Blog Archives

Week 1: Music Response

2/27/2015

Johnny Cash is one of the most popular musicians of all time, influencing many with his country-rock/gospel sound. Although throughout his early career, "The Man in Black" became addicted to drugs and alcohol, he later cleaned up his life and reaffirmed his Christian faith. In a 2005 interview with Beliefnet, John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, spoke about the importance of faith in his parents' life:My father told me early on about having a life in God. Their faith was the light of their life. They always professed it--their faith and their relationship with Christ. I learned by example, from watching them get through their struggles. They'd always come back to their faith.

With Johnny Cash's birthday this week (February 26), it is appropriate that our music response to this week's devotional on CELEBRATION (John 2:1-11 and Matthew 11:18-19). Listen and read more about Johnny Cash below.

0 Comments

Week 1: Devotional Response

2/26/2015

1 Comment

I think God sent me Bentley. I've often though, "Why me?" I've decided the reason is because He knew I would tell people my story to show the power of his love.
-Laura Stevens

By Laura Stevens

Here is one thing I am grateful for that I want to share with Trinity: my cat. Here's why. In April 2012 my beloved husband, George, died. We had been married some 42 years. George was a wonderful, loving man. One of his hobbies was to look at fancy cars. He even subscribed to several car magazines. But his favorite cars were always the Bentleys. If I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, it was always a Bentley -- not that we were veer going to have one...they are hundreds of thousands of dollars! And George would always say he was going to give me a Bentley for my birthday and I wouldn't want to take it back because it would hurt his feelings! So we laughed and joked about all this for years.

After George died, I missed him so badly. I thought maybe a kitten would help. So my wonderful sons, Jack and Jeff, came home for a weekend and we all went to the animal shelter. The first kitten I saw was gray and white. He meowed at me and I melted. We took him back to the playroom and he was awful! He wouldn't let us hold him and he was hyperactive. So we put him back and got out some other kittens, but they weren't right either. So I said, "Let's try the gray and white one again." It was the same story -- he was wild. But somehow I knew this was the kitty for me. The kids looked horrified when I said I wanted to get him, but they agreed. After filling out all the paperwork, as we turned to leave I said to the staff, "Does kitty have a name?" They replied, "Oh, yes. It's Bentley."

Not only did George and God send me a Bentley, he's a silver Bentley because his paws are silver in color. He turned out to be as expected -- on the wild side. But he began to calm down and has even become more of a lap cat. He's a character.

But there is more to the story. I began to notice that Bentley left me his favorite stuffed mouse outside my door at night. Not every night, but whenever I needed encouragement. For example, I was due to go down to the Midwest Eye Clinic in Indianapolis because my eye doctor said I had the start of macular degeneration. I was really worried about my visit so the night before I told Bentley he should leave me the mouse outside the door. I didn't really expect him to do so, but there was the mouse right outside my door the next morning. I knew that I was going to get along just fine in Indy. The other night, after a tough day, Bentley left me mouse and another stuffed creature outside my door. I said to Bentley, "Wow Bentley, I really appreciate your presents!" He looked at me and winked. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit, but it helps the loneliness.

I think God sent me Bentley. I've often though, "Why me?" I've decided the reason is because He knew I would tell people my story to show the power of his love. Thank you, Father! And thank you Trinity for making me feel welcome!

1 Comment

Week 1: Devotional Response

2/25/2015

1 Comment

By Matt Oates

My wife Jennifer once told me that if there was something that I wanted to do in my life, I should do it (within reason and within the law). We have traveled around the U.S. – New York (including games at old Yankee Stadium), Philadelphia, Washington, the Everglades, and more.

One thing that I thought about doing was a half marathon, specifically the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I had done 5Ks, I walked and exercised on a regular basis, but there was just that thought of doing a half marathon that kept calling me.

I eventually decided to “just do it” and went online and registered.

I signed up for a training program – because I had no idea really what I was doing. I had some great coaches and did the training. I was psyched for that morning. We were up by 5 a.m., on the road by 6:15, in our spots by 7 for the 7:30 start and then we stood there for 35 minutes before we got to the starting line.

The training helped immensely, but it also took its toll on my body. During training, I would develop blisters on my feet, sore shins, pulled muscles and more. On that first race day, the weather was relatively nice and I finished in 3:07.

I do two half marathons a year and I have experienced all types of weather issues during training and races. In February and March, you freeze on your training runs for the May race. In July and August you sweat to death prepping for your late fall race, which is normally freezing. I’ve run in downpours, sprinkles, nice weather and such high humidity they actually put out warnings during the middle of the race.

I often think of the verses out of 2 Corinthians 4 while on the training runs when my body does not want to go one more step. I think of how God calls us and uses us in a variety of settings. We often think we can’t do it, but with faith and God’s help, we can do it. We might get dinged a little or knocked around a little or asked to step outside our comfort zone, but God is with us.

While we talk about celebrating and gathering around a table, I have several post-race traditions: a small snack, 2 Aleve, a shower, a nap and then a nice dinner with the family. It’s a celebration knowing that God was with me every step of the way for 13.1 miles that day.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, NIV