Monday, July 12, 2010

Patty's in Brazil


Patty has been in Curitiba, Brazil for the last 12 days. She is with a House of Faith Youth Missions team. They are traveling with Global Awakening Missions. About 200 - 300 youth from America went and about 200 - 300 Brazilian youth met up with them in Brazil. They spent the first few days in training sessions. Then they broke up into teams to preach, teach, evangelize, and pray for the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear and the sick to be healed. We hear from the team that that is exactly what has been happening. Wow!!! Patty, we are so very proud of you and excited for what God has planned for you. You are on an adventure of a lifetime. Keep the team in your prayers, they return home Wed.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Jenny's Engaged!!!

Our sweet Jenny is engaged to be married to Justin Mark McClure, a wonderful man of God. We are very happy for the journey they are about to begin. I know God has great plans for them. I look forward to watching His plan unfold.

We've heard much concern about Jenny and Justin's age. So, what is the appropriate age to marry? The Bible really doesn't give us much guidance on that, other than culturally. We can guess at the ages they married in Biblical times and I suggest to you that it was younger than we think. I know many who have married young and have wonderful marriages. Think about our grandparents. They were all much younger than the average age today. Why the age change. My thinking is a generation or so ago education and finances became a priority before marriage. Planning ahead is not a bad idea; however, should it be such a priority that you pass someone up as a mate that God has placed in your path just to have your education and finances in order? Or worse yet, should you battle staying pure to wait for the worlds appropriate age. I think we need to really look to God and Godly counsel for our decisions and not just the worlds standards and way of thinking. Maturity is another characteristic to consider. A very young couple following the ways of the Lord can be much more mature than the average 20 - 25 yr. old of the world. It seems like we see some grown adults these days living out adolescent lifestyles causing difficulties with relationships, finances, etc.

So, having said all that; we are excited for Jenny and Justin and we are ready to see and hear the testimony of the greatness of Jesus Christ with their words and actions as a couple.

I know that Jenny and Justin both love this verse. This is my prayer for the two of them.

1 Tim 4:12-13

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
NKJV

Now let me tell you about his sweet proposal. Justin called me and asked if I could make t-shirts for Joshua and down to wear that said ,"Jenny, will you marry me?" He and Annie had apparently come up with this idea. Anyway, I made shirts and Justin invited some of their House of Faith friends out to our house for the fourth of July. I told everyone that our children had special fourth of July shirts and a presentation for them. Everyone assembled on the front porch with eyes closed and Roy and I led the children around to the front of the house, lined them up and had everyone open their eyes. Jenny said she was trying to read the shirts when Justin got down on his knee and asked her if she would marry him. She was stunned, speechless. He said, "you better say yes, because I don't think I can do this again." She said "YES" shaking with excitement and joy. Jenny has a beautiful ring paid in full. Way to go Justin!!!

I'll post pictures as soon as we have them.