Fleeting Thought

What is the three most important things you accomplished in April?

Today's Prayer

What a Friend!

You have never failed,
Lord,
to be my one, essential, intimate friend.
When I was:
Lonely in striving - you encouraged me.
Lonely in struggling - you lifted me.
Lonely in serving - you supported me.
Lonely in suffering - you comforted me.
Lonely in sinning - you forgave me.
Lonely in sinking - you renewed me.
Lonely in succeeding - you rejoiced with me.

What a friend I have in Jesus!
Thank you, Lord.
Amen.

Positive Prayers for Power-Filled Living.

Today's Prayer

Your Plan

I have come to you, Lord,
for a new lift,
A new load,
A new love,
A new light
on my life's road.
I have a powerful, positive
suspicion that you have a plan
for my today and my tomorrow,
and that this beautiful plan
is unfolding exactly
as it should!
I will stop trying
to understand, and instead
start enjoying whatever
comes my way!
Amen.

Positive Prayers for Power-Filled Living.

Nathaniel Update:

Nathaniel passed away in his mommy's arms this morning.
Thank you for your prayers.

Nathaniel

I just received word that Nathaniel is not doing well, and they have asked the family to come in. Thank you for your prayers,

Ronn

Nathaniel Update

This is a text I received last night from my mom:

They took the breathing tube out around 2:30pm yesterday and began breathing completely on his own. They had a room where everyone took turns being with him. Praise the Lord. We got lots of pictures. We we get to have him as long has his kidneys last. Thanks for all the prayers.

All I know is to pray and keep our eyes on The Lord. 

I truly appreciate your prayers. My trip to see Nathaniel and the family was a blessing to me. It reminds me that Jesus followers are called to be salt and light. 

Thanks again,

Ronn 

Nathaniel

I had the opportunity to go to Indiana and be with Trista, Johnny, and the family. with-in hours of my arrival to Riley Hospital, Johnny invited me back to see and pray with Nathaniel.

Certainly, I will always marvel at God's wonderful creation, and how he "knits us together in our mother's wombs." Psalm 139

There is not much change with Nathaniel's health, other than we see with each passing day that his life on earth will probably be quite short. Probably a day or two. Thankfully, he will have eternity in a place with no sorrow or pain; a place of perfect peace.

What great peace and spiritual clarity God granted these past two days as my church family prayed for me and my family. Thank you for praying. I give thanks to God for people like you.

I close this post with two quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

“There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort. For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve -- even in pain -- the authentic relationship. Further more, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.” 

"Where God tears great gaps, we should not try to fill them with human words."

Theological Term of the Day

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the act of releasing someone from a debt or obligation. There are seven words in Scripture that denote the idea of forgiveness: three in Hebrew and four in Greek. No book of religion except Christianity teaches that God completely forgives sins. God remembers our sins no more (Heb. 10:17). God is the initiator of forgiveness (Col. 2:13).

There is only one sin for which the Father does not promise forgiveness: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28; Matt. 12:32). 

For man to receive forgiveness, repentance is necessary (Luke 17:3-4). For the holy God to extend forgiveness, the shedding of blood is necessary (Heb. 9:22; Lev. 17:11). Forgiveness is based upon the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

                                                                                            - carm.org

Nathaniel Update

Trista held Nathaniel for a couple hours yesterday!

No other major information, let's just continue to lift Nathaniel and the family up in prayer. I will update the blog with information about this when I know something, hopefully today.

Regular posts will also resume interspersed with the updates.

Again, I appreciate ALL the people who are praying for Nathaniel, Trista, and the family. Thank you,

Ronn

Nathaniel Update

Nathaniel is having a tough go of things. He has possible kidney failure, which is quite serious. They will continue to check levels to see if things are getting better or worse.

Nathaniel Update

Nathaniel is undergoing tests yesterday and today. His lung collapsed yesterday, and if he does not begin producing more urine, they will start a catheter. 

My sister posted that he was Trisomy 8, which signifies some genetic issues.

I will post again today when I receive an update.

Let us remain in fervent prayer for Nathaniel, Trista, and the family. The God that we humble serve is Mighty and Sovereign. We will trust Him.

Nathaniel Update

Here is a Facebook post from my sister Krista, who is Trista's mother. (yes, I know my family is creative with names!)  :-D 

We have a baby boy,Nathaniel Robert.... He weighs in at 2.9 lbs. Vent in use with increasing pressure d/t not able to breathe on own at this time. He is trisomy 10, the have sent him to Riley NICU. Trista is doing great, she is an amazing, wonderful, strong, beautiful person who never ceases to amaze me. Thank you everyone for your prayers, he has a long way to go. He is so beautiful and so tiny, his will is strong.... I will post more when we know something, thanks for praying!

Nathaniel has Arrived!

Nathaniel came this afternoon weighing 2lbs 9oz!

He is on a ventilator, has IV into umbilical cord, and a heart monitor.

He has scoliosis, which is hard on his breathing.

His hands have some webbing, and they are now doing x-rays on his kidneys.

Great News - he does not have a cleft palate!

Thank you for all your prayers! Let's keep praying,

Ronn

Update

Update:

Still waiting, but progress, Trista is 7 cm dilated. 

They tried to do an epidural last night, but it didn't take.

I'll update when there is more news. 

Thanks for praying!

Please Pray

Family, Friends, Acquaintances and Strangers,

Please pray for my niece, Trista Ridge. She is being induced tomorrow, I think more than a month early. The baby, Nathaniel, has shown signs of developmental issues for a long time.

If you know me, you are aware of my serious nature toward prayer and spiritual matters.
If I know you, my "blog family," you will join me in fervent prayer in the coming 24-48 hours. 

We know God, and that he responds to and answers prayer that agrees with His will in heaven. 


Roughly 50 people a day read this blog, and I ask that you spread the word, so that more people can pray, and The Lord receive glory.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Theological Term of the Day

FIVE POINTS OF ARMENIANISM

The five points of arminianism (from Jacobus Arminius 1559-1609) are in contrast to the five points of calvinism.  The Arminian five points are:

• Human Free Will - This states that though man is fallen, he is not incapacitated by the sinful nature and can freely choose God.  His will is not restricted and enslaved by his sinful nature.
• Conditional Election - God chose people for salvation based on his foreknowledge where God looks into the future to see who would respond to the gospel message.
• Universal Atonement - The position that Jesus bore the sin of everyone who ever lived.
• Resistable Grace - The teaching that the grace of God can be resisted and finally beaten so as to reject salvation in Christ.
• Fall from Grace - The Teaching that a person can fall from grace and lose his salvation.

                                                                                                             - carm.org

Worship at Beneva

Pastor Shane preached today, and really targeted what we need to do as believers who have just experienced Resurrection Sunday. 

Let's gather together, pray, and study the Word. Let's do this while being reminded that Christ has not rejected or condemned us, and that we belong to Him and the community of believers.

What a wonderful day of worship at Beneva today. I am so glad to be a part of this church!

Easter Egg Hunt 2013

Easter Baptisms

What a special day for the Oren family! 

There were 9 baptism's on Easter Sunday, and 2 of them were Tristan and Tiffany. 

I am so proud of them, and thankful for their strong faith in Christ.

Contrary to what Tristan claims, I did NOT kick his legs out from under him!

Theological Term of the Day

First-fruits

First-fruits (Greek, ἀπαρχὴ, aparche) were the first portions of produce, animals, and/or family that were given to the Lord.  The firstborn child:

Numbers 18:14-17, “Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.  5 “Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.  16 “As to their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem them, by your valuation, five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.  17 “But the firstborn of an ox or the firstborn of a sheep or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall offer up their fat in smoke as an offering by fire, for a soothing aroma to the Lord.

Jesus is said to be the first-fruits of the resurrection: 

"Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep, for since by a man camedeath, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.  22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming," (1 Cor. 15:20-23).

                                                                                                           - carm.org

The Apostles

What Happened to the Apostles?

Matthew

Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.

Mark

Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.

Luke

Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.

John

Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome . However, he was miraculously delivered From death.

John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos.

He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

Peter

He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.

According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

James

The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.

* Tradition states that this was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.

James the Great

Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

Bartholomew

Also known as Nathaniel was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

Andrew

Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

Thomas

Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.

Jude

Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

Matthias

The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

Paul

Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire.

These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.