Hope.

Hope is not a feeling, it is a choice; and even in the midst
of despair we can still choose to carry on. There is no greater
hope than that. ~Mark Eddy Smith~

My Answer.

And when those around me ask me why I dare to dream,
or why I love, or why I sing...

My answer is You. You're the hope that my heart is holding
onto. Skeptics won't understand, it's strange from the world's
point of view.
But my answer is plain and its simple. Lord, my answer is You.

Truth.

The truth is incontrovertible.
Malice may attack it.
Ignorance may deride it.
But in the end, there it is.
~Winston Churchill~

What is Faith?

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
~Hebrews 11:1-3~

Nice Christmas Blessing

The Sunday before Christmas the Refuge got a nice blessing.

A group from the Dixon area, Audience of One, came and played

and sang a music service for us.

It was really neat because the lyrics of the different songs

were scriptural and worked their way from Genesis to Jesus.

We really enjoyed it!

So, THANK YOU Audience of One!!!

What its really ALL about.

~Luke 2:6-
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village,
guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared
among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.
They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be
afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!
The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born tonight in Bethlehem,
the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby
lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-
praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all
whom God favors."

~Isaiah 9:2
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light-a light that will shine
on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.

~Isaiah 12:4-6
"Thank the Lord! Praise his name!
Tell the world what he has done. Oh, how mighty he is!
Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you."

:D

The "Refugees" had a great time at the Willow Creek

Christmas Eve Service!!!

Thanks so much Wolfgang and Lauren for inviting us!!!!!!!!