christmas pictures...

I know...its not even thanksgiving...and I have already taken my kids to get their Christmas Pictures made...however you have to proactive about these things, because if you wait to long...you will never get an appointment! So yesterday we made our way to Collierville to get pictures made at Portrait Innovations...and much to my surprise, both of my girls did SO good! They didn't cry (which is usually what Avery likes to do!) and they listened and did whatever was asked of them! And as a result, their pictures turned out really good! Just wanted to give you a few to preview! And don't be shocked if a few of you don't get some of these as a Christmas present! :)

Brenly's version of Away in a Manger...

...It was hilarious...Last night on our LONG drive home...I was on the phone with Kristy and we were discussing how we are being bombarded by Christmas and we haven't even given thanks...(A very big pet peeve of both of ours!) She was heading to a Christmas Tea in the middle of November and I had to listen to WRVR the River..ALL day long at work and it just so happens that they started playing their non-stop Christmas music yesterday...UUGGHHH!!! As we are discussing the fact that we are irritated that we can't even get to Thanksgiving yet, My child busts out in Away in a Manger (They have been practicing Christmas music at school for her Christmas program!) and continues to sing and all of a sudden the words are quite making much sense..SO I ask her to sing it again and this is HER version of the first line...

Away in a Manger
November Australia (but it sounded more like Astraya)
but the tune was completely correct!

Kristy and I both started cracking up...I had to quickly tell her that the words we

No crib for a bed

and it was as if a light had gone off and she responded OOOOOOHHHHHH! Now I get it!

So every time after I corrected her, she would start with November and quickly remember those weren't the correct words...

My children crack me up daily! Thank you God for such funny kids!

Summary...Synopsis..

I don't know what you call it...It was just good! For the past several weeks my church has been learning the differences between Islam, Judaism and Christianity and it has been a very informative series...This past Sunday, Dr. Ken Easley, a seminary professor at Union University came to give us a brief overview of the entire Bible...It was very good to hear it in such a concise manner...one that was easily understood...I really enjoyed it and can't wait to get my hands on the extended version of his message. I took some notes on Sunday and just wanted to share them for anyone who cares...It was a very interesting look at the Bible as a whole!

From Promises to Reality:
How Christianity Fulfills the Ancient Plan God Promised

"He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature...(2 Peter 1:4 ESV)

Prologue: The Need For Redemption
(Genesis 1-11)
*Creation
*The Fall-we were incapable of following God's plan
*The Flood
*Confused Speech (Babel)
Humanity is a race of rebels against God
These four things happened to the entire nation

1. God builds His Nation: Israel, the people of His promises (they were the "chosen" people)
(Genesis 12- 1 Kings 11; 2000-931 BC)
*Call of Abraham
Covenant Promising Worldwide Blessing (Genesis 12)
*Exodus (Redemption from Egypt) great picture in the Old Testament of Salvation
*Law (from Moses) and Land (from Joshua) were established
Temporary Covenant of the Law (Exodus 20)-- 10 Commandments
*Kingship (through David) and Temple (through Solomon) were established
Covenant Promising Eternal Son of David (2 Samuel 7--God promised that a son of David would always be ruling)

2. God educates His Nations: Israel, the People of Disappointment
(1 Kings- 2 Kings 25, Isaiah and Wisdom Books; 931-586 BC)
* Nation Divided into two Rival Kingdoms
*Northern Kingdom (Israel) Conquered (by Assyrians led by Jonah...learned that idolatry doesn't pay)
*Southern Kingdom (Judah) Conquered the Temple Destroyed (by Babylonians and Nebikenezzar)
God was very patient with his people and they FINALLY got the lesson

3. God Keeps a faithful remnant: Israel the People of Anxious Hope
(Ezra- Esther; many prophets 586-6 BC)
* Return from 70 year Captivity
*Law and Land reestablished
*Second Temple Built (Still no king)
*Four- Metal Image: The Wait Predicted (Daniel 2)
---Head of Gold; Babylon (modern Irag)
---Chest of Silver; Persia (modern Iran)
---Belly of Bronze; Greece
---Legs of Iron; Rome
(symbolized the coming of our Lord)
New Covenant Promising Forgiveness and Transformed Life (Jeremiah 31)
---where we would be changed from the inside out!

4. God Fulfills Redemption; Messiah Begins the Kingdom
(Matt., Mark, Luke, John; 6 BC- AD 30
*Incarnation and virgin birth of Jesus
*Life of Jesus
---12 years of childhood; 6 BC- AD 6
---20 years of obscurity; AD 6-26
---3 years of ministry; AD 26-30
(this is the Climax of the story...all of these years point to his death and resurrection
*Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Exaltation of Jesus
---Fulfills Covenant Promising Worldwide Blessing
---Fulfills Covenant Promising Eternal Son of David
---Fulfills Covenant Forgiveness and Life Transformation
---Fulfills (Ends) Covenant of the Law

5. God Spreads the Kingdom Reality; Church, the people of the Living Promises
(Acts and the Epistles; AD30- ?....Don't know exactly how long this "chapter" will last)
*Beginning of the Church in Jerusalem
---New Age of the Spirit
*Expansion of the Church
---Jew and Gentile as One Body of Christ
*Church History
---Temple and Israelite Nation is now OBSOLETE
---Shadows Gone in the Light of Christ's coming

6. God Finalizes All His Promises
(Book of Revelation); AD???
*Satanic Wrath against God's People...Satan has always been against God's people
*God's Wrath against Satan and All Evil
---The beast of the sea (Anti-Christ)
---The beast from the land (Anti-Spirit)
---The dragon (Anti-Father)
(Satan attempt to "mock" the Trinity)
ALL are destroyed in the coming of Christ
---the last plagues and the final exodus
*The Coming of Christ in Glory and Resurrection
*Martyrs Rewarded and Final Judgement (Rev. 20)

Epilogue: New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21-22)


I am sure that these notes aren't near as exciting as Dr. Easley preaching it on Sunday...but it all made perfect sense and I am so glad that I was able to hear His perspective...

Feel free to stop by
www.highpointmemphis.com
and listen to Dr. Easley for yourself...His sermon should be up by now!
OR you can go to Amazon.com and order the fuller version of the same message called...
"The Illustrated Guide to Biblical History" by Dr. Ken Easley

He also mentioned 2 other books that he has written that might be helpful
"The Hollman Quicksource Guide"
"The commentary on Revelation"

Hope that you got as much out of this as I did!
God Bless!

Hayride...Candy Stops...

an annual tradition out at the farm around Halloween Time...Brenly looks forward to this activity year round and this year was no different...We actually did it the Sunday after halloween, so Friday night (halloween night) Brenly said..."So where is the hayride?" Kris and Amanda always do a great job of planning it and getting it all together...this year we took a hayride sown to "the bottoms" and actually cook hot dogs over the fire and then had s'mores for dessert...every so often we would come to a candy stop in hanging from the trees and the girls and Brody would get to dive into a bag of candy and eat until their little hearts content! The day was beautiful and we had a great time. Thanks to the McCord's for inviting us out and going out of your way to make sure that the Hayride, Candy Stop was a huge hit...as always!

Pumpkin Carvin...

I almost forgot to post it! Brenly got to carve her very own pumpkin this year..and she was SOOO excited...she got to use a real knife and everything...I was very apprehensive...because if she is anything like her mother...she was bound to cut herself! I am happy to say that she is much better with a knife than I am and her pumpkin turned out precious...She decided that she would draw on Avery's pumpkins "since she is just a baby"! Here are the pictures from our pumpkin carvin evening!

Happy Halloween!

It was a busy Friday...We had lots of people to visit...and we made it, but we were worn out afterwards! I went to go get the girls after work and we headed to visit with Great Granddaddy! We left there and went to Mullins Station Baptist Church where Auntie (Misty) and family go to church...Auntie was in charge of getting the Trunk or treat together for her church and she did a fabulous job! Everything turned out great and we were glad that we could join them...Afterwards we went to spend the night with Gran and Papooh...there was NO way we were going back to Bolivar! Hope everyone else had a Happy Halloween as well!

Halloween with Boops...

...Baylee Boops that is! The Sunday before Halloween we went with Chad, Ronni and Baylee to a fall festival at their church! The girls got dressed up in their cheerleading uniforms and we were off to have a fun night...trunk or treat, "fishing" for candy, hayride, cakewalk, water gun games...Lots of fun for all! Thanks Uncle Chad, Aunt Ronni and Baylee for inviting us! We love spending time with all of you!