Free Movie Night: The Perfect Game

There will be a free movie showing tonight at the Cinemas in DuBois. It looks like a great family movie. It is rated PG. I am guessing that any young boys who like baseball will especially enjoy this movie. You can watch the trailer here There is also an accompanying Bible Study guide that you can download.

Another Free Projecting Hope Movie: The Grace Card

The Grace Card will be showing at the Carmike Cinemas in DuBois this Thursday September 15th at 7:00. Tickets are free at the door. Seats are first come first served. Advance tickets are available through www.ProjectingHopeDuBois.com.

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Note that this movie is rated PG-13 (probably for violence and drug/alcohol content). It appears to contain significant spiritual content however, and is a project of Memphis' Calvary Church.

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View the trailer here.

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And also, the Focus on the Family's "Plugged In" review can be read here.

Blessing Bags

I was reading on my one of my favorite blogs the other day and saw this idea. I was moved to make a couple of these to take along to the Pittsburgh Pirates game that our church's Young Adult class was attending last evening. I only spent probably $7-8 each on them. I included some toiletry freebies or almost freebies(from my past deals and hotel complimentary items), fast food coupons from the newspapers, a Bible from the Dollar Store, a few packaged snack items from our pantry, and a $5 giftcard to McDonalds.

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Mike and I handed both of them out within the first block on our walk back to our parked car after the game. We didn't stay and talk but simply said "Here's a little something for you." We pray that the Lord led those two particular individuals to us and that they may be touched in some way spiritually through our small act.

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I know that I often fail to reach out to share the gospel with others and sometimes don't know what to do when coming across needy/homeless people on the street. From living in the city, I know just handing them money isn't always the best thing to do, and, inviting them to share lunch with you or engaging in a long conversation with them isn't always practical. So, this is an idea for how you may be able to touch their lives in a different way...I thought it was kinda cool :)

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If you'd like to make your own Blessing Bags, this is what you would need: (This is from the above blog post with a few of my own changes/additions)

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Gallon size Ziploc bags along with items to go in the bags, such as: (Watch for these items…on clearance, weekly sales, in the travel size section, free samples by mail or $ store)

chap stick

packages of tissues

toothbrush and toothpaste

comb

soap or shampoo (double bag soap to contain the fragrance)(like I said hotel complimentaries are good)

snacks such as granola bars, crackers, snack packs of fruit, instant oatmeal (include a plastic spoon)

band aids

warm socks, gloves

bottle of water

laundry soap and some quarters

gift card for fast food or grocery store, pharmacy, Goodwill, etc or a bus pass

*Consider whether or not the homeless individual may/may not have access to a homeless shelter where there would be running water/showers.

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Assemble all the items in the bags, and be sure to add a note of encouragement or consider a pocket sized Bible, maybe a copy of "Our Daily Bread," information about a local church or places the individual can receive additional help. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence. Pray about these from the time you gather the items to include in the bags through the time after they have been handed out.

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Even if you can’t afford to fill a few complete bags of your own since these items do add up quickly if you pay full price, this would be a great activity to do with some other families. Break it down so that each family could bring one or two of the items going into the bags (ex: toothbrushes).

Coming to Theaters in September

Just saw this, a new movie coming out soon from the makers of "Fireproof" and "Facing the Giants" Watch the trailer here

Movie: The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

We watched this movie at our Family Fun Night last Sunday at church. It is a great inspirational Christian movie for anyone school age or older. It really presents the gospel message and I believe it is based on a true story. I would definitely recommend it... Click here to watch the movie trailer

Church Planning Retreat and Wegmans

We were invited to go on the church planning retreat through Treasure Lake Church last weekend in State College. It was a great time to share ideas about new ministries and areas for church growth, in addition to meeting and getting to know many of the church leaders. We are exciting to start to get more involved there. Please pray for God's wisdom/leading concerning a possible opportunity that may have come up for Mike there in the near future. As a side trip, a couple of them introduced us to Wegman's. It is the first time I've been to a Wegman's. It was huge and I was excited to find some healthy and organic items that we don't have in our stores around here... ...including Organic Free Range Chicken, Organic Grass-fed Beef, Sprouted Whole Wheat Flour, and Organic Red Potatoes.

Biblical Womanhood

Earlier this month I had the privilege of spending some time with my sister Julie - just the 2 of us (and her family later in the day) while Mike was at a magic convention. We attended a women's seminar at her church Saturday morning. It was such a blessing and encouragement to me and I wanted to post this link so that maybe other women could be blessed as well... Thanks again for the time that we could spend together, Julie...as others said that day, you are an example of a woman following these principles of biblical womanhood...and I thank God for you!

Projecting Hope Film Series

If you live near Charlotte, Pittsburgh or Dubois keep reading...

There is a wonderful opportunity to go to the movies for a date night, outreach or family movie night and see quality inspiring movies...and it's all free!!!!!

Projecting Hope Film Series is going on right now through March in DuBois. Mike and I will be going tonight to see the movie "Sarah's Choice" which features Rebecca St. James. We missed the earlier ones throughout the past month. But, I went on the internet to see the trailers and all of them look good enough that I would see about purchasing them on DVD.

So, I would encourage you to check out the website for Projecting Hope Film Festival and if possible support this opportunity to offer faith-based and family-friendly films in the movie theater. Even if you don't live near any of these cities (is DuBois considered a city?), you can watch trailers of these uplifting and encouraging movies. Most of them are available on DVD.

New Movie: Come What May

There is a free screening on GodTube October 27-29. I just found out about it so I haven't watched it (only the trailer), but this review praises the movie for "presenting solid legal arguments against the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision while captivating audiences with an engaging storyline that is both entertaining and thought-provoking." There is more information and the link to watch the movie here. Check it out!

The New Carpenter Shop

I stopped by the "new" Carpenter Shop today because I had heard good things. I was pleased to find exactly what I was looking for and ended up with 2 books (list price $19.99 each) which look brand new for a total of $8.54. Some of their books are clearly "used" looking (although good condition) but others could pass as new. And their used Bibles (which look like new except for maybe looking a little older) are free! It was a lot like a thrift store - hit or miss...but today I was pleased with my finds (and I usually don't have much luck in thrift stores)! So, I'm sure I'll stop back again...

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*For anyone who is not from Ashland and does not know what the Pump House is all about, you can read a little bit here. There is also a great and inspiring story behind how it came into being. The founder had a vision that God would someday build a ministry through him and that the facility/property where the Pump House is now located would be given to him for this ministry to reach out to the community. Many people doubted him and many people thought he was crazy when he turned down an offer to purchase the Myers Pump facility/property because he felt so strongly that God was going to give him all of that property at no cost somehow. Well as it turns out, that is exactly what happened and with perfect timing, (due to a financial benefit to the owners through a tax writeoff) the owners agreed to donate the property to him for nothing! Ever since then the vision has been growing and now there are several facets to the Pump House Ministries, including the Pump House Grille, Thrift Store, Bookstore, Work Re-entry Program (job skills and training in the factory and other programs), Men's Shelter, Bible Studies, Easter dinners open to the community, Food Pantry and housing for the twice-a-week Christian Health Clinic. When I think about the story and how God has used this ministry to touch so many people's lives, I am amazed! What a great God we serve!

Some Operation Christmas Child Box Ideas

Besides the really cheap school items that you can pick up right now at Walmart, Staples, Office Max, etc., it is a good time to find T-shirts and flip-flops on clearance - a couple more great ideas for the Operation Christmas Child Boxes. In addition, there is a printable coupon for Johnson's Buddies soap. These can be found at CVS, Walmart and other stores for $.94-$.99. So, with the coupon, you can get 2 for free...here's the link if you are interested.

Christmas in July

I was reading one of my favorite blogs and I was reminded in a post from a humble and gracious reader (which you can read here) that now is the time to stock up on school supply items for the Operation Christmas Child boxes. I think most of you reading my blog have heard about the Operation Christmas Child ministry, but if you have not, you can read more about it here. I love participating in this ministry but (because of the time that is required to ship them to the various destinations) the drop off dates are usually before I am in "Christmas" mode and it sneaks up on me...this year I'm going to be ready!!! I am already excited!

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And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.

II Corinthians 8:1-14

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