Apostle Paul vs. Victoria Osteen

Last weekend Pastor Don preached from Ephesians chapter 5 as he is working his way though the book of Ephesians, faithfully bringing us the Word of God each week. The sermon was from Ephesians 5:22-24 where we have the command for wives to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord.

This week I saw that Victoria Osteen, Joel Osteen's wife, has a new book coming out. One that I don't intend to get my spiritual, relationship, or any advice from. Newsweek recently did a story on Mrs. Osteen called What's God Got to do With It? I was appaled at a quote in Newsweek from Osteen's book that read

"Submit to your man, or at least pretend you're submitting, and then do what you want anyway. 'I know if I just wait long enough,' she writes, 'eventually my idea will become Joel's idea, and it will come to pass."'

That "advice" is totally contrary to what the Apostle Paul has written to us in Ephesians and other places in scripture. And it seems very aparent, to even a secular news magazine, that God is left out and self is what is most valued in Osteen's book.

To know that this book has not come out yet, but is nearing the top of Amazon's spirituality books saddens me. This is not Christian advice, it sounds like it would be found in some secular self-help book.

I know there are many great books out by Christian female authors that are true to the scriptures and offer spiritual advice straight from the Word. Might I commend Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney as just one option other that Osteen's upcoming book.

Mrs. Shiyou's workshop

I know Pastor Don just posted this to rebuildlakeshore.com, but this has got to be the coolest thing I did all week!



I was the one driving the truck! It was a bit sad to think, though, that this was Mrs. Shiyou's workshop for 35 years and we brought it down in a matter of 20 seconds.

They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky

The story of Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, Benjamin Ajak as told in their story They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky is one that broke my heart and gave me new respect and appreciation for a few of the Lost Boys I am acquainted with.

Deng, Deng, and Ajak are 3 of the tens of thousands of young boys who fleed from war in Sudan in the mid to late 1980's. These young boys were between 5 and 7 when they were forced to flee from their villages and their families to save themselves from almost certain death.

This is a powerful story told by each of the boys as they recount their expeiences traveling across Sudan on foot towards Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and eventually to the United States.

I can never imagine having to flee from my home leaving behind everything I knew, traveling for days, weeks, months, years to an unknown place. The story paints the picture of what these young boys had to do to survive the heat, the wild animals, and the war that plagued their country. From traveling in packs, drinking their urine, hiding, and searching for any sort of food they could consume. They were all very malnurished and suffered injuries and illnesses along the way that left them on the brink of death.

I recommend this book to all to educate us on the horrors of war and the trials all these young boys suffered through, many dying along the way.

conquering the temptation

For as long as I can remember I have had a problem with feeling sorry for myself and getting myself in a woe is me pattern. I have been praying and thinking about this some this past week. I know this does not glorify the Lord and with His help I can conquer this as He's helped me before; but I've also realize I must take some steps on my own to help myself avoid the temptation to feel sorry for myself. So far I've thought of these steps..

1. More time in prayer and scripture
2. Take medicines regularly
3. Take vitamins regularly
4. Exercise several times a week
5. Get outside more
6. Get away part of a day each week
7. Visit people in the community more
8. Start conversations with others as I am out and about
9. Talk to friends and mentors more often
10. Sing more/Listen to more music
11. Disciple a young lady
12. Preach to myself
13. Minister to those in the church that are sick, hurting, or lonely.
    
14. Don't make myself so busy with these things that it wears me out more than helps

Help me out, I know many at least at times are prone to feel sorry for themselves and have a woe is me attitude. What are some of the steps ya'll take to avoid and conquer this?

I am happy to say that with the Lord's help I am seeing some improvement in my attitude and have been much better in fighting the temptation to feel sorry for myself. I write this not to have others feel sorry, since that is what I am trying to avoid myself. Rather to gain insight from those who have been there, those who are more mature in their relationship with the Lord, those who are older and have more life experience. Or to encourage others struggling with the same.

A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

I recently finished reading A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier written by Ishmael Beah. It is a captivating story of a young boy who at the age of 12 had his village in Sierra Leone attack and he fled. About a year later he was picked up by the government army and was forced to become a child solider.

It is an amazing story as he shares the grim details of fighting, killing, losing his family, watching friends die, and life as I could never imagine. But it is a frightening tale to see how a normal young boy can be transformed into a drug addicted killing machine in just a short time.

He fought as a soldier until UNICEF came in pull Beah from the fighting. First placing in him a rehabilitation center. He now resides in the United States and speaks publicly about his time as a boy soldier.

I recommend this book to all. It is important for us to be aware of world issues, this being one that is easily hid and rarely spoken about. It ought not be hidden but exposed for the world to see.

Fundraising for our kitchen

When Gustav tore down the kitchen a few weeks ago. We began thinking fast about the new kitchen we'd like to build. We'd been thinking about it for some time, but hadn't made any concrete plans on the new structure. But no we have some ideas of what we'd like to do, how big the building might be, and where we will put it.
First we must clean up the big storage tent that Gustav also took down. This week we are going to begin cleaning out the tent, putting things in the warehouse, putting things in the distribution center, and figuring out where we will put the rest until we can put them in the houses. Then we will have a team erect the big white tent (if it is not too damaged) over the slab where the kitchen is currently. Cleaning up this tent will allow us to make more concrete plans for building our new kitchen.
But we need your help! We could really use the manual labor this weekend and the next couple of weeks (OR whenever you are able to come). We are also raising funds to build the new kitchen. There are a few ways to donate to the cause. You can send a check to
Lakeshore Baptist Church
PO Box 293
Lakeshore, MS 39558
on the memo line write "camp kitchen" in the memo line

Another avenue to donate or join us in raising support is through our facebook group. You don't have to even be a member to donate this way. This is a safe online way to donate.

To Join the facebook group, you have to be a member, but can find the facebook cause here.