Our Hearts go out to the Elderly...

The elderly...the pets... it is hard to think about what they must be going through. When people or pets don't understand why they are hungry or what is going on...it brings you to the point of just pushing the thoughts away.

The plight of the poor people, the plight of the poor and elderly…I pray we can help to reach them in time.

Agape Flights is helping, many are helping but more is needed...

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then just as
Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Rejoice in Hope of the glory of God


Please Click AGAPE FLIGHTS for the latest news and information; if you want to see faith in action see what the staff, missionaries and volunteers are doing.

So check out Agape’s Web Site and you will be moved, trust me. For me I will check to see if I can find some missionaries that are helping with the elderly...



It is late so I will borrow a sentence that I wrote the other day to a staff member… “ Agape’s task in the best of times seems more than a challenge is now seemingly impossible, yet with God’s grace the insurmountable has turned to inspirational.” (Did I just repeat myself…or did I just quote myself?)

So check out Agape’s Web Site and you will be moved, trust me.

I know that the Red Cross is helping...I know that there are other big agencies and relief efforts and churches that are on the case...yet there is after all in the best of times MORE that can be done. After all even in our town we see folks that could use a little tenderness. Growing old can be lonely, growing old can be scary, growing old is a challenge even for the rich and well adjusted.

But to be poor and elderly and sick living through the earthquake of 2010 in Haiti- It takes my breath away.

I know some must be just sick of the news reports that pull at the heart strings. It is so hard to think about- that many of us have just had to turn away from the mess.The elderly...the pets... it is hard to think about what they must be going through. When people or pets don't understand why they are hungry or what is going on...it brings you to the point of just pushing the thoughts away.

It is a joy to visit the elderly in this beautiful coastal community of Sarasota and we get as much from the visit as the folks do so we go again and again. Yet I feel that there must be a way to spread that peace to our neighbors in Haiti...

Visit Those Who Can't Get Around Anymore!

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

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My grandparents lived out of state and were unable to come to our home, so we would visit them but looking back it was only once a year. I do wish we would have seen them more often. I enjoy going to visit the folks that just can't get around like they once did. I too know that most have family and many of the families live far away. I visit the folks near me and I know there were those years ago that would visit my grandparents...Thanks!


Our Visits to the Assisted Living Facility in Sarasota…

Our visits are golden, all of us enjoy our time during the visit more than I can express with mere words. First off, the residence will not answer any questions posed to them; one would wonder if they would only sing and just not talk. That is not it because at the start of our visit and at the end many folks say thank you and express that they look forward to our visit and ask when we will return.

Last time we were able to pass out handmade cards to the residence that were made with love from a group headed by Linda, some of the cards were made by children and some by missionaries and lay people from the church. It was nice to hand out a card that reminds the folks that they are cared for and that God loves them.

I got the feeling that some of the residence may be up for making some handmade cards to show their love to their families and to other folks. Maybe we can get something going to send some cards to the orphans in Haiti via Agape Flights.
One thing for sure the musicians love to share their gift of music and hymns with the shut-ins.

Agape update on Current Needs for Haiti February 17, 2010

FOOD.... Beans and Rice

In 50 lb bags that can be purchased for as low as $17. I will check prices in area stores. If you live in Venice or Port Charlotte, Sarasota you can bring the bags to the Venice Airport and drop it off at Agape's hanger.

Please Click AGAPE FLIGHTS for the latest news and information; if you want to see faith in action see what the staff, missionaries and volunteers are doing.

So check out Agape’s Web Site and you will be moved, trust me.

WATCH THIS......plane Landing Port Au Prince with supplies and food on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvttwueRoew

A Beautiful Day The Music and Peter...Great Study and the Folks...

When we told everybody that Linda and her violin was with her grandchildren...it prompted Peter to find out if we had any grandparents in our group...Yep many of the folks raised their hands. That was not all Peter went on to find out if anybody was a "Great Grandparent"...yes many raised their hands...So by now you guested it- Peter had not finished asking and he said "Do we have any Great Great Grandparents?" YES YES YES YES- I counted at least 4 hands.

And that was just the start of a heart felt time with the special folks that make our trip to the Assisted Living Facility here in our home town of Sarasota so wonderful.



When you mix Mike and Mike and Peter and our guest Adrian there could be trouble because Linda was out today...But if you add in the folks like Millie and Bessie and Dorothy and Lynn and Rose and Dorothy plus Esther, now we are talking about a cool musical event. The reason- You can not buy the wonderful voices that come to sing on Wednesdays;Not possible, and you add in Geneva and Charleen and the others who were present we had a grand time. Peter was spot on with three well placed prayers and verses that I know had me thinking...

There is no place I would rather be than right where I was.

Thanks everybody for your time and effort and gifts.

"Bandit" loaned to AGAPE FLIGHTS by AIRNOW

Please Click AGAPE FLIGHTS for the latest news and information; if you want to see faith in action see what the staff, missionaries and volunteers are doing.

It is late so I will borrow a sentence that I wrote the other day to a staff member… “ Agape’s task in the best of times seems more than a challenge is now seemingly impossible, yet with God’s grace the insurmountable has turned to inspirational.” (Did I just repeat myself…or did I just quote myself?)

So check out Agape’s Web Site and you will be moved, trust me.

Loaned for 1 month the Embraer 110 named "Bandit" from AIR NOW a freight transport company located in Bennington, VT. Not only the aircraft...but the pilot John Somero.

John departs from Venice, FL. Wednesday 27th Jan. Keep John in your prayers!
Click AIR NOW or copy and paste their web address for their updates on John's missions
http://www.airnow.com/haitirelief.html



Rejoice in Hope of the glory of God
Romans 5:5

Now hope does not disappoint, because the Love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Here is the verse in context...from the New King James Version.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disapoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

A Message by the Rev.Dr. Pascal DiFlorio in 1956

A Message from Friday March 9, 1956

By the Rev. Dr. Pascal DiFlorio
Pastor, Methodist Church of the Redeemer

In the Everglades in Florida, cypress trees grow with their roots under water. At certain intervals the roots rise above the water, then submerge again. Whenever this takes place the exposed roots develop huge bulges called “knees,” through which the trees breathe and keep alive, and without which they could not live.

In order for us to keep spiritually alive, we too need to make frequent use of our knees to pray and to realize that prayer is the Christian’s “vital breath” and “native air,” and without it we, like the cypress trees, cannot keep alive.

So let us pray earnestly, and in praying, remember that the effectiveness of prayer does not depend on the formality or on the multitude of prayers, but on one’s intimate and personal

fellowship with God and Godly-minded people. For be it known, prayer is an act of worship and of self-surrender to God and of dedication to the will of God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, who prayed: “O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” (Mt. 26:39). And again He prayed: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” (Lk 23:46)

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(The New International Version, Luke 23:46 "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.")

_______________________________CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE...

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Special Outreach Program December 5th enjoyed by 150 woman...

Delightful program that was the vision of Linda, the outreach coordinator and who also was part of the beautiful music that was heard during the two-hour special event.

The seasonal Christmas music was preformed by Carol on the cello, Linda the violin, and Laura sang lead vocals, with back up from Shari who also played the piano...the music was beautiful.

The keynote speaker was Doris Schweppe, who wowed the crowd with her opening and keep everybody at the edge of their seats watching this humble missionary. Doris began the missionary work at a time when many are set to retire. NOT DORIS...She was just starting another "season" in her life; and, at age 63. And from what I could tell years and years later...(her words), she is still "Fired UP" and taking on some very tough mission work!

More on this soon...

I mentioned that 150 ladies attended the event that meant much work in preparation for the event, from orange juice to coffee and yes even yogurt. The room was transformed from pews to circular tables and back to pews!

From the Registration Team, Table Hostesses, Christmas Cookie Bakers and the Set-Up and Serving by the Youth Group and Food Sharon Lewis.

The Lobby was used to show the hard work that the HISPACE group the 5th and 6th graders did working on the Giant Posters with warm Christmas Wishes for nursing home residents at SUNNYSIDE...there was a sign up sheet for folks to volunteer to go hang the posters. That event was carried out by Lisa Kaye and 12 of the 5th and 6th graders were there and sang their hearts out. The posters were wonderful, many were 3 dimensional; and they were adorned with cotton, pine needles, you name it some how the kids turned the poster boards into WARM SPECIAL GIFTS from their hearts!

There were blankets that were hand crafted and beautiful from the heart that were displayed that will go to the Crisis Pregnancy Center, and to McIntosh Manor Residents. Blankets that were so beautiful, some knit, some patch work with tiny stitches, saddle stitches you name it the gifted blankets were pieces of "ART FROM THE HEART."

The Christmas Centerpieces for Sunnyside Nursing Home were wonderful and unique hand made "Art from the Heart," that will grace the residence tables during the Holiday season.

Also another project from the "Sew Together" team DITTY BAGS for the Anchor House Seafarers! How wonderful it is to see what others have done in the name of Jesus, showing love with time and talent.

I would like also to mention Joe Hanson who took care of the Audio Sound and did an amazing job as always, who happened to be the only "Guy" in the huge crowd of 150 sugared up woman!

I do want to mention that I am in the process of finding out if the Key Note Speaker's speech was recorded if it was I will link to it. The reason I would like to do that is that the speech that Doris Schweppe gave was uplifting, weather you are 20 years old or 120 years old, she was fresh, fired up, and had a powerful punch.