Release Time -- Easter Story

We had our group this week for Release Time.  We have been doing the story of King Saul and King David --- but it's Easter and what a wonderful story to tell.   Our group is the 3rd and 4th graders and we have had these kids since the 1st grade.  We have told the Easter Story each year -----so this was a story they knew well.  As Gary told the story - a hand would go up and they would have to say what they remembered --- or sometimes they went ahead in the story and Gary would say "yes !! that's coming".  It's a LONG story if you try to tell it all --- but it's all so important.......the kids did great ---- a little disruptive with all the hands going up but at least it was always about the story.

We also made a nice cross out of red cedar with the kids.  They started out with 6 pieces  - 3 long and 3 short.  They had to pick how they wanted their cross to look and then we glued them together.

The pictures show the crosses before we put a sealant on them.........that always brings out the bright color of the cedar.  We sprayed the crosses after we brought the kids back to school and then delivered them when they were dry (same day).  They will have them at home for Easter.

May your Easter be special as we all celebrate and remember what Jesus did for each one of us and that he lives and reigns forever.
Gary and Barb

AUGH!! Winter is back --- in full force.

Spring was short and summer even shorter (yes, we felt like we had a touch of them both already)..... Today, winter reared it's ugly cold head again.  We don't have a terrible lot of snow -- but the wind is fierce and schools are closed.  Stores and businesses in Valentine are closing.  One report on the radio was that at times he couldn't see the truck parked across the street from the radio station.   I am afraid that this is NOT good for the baby calves that are being born in this weather.  Hopefully, the ranchers can get them inside and out of the wet, cold, snowy weather.

Gary came into the house and said, "get your camera".   So I grabbed it and asked, "what you got"?
Well, there was a robin sitting in the cedar tree right by our garden spot.  I certainly figured it would be long gone by the time we got back out there.   But there she sat........

                                             
....looked to me like she was all puffed up trying hard to stay warm.  After I snapped a couple of pictures she ducked back into the inside of the tree.  Must have been checking so see if things were improving but decided they weren't.

When it's nice out we've had the red winged blackbirds...........

                                           

........ sitting in the tree tops singing their "song".  The only reason I like their "noise" is that they DO announce that spring is right around the corner.  So we are just thankful for the moisture that came in the form of this snow and we know that spring is still just right around the corner.

We had JDC this evening and had 2 groups ---- 10 in the first and 8 in the second.  There is a group that they call "BIA".....they are from other reservations.  The groups were all attentive and it was an enjoyable evening.  We went from 3 youth - to 18.  Tomorrow is a court date for some of them so a  few might be gone...but there are 4 in "booking".....so this number will be with us for a while. This is a wonderful time --- to talk about the great sacrifice Jesus gave by dying for us - taking our punishment and then rising again from the dead.   We will also be doing a service on Sunday (Easter) evening-----another chance to share this wonderful message.

May God bless you as we remember His Grace at this time.
Gary and Barb

A need to Praise and Thank God --- and to share it with you.

Sometimes we just flat out need some encouragement.  Tonight we got it.  That is why we need to Praise and Thank God.....and share it with you!

But we will start with last Wednesday evening.  We only had 6 or 7 boys so we made a circle of our chairs --- it seems a good way to communicate better than when they are spread out in the room, and usually it works very nicely.  But these young men (boys) seemed to have something on their minds.  And the circle didn't work very good --- for us.  They on the other hand could look at each other and do their "thing"......which caused me to ask Pastor Mark if we were witnessing some sort of "rumble".  They were nodding at each other and pointing and showing off their biceps.  They really didn't cause "trouble".....just had their own agenda....and we didn't appreciate it.    And so --- you (we) can get to questioning - what are we doing here --- are we doing any good?!?!

Then this evening - it is the second Sunday of the month and our evening for a time of worship at the Detention Center.  We found out that we would need to do two groups -- anyway it would be best that way.  There was a group of young men from North Dakota ---- they call them the B.I. A group (Bureau of Indian Affairs) - why they call them that - I don't know.....perhaps only because they are not from the Rosebud.   And boy, does it show -- every time!!

Tonight we did the  "Wordless Book" message....the complete gospel message in a wordless book --- only colored pages that represent "heaven" - gold page, "unclean hearts" - dark page, "Jesus blood" - red page, "clean hearts" - white page, and "G.R.O.W". - green page.  Well, have you ever seen someone paying real close attention to something...... their eyes are wide open and sometimes they nod their heads in agreement, they cock their head so they can see better.......  That's what we had tonight with the group from North Dakota and other Reservations (not the Rosebud).  Actually, even the 1st group was attentive --- but the second group topped it off.  These guys were willing to read the Bible passage --- not this "I can't read" stuff....and even sang the songs that they had never heard before.  We were blessed!!!

We came home feeling totally refreshed and eager to go back.  We needed that encouragement. Thank you Lord!   and  Thank you for your prayers and support.....and be sure to Thank God for His encouragement.
Gary and Barb