Scotty Benjamin

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:18:00 +0000

This is a video project that Vadim, our exchange student from Tajikistan, made for school.

http://wordle.net/ - go ahead and try it!

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:21:00 +0000

Widows, Water Damage and Black Mold

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:15:00 +0000

In the past week I have had the opportunity to be in the homes of two widows. One whose husband passed away 18 years ago and another whose husband has passed away within the last two years. I felt like the Lord was speaking to me after leaving the home of the second lady. You see, both of these women have water damage in their master bedrooms. One had a water heater leak in the closet of her room, the other a roof leak into the corner of her room (this is a new revelation as I write this... it was both of THEIR rooms, not just any room in the house... more on that in a moment, hope you will hang with me on this!) Not only was there water damage but black mold had started to form. If you've heard or read anything about black mold, it is just plain no good stuff! Clearly work needed to be done to eradicate the cause of the damage, tear out the damaged parts and replace them with new ones.

For me it was no coincidence as the Lord hit me with a two by four concerning His love for us. Certainly His love for these widows was evident. Some times the natural things speak of the invisible and I think that this is one of those times... grief, pain, disappointment, discouragement and hurt are akin to the water damaged bedrooms (places of intimacy perhaps - it can often be that those closest to us can hurt us the most) and left unchecked and alone will cause greater damage like the black mold. And left long enough can do major health damage. The only way to get rid of it is to bleach it and rip it out and replace it with something new. While first making sure that you have fixed the problem that caused the leak in the first place. It is not enough to just fix the leak though, the damaged pieces and black mold must be taken out.

I think that is what God desires to do with our grief, pain, disappointment, discouragement and hurt. He wants us to allow Him to take out the damage pieces, fix the problem and replace the hole with Himself as The Healer. But, why don't I allow Him to do so? When I am discouraged, I often neglect my times alone with God, fearing that He may ask me to go to a place in my heart hat I am not yet willing to go, but all the time knowing that by going there I will not only find encouragement but healing and wholeness. I will find a place where water damage (tears over my emotional state maybe?) and black mold are eradicated for ever. I will find a place of health and wholeness.

"I want to be in the Light as You are in the Light, I want to shine like the stars in the heavens. Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation, cause all I want is to be in the light" DC Talk

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1John1:5-7

Victory Ranch

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:28:00 +0000

Victory Ranch in Eastover, SC is a place and a people that shaped my first years as a Christian (1986-88). It is located between Columbia, SC (Fort Jackson) and Sumter, SC (Shaw Air Force Base) on 7 acres with an awesome home and a beautiful lake. It was established a weekend retreat ministry to soldiers from Fort Jackson and grew to include airmen from Shaw AFB and interns from Columbia Bible College and Seminary (where I attended in 1992) as well as many churches that supported the ministry. The ministry is still active today as a retreat center under Cadence International. Everyone should have the opportunities that VR allowed me so early in my Christian journey. Between the Navigators group (that will have to be another post) and the people at VR, I was able to have a Christian foundation built into my life that I continue to draw on today. The summer of 1988 I had the privilege of living at and assisting in the day to day ministry of VR... what a joy! The following March, Patti and I were married and our involvement in the ministry has waned over the years. We have however kept up with a few people, which prompted this posting after a week-long email fest of pictures going back and forth!

So, here are some pictures of VR...

LOST

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:48:00 +0000

(an email that I sent to the WoodsEdge staff team after we had a training time answering questions that related to "lost" peoples thoughts)

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." Brennan Manning (apparently) via DC Talk's "Jesus Freak CD

I was running tonight listening to DC Talk, (what a great CD "Jesus Freaks" is, even if you are not into that sort of music, it is just plain good) and this quote was the beginning of one of the songs. It got me thinking about our discussion on "lost" people (I must say I like the term "missing" that came from "Jim and Casper Go To Church" better). Anyhow, I think that authenticity is something that God has given us much grace in as a church. The more we seek Him, the more aware of our own necessity of Him. The communication of that in the context of grace is, in my opinion, irresistible!

Thanks so much for helping me to see that and to begin to better communicate it to those around me who need to know Jesus.

Here is the rest of the song entitled "What if I Stumble"

Is this one for the people? Is this one for the Lord?
Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford?
You can jumble them together, my conflict still remains Holiness is calling, in the midst of courting fame Cause I see the trust in their eyes Though the sky is falling They need Your love in their lives Compromise is calling

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?
What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You never turn in the heat of it all
What if I stumble, what if I fall?

Father please forgive me for I can not compose The fear that lives within me Or the rate at which it grows If struggle has a purpose on the narrow road you've carved Why do I dread my trespasses will leave a deadly scar Do they see the fear in my eyes? Are they so revealing?

This time I cannot disguise all the doubt I'm feeling

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?
What if I stumble?

Everyone's got to crawl when you know that You're up against a wall, it's about to fall Everyone's got to crawl when you know that

I hear You whispering my name [You say]

"My love for You will never change" [never change]

You are my comfort, and my God

Is this one for the people, is this one for the Lord?

Blood Diamond part 2

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:40:00 +0000

"The diamond controversy merely served as a backdrop to one of the greatest demonstrations of the love of a father pursuing the heart of his son!" Jason Chatraw, great friend and publisher of great books (www.ampelonpublishing.com)

In discussing "Blood Diamond" in a Facebook exchange (yes, I do use Facebook just about every evening for a few minutes to catch up with friends all over, look me up as 'Scott Benjamin'. However, I will leave Social Networking for another blog entry) Jason replied with the above statement. It took my breath away. In all of the drama surrounding the diamond controversy I neglected to see this sub-plot in all of its glory. The drama of a father pursuing his son at risk to his own life and limb is absolutely stunning. I am looking forward to going back and re-watching this movie from the paradigm of the father and not only from the point of the view of the plight of the larger group of people.

BTW, I was in WalMart today looking at some pieces of jewelry for Kathryn Joy as a gift for her induction into the National Junior Honor Society. I could not help but to look at the shiny rocks in the case on rings and necklaces in a different light. It was a different experience. I bought a nice little gold necklace with a dangling heart pendant. My guess however is that gold is not without conflict either. In the end, I want my daughters heart though. Hmmm.

Blood Diamond

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:09:00 +0000

... it's hard to go back and sip lattes and talk about interest rates...
female journalist to diamond smuggler in "Blood Diamond"

This movie ranks up there with "Hotel Rwanda" and "Schlinder's List" as difficult to watch for all of the brutality and blood. However, as with the other two, this is a good film. Good in the sense that it shakes you out of your comfort zone and causes you to "be there" if but for two short hours. While some have been anesthetized to brutality and killing from their gratuitous use in many other "non-real" films and media (video games), this is (in my opinion and as I have heard from others who have been there) a close representation of the sort of life that many in Africa and other third world countries live. Their reality is that death is imminent whether by rebel guns or by starvation or by disease. It is hard to imagine that the Western desire for diamonds would fuel war of this kind a world away. What about oil, coffee, and other natural resources and consumer goods that we use? What are the global effects of our use, of my use? Does a man somewhere need to work in absolute fear of his life in conditions that we would never allow our house pets to live in order for me to have what I want?

These are hard questions for me. I have no answers. I only know that I am aware of these things at an increasing rate.

I know that I serve a loving God, who alone can make sense out of the senseless. I am accountable before Him to love and to serve others. God help me.

WoodsEdge Community Church -Tomball Easter Service

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Here are a few photos of our Easter service, the theater is a little too dark to get good photos during the service but you will get the idea. I should have more coming from another source soon and will post them when I get them...

Emotional Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:35:00 +0000

The date on the taped over 3x5 card is 9/92 and in differently highlighted colors it reads the following:

5 Characteristics of "Emotional Wisdom: I desire:

1) The ability to accept people as they are, and not as I would like them to be

2)The capacity to approach relationships and problems in terms of the present rather than the past

3) The ability to treat those who are close to me with the same courteous attention I extend to strangers and casual acquaintances

4) The ability to trust others, even if the risk seems great

5) The ability to do without constant approval and recognition from others

I do not really even remember the book though I think these come from Charles Swindoll. This 3x5 card has been with me for over 15 years, sometimes in prominent places, sometimes at the bottom of the underwear drawer. It seems to surface at just the right times in my life to remind me the importance of "Emotional Wisdom". I have had this card out for at least the past month on my desk and have been intending to write them down again here for my own reflection. These things do not come naturally to me - I have to slow myself down enough to think through my relationships and apply these principles to them. These come in especially useful in family relationships. Why not pick one and start working on it.

water

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:18:00 +0000

Ever since our family returned from Tajikistan and I saw this picture, I have wanted to write about it. There are several reasons why I like this picture, one is that it has both me and Patti in it. This was taken at a large bazaar in Dushanbe where you can purchase just about anything that you would need living in this land. It is the WalMart of the area. From fabric to food, the sites and smells and sounds are almost overwhelming. So, I like this picture because it reminds me of the trip to the bazaar, which reminds me of all of the people I met over the past two summers being in Tajikistan, and these are good memories.

But what strikes me as most interesting (and so very American) is the fact that I have 4 water bottles strapped to my backpack. I have thought a lot about those water bottles since first viewing this picture. You see, water is not an easy thing to get in this area, and clean water is even harder to get. The thought of turning on one of any number of faucets in your house and getting cool, clean water that you can drink and not fear sickness does not exist here. Yes, you can purchase bottled water, or other bottled drinks but there is of course greater cost and Tajiks do not have disposable income. So, here I am packing water all around during the hot summer months. We were even able to get lemons and slice them to put in the water bottles! So, I have been using this picture as a prayer reminder for my friends that are living in this land, both Tajiks and Ex-Pats who have given their lives to minister there.

You may have heard that Tajikistan and surrounding areas are experiencing the worst winter in 100+ years... and once again water is something that is even harder to get. Electricity has been out for weeks in many villages and the natural gas is rarely available. This is on the verge, if not already, a national/regional disaster. I will post a link at the end to a BBC news coverage piece on what is happening in Tajikistan. But, I also want to share a section of an email from a dear American friend who just had her 5th baby about two months ago (in her home in the village). I hope that the perspective she brings challenges you as it does me to consider my life differently.

"Just wanted to give a quick update on how the deep freeze situation in T-stan is going. We were expecting a bit warmer weather for three days and then it is predicted to snow again on Sunday. The warm weather hasn’t really come. Forecasts said we would have 32-35 degree F (0-2 C) on Thu-Sat. Yesterday the weather stayed well below freezing and last night was the coldest for a week, in the low teens.

It would be untrue to say I am doing “great”. But we are still trying to count our many blessings. It is getting wearying pumping water for every little household task, over a month of pumping water—but we rejoice that our outdoor pump works and that we aren’t having to haul water long distances like other village dwellers. We are also more and more thankful for our wonderful generator, which has worked faithfully through all of this. (we are into our third week in the villages with zero electric) We run the generator for a few hours almost every evening and the emotional boost that a little light brings is amazing. Another huge blessing we have is our i-pod that someone so generously gave us last trip home (thanks Mr. M!). With the speaker cradle we have for it, even without electric, we are able to listen to lots of music during the long days, with favorites being worship music, Fiddler on the roof, Abba, and opera (yes these are Trin and Mo’s favorites!) What a gift of joy music brings. Also I am thankful for a little washing machine. Though I am doing most of the small laundry by hand and the larger items in the machine to save on generator use, the best thing a washing machine does is wring out our clothes so that we can hang them up throughout the house to dry (hand wringing out clothes is much harder and we would have to let them drip out a bit outside to get the extra water out---possible increasing the drying time up to 5 times as long).

We are thankful we put down linoleum last fall to keep the floors warmer and the drafts down. We are thankful for better windows and doors upstairs that keep snow drifts from forming on our floors like last year. We rejoice that small propane heaters became available last year, which really keep rooms warmer for our little baby. We are thankful our fellowship has continued to meet through these hard times, sometimes by candle light and sitting huddled together covered with blankets while we worship and read the Word. I am thankful for hard working girls (Trin and Mo) who don’t get to play so much because they help me wash and clean and cook and care for Jachin. (We have no helper right now, since Nasiba is studying sewing in the morning and college in the afternoon)

Life is good and we know that your prayers and support are what is carrying us so victoriously through this. There is often a temptation to sit and whine and want a “pity-party” because of the present hardships…but it is these things that refine parts of our character and make us grow closer with each other and stronger in our Faith. I am most of all thankful that I have a wonderful Father in Heaven who is watching over us and keeping us in the palm of His Hand and that He has given me an amazing husband, who is doing such a great job keeping our house as warm as possible (almost always over 50 degrees and in two rooms around 60!), while running the NGO, leading the team and the fellowship and still managing to spend time in building relationships and ministry! What a guy!

I hope this is encouraging to you. It sure encouraged me to write it. Please keep up the prayers for T-stan and other parts of Asia that are suffering so terribly with possibly the worst winter in last 100+ years! Pray for the city dwellers that have few ways to heat their homes and the villages that live without any electricity and who are cutting down needed fruit and nut trees in their yards to try to burn for warmth. Pray for the food situation as many winter staples have frozen, so since food is readily available, its palatability is something to be desired.

We love you all! We know spring is coming—Aslan is on the move! (for those who like Narnia),"

Jesus, in conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well spoke of a water, not physical, but spiritual:

"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

Physical water is of vital necessity for physical life, Spiritual water is of vital necessity for eternal life.

Click here to watch the BBC News clip

A Video Invitation to WoodsEdge Tomball

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:28:00 +0000

The Kite Runner / A Thousand Splendid Suns

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:21:00 +0000

I finished reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" last week. I must say that I have been impressed by both of Hosseini's books. Having traveled to Central Asia in 2006 and then again in 2007 with the family. I found both of these books brought me right back to this part of the world that I have come to love. He frequently uses words and phrases that are common to life in that region.

These are not "easy" reads as the subject matter and character development create internal tension. It is difficult to imagine life in Afghanistan in the 60's through current times, though the author does a great job chronicling the events of those times. At times with brutal depictions of the reality of life for men, women and children during the fighting and wars of that land. However, for a guy like me, this was not only a good read it was a history lesson. Perhaps not an unbiased one, but that is OK with me.

If you choose to venture into these writings, be prepared to be hit emotionally. Be prepared that it is not PG writing either. I don't think that the author could have dealt with the subject matter without venturing into places that are not easy for us to be taken. I would say that I did not find anything gratuitous or unnecessary in the plot line that should have be en left unwritten.

I would definitely put it on your reading list.

Life's Hurts - God's Healing

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:12:00 +0000

Sure, this is a funny picture of me, but I have been thinking a lot about this picture over the past several days since it happened... you will notice that my left forearm is pretty scraped up. This happened on New Years Eve up at a high school friend's home in San Antonio (Thanks Anders, I had a really fantastic time, can't wait to do it again soon!). I had not been on a dirt bike in a long time, so I was taking it pretty cautiously (you can see that I have about as much protection gear on as possible and still got hurt)... but as time went on my mind thought that I could still do a little more than I really could, and down I went! I got back up on the bike and rode at least another lap before I checked myself out... always get back up!

I have been thinking about how much this scrape has caused me to be uncomfortable, how inconvenient it is to my everyday life now that the holidays are over. It was fun to get to the scrape, sure, but now it is just a mess. I am constantly banging my arm or hitting something with it, or someone does not see the open wound and grabs my arm... you get the point. To make it even worse, I went climbing in Austin this past weekend with Kathryn's climbing team. Climbing outdoors for the first time was such a great experience! However, neglecting to cover my scrape, I dragged my forearm along the rock I was ascending and reopened what was becoming a pretty nice scab! A good bit of blood and a paper towel taped to the newly opened wound and I was back on the rock! Still, it hurt and I knew it was going to require some doctoring by Patti when I got home. I am pretty sure this thing is going to scar now that I have opened it up again...

We all have wounds of some sort or another. Perhaps yours are physical, emotional or spiritual wounds. Maybe the things that got you to the place of wounding were fun, even exhilarating. You did what you could to protect yourself, but you still got hurt. Those hurts, whether physical or not, are real hurts. Unfortunately, what we often do is neglect to cover our wounds in God's healing grace and the wounds are easily reopened.

I'd like to suggest three ways that you can experience God's continued healing grace in your life in 2008.

1) Get in a small/community group. It is in these smaller groups of people that we can know and be known and in which, I believe, creates the best environment for relationship and healing to take place. If you are not in a small group and need help locating one, please let me know.

2) Participate in Wednesday night prayer and worship. Prayer is the real work. God delights when we participate with Him through prayer and worship. I have seen God's healing take place in the lives of people in the midst of focused prayer and worship

3) Serve somewhere. We are all wounded healers. Many times the first step in healing is taking the focus off of yourself and putting in on someone else. One of the most healthy lifestyle things that you can do is to serve. If you need help finding a place to serve there are many opportunities inside and outside of the church. From setting up for a Sunday service to feeding the homeless, there are some great places to serve!

There are often no easy or pat answers to life's hurts. There are times when we just do not know all that there is to know about our life circumstances and how any good can come from them. But, we can trust that in the depths of our hurt and pain, God's love for us is abundant.

Recent Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:16:00 +0000

We celebrated Hanukkah this year for the first time

Cookie says "'wassup dawg?"

Courtney before her Fall recital

Kathryn Joy with Ben Benjamin, our first "Grandchild" - a 5lb sack of flour baby. KJ was a great "mommy" for a week!

Courtney as a "Pirate" for Halloween

Kathryn Joy as "Mr. Potato Head" on Halloween

'Mighty to Save'

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 03:04:00 +0000

This is one of my recent favorite songs that I found posted on a friend's Facebook page. I hope you enjoy it.

WoodsEdge Community Church Campus Pastor Interview

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:35:00 +0000

This is an interview that took place the weekend of Nov 10/11, the video is from the Saturday night service. Ken Williams, the guy doing the interview, is the Executive Pastor. This gives a good idea of the WoodsEdge model of multi-site and how it works for church planting.

What I just finished reading...

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:12:00 +0000

"Jim & Casper Go To Church"

This was a fascinating and quick read. Jim is a 50 something former pastor and Casper (his last name) is a 40 something open-minded atheist (someone who does not believe that there is a God, higher power, etc. not to be confused with an agnostic who believes that we just can't know if there is or is not). Jim "hired" Casper to visit churches with him and rate them. Their website is www.churchrater.com and has some very interesting comments and threads of conversations.

The books style is conversational. You feel like you are riding along with these two guys and listening in on their private thoughts and conversations. They show up at churches both big and not-so-big, known and unknown and use a standard rating system on them. They rate things like the music, the people, the message, etc. on a 1-5 scale. It is certainly not objective or unbiased - nor is it pitched as such. It is, however, a challenge to church leaders. My take-away as a pastor was to consider how much of what we do each and every week is "cultural" vs "biblical". I think that culture is fine, and being incarnational (what Jesus did when he left heaven to come to earth, he was "incarnate" and took on our form as a man) in a culture is what Jesus would have us to be/do. To what extent does culture lead vs the bible lead? Sometimes I think that it is a case of the tail wagging the dog when it comes to culture and church. Other times I think that we as doing a great job within the culture. The funny thing is that the continuum of Christianity in America is pretty darn long and there is every possible flavor that you can think of out there. One of the things that Casper distinguishes is between churches that talk and churches that do.

Another thing I liked was a term that Jim used for those formerly called "lost". He calls them "missing". And God has pulled out all stops to find them, because He misses them. I like that....I once was "missing" but now am found....

Lastly - Jim and Casper challenged me to be better at having conversations with people who disagree with my point of view, to be a better listener. I think that we can all do better at that.

So - if anything, take a few minutes next time you are at church and put on a visitor's hat and see your service through their eyes (or go to a different service, or perhaps just go to a church service if you do not attend one!) It might just be the best exercise that you will do all week, be open to God speaking to you because you just might be surprised when He does!

Fall has arrived at the Benjamin Home!

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:16:00 +0000

Tonight marked the true beginning of fall for us with the arrival of Patti's first homemade pumpkin pie! Last year fall must have passed us by, because there were NO PUMPKIN PIES! So as not to have fall pass us by yet once again, Patti has outdone herself and put out a truly delicious pie on October 3rd!

When I say "homemade", I mean truly homemade, real pumpkin, spices, crust... she even wears this apron she has had for who knows how long! It is a special event to get one of these pies onto the table. We arrived home from Wednesday night prayer and cut up the pie, added a dolup (yes, that is a real measurement - a small amount) of whipped cream (have you seen the Far Side which shows the "truth about whipped cream", look it up it is very funny! but I digress) and ate away... simply divine!

So, even if you do not like Pumpkin Pie, Patti challenges you to try hers. She has made believers of the most outspoken Pumpkin Pie haters! You are cordially invited to our place - just call before you come and we'll leave the light on for ya :)

ps: around this time of year Patti also makes some fantastic Biscotti, and Peppernuts (a small crispy, doughy cookie-like thing with spiced gumdrops inside) and puts them in these really cool handmade paper boxes... ask her about them some time. She's handy like that, so I think that I will keep her around for a while. sb

Christopher Gabriel Patton

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:15:00 +0000

Last weekend I was in Atlanta for the funeral of the son of some great friends. Christopher was in the Army and was killed while in Iraq. It is hard to describe the feelings and emotions as you see a mother, father, brothers, family and friends grieving the loss of this 21 year old man. There is a group of folks called the Patriot Guard Riders who attended the memorial service, funeral and graveside services. In the midst of this tragic loss of life, these men and women made such a difference in support of the family and in protecting the honor of Christopher's life. They accompanied his body from the airport in Atlanta to the funeral home several days prior to the services. They arranged for businesses and students from Chris' High School to be able to come out and line the streets as the hearse drove through the community. You can find pictures and captions on AJC.com.

My prayers and condolences are with the David, Melanie, Josh and Nick Patton family. Hearing the stories of family life at the Patton home inspired me to be a better husband, dad and leader. As you reflect on the war in Iraq, freedom, politics, missions, life, material things, family; I ask you to remember the men and women who are serving in the armed services and to pray for them.

Old Dog New Tricks?

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:18:00 +0000

This is Cookie, our dog of 7 years. She is awesome to have around the house and as you can see is patient with being dressed up in various costumes. Cookie has always been an "inside" dog meaning that she needed to be walked outside to go to the bathroom. For the past 7 years we have not had a yard with a fence to just let her out back to do her business. In our new home in Texas we DO have a fenced back yard. Do you think that matters to Cookie? Nope not one bit, she still wants to be walked on a leash to do her business! She has the freedom of roaming around the yard alone at her own pace but she prefers the comfort of the leash. She is confirming that old saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

What about me? Are there situations in my life that had me doing things one way because of circumstances, but now the circumstances have changed and I am hanging onto my old ways and unwilling to learn new ways? Am I trading more freedom for a life at the end of a leash because that is what I am used to?

Courtney's 5th Grade Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:10:00 +0000

Courtney graduated from 5th grade at Simpson Elementary School.... here are a few shots, enjoy!

Settling a Dispute

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:20:00 +0000

At the Benjamin house today we settled a dispute. On Tuesday night we got onto the subject of Tootsie Pops and Blow Pops (after reading a neat book called "How to Make a Moose Run" by Gary Stanley, if you are looking for a book to read to your kids at night that has short, true but funny stories with biblical and parenting truths, this is a GREAT one.) and I said "the outer candy shell is the SAME on both of them". Well I was in the minority among Patti, Kathryn Joy, Courtney and our friend Kent who was staying with us. They all argued that there is no way that they taste the same, that in fact they are very different. So Patti went out and purchased both kinds of Pops.

After school and work were finished the 5 of us each chose a same flavor Tootsie and Blow Pop, the choices were grape or cherry. We all unwrapped our Pops, and I was so sure that I was going to be correct! At first taste of both I was thinking, "yea, these do taste similar" but the general consensus coming from the rest of the group was "NO WAY, these are totally different in taste and texture..." Boy was this going to be a hard fought battle. So upon further consideration and a few more licks, I too determined that yes in fact they are different hard candy outer shells - still not as different as I thought the rest of the group was saying, but different yes indeed.

So, I publicly declare that I was wrong for all of the world to see and read.

Humbling, huh?

MAX

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:06:00 +0000

This is Max, his real name is Manucher. He is from Dushanbe Tajikistan. I nicknamed him Max when we were there this past summer. He just arrived in California for his senior year of high school (that is where the pic is taken). You can imagine what a shocking difference it is for him here in the states. He is a great guy and I am sure will do well. Please pray for him and for his host family. He and I will keep in touch via email and we have invited him to come visit during one of his breaks.

What I am reading

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:47:00 +0000

"Let The Nations Be Glad" By John Piper

On Worship
“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man… Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God… But worship is also the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching… Missions begins and ends in worship.” – p.17
On the Glory of God
“Missions is not God’s ultimate goal, worship is… The ultimate foundation for our passion to see God glorified is his own passion to be glorified… God is not an idolater. He does not disobey the first and great commandment. With all his heart and soul and strength and mind he delights in the glory of his manifold perfections. The most passionate heart for God in all the universe is God’s heart.” – p.20-21
On Compassion
“Compassion for the lost is a high and beautiful motive for missionary labor. Without it we lose the sweet humility of sharing a treasure freely received. But we have seen that compassion for people must not be detached from passion for the glory of God.” – p.41

Fruit of The Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (scottybenjamin@gmail.com) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:20:00 +0000

http://www.friendsandfamilyphoto.com
Josh Hultquist