Fall 2006X
 We're baaaack... You ever overcommit to things? That's what we've done here, to no surprise if you know us. Sadly, swordandspirit has suffered from our overcommitment. We are sorry for that and we hope and pray that we can start being more busy around here, and maybe cut back on everything else our hyperactive lives are involved in. Our apologies!!! Moreover! When we transferred the data to the new server we lost our mailing list. Mmhmm... So our buddy at Godandscience.org - the incomparable Rich Deem - saved us again by restoring it all up to a couple years ago. Meaning... if you are getting this and you don't think you should be, well, excuuuuuuse us. ;) Having said that, here's what we've been doing.... |
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 Belize it or not...We didn't do an annual Tour of Duty this year - together anyway. :( Late last year we were to go to Mississippi and help out there after Katrina. But Samaritan's Purse cancelled at the last minute because they were just too worn out and were sending people home to recoup. Good for them, sad for us. We ended up not going. :( But Mark did get a chance to go to Belize last July and help out some missionaries there who run a camp for the local Belizean kids. It was an amazing week and there are pix up to show you. (here) As to Mississippi: We still might have a chance to go this Thanksgiving Week. IF you feel so inclined, would you please ask the Lord to guide us as to what to do? Thanks! |
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 Blessed are you when....We here have had this concern for years for our brothers and sisters around the world who are being tortured and killed and beaten and imprisoned because they have the nerve to profess that Jesus is God. As usual, it took us years to attempt to do something about it. This here is our attempt to share with you and your church what's going on. It is a weekly powerpoint presentation with updates from a variety of countries throughout the world (but mostly in Asia, no surprise, that). It is free, we've done all the work. All you have to do is download it and show it to your group or church between services so people who might normally sit and stare into space waiting for church to start might be challenged to.... I dunno... help. All our material comes from Voice of the Martyrs (US and Canada), and Compass Direct. Go here and bless someone! |
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 Bail ó Dhia ort.You like foreign languages, huh? Try this on. We wanted to make a shirt that said Your love is teaching me how to kneel, from U2's Vertigo, since that's pretty much what we want to be about. But we thought we'd do it in Gaelic in honor of U2's Irish heritage and c'mon! where are you ever gonna see an Irish shirt outside of Ireland or an Irish festival or pub? Our friends at The Daltai Discussion forum couldn't EXACTLY match the phrase without massacring the language so they took some poetic liberty and ba-da-bing! we get this expression of Celtic beauty. It really means Your love humbles me AND I am humbled by Your love. Cool, eh? that double-meaning thing? Go here and see it in more detail and order one. Come on already, you know we practically give our stuff away. [by the way, it's pronounced iss oola-ji may duh ghrah, plus or minus] |
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 Free Stuff! Here's the latest free stuff from your buddies here at S&S. They are businesscard-sized... well... cards. The purpose of these little guys is legion. One reason is to leave one behind when you've done some random act of kindness. This way people know why you did it if they don't know who did it. Which they aren't supposed to know anyway. ;) Another is to kind of remind you to keep on the lookout for things to do to live a Christ-like life, looking for an opportunity to help someone else. Some people have already whined about the card saying it looks like we're looking for attention. (We can't BUY [read -afford] a break!) THE MAIN PURPOSE IS FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE LORD in what you've done and give Him glory. No names, no phone numbers, no "please send check here." And it isn't to be forced: that is, if it is inappropriate to leave one... don't!!! Sheesh! ;) Anyways, there yours if you want them. Write us and we'll send you out a dozen - for free. If your church could use them, great!!! (Click on the card to see a closer view.) |
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 Hit the Road, Jack. If you happen to live in the area between LA and the much better city of San Diego, we have the inside scoop on a performance you won't wanna miss - if you happen to be a C.S. Lewis fanatic, as most of us here are. Actor David Payne will be at Calvary Chapel Murrieta doing his one-man show, appropriately titled An Evening with C. S. Lewis. It will be held on 27 September in the main sanctuary - for free. For more info go here. Several of the swordanspirit crowd will be there. Mark will be helping selling "stuff" at the table afterwards. |
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O h. My. Gosh. How something like this could slip by us is truly sad. Especially when one of us considers himself a film aficionado (that would be Mark). Here in a single half-hour film is the most amazing modern-day parable any Christian could ask for. No cheesy, substandard Americhristian standards to be found anywhere. Just one beautiful story which is nothing short of a parable of the love of the Father for His people. (Think John 3.16). MOST (The Bridge) is a Czech film, beautifully photograhed, brilliantly acted... magnificant on every level. What a great film to show to an unbelieving friend, or in a group setting for discussion. You will only not be moved if you have no heart beating in your chest. And you can get the film from mostthemovie.com. (Watch the trailer here, as well.) They have a deal such that if you buy one they send you another for free. You will not be disappointed. |
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| Thanks! God's blessing on every one of you! Please pray for us!
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| and Whitney and Laurie and Uncle Bob and Marcella and... |
