Spiritual Resolutions

Greetings Fairy Followers,

We are approaching the beginning of a new year. The time when we wipe the slate clean and start planning our successes for the next year. Many of us make resolutions that include losing weight, being a better friend, pursuing a dream.

I admit that I have something on my list from each of those categories. I also have one on my list in the spiritual category. There are always things we can learn about God and His word. Where is your area of weakness that you want to grow? Do you need to harness your anger? Forgive someone who's harmed you? Memorize a greater portion of scripture?

Once you've picked your goal, here are some tips to reach it:
Put it everywhere: Write your goal on a stack of sticky notes and post them places you will see it regularly. In your calendar, locker, bathroom mirror, nightstand.

Break it into measurable steps: If your goal is to memorize scripture then make a list of the verses you want to learn and set goals for each month.

Keep a record: If your goal is to harness your anger, then write down the instances you've been angry and how you responded. Make a plan for how to respond better the next time and some scripture to help you respond rightly.

Find some resources: Have the library find some books on the topic you are studying. Check out crosswalk.com for verses that relate to your issue and articles about it. Remember that people are resources too and you can talk to your parents, friends and leaders about keeping you accountable to improve.

Here's to a great 2010. Praying for all of you who are headed to Districts.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Old School Jesus in Job

Greetings Fairy Followers,

It is Christmas time and the hollow logs in the neighborhood are bedecked with blinking fireflies. What a wonderful time of year to be talking about Jesus in all of his incarnations.

Last week we talked about Jesus in Job. Job is a fascinating book of the Bible having the designation of being the very first scripture written down. And when that writer inscribed his inspiration he wrote:

"Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God..."

I know that my Redeemer lives. I know he will stand upon the earth in the end. Wow. Before the tabernacle was toted through the dessert, before the temple was built in Jerusalem, before Sunday morning coffee hour became the standard, Job Knew.

I pray that this season finds you secure in the knowledge of your salvation and your savior. Know that you know, dear followers.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Greetings Fairy Followers,

Since the great snow of December 8-10 kept us locked up inside the hollow log sipping cocoa from acorn caps, I don't have a new episode of Old School Jesus to bring you.

Instead, our entire pastoral staff had occasion to venture to Green Bay for the Monday night game against the Ravens. Nessie, of course, made the trip and brought back some pictures.

She brought along Pastor Alan and his mom who made sure that Nessie was well outfitted, even if P.A. forgot that the Packer's colors are Green and Gold - Not red and white. Even the Raven fans were accepting of Nessie...before their team got trounced, anyway.

This last picture is of a plaque that hangs at historic Lambeau Field. It is an excerpt from J.F.K's inaugural speech. The final line reads:

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

Do you feel that way about the work of God? Do you feel you are his hands and feet and mouth here on earth? Consider today what job He might have in store for you.

Just a little reminder from J.F.K and Audio A.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Old School Jesus in Esther

Greetings Fairy Followers,

This week we were treated to guest speaker Emily Dunham bringing us Old School Jesus in Esther. She had her work cut out for her in bringing to us a book that doesn't even mention God's name!

Here's a little video to tell you about the book of Esther in case you aren't familiar.



Jesus was foreshadowed in Esther's preparation to go out and plead for her people with her husband.

1. She had to sacrifice her own wants and desires, just as Jesus had to sacrifice himself for us.
2. She fasted for three days, just as Jesus was in the grave for three days. (Incidentally, if you want to do a study of all 'three day' references in the Bible click here. Very interesting stuff)
3. On the third day she rose and went to see her husband. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus had a great adventure in mind for you if you will choose to engage.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Unholy Alliances

Greetings Fairy Followers,

The B.D.F. of late has become a fan of the TV show "Glee!" I, of course, watch it for the music not for its portrayal of Fox's version of the average American high school.

In said average high school exists one young cheerleader who has gotten pregnant. She tells one boy that he's the father when he really isn't...why? Because he's the good guy, the guy she likes, the guy with a greater chance of supporting her than the baby's father. She's using this child as a chance to attach herself, form an alliance if you will, with the boy. Creating a way for him to have to be with her even if he doesn't love her.

Sounds like average soap opera stuff, right? That's what I thought until someone brought me back to Genesis this week. Chapter 29 describes poor Jacob who winds up married to the sister he doesn't love and working for many more years to earn the sister he does love. Sister #1, knowing she is unloved, begins having children and naming them for her state of mind. By the time she has son #3 she names him Levi (which means 'to attach')and says, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons."

Frequently, we find the person we want to "be attached" to - in romantic relationships, business endeavors, friendships - and then we go ask God to bless the attachment, the alliance, if you will. There are many ways to force someone to be attached to you, but none of them will achieve success without us first being attached to God. Instead of forming an attachment and then asking God to plug on at the end, you need to be attached to God and let him be the bridge that brings you together.

Praying you holy alliances.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Which star are you?

Greetings Fairy Followers,

The B.D.F. has vivid memories of her trips to camp. One night our speaker sent us out into the night and told us to lay on our backs and find the brightest star in the sky. Once we had located the North Star we each took turns describing which star in the sky we were in relation to that one and why. Were we close and working to become closer? Were we dim and struggling to make light? Were we working so hard to be bright that we were close to burnout?

We came back together as a group and our speaker explained his choice. He said that he had pegged himself as the moon because the sun was the brightest star in our sky and the moon made no light of it's own but only reflected the light of the sun.

This past week we talked about Old School Jesus in Judges. The Israelites were proficient at losing focus. They were as easily distracted as a first grader sitting by the window and they fell into a pattern:

Israel serves the Lord,

Israel falls into sin and idolatry,

Israel is enslaved,

Israel cries out to the Lord,

God raises up a Judge,

Israel is delivered

I like the way it starts and ends...but could we maybe skip a couple of those steps in the middle? Could we serve the Lord without falling away? Not without His constant help and guidance. Not without learning how to reflect the Son instead of striving to shine in our own glory.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

One Marshmallow or Two?

Greeting Fairy Followers,

We kicked off of our discussion of Old School Jesus in Deuteronomy with this video of the Marshmallow test. The ultimate in delayed gratification.



What would you have done? Could you have waited to eat the first to earn the second?

How about now? Are you willing to deny yourself things that seem good now to earn God's best?

This world is only the first marshmallow - with a whole truck load to come.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Jesus in Numbers

Greeting Fairy Followers,

Your sin will find you out and there will be consequences.

That was one of the main themes when we looked at Jesus in Numbers. Now, I'm not calling Shuffle Your Buns "sinful" but there certainly were consequences for using the chairs in the grotto in a manner more rough than they were intended to be used. Maybe one of my followers could let P.A. know that this game should only be played with chairs with no arms!

The Israelites had to learn this lesson over and over again. In Numbers chapter 21, they disobeyed God. Then God, very justly, sent them a gang of snakes as punishment.

Many times when we sin and then are consequenced, we get mad at God. When we experience an unplanned pregnancy because we chose to engage in sex outside of marriage we ask, "Why me?" When we wind up in the hospital after a car accident because we were driving too fast, we beg for healing. Even lamenting our lack of money when we choose not to work for it, or spend it unwisely.

These consequences are the result of our sin and God lets us experience them to remind us that His ways are the best.

The true blessing, however, is that while He may let us experience the full brunt of our sin, He is always ready to forgive. When the people realized their error and asked for forgiveness, God provided a way by having them lift their eyes to a bronze snake (the universal symbol for the medical profession, by the way).

And today 1 John 1:9 tells us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

God wants us to be in a relationship with him. When we sin against God in any number of ways, we break that fellowship with Him. God will go to great lengths to get us back to him. Our sin was crucified on the cross. John 3:15 And this was not in shame but done in GLORY.

Are you in the midst of a consequence right now? Are you complaining about it? Take some time this week to rejoice that God isn't content to let you stay in your sin and praise Him for it.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Jesus in Genesis

Greetings Fairy Followers,

Welcome to a new school year with the Bible Devotion Fairy. This year our youth group is finding Jesus in the Old Testament. Each week we'll be talking about a different book of the Bible and one verse where Jesus is foretold.

In Genesis the first reference to Jesus is after the fall. Before we screwed up, there was no need for a Savior. We were in perfect harmony with God and creation. Once the woman yielded to the temptation of the serpent, God curses the serpent thus:

Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

The "offspring" to whom God is referring in this verse is His own son, Jesus. When Christ comes, Satan is allowed to "strike his heel." In other words, he is allowed to work in such a way that it appears failure is coming. The community is allowed to crucify Christ.

But once that strike is taken, Christ returns, rises from the dead, and crushes the head of the serpent. Christ takes away Satan's power over death, He creates a new path to God. He removes the fear of a relationship with God and becomes our closest friend.

Even from the very beginning God had a plan and he's still working it out in your life today. Be faithful, followers, and see what He has in mind for you.

Blessings,
The B.D.F.

Okay, tell me...No wait. Don't

Greetings Fairy Followers,

Can't believe the start of the school year is here already! Seems we barely had a summer with only a few 90 degree days and cool breezes, but here we are turning the calendar page.

I've been thinking lately about how much I love a good mystery. You have a crime at the opening and then spend the rest of the 300 pages trying to figure out who done it. Twists and turns, you think you have it figured out and then you're taken down a totally new path. That's when I put the book down and say, "What are you doing? It was him. It was totally him. Grr." Then I dive back in and read to the end.

What this school year is going to bring is, as yet, a mystery to you and me. And how cool that our omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent (all-knowing, everywhere all the time, all powerful) God, who has never and will never know a surprise, endowed his creation with the ability to be surprised. To experience his revelations one step at a time.

So today, instead of growling at God for not showing you the full blueprint of your life, praise him for the ability to be surprised and get in His Word for answers to those questions that are following you today.

Have a blessed school year,

The B.D.F.

Frank's Baptism

Greetings Fairy Followers,

The BDF has been flitting to and fro from her hollow log of late and is behind on her posts. On the heels of my apology, I'm bringing you pictures and notes from what was one of the highlights of my summer.

Floating on a piece of driftwood on Lake Arbutus, the fairy watched as Frank chose to express his faith in Jesus through the right of Baptism before embarking on the adventure of college.

Baptism is probably one of the most debated sacraments in the history of the church. Should you baptize infants or adults? Does baptism guarantee salvation?

While I could give you my personal opinion, instead, I shall point you to the word of God itself. My favorite baptism story is in Acts 8:26-40. Philip was directed by an angel to go and talk with a man who was reading the book of Isaiah while he traveled. He didn't understand what he was reading and Philip began in Isaiah and explained the gospel of Jesus to the man.

When he believed the man asked, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he was. Believe and be baptized. There is never a basin of holy water dedicated to baptism in the Bible. They use whatever is handy - a lake or a river. There is never a priest around. Whoever was preaching the message is the one who baptizes. There is never a ceremony - you just did it.

Baptism was designed to be a public declaration of a private decision. A chance to tell the world that you believe in Jesus. Have you believed? Once you believed have you been baptized? Why or why not?

Log on and share your thoughts.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Godspeed

I've been faced with that timing issue again. Must be God dealing with me in that area. I was reminded of Isaiah 40:31 "They who wait on the Lord will renew their strength."

Okay. Read it a million times before. Never noticed that the reverse is true. If you're waiting on a thing, a person, an event, waiting can be the most exhausting thing there is. If we're waiting on a friend to get her act together or for it to be time to go back to school or for those tomato plants to grow, it can feel like forever...a watched pot never boils and all that.

But, if we use that time to grow with God, to wait on the Lord's timing and live our life waiting with eager expectation for what he will bring next, we will be renewed, uplifted, ready to face what ever the next day, hour, chapter or year may bring.

So, dear fairy followers, I am praying that you will be living life at God's speed today.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

I'm lost!

I was at the beach over this lovely fourth of July weekend and sitting on my blanket when a little girl, maybe two or three years old, wandered up the beach in tears. She was shrieking the words that we've all heard these little children say..."I can't find my mommy."

Once the urgency of her situation became clear, I took her under my wing and we flitted up and down the beach in search of her mommy. She refused to answer any of my questions...What's your name? What is your mommy wearing? Who did you come with? A need to maintain that 'Don't talk to strangers' rule, I'm sure.

After a trip all the way around the waterfront, we finally encountered mom - fretting and worried.

Have we not all been lost at one time or another, dear Fairy Followers? Lost on our way to a major decision or lost after a poor decision has been made and followed through upon? Lost in a belief or seeking how to follow the teachings we believe?

Haven't you stood on the edge of your own waterfront and feared that your Heavenly Father had lost you? That he'd left you to your own devices and left you wandering the sand by yourself?

The feeling is understandable. But the truth is that he will never leave you nor forsake you. Matthew 18: 12-14 says, "Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn't he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn't want to lose even one of these simple believers."

Not only does he not forget you, he is out looking for the one that is lost and throws a party when he finds you. So, if you find yourself lost: send up a flare, shout out your need and He'll come and get you. Hallelujah!

Blessings, The B.D.F.

All yards must be this high...

Greetings, Fairy Followers,

I've noticed an interesting phenomenon in my neighborhood. If I get out my mower and get started cutting the lawn within fifteen minutes three more of my neighbors are out cutting theirs. A friend of mine told me that she actually had a neighbor come over and tell her to be sure to let them know when they mowed so that their lawns could match. Really?

On the one hand, it's nice to have a bit of conformity to the neighborhood. I've never been much of a conformist so I guess I'm okay with everyone following me.

Have you ever given into the conformist mentality? Wearing a style similar to someone else's? Growing your bangs out to match the current trend?

Despite all of our determination to be different, unique, unusual, we usually wind up being "different just like everybody else." And there isn't anything wrong with that, most of the time. Having the right amount of flare (or lack thereof) in your jeans, sporting henley's all winter, or the right color flip-flops.

The problem comes when we feel pressured to do things that are dangerous to our spiritual or physical lives. We let ourselves be subjected to things that are not just a way to fit in, but that defile the Holy ground of our heart. Check out this video set to a song by Ceili Rain called "Junkyard."



My heart is not a Junkyard.
My mind is not a dump for all the gunk around...no, it's holy ground.

Keep your temple clean.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Timing is Everything

Greetings Fairy Followers,

My son stole my husband's chair at lunch today. So hubby stood, with his strawberries and ice cream, and hovered around the table while we ate. My step mom jumped up and told him that there was another chair in the closet.

With impeccable comedic timing my husband answered, "I'd rather stand out here than sit in the closet."

The cardinal rule of comedy...Timing. Do something too late, you miss the joke, too early and your set up isn't in place.

I've been participating this summer in the Beth Moore "Esther" study. Today I was listening to the teaching about when Esther invited King Xerxes and Haman to the first banquet and then, instead of asking Xerxes to save her people, she invites him to another banquet the next night.

It seems, at first glance, that she chickened out. Couldn't go through with it. Decided to give herself 24 more hours to gather some courage. But, as we read on, some pretty important things happen during those 24 hours. And is it possible that God shut her mouth and instructed her to wait?

When was the last time you were faced with a timing issue? I feel God wants me to talk to this friend about her behavior last weekend. I need to leave this job or change schools, but when?

Whatever your "IT" happens to be, the when can be almost as disconcerting as the what. Should I speak up now or wait until the weekend? Should I leave school now or wait until the semester break? Should I sell my car and start taking the bus?

Whatever your next when, fairy followers, be assured that the cosmic clock ticks on in a time-zone unknown to us. But remember that, despite our desire to be in control, that sometimes God is working to align my destiny with that of others who, like Xerxes and Haman, have to be ready to hear what we have to say.

Praying that all of you will do the right thing at the right time.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

What's my motivation?

Greetings Fairy Followers,

I've used that line: "What's my motivation" with various directors as I've done plays over the years. It's when I need the director to tell me why my character is doing what she's doing. The script tells me to walk across the stage and pinch my sister. I want to know why I want to pinch my sister...because she stole my doll? Because she stole my boyfriend? Because she's falling asleep in church?

The reason I want to know is because how I pinch her and what I do before and after I pinch her will be affected by why I needed to pinch her in the first place.

Now translate this to real life. A friend walks by, bumps into you and keeps on going. How would you feel? I'd be slightly put out to say the least. Would it change if you knew that your friend had just found out that her sister was in the hospital or if your friend had just been told that you got the spot on the squad that she wanted?

We are prone to not only put words in the mouths of others, but to put thoughts in their head as well. It is easy for us to judge someone by what they might be thinking. Unless you've developed a sixth sense, you don't know what is happening in the heart and mind of the one sitting across from you.

So the next time you get cut off in traffic or a friend is snippy, put the best thoughts in their mind, instead of the worst. Pray for them.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

You are my density...I mean, my destiny

Greetings Fairy Followers,

We are a week past graduation now and will be officially starting summer vacation. Which, in my family, means starting summer school a half hour later than we started regular school.

The end of the school year always brings thoughts of the "what's next." For graduates it's a big question of what are you going to do as a grown up. For the rest of us it's the answer to what we will be doing for the summer and then the next school year. I just completed my summer "to do" list. It has no fewer than forty individual items on it. Not counting the regular weekly things like mow the lawn, weed the garden and cook dinner.

You may feel you have the next 12 weeks peacefully planned and ready to go. Or you may be more of a fly by the seat of your pants vacationer. Either way, be prepared.

I've been studying Esther and one point the teacher made about chapter four was that often the pivots of our destiny are negotiated during the worst times. On the day when you've gotten up late, missed your ride and your cup of coffee is the day you meet someone on the street who needs your shoulder. They day you lose your job is the day you feel prompted to give to a missionary friend. Have you seen this before in your life? I know I have and it makes me a little fearful to peek around the corner...but who better to entrust with your destiny, than the creator of the universe?

So, like George McFly, chug the shake, walk across the room and meet your density...I mean, your destiny, head on. Your hands may shake, your voice might quiver, but the outcome will be worth it.

Fly on Fairy Followers,

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Get Your Goo

Greetings Fairy Followers,

I got to hook up with an old friend from high school this past weekend. We went to the sporting good store at nine at night so she could get goo. Do you runners know about goo? It's like a power bar pureed and served in a packet. She bought it because she was going to be running a half marathon the next morning. Runners bring along the goo and down it when they need a boost.

The point of the goo is to maintain the same amount of energy at the beginning of the race as you have at the end of the race. To run with the same amount of enthusiasm at mile one as at mile twelve and three-fourths.

So, how are you at managing your spiritual energy? Do you have some goo stored aside to help you keep running with energy and enthusiasm? Do you have a church you go to regularly? A friend who pushes you onward? A program of study to help you learn the Bible?

Get your goo and keep running!
Blessings, The B.D.F.

So Long, Farewell...

Greetings Fairy Followers,

It is with a touch of mourning that I write to you this morning. This is our chance to bid farewell to our seniors. Wednesday night was devoted to celebrating their high school career and sending them off into the great unknown of college.

Pastor Alan started off the evening and talked to the seniors about the fact that even though you are graduating from the requirements of education, you are not graduating from the church and he suggested three ways to help you stay on the right track.

1. Find the right friends. Even if you are attending a Christian college or if you get involved with a seemingly good group, be careful. Find friends that are going to encourage you to grow closer to God.

2. Find a church. Getting involved in a church gets you connected to a group of believers and has the added benefit, as Alan pointed out, of putting you in touch with families who want to help out poor college students and love to invite you over for Sunday dinner. My hubby and I still visit with the family who did this for me in college. The attended our wedding with a week-old baby.

3. Find time for the Word. There is nothing that will keep you connected with Christ than being in his Word. If you thought keeping up on your Bible study was tough in high school...well, college will have its own challenges - like staying up half the night goofing off with your roommate and then being consistently late for your 10:30 class even though it's right behind your dorm. Not that I have any personal experience....

So, Cody, Kelsey, Frank, 'Pusta, Kacey, Stephen, Jessica, and Bryce, know that our prayers go with you as you get ready to head to new climbs after this summer. And don't forget to pack your hot pot.

Blessings, The B.D.F.


P.S. I had the opportunity to hear many of you talk about what you're going to be doing next year but some of our readers did not. If you would be so kind, please log on and leave a comment about your plans.

Love in Action

Greetings Fairy Followers,

This week in our Crazy Love class, Chan talked about a time when he came back from a mission trip, decided to sell his house and move into a smaller one.

While I doubt his new home bears any resemblance to the picture I've posted, I'm sure it was an adjustment. The challenge he issued the rest of us was to take inventory and get obsessed with Jesus.

Are you obsessed with Jesus today? Would you rather see Him than anyone else? Check out this devotional thought from Chan.



The B.D.F. is realizing that our seniors will soon be graduating and moving off to greater climbs. I'd love for them to take a moment and post a comment about what the future holds so we can pray for them as they move on.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Liar, Lunatic or Lord?

I've been amazed that the warm weather has brought many of you out of the woodwork and down to the Grotto. Last week the Gospel Journey was about who Jesus is.

This quote was included:

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.¹

How did that make you feel? Just as our study of "Crazy Love" has said, there are no lukewarm Christians. Who do you say Jesus is?

Prayer Request: Many of you know that our own Bryce suffered from a mysterious lung collapse this past week and is out of school until Thursday. Prayers, cards, and gifts--I'm sure--would be welcome.

Blessings, The B.D.F.


Lewis, C.S. (Clive Staples), Mere Christianity, revised edition, New York,
Macmillan/Collier, 1952, p. 55 ff.

The Great Romance

Dear Fairy Followers,

I started a new book on Saturday night called "The Chosen" by Ted Dekker. "The Chosen" is the first of a series of Young Adult novels that Dekker has written as companion pieces to his enormously popular "Red," "White," and "Black" novels.

The premise of the book is that there are seven pools in seven forests in an Earth 2000 years in the future. The pools provide healing and are guarded against The Hoard who don't believe in the power of the water. The forest dwellers believe in and serve a loving, powerful God called Elyon and call their worship of God "The Great Romance."

When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was he said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." It's easy to read over that and think, yeah, read it before. But are you living up to it? Do you love God with that intensity?

Do you plan dates with God? Do you dress up for him? At least put on deodorant? What is your romance with Him like?

Share your thoughts, followers.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

The Power of the Zip Tie

Greetings Fairy Followers,

The B.D.F. had a blast at the Living Hope LOL Comedy Night. God loves it when we laugh and you all did Him proud.



Do you doubt God's sense of humor? Watch a pair of squirrels play in the leaves, or check out a puffer fish. Read the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. "Maybe your god is in the bathroom. Yell louder." Nice, huh?



What was your favorite skit? I loved the contagious jr. highers, the gum chewers and, of course, the zip tie guys.





A young fan I bumped into this week gave me his version of your tag line:

Bibles for China

I'm so proud and celebrating what a great ministry you all participated in raising enough money to send 200 New Testaments into China. $1200 in all. That's a lot of A&W freezes you won't be drinking this summer.

There was a big story on the Today Show today about how kids growing up today are selfish and self-involved. Thank you for being a great example that not all of you are!

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Frank's D2S phone call

We asked, Frank answered - here's what happened at Dare 2 Share when Frank made a phone call:

Dare 2 Share was an amazing weekend. I feel truly blessed to have gone. On Saturday we were challenged to pull out our cell phone right there at the conference and share the gospel with one of our friends. Before the challenge Greg Stier(the founder of Dare 2 Share) taught us how to share the gospel.

G-God created us to be with him
O-our sins separate us from God
S-sins cannot be removed by good deeds
P-paying the price for our sins, Christ died
and rose again
E-everyone who trusts in Christ alone has
eternal life
L-life that's eternal means we will be with
Jesus forever

So, I called my friend and started to share the gospel with him. I started telling him about God wanting to have a relationship with us. Then I told him about the problem of sin. At first he thought that good works would get him to heaven. But then I explained to him how God is perfect and he expects us to be perfect also. And we may think we are good people compared to others, but God is not comparing us to other people but to himself. There is no way that we could ever be good enough to remove our sins. I continued to tell him about grace and Jesus' death on the cross. He understood all that I told him. I asked him if he was ready to trust Jesus Christ as his savior. He said yes!! I prayed with him and then invited him to church with me this Sunday.

God really is amazing, and he can use us in incredible ways if we let him. I would also like to say that I did not do this on my own but it was the Holy Spirit working through me. I would like to encourage everybody reading this to get out there and share the gospel with your friends, family, co-workers, etc.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16

Dare 2 Share recap

Guest blogger and fearless leader Alan Dunham shares his thoughts on last weekend's Dare 2 Share conference.

Dare 2 Share rocked. 10 brave students traveled down with us (Emily, Mary and myself) to Chicago for the Invincible tour put on by Greg Stier and Dare 2 Share.

We were challenged to get right with Jesus and to share our faith.

We were all asked to make a list of 5 people to share the GOSPEL with and we were also given the cell phone challenge to call one of them on Saturday during the conference. Ask Frank how his conversation went - unreal. If that is not enough, we also found time to collect 16,000 pounds of canned goods. I am so glad we went and so thankful to take a group of super students.

Next year the conference is called BLAZE and it will be March 19-21. Put it in your phone now!

The B.D.F. asks:

Willing to share with us, Frank? Be a guest blogger and let the B.D.F. post it? Just leave a comment, we'd love to hear your story.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Greetings Fairy Followers,
Last night the fairy had the opportunity to sit in on "The Mirror of Truth and the Mirror of Lies." What an evening! You gentlemen missed out.

Speaker Kerri Pollard talked to us about how we are bombarded by images that are not the truth. She showed us this video produced by Dove about the process of a "real person" becoming a model.



Purely by happenstance I discovered that Miley Cyrus was on Good Morning America this morning talking about her own struggles with body image. She also discusses her Bible reading habits. The fairy likes to see this out there!

I know many of you struggle with having the right look and I hope you were encouraged last night. There is much prayer surrounding this event and the rest of the week that Kerri will be around. Please, if you have questions, ask someone. Use this opportunity. Post a question here, get together with Kerri while she's in town, ask a parent or youth leader.

Kerri opened our eyes to the consequences. It is easy to forget that the things we do today will have consequences tomorrow.

I pray that you are all looking today through the Mirror of Truth. It's called the Word of God.

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Remember Me

Greetings Fairy Followers,

I love it when a plan comes together (ten points for whoever can name the show that's from). On Sunday in our "Crazy Love" class we talked about the fact that life can be over in an instant and what would be want to have done differently.

Last night at Plumbline you all talked about how you want to be remembered. What you want your life to mean. Would you rather be remembered as Mother Theresa or Saddam Hussein?

Here are some interesting epitaphs I found:

On Ezekiel Pease:

Pease is not here,

Only his pod

He shelled out his Peas

And went to his God

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Effie Jean Robinson

1897-1922

Come blooming youths, as you pass by ,

And on these lines do cast an eye.

As you are now, so once was I;

As I am now, so must you be;

Prepare for death and follow me.

Which is not funny at all. But underneath, someone had added:

To follow you

I am not content,

How do I know

Which way you went.

So, my question to you, Fairy Followers, is what would you like to have said in your eulogy or on your tombstone? She was a woman of style and grace? He was a man of strength and character? She knew God? Loved God? Served God?

Post your own epitaphs here...I'd love to hear them. Or watch out and I might post one for you.

Alan Dunham here doth rest
The weight of earth upon his chest
No more smiles or breaths of air
No more worrying about his hair

Blessings, the B.D.F.

$50 Million

Greetings Fairy Followers,

This Wednesday, you were asked what you would do with $50 million. How did you answer? I've always said that my hubby would be happiest if we had enough to support ourselves and then become professional volunteers. Still waiting...

Talking about Solomon's "Chasing after the wind" challenged us to know our purpose in life. Right now you're at a point in your life where you are thinking about...or soon will be...what you want to be when you grow up. What your gifts are, how you can combine all of these things to better society. No pressure.

Above all your purpose is to love God and love others. Sounds simple, right? No matter what you choose to do to earn money and make a living, keep in mind that it's always about serving, loving and obeying God.

So, what would you do with fifty mil? How can you give your lives meaning right here and now? Who can you love extravagantly?

Blessings, The B.D.F.

Filter between brain and mouth

Greetings Fairy Followers,

I have long had a faulty filter that refuses to warn me when the things in my brain shouldn't leave my mouth. I'll spare you all the stories, but the feelings came back as we had a very interesting Sunday morning. First we spent some time with Francis Chan talking about the awe-factor of God. How we have come to see him, at times, as common and were reminded in Ecclesiastes of how wrong that is!

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."

Then we walked into Sunday service and listened to the disciples tell Christ: Mark 10:35 'Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."'

Talk about being hasty and quick with your mouth! "Here God, do this for me." Not how God operates.

So, Fairy Followers, be full of awe this week and come before him humbly. Here's a great video to "Let My Words Be Few" by Matt Redman



Blessings, The B.D.F.

The Counterfeit

Greetings Fairy Followers,

You know how they train federal treasury officers to identify counterfeit money, right? They spend hours, days and weeks looking at the real thing so that when something unreal passes their eyes it stands out like a flashing neon sign.

I was thinking that it works the same when it comes to our own faith. Instead of matching ourselves up against the amazing holiness of God, we look at those around us and decide if we are better or worse.

For if we were looking to the great, awesome, holiness of God then we would say what Isaiah said: I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple..."Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

I read my Crazy Love chapter last night - I know some of you already have and I couldn't stand to be behind - and Francis Chan said some of the same things. Here is the Awesomeness of God video he mentions.



And...just for fun.



Blessings,
The B.D.F.