to my computer and after checking my e-mail went to www.orbitz.com- my travel buddy. I clicked here and there finding out how much it would cost to take a three week trip to Thailand this winter, maybe flying out of Seattle…but wait, is LA cheaper? I’ll try that too. Hey, maybe a stop in Taipei to see my YWAM friend would be cool. How much does it cost to include a few days in Taipei? Speaking of Taipei, maybe I should check out the YWAM Taipei website and see what the staff openings are. And just for kicks, I might as well spend some time looking at the pictures and reading the little bios of the current staff. Interesting…hey, he’s kind of cute…

full story

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”

(Matthew 7:12a, ESV)

 

             I probably first learned the “Golden Rule” when I was five or so, perhaps at preschool or from a Sunday School teacher. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, or in other words, Love your neighbor as yourself. It’s one of those sayings heard over and over and over and by the time I’m twenty-three years old, it sounds off as one of those childish expressions that are simply used to teach first graders how to share their toys and play nice- kind of like the saying, If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. (I learned that one from Bambi.)

 

full story

We had some equipment failure this week and our sermon didn't record unfortunately. We apologize for the inconvenience. full story

A few months ago the gift shop I work in started selling a new item: frogs. And I’m not talking about frog figurines (although we also have a multitude of those). I’m talking about living and breathing frogs. For only $29.99 the buyer takes home a small aquarium (or “eco-system”, they call it) filled with water and two dwarf male African frogs, complete with colorful “living gravel” that helps to filter the system. When they first came in, they were flying off the shelves with three of four being sold a day. Sales are a little slower now, but they’re still a hot item. If you need a Christmas gift for a seven year-old boy, problem solved.

full story

A couple months ago I read an article in the Akron Beacon Journal about a recent event in Akron put on by the LeBron James Family Foundation, a “Kids Invitational Ride”. The fundraiser was a bikeathon held in downtown Akron in which kids who were nominated for good character, volunteerism, or acts of merit received a new bike and the chance to bike along with James and a lineup of other celebrities. The money raised went to the Akron Urban League and the Akron Area YMCA. Good for LeBron. He is using his time, talent, and wealth to give back to the community in which he grew up in. Thumbs up.

full story

This past weekend my dear friend Lauren and I went on a little getaway to my parents’ cabin in southern Ohio. We both have September birthdays, hers at the beginning and mine at the end, so a couple months ago we made plans to go down mid-September as a way to celebrate.

full story

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, ESV)

 

I was blessed by this past Sunday’s sharing service and enjoyed hearing people’s testimonies, praises, and encouragements. While Ashley Phipps and Campy were sharing about their missions trip to Romania and the Czech Republic, something Ashley said made me stop and think. A couple of the kids they had played basketball with were sharing testimonies about how they had been blessed by Ashley and Campy’s team, and one of them said that being with team was like being with the twelve disciples. Why so? Because of the way they loved each other. Note that the reason was not necessarily because of the way they loved the kids, but the way the team loved each other!

full story

Many have probably heard something similar to the Japanese proverb that says, “When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” It reminds me of Proverbs 22:24,25:

 

Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.

full story

Earlier today I headed to the freezer for a piece of leftover ice cream cake from my sister’s birthday. To my surprise and dismay, I opened the Tupperware container only to find one big vanilla edge with a little frosting left on the side of it. Now, unless you’re one of those rare vanilla ice cream enthusiasts, you know that leaving nothing but a vanilla edge of a chocolate fudge-filled Dairy Queen ice cream cake in the freezer is right up there with the other horrible kitchen crimes, such as putting a box of just two frosted mini wheats back on the pantry shelf.

full story

I just wanted to offer a little help to parents out there. Your task is an amazing, exciting, blessed and difficult one. This is one way I feel like I can support you as parents. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, the link is at the bottom of the article. Be blessed. I hope you find this information useful and insightful. full story

As I’m sure many others were, I was excited to hear Sunday about the MYF’s trip to the Mennonite Convention a couple weeks ago in Columbus. From what I can remember about my own trip to Convention four years ago, Convention is a pretty packed weekend- packed with people, packed with events, packed with information, and packed with various freebies from Mennonite colleges in an attempt to lure kids to their booths.

continued...