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LOTW Blog

Aug 20

Adventure Camp Adventures!

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We just got back from a week of summer camp with our 8-12 year olds, and it was a blast!

From hunting for wild animals like elephants and rhinos during our Safari game to hiking to Tornado Alley, we were busy, busy, busy. Each day had Bible study and campfires, and lessons about God along the trails and in the cabins. At one point, they were asked to find something in nature that reminded them of God, and they came up with some great answers. One child picked a reed and broke it apart to make it look like a cross, to remember that Jesus died for him. Another picked a beautiful flower and said it reminded her of all of the beauty that God has put in the world. Still another brought back a small rock and said it reminded her that one of the names for God is our Rock, and that he will always be there for her. What great reminders for us adults!

Aug 17

Stress, Part IV

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Tagged in: Stress , Life

Here are a few ways you can handle stress:

1. Meditate – just 10 or 20 minutes of quiet reflection may bring relief from chronic stress as well as increase your tolerance to it. Use the time to listen to music (check out God’s ipod on iTunes), read a devotion or Scripture, pray, etc.

2. Take one thing at a time – for people under stress, an ordinary work load can sometimes be unbearable. The best way to cope with this feeling of being overwhelmed is to take one task at a time. Pick one urgent task and work on it. Once you accomplish that task, choose the next one. The positive feeling of “checking off” work is very satisfying. It will motivate you to keep on going.

3. Exercise – regular exercise is a popular way to relieve stress. 20-30 minutes of physical activity benefits both the body and the mind.

4. Hobbies – take a break from your worries by doing something you enjoy. Whether your interests include gardening or painting, schedule time to indulge yourself.

There is more to come. So be sure to check back.

Aug 10

Lessons from My Refrigerator

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Tagged in: Life , Lessons

I bought a new Amana refrigerator and to my horror when I went to get a glass of water out of it…it was room temperature. I called the manufacturer and after two different visits from the Amana repair guy it was determined that the water is not supposed to be chilled.

Let me ask you…why do I need to get water out of my fridge if it is not chilled? I can just throw a filter on my faucet and have nice-clean-warm water from there if that is all I want in life. The good news…for an additional charge I could get and install a water reservoir to chill the water. As soon as I was able to order it…I did. I expressed the shipping and installed it within an hour of coming to my door.

Now I have chilled water out of my fridge and the world is right again.

Lessons From My Ridiculous Lawn

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Tagged in: Life , Lessons , Lawn Care , General

During the summer, I travel a lot. As in, I have been home exactly 11 days in the last 2 months. And since it’s been 105 degrees most days, and I am not blessed to have a sprinkler system, you might naturally think, like I did, that my lawn would die, and I would not have to mow every time I am home during those precious 11 days of home time. But no, it seems to grow MORE when I am gone. And not only that – while the lawn grows, the plants in the flowerbeds die. I think that’s my house’s way of getting back at me for setting the air at 90 when I leave.

Regardless, as I was sweating it out mowing during my 36 hours between trips recently, I started to wonder which one I am more like – my ridiculous lawn that keeps growing, or my plants that keep dying when I’m gone. Do I thrive under adversity, and give thanks to God in all circumstances like my lawn? Or when things get tough, do I act like my hydrangeas and photinias, and shrivel up?

Paul said that he rejoiced in his sufferings (Colossians 1:24) and that it is God’s will for us to be joyful always, and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I hope I’m like my lawn…what are you are like?

Jul 20

A Lesson on Aisle 14

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Tagged in: Sermon Info , Life , Lessons , General

I went grocery shopping with my oldest daughter the other day. We went to a popular grocery chain in the dfw area. There were an interesting couple that were shopping at the same time as we were. The lady drove in a motorized cart and the guy pushed a grocery cart of his own. The best I could tell they were not married, but the lady in the cart lived with this guy and his wife (who was not at the store with them). I could tell this because the woman was busy yelling at this guy for almost our whole shopping experience. As hard as I tried to get away from this lady…we always seemed to keep crossing paths with this couple. And even when an aisle or two separated us this woman’s voice echoed across the store. She had one of those voices that reminded me of that mean old woman from “Throw Momma from the Train”. At first I felt awkward listening to her rip this guy she was with…thinking to myself…”If it were me…I would knock her out of the cart or at least let the air out of her scooters tires. But over time…vulgar yelling or not…every time she yelled something my nearly 11 year old daughter and I would turn to each other and start laughing. Not so funny for the guy she was always yelling at I am sure!

Name Change

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Tagged in: Youth , SWAGG

Our high school youth group made a big decision recently. They spent weeks talking about what is important to them as a group, and decided to name themselves, and come up with a mission statement. They are still working on their mission statement, but have voted to call our high school youth group SWAGG from now on. It stands for Salvation, Worship, Altruism, and Glory to God – all things that they feel are what their youth group should be about!

Jul 09

Stress, Part III

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Tagged in: Stress , Counseling

As we continue to talk about stress, keep in mind that as weird as it sounds, some people are addicted to stress. For these individuals, it is possible for their past experiences to be so traumatic, disorganized, or chaotic that they find themselves being able to function in only highly stressful situations. So it is likely that these individuals, although they do not like the symptoms and distress of stress, they unintentionally find ways to have it around often times in very creative ways. Similarly, it is possible for someone to take on a victim type role where everyone and everything is against them. They blame others for their misfortune and stress. However, you are responsible for most of the stress in your life. Stress results not so much from what happens to you as to how you react to the things that happen to you.

There is more to come. So be sure to check back.

Jun 27

Deep Thoughts... Baseball Edition!

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Tagged in: Deep Thoughts

What if God and Church were like a baseball game. Would we stand up and sing after the sermon?

(Sung to the tune of Take me out to the Ball Game)

Take me out to your Church

Take me out to Bible Study

Buy me some coffee and donuts

I don’t care if I ever get fat

So lets sing, sing, sing to the Lord

So he will hear our praise

For it God, the Son and the Holy Ghost

At the Light of the World!

Jun 16

Live Long and Prosper

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Tagged in: Sermon Info , Movies

Ok I will grant you that "trekkies" can be a little nerdy, but I am proud to admit...I am a long time Star Trek fan.

I went last Sunday to see the new Star Trek movie and I give it 2 bibles up. (Actually no bibles up as they look the Lord's name in vain several times. Normally that gets me to stop watching a movie...but this was Star Trek and I was there with a member from church...so I kept watching.)

Welcome

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Tagged in: General

Thank you for visiting the LOTW blog! This is the first post to our blog, but you should find posts to this blog being updated at least once a week. The contributors to the blog will be the entire staff here at LOTW along with some of our “volunteer ministers”. We do ask that you remember this is a church blog and ask that you keep your responses mindful of that. We hope you enjoy our blog and be sure to check back often! Pastor Greg

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Quick Info

Service Times: Sunday Worship 9:00 & 10:30
Adult Bible Study 10:30
Children's Worship 9:00 & 10:30
Directions: From I-35W take N. Tarrant Pkwy
Turn East .6 mi to Old Denton Rd.
Turn North .4 mi to LOTW
Map
Contact: 8750 Old Denton Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76244
P 817.750.0444 | F 817.750.0447

Pastor Greg Beutel
pastorgreg@lotwchurch.org

Announcements

Women’s Ministry On Saturday, March 20th, we have 2 opportunities to volunteer at SafeHaven of Tarrant County, Shelter for Battered Women. Sorting and tagging items at their resale store will take place from 10:00am-1:00pm...