Couple more things for my amigos:

1. GETTING TO THE AIRPORT
The question came up at our last Mx08 meeting: can people who live closer to Dulles go straight there rather than meet here at the building? Good question. Upon reflection and with consultation with others, it seems like a good idea. Such a good idea, in fact that I’ve decided to eliminate the ground transportation to Dulles and home from BWI: each of us will need to arrange our own ride to and from the airport. This is a change of plans, so here is a summary:

• You’ll need to get yourself to Dulles Airport NO LATER than 5:30am on 3/15. Terri Morstad will be in front of the Southwest ticket counter with your tickets and luggage tags beginning at 5am. Plan on arriving between 5 and 5:30.
• You’ll also need to arrange a ride home from BWI on 3/22. We land at 6:55pm. I recommend teaming up with another family who lives near you. Why not make a great memory: meet at baggage claim and then go out to dinner and tell Mexico stories!

2. SOUTHWEST INFO

• Limitations: liquid containers 3.4 oz or smaller packed in a clear quart ziplock bag in your carryon bag (larger containers can go in checked luggage).
• You may carry on the plane: 1 carryon bag (50 lbs. or less with dimensions 24 x 16 x 10 inches…which is the dimensions of the overhead compartments) plus 1 personal item: purse or laptop (etc.)
• You may check 2 bags for free (each bag must be 50 lbs. or less)
• Additional bags may be checked at $25 a bag (limit: 9 bags per person). Bags 51-70 lbs. additional cost $25. Bags 71-100 lbs. additional cost $50.

3. TOOLS
A note from Gary about tools:

“As Señor Whitacre told us last week, we are in need of some tools and a way to get those tools to and from Mexico. Please let me know if you believe you will have room in your baggage to bring some small tools. I have several tools that I will need help in transporting, but if you have (and are willing to bring) either a nail puller (preferably 12″ or less), a cordless drill (with screw bits), or any tool you think might be of help, please contact me (Gary).”

Categories: Mx08
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Today is February 29th, a day that comes along only once every four years, thanks to a scheduling quirk in our annual lap around the sun. I actually don’t have a lot to say about this quadrennial idiosynracy, other than to say that I feel badly for those people who only get a birthday one year our of every four.

I think it would be a good day to do something unique and unusual, the kind of thing you really only want to do every four years, like eat sauerkraut or clean the baseboards or change radiator hoses. What do you think?

Categories: five15 blog
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Parents,
Desiring God Ministries recently posted on their blog a very helpful article by John and Noel Piper listing some of the benefits of younger children accompanying parents into the main meeting.

In this article you’ll find:

• The Biggest Stumbling Block
• Togetherness
• Catch the Spirit
• Not an Excessive Expectation
• Not Everything Goes Over Their Heads
• A Sense of Awe

And some practical suggestions from Noel:

• Getting Started
• Preparation All Week Long
• What Happens During Service
• Goals and Requirements
• Creating an Environment in the Pew (!)
• Afterward
• Closeness and Warmth

Read the whole thing: “The Family: Together in God’s Presence“.

Categories: Thursday Thoughts For Parents, five15 blog
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16 days! ¡Vamos a Mexico!

A few things I need to remind you about… This will be the first of a couple posts over the next week or two as we make our final preparations for Mx08.

1. RISK ACKNOWLEDGMENT & RELEASE FORM. This form was attached on the last page of the handout Saturday. EVERYONE coming to Mexico needs to fill this out and turn it in by this Sunday, March 2.
2. PARENTAL AUTHORITY RELEASE FORM. We need this form for every minor who is coming to Mexico, and it needs to be notarized. Kaua is a notary public and she will be in the church office immediately after church THIS SUNDAY, March 2. Please plan on coming and getting your form notarized. If you can’t come on Sunday for some reason, please contact me about other arrangements.  I haven’t given you this form because you are supposed to fill it out in the presence of a notary public.
3. FUNDRAISING & FINAL COST. Special thanks to Carol Sawyer and everyone who pitched in to make the Bake Sale possible. The very generous people of Sovereign Grace Church spent more than $2000 on cookies and stuff, bringing the final cost per person to $700. If you are up to date on your payments, then your outstanding balance is $300. Please bring that check with you on Sunday and turn it in when you get your form notarized.

Please watch for another email soon with final travel details. Thanks!

Categories: Mx08
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I hope you enjoyed the short slideshow on Saturday night about Rancho 3M. That is a basic introduction to the Ranch. There is more to that slideshow, and if you would like to watch it again, or watch the whole thing, you can see it here:

There is also a virtual tour of the Ranch on Flickr:

Don’t forget: we’ll get to meet and hear from Dean and Denise Adamek at the five15 BIG MEETING on 3/8 and the church family meeting on 3/9. Stay tuned.

Categories: Mx08
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Thanks for baking and buying!

Categories: five15 blog
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I found Mark’s message on Sunday to be really helpful: sharpening my thinking about whom I am addressing when I pray. I’ve talked to a number of people who are suddenly recalibrating the first couple minutes of their prayers, or keep catching themselves praying one moment to God, then to the Lord, then the Father, and then Jesus.

I think one of the best ways to learn to pray well is to pray often. The next best way is to listen to (or read) the prayers of others. I skimmed through the collection of Puritan prayers, The Valley of Vision, reading only the first line of each prayer. That was very edifying. Here’s a sampling of how these spiritual giants spoke to their God:

• Three in One, One in Three, God of my salvation…
• O God whose will conquers all…
• O Lord God, who inhabits eternity…
• O fountain of all good…
• My God…
• O supreme moving cause…
• O Lord…
• Thou eternal God…
• Thou incomprehensible but prayer-hearing God…
• Creator and redeemer God…
• Lord of all being…
• O source of all good…
• My Father…
• All searching God…
• O Father of Jesus…

What words do you use to address God?

Categories: five15 blog
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Categories: Mx08
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Hey everybody!

There’s been some confusion about this, so I want to be sure that you got the message: I’ve changed the 2/23 not-so-big meeting to a BIG MEETING. So middle school students and your parents, please plan on coming!

Come for Push Back Part 4 on the Internet with a special breakout session for parents. See you Saturday night.

Categories: Announcements
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For many years, the holiday we observe as Presidents Day was celebrated as Washington’s Birthday. As a memorial to Washington’s legacy as the first leader of our country, the Senate makes an annual tradition of reading the George Washington’s Farewell Address, originally delivered on September 17, 1796.

This is a masterful speech, and I recommend that you read it in its entirety (I just finished it!). It’s too long to quote here, but I really like this bit from section 6. It is humble (note Washington’s recognition of the support and contribution of the American people) and includes hopes for America’s prosperity that is to me reminiscent of the benediction Mark prays over our church every Sunday:

“If benefits have resulted to our country from these services, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as an instructive example in our annals, that under circumstances in which the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable to mislead, amidst appearances sometimes dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging, in situations in which not unfrequently want of success has countenanced the spirit of criticism, the constancy of your support was the essential prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; than, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing, as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation, which is yet a stranger to it.”

Want to read another, even more masterful, farewell address? Check out John 14-17.

Categories: five15 blog
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