Merry Christmas Card 2023?

1. Which actually happened?

A. Josh graduated from Walla Walla University
B. Lydia studied in Italy 
C. The Fortunes put in a pool
D. All of the above

2. What did Killeen Seventh-day Adventist Church do?

A. Gave away a lot of freshly squeezed lemonade
B. Offered Perfect Grace, Diabetes Undone, Dare To Be A Daniel, and Mad About Marriage classes for the community
C. Got voted "Best Church 2023" by Killeen Daily Herald readers

D. All of the above

3. What did Mike do in 2023?

A. Turned 50
B. Bought an eBike
C. Learned to play pickleball 
D. All of the above

4. Jackie

A. Is working Endoscopy at a hospital nearby
B. Is acclimating to the Texas heat and allergens
C. Loved visiting family in Michigan during autumn
D. All of the above

5. Some of the Fortunes’ fave Scripture verses this year include:

A. Psalm 20:7 ESV “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
B. Exodus 14:13-14 NLT “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Lord himself will fight for you.”
C. Isaiah 49:25 NLT “I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.”
D. All of the above

6. Josh

A. Decided to live in College Place, Washington
B. Is learning how to be an EMT / Firefighter

C. Can’t wait for his full time job at Bluewood Resort to begin so he can snowboard
D. All of the above

7. Lydia (Senior Product Design Major at Walla Walla University)

A. Can speak some Italian now
B. Enjoyed meeting the Marietta side of the family in Italy
C. Is a Teacher’s Assistant (TA) in woodshop
D. All of the above

8. Mike’s recommended reads this year include:
A. The Battle Belongs to the Lord by Elizabeth Talbot
B. The Faith of Jesus by Carols E. Aeschlimann
C. I’ll See You Tomorrow by Heather Thompson Day & Seth Day
D. All of the above

9. Bianca (12 year old toy poodle)
A. Is still hyper
B. Enjoys going on walks
C. Likes to FaceTime Josh and Lydia as well
D. All of the above

10. Mike and Jackie

A. Are grateful for a loving church family
B. Enjoyed the Advent Health Gala with 10 time Grammy Award winning Adventist gospel group Take 6

C. Welcome friends and family for visits
D. All of the above

 
>7 Fortunate
>5 Unfortunate
>3 A misfortune

➘ Answers: They're all D!

Merry Christmas Card 2022?

1. Which actually happened?

A. The Fortunes moved to Texas

B. Lydia worked at Big Lake Camp, Oregon

C. Mike and Jackie spent part of spring break with Josh and Lydia in Walla Walla, Washington

D. All of the above

2. What did Toledo First Church do?

A. Hosted Serpentine Prophecy after Easter about Jesus’ power over death and the grave and Prophecies of Hope in the fall

B. Bid farewell to the Fortunes after nearly 16 years of ministry

C. Broke ground on school addition to Toledo Junior Academy

D. All of the above

3. What did Mike do in 2022?

A. Helped at Northwood "Bible Heroes" VBS

B. Got a new Taylor guitar (thank you Toledo First and Ohio Conference!)

C. Accepted a new job as pastor in Killeen, Texas

D. All of the above

4. Jackie

A. Is returning to Endoscopy at a nearby hospital

B. Secured a multi-state nursing license

C. Is grateful God is with her during life’s ups and downs

D. All of the above

5. The Fortunes experienced more loss in 2022 and had to say goodbye to Jackie’s mom Judy and our 17 1/2 year old toy poodle Barkley. Which of the following verses comfort them the most?

A. John 3:16 KJV “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

B. Romans 8:21 NLT “The creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”

C. Revelation 21:4 NKJV “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

D. All of the above

6. Josh (senior Automotive Management major at Walla Walla University)

A. Josh fabricated a tool holder

B. Is working on his RX-7 rotary engine for senior project

C. Still loves to snowboard any chance he gets

D. All of the above

7. Lydia (Junior Product Design Major at Walla Walla University)

A. Will be studying in Florence, Italy for the next six months

B. Designed a "mid-century modern architectural model"

C. Helped dad get the house in Ohio on the market in two days and it sold in three

D. All of the above

8. Mike’s recommended reads this year include:

A. Daniel Pure And Simple by Kenneth Cox

B. The Abundant Life Bible Amplifier: Daniel 1-7 and Daniel 7-12 by William H. Shea

C. Daniel and Revelation by Mark Finley

D. All of the above

9. Bianca (11 year old toy poodle)

A. Rode shotgun on the way to Texas

B. Has adjusted well to being the center of attention

C. Comforts Mike and Jackie when the kids are gone

D. All of the above

10. Mike and Jackie have experienced “southern hospitality”

A. At the Killeen Seventh-day Adventist Church

B. At the HEB (a really interesting store and gas station)

C. Even at the Department of Public Safety (Texas version of the DMV)

D. All of the above

>7 Fortunate

>5 Unfortunate

>3 A misfortune

➘ Answers: They're all D! 

Merry Christmas Card 2021?

1. Which actually happened?

A. Josh designed a golf course

B. Lydia won the LPGA Marathon Classic

C. Mike and Jackie ate a sheet cake when the kids left for college

D. None of the above

2. What did Toledo First Church do?
A. Built porch stairs for Mission Trip to Toledo

B. Hosted the bell choir concert RingFest again

C. Hosted Indestructible presentations online based on changing one’s attitude, wellness, activity, relationships, and existence

D. All of the above

3. What did Mike do in 2021?
A. Baptisms

B. Weddings

C. Funerals

D. All of the above

4. Jackie loves…

A. Filling out the FAFSA

B. Helping Mike do yard work
C. Waking up early

D. None of the above

5. What else did Toledo First Church do?
A. Re-opened food pantry
B. Hosted PlantStrong People Groups
C. Rented a movie theater to show the Amazon Prime movie From Babylon to America
D. All of the above

6. Josh (senior Automotive Management major at Walla Walla University)
A. Loves wrenching
B. Loves snowboarding
C. Loves skateboarding
D. All of the above

7. Lydia (sophomore Product Design major at Walla Walla University)

A. Now loves welding

B. Now loves wood shop
C. Now loves CAD (computer assisted design)
D. All of the above

8. The Fortunes experienced the loss of Mike’s mom Karen, Mike’s “other mother” Margot, and Jackie’s grandma Vera. Which of the following verses comfort them most?
A. Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

B. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.”

C. Revelation 1:17-18 “Don’t be afraid! I [Jesus] am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”

D. All of the above

9. Mike’s recommended reads this year include:
A. I Used to Be Perfect by George R. Knight
B. Practical Lessons From the Experience of Israel for the Church of Today by Frederick Caries Gilbert
C. The Heavenly Trio by Ty Gibson
D. All of the above

10. What else did the Fortune’s do?
A. Celebrated Mike and Jackie’s 25th wedding anniversary a few months early in Hawaii
B. Went sailing on Lake Erie with friends
C. Enjoyed watching The Chosen Season 2

D. All of the above

>7 Fortunate

>5 Unfortunate
>3 A misfortune
➘ Answers: They're all D!

Merry Christmas Card 2020?

1. Which actually happened?

A. Josh visited Alaska
B. Lydia attended Walla Walla University
C. The Fortunes survived a cross country road trip
D. All of the above

2. What did Toledo First Church do?

A. Recommended online Bible Studies (TruthLink.org)

B. Archived Pastor Mike's sermon notes online (here on Google Drive)

C. Hosted Forecasting Hope presentations online based on the prophecies of Jesus' return (archived on YouTube)
D. All of the above

3. What did Mike do in 2020?
A. Went on sabbatical
B. Learned how to use Facebook Live and Zoom
C. Nothing
D. All of the above

4. Jackie loves…
A. Wearing PPE at work all day
B. Cuyahoga Fall National Park
C. Getting mani pedis with Lydia
D. Both B and C

5. What else did Toledo First Church do

A. Resumed in person worship socially distanced with masks June 13 and children's ministries September 12

B. Collected money to build "water bottle houses" in Mauritania (a country in NW Africa)

C. Stuffed Christmas stockings for residents of Arbors of Sylvania

D. All of the above

6. Josh (junior at Walla Walla University):
A. Loves his auto classes
B. Loves his finance classes
C. Loves eating in the cafeteria
D. Only A

7. Lydia (freshman at Walla Walla University):
A. Loves eating in the cafeteria
B. Loves working as a dorm janitor
C. Is considering graphic or product design
D. Only C

8. Which of the following happened?
A. Mike and Jackie became empty nesters
B. Josh broke down delivering Jimmy Johns during the summer
C. Lydia changed diapers working in the church daycare during the summer
D. All of the above

9. Mike’s recommended reads this year include:
A. As Light Lingers by Nina Atcheson
B. One Miracle After Another: The Pavel Goia Story by Greg Budd
C. Theodicy of Love by John C. Peckham
D. All of the above

10. What else did the Fortune’s do?
A. Driveway visits

B. Socially distanced
C. Longed for Jesus to return
D. All of the above



>7 Fortunate—Be Born In Me by Francesca Battistelli is great!
>5 Unfortunate—The Christmas Tree Song by Weezer is sad
>3 A misfortune—Covid 19. Enough.



➘ Answers: They're all D!

Merry Christmas Card 2019?

1. Which actually happened?
A. Josh learned to snowboard
B. Lydia was elected school captain
C. The Washington Nationals won the World Series
D. All of the above

2. What did Toledo First Church do?
A. Hosted If It’s Important to Jesus….presentations based on Revelation 14:6-12 (archived online tfsda.org/sermons)
B. Raised resources for ¡Viva Venezuela!
C. Hosted Open Table weekly small group meetings for one victim rescued from trafficking
D. All of the above

3. What did Mike do in 2019?
A. Coached basketball on Wednesday nights
B. Tubed down the Huron River in Ann Arbor
C. Saturated Toledo with Jesus DVDs and invites to church
D. All of the above


4. Jackie loves…
A. FaceTiming Josh and going to Lydia’s choir concerts
B. Her new job in a doctor’s office
C. Raking leaves in the yard
D. Both A and B

5. What else did Toledo First Church do?

A. Hosted world renown violinist Jaime Jorge
B. Welcomed new members via baptism
C. Embraced Fifth Service Sabbaths
D. All of the above

6. Josh (sophomore at Walla Walla University) loves:
A. Loves writing long research papers
B. Exploring new parts of the country
C. Doing his own laundry
D. Only B

7. Lydia (senior at Toledo Christian School)
A. Sings in choir
B. Worked at Camp Mohaven as a counselor
C. Is trying to decide about college
D. All of the above

8. Which of the following happened?
A. Lydia had her wisdom teeth removed
B. Mike and Jackie ran a marathon after eating a lemon meringue pie
C. For Christmas, Toledo First Church collected Outfits for the Amazon kids they met in Brazil during last summer’s mission trip
D. Only A and C

9. Mike’s recommended reads this year include:
A. In Defense of the Decalogue by Richard C. Barcellos
B. Holy Roar by Chris Tomlin & Darren Whitehead
C. From Trauma to Triumph: The Carlot Dorvé Story by Laurie Snyman
D. All of the above

10. What else did the Fortune’s do?
A. Hosted Thanksgiving with an international flair including Japanese and Indian friends and dishes
B. Enjoyed some staycations
C. Longed for Jesus to return
D. All of the above



>7 Fortunate—Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
>5 Unfortunate—In the Bleak Midwinter
>3 A misfortune—Nuttin’ for Christmas



➘ Answers: They're all D!

Can We Be Better Parents and Grandparents?

I believe we can. And must. Because our children and grandchildren's picture of Jesus will depend on ours!!! Here from Walt Mueller are a few ways we can be better parents and grandparents.

1. Use popular culture as a communication tool
2. Understand your own cultural biases
3. Be intent on building relationships
4. Love without condition or limits
5. Provide a place and community
6. Be a learning listener
7. Be a person of grace

Walt Mueller wrote these tips and is the president of the
Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. Do yourself a favor and sign up
for Walt's weekly email by clicking the graphic above.

Dangerous Calling?

“I’m convinced that the big crisis for the church of Jesus Christ is not that we are easily dissatisfied but that we are all too easily satisfied. We have a regular and perverse ability to make things work that are not and should not be working. We learn to adjust to things that we should alter. We learn to be okay with things we should be confronting. We learn how to avoid things we should be facing. We would rather be comfortable than to hold people accountable. We swindle ourselves into thinking that things are better than they are, and in so doing we compromise the calling and standards of the God we say we love and serve.” Excerpt From: Paul David Tripp. “Dangerous Calling.” Crossway, 2012

Americans spent $490 billion on entertainment in 2012. But according to David H. Smith in his book Religious Giving p.5, "Only 2.6 percent of U.S. households give 10 percent or more of income.” Why? Did Jesus change his mind about tithing? I don't think so according to Matthew 23:23. Do people not trust any institution? Perhaps, but if they're professed followers of Jesus, that 10% should be going somewhere else then. But it's not since only 2.6% live this way. Imagine if every Christian in America actually tithed like Jesus said we should (Matthew 23:23) and gave away at least 10% of their income. Christian organizations by themselves could dig wells for fresh water in every remote place on earth.