No Hell

"Rob Bell controversy" in the National Post

Bell is the New York bestseller author of Love Wins and pastor of a mega church in the Michigan area. He claims that a good and loving God cannot condemn people to hell.

Shhhhh.......Secret Sisters.......

Our new church here has something I love called "Secret Sisters". Maybe some of you have heard of such a thing, but I hadn't and I think it's a great idea! Everyone who wants to be involved fills in a little "all about me" form and that form is given to another woman in the church. That woman becomes her secret sister and throughout the year sends her anonymous notes of encouragment and promises to pray. Gifts can also be given for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or dates that have certain meaning. Neat, eh? Then, once a year, there's a wind-up where all the secret sisters are revealed.

Alison and Lisa T. - our hostesses and the head honchos of this secret society. Hmmm........I think I worded that poorly....... ;) They've worked hard to organize it, labour tirelessly handing out cards and gifts on Sundays (so as to keep the givers a secret...) and they pampered us all to a nice evening out last night.

No get-together of church ladies is complete without a baby or two. Here's sweet little Gaven - held by one of the many ladies fighting for holding rights :) Lisa N. - looks good on you! ;)

Lots of time to chat, play games and then came the handing out of the envelopes. Everyone had to write a card to their sister, revealing who they were. Exclamations, smiles, and many hugs followed. It was neat to watch. Will be even neater to be a part of it all next year!

Somehow Miriam seemed to be in the forefront of many of my pictures, hugging various people.....;)

Alison and Lisa T. presented a very unique devotional, enlikening the fellowship and friendship between Christian ladies to a recipe. A chocolate chip cookie recipe, to be precise. Each ingredient represented something that enriches our lives through Godly friendships. For example, like sugar adds sweetness to cookies, so fellowship with Christian woman adds a sweetness to our lives; as salt adds flavour, so our fellowship keeps our lives from being bland. Chocolate chips indispensable; nuts optional ;)

I didn't manage to ge a picture of Gavin with his own mom - I think the only time Jessica held him was when he needed to be nursed........ Here's Sharon taking her turn :)

Another new addition to our church family - Levi - what a doll, eh? I gotta get my hands on that one yet...... :)

Need I say anything here? What get-together is complete without food? :)

I'm so thankful for these ladies here. They've been the arms and feet of Christ to me, drawing me into their friendships, reaching out in love to the newcomer. I look forward to years ahead of deepening our friendships and encouraging one another in our walks with the Lord!

Kids and a webcam

Give kids a computer and look what the monkeys come up with.... Even Vetta knows what to do with a clicking mouse!!

Out by our sliding patio door

There are hundreds of these little creatures by our place right now. They settle here in the early spring before they migrate north. They're called juncos. There is a lot of different wildlife in MB that we are not used to seeing. We had a snowfall on Saturday (hence, the snow on the walkout). But it's already melted. It can snow in May too. ::::bracing ourselves:::: We're told it always melts soon after. How soon after, we still don't know. ;) It's been a slow Spring for everyone in Canada, it seems.