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Catholic Youth Foundation Mt. Everest Campaign
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"Raising Money in this Economy Is Like Climbing Mt. Everest..."
This spring we're doing both to support Catholic youth!
(Catholic Youth Foundation USA provides
scholarships to the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC),
training for youth ministers, and grants to Catholic youth ministry
programs around the country.)
Follow our climbers' trek to Mt. Everest and
donate to the CYFUSA's Mt. Everest Campaign!
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God is good... all the time!
| | Welcome to the online home of Jesse Manibusan and Two By Two Ministries.
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See How They Love One Another
Posted by: jesse on Saturday, May 02, 2009 - 10:50 PM
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268 Reads
“See how they love one another. Attributed to Tertullian, noted (Apology [39.6]) in the Third Century, as spoken by some of the Pagans of the time regarding Christian communities." What do people say about we Catholic Christians these days? Unfortunately, the news media doesn't catch us doing things that reflect our faithfulness as much as they do our fearfulness. I know so many Catholic people, lay, religious and ordained, who seem to have so much joy, hope, courage and hospitality, while at the same time, I know so many Catholic people, lay, religious and ordained, who seem to have so much doom, gloom, fear and self-righteous childish pettiness. I admit, I bounce back and forth from both places, probably more to the negative side, God forgive me. But my awareness of that and my commitment to deal with it is a great, great source of hope. "See how they judge one another." "See how they demonize each other." See how easily offended they are." "See how they blame each...
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A Little Help From My Friend DJ Bill Lage...
Posted by: jesse on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 09:20 AM
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237 Reads
Went to North Platte, Nebraska last month. Going Bananas For Jesus, brought to you by the Diocese of Grand Island, NE, and Top Servant Bananas Kevin, Papa Banana Joe, Mama Banana Becky and Vicky. Over 600 youth and adults gathered for three days of celebration and service. KRISTA FRANCIS was there. I met Krista a few years back. She's terrific. Great singer/songwriter with a huge heart. Drove all the way from Denver to be with us that weekend. Visit her as soon as possible! I COMMAND YOU, please, at her web site, www.kristafrancis.com. DJ BILL LAGE, now don't let me get all warm and fuzzy, but holy cow, DJ BILL is out of his mind, looney-toons, wacked to the degree of infinity with super sick mad skills as a DJ'ing, evangelizing, faith-uprising-instigator, sweet-grooves-to-the-Catholic Dance-Master, feelings-of-insecurity-blaster, and all-around-good-guy itinerant witness of God's presence in the world. DJ Bill did a 3 hour dance marathon and kept everybody engaged, enthused, and exhilarated on and off the dance floor. I've not seen anything like that in my life! I smiled, laughed out loud, and was amazed at how much he highlighted not himself, but the the youth, from a 6th grader to a 12th grader. DJ Bill made leaders out of the youngest and the oldest, and then made them all servant leaders. I was dreaming about DJ BILL teaching folks from all over the country how to do DJE, DJ Evangelization. It was dance, prayer, proclamation, celebration, fun, faith---whew, I'm tired from just remembering it. The hosts of the event asked DJ Bill to do the send off of the community right after mass. I just want to know how he got Bishop to do the Hokey Pokey AND the Catholic Dance. I want to be like DJ BILL when I grow up. Visit him at www.catholicdance.com. OMG! DJ Bill. You have to invite him to your diocese and diocesan events. Insane in the membrane.
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Our Lady of Mercy, Jersey City, Jan 2009
Posted by: jesse on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 02:38 PM
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661 Reads
Thank you Jeng! Fr. Jack, Fr. Marty, Doris! Alex, Gab, Karen, Bernie, Joey, Peter, Marielle, Lan, Nick, Tony and Susan, April, Shayna, Christian, Jude, Nick, Chris, Mike, Fr. Ralph, Fr. Manuel, Sr. Elise, Br. Luke, and all of the folks at OLM and OLS. Thanks Manny and Jazz for the huge help at the tee shirt and CD table. You are the best! Great to be with you all for two days. Jersey City. Gotta love Jersey City. Filipino, Vietnamese, Dominican Republic, Italian, Irish...did I say Filipino? I am your Chamorro brother forever. Young and old, everyone in-between. Great youth leadership team. Lots of talent. Great adult support. YOUTHFEST and FAMILY DAY. Beautiful. I will remember your hospitality, welcome and outpour of loving support for me and my family. The world needs your light. Keep shining no matter what. Keep stepping forward and growing as life moves and changes all around us. Reconciliation always....
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FIVE HOURS in the Emergency Room
Posted by: jesse on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 04:17 PM
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956 Reads
I went to the doctor yesterday. My doctor was booked up and I had some major bronchitis going on, you know, sinus drip, sore throat, tight chest, constant coughing and so forth, so I had to see another doctor, Dr. T, whom I've never met. First thing he does is ask me about my symptoms, than told the nurse to set me up for an EKG, and in his words, "we want to make sure that you're not having heart failure or a heart attack." I speak up for myself, I am 50 years old after all, "Dr. T, I
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Fr. Gregory David Comella, CPPS. Rest in peace...
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 03:27 AM
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1340 Reads
My mentor, my friend, my brother, Fr. Greg Comella, CPPS, passed away five days ago. My parents informed me by telephone when they heard his name mentioned during mass, at the part where the dead are remembered. They couldn’t believe it as I couldn’t when they told me. I made several phone calls to confirm what I’d heard, even calling Greg on his phone and leaving a message. I finally reached Sr. Toni, ASC, and heard, indeed, that Greg had died on Saturday, August 2nd. I am still stunned as I type this, and thoughts and memories of Greg fill my mind. I’d like to tell you how much Greg meant to me, as he did to most everyone he met, but there isn’t enough time, paper, or digital space. Suffice it to say, Greg is the reason that I am doing the work that I do
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St. Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove, MN
Posted by: jesse on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 12:44 PM
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1934 Reads
Made it to Maple Grove, MN for a parish mission. Actually started out with a Music in the Grove concert, featuring yours truly. Beautiful way to continue to celebrate, commemorate, and be motivated by the Christmas season. Terri picked me up at the airport, took a quick tour of Maple Grove, and soon I’d be having lunch with Rich, Amy, Nikki, Sandy, Monica and Janine. A couple of hours later, I was doing a sound check with Aaron Carpenter, Music Director of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Community. Nice turnout for a wintry night in Maple Grove. Mary Beth introduced me, and also declared me an honorary member of the Music in the Grove family. It was a beautiful way to start the mission.
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GUAM - Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec 2007
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 12:17 AM
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1895 Reads
HAFA ADAI!
Fred Rodriguez, Sr. Marian Arroyo, Tony Diaz, Deacon Larry Claros, Pale Mike Crisostomo, and Pale Paul Gofigan, and a team of servants; friends and benefactors brought me back to Guam, sweet homeland, for my fifth visit. Two years ago, I remember sitting in Linda’s Coffee Shop with Fred, Sr. Marian and having conversation about the celebration for Our Lady in December and my next possible visit. And there I was after a long 13 hour flight from DFW to Japan, and another 4 hours to Guam, where I landed around 1:15AM. Pale Mike was right there, with Uncle Ed Siguenza, the island’s most beloved photographer and memory maker! Lifeteen members Anton and Bryan were also there. My niece, Morgy Reyes, amazing quarterback and two year veteran of the Police Department was there too! There was a gentleman from Governor Camacho’s office who greeted me with Pale Mike.
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NCYC 2007, the Way, the Truth, the LIFE.
Posted by: jesse on Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 11:41 AM
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1798 Reads
Life.
Only a few days home before Jodi and I arrived from Hawaii and were off to Columbus, OH for the National Catholic Youth Conference. NCYC means a number of things to me including seeing friends with whom 2 by 2 Ministries has served over the years, as well as seeing friends who work the same or similar roads. I had two workshops this year and a concurrent session with national speaker, Pam Heil, so my main venues of visiting with folks would be those three moments as well as hanging out at the booth. It would be a great NCYC. Steve Angrisano was emceeing again. Tom Booth, Kate Cuddy, Ed Bolduc and other amazing music ministers would be leading the music ministry. Tony and Jose Melendez, Fr. Tony Ricard, and Renee Bondi would be delivering the three keynotes, so the conference had a great combination of gifts at hand.
It was exhilarating and exhausting, NCYC. Good to see familiar and long time friends in ministry. Wonderful to see newer faces and ministries breaking through with more familiarity. Dan and Kyle
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Hawaii - The Marianists and the Diocese!
Posted by: jesse on Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 02:10 AM
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1735 Reads
Br. Dennis Schmitz and I met at the Big Island Liturgy Conference on the Big Island, HI, over two years ago. We talked then about a possible visit then and before we knew it, Jodi, Jennah, and myself were landing in Honolulu where Br. Dennis and Margaret were lovingly waiting in baggage claim for us. Hugs, leis, more hugs, and a run through the island rain to the truck, and soon we were off to Marianist Center. I didn’t have experience with the Marianist community, but it wouldn’t take long for Jodi and I to see what great things this group of folks were doing on island and everywhere out in the world! The Manibusan family was going through some turbulent times, and it was great timing to take a trip to Hawaii. There would be four days of work, three days of rest and two more days of work, which was fine. Br. Dennis was pure hospitality as he, Jodi, Jennah I were treated to the Br. Dennis Express Island Tour. We saw reefs, crashing waves, blue ocean, Hawaiian Homestead, sampled free
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN...July 28 to October 21, 07
Posted by: jesse on Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 01:31 AM
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1794 Reads
BACK ON THE ROAD, July 28th, 2007
Still dazed from the month at Sante, but surrendering it all, I hit the road and headed over to St. Mary, Kansas, where Rick Cheek and his cohorts threw an outdoor faith bash for youth from all over the area. Met some good and hospitable folks who cared deeply for their youth. I did get bit by about 10,000 itty bitty mosquitoes. I didn’t know the extent of the biting until I got home the next morning and Jodi screamed when she saw my back and my arms. That’s when I screamed! A few days later, I traveled to Techny, IL, where my friend and brother, Frank Mercadante, delivered a great week long experience for new youth ministers in the church. Becca Mercadante picked me up at the airport. Mike Patin and I got to connect a little. We’re the GOD’S LOVE; Through Thick & Thin tour. A couple of weeks later I headed over to St. Peter Catholic Church in Antioch, IL, where
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Catching Up With You! April 22 to June 15, 2007
Posted by: jesse on Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 01:17 AM
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1769 Reads
Hey friends. It’s been way too long since my last entry. Forgive me. After Bethlehem, PA, I spent some time with Barry Elliott in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Barry’s a long time friend of young people in the church. As usual, we traveled by car all over the Winsdor/Essex Catholic School District. We connected with lots of students, teachers, faculty, staff, parents and in a word, the Church. I flew directly from Windsor to Prince George, BC for the Diocese of Prince George’s Diocesan Youth Conference, “The Lord of all Things.” Director, Joe Glaab, and the faithful youth ministers and friends of the youth of the diocese, threw a wonderful faith gathering. Tim Horton was a wonderful visited a couple of times – sweet! My next trip was to San Francisco, CA, where I was honored to present at Grace Cathedral, the magnificent Episcopalian community. Julia McCray-Goldsmith is the
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My friend, Adam Recke
Posted by: jesse on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 08:07 PM
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2303 Reads
As you may have read in my blog from Bethlehem, PA, I met some new friends from Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Among them, is Adam Recke, an eight year old boy who has an amazing love of life. Adam has Niemann-Pick Type C disease (NPC). It is a disease so rare, that there are only 150 cases in in the US. I'd like you to help Adam, and kids like him, who rarely ever make it past 10 years old. Adam' his parents, as well as his siblings, Josh and Katie, as you might expect, are in great need of love, prayer, financial support and folks like you and I to help pass the word about NPC. The medicine that Adam takes costs over $100,000 a year and its hope is to slow the progress of NPC. Unsurprisingly, health care won't cover this. Join Jodi and myself, our family and yours, to pass the word and pray for folks to step out in faith and step forward to help! For more information on Adam, go to www.raceforadam.com. Adam rocks. Love and thanks to all of you! Let us love Adam and his family as we have been loved! Jesse
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Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem, PA
Posted by: jesse on Monday, April 23, 2007 - 04:58 AM
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3562 Reads
Every act matters. In 2001, I joined over 20,000 people at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. NCYC. There was a small group of parishioners from Our Lady of Perpetual Help for their first NCYC experience. Among them was Carol, Deacon Bernie, Joey, Pauline, Ryan, Lindsay, Murilla, and maybe a couple more. The opening of this four day event began with me singing "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord" from Godspell. Deacon Bernie turns to his beloved Carol and the rest of the group and says, "I want to be just like him! He's so spiritual!" Or something to that effect. In that moment, this group of folks began dreaming, planning, strategizing, fundraising, awareness-raising, brainstorming, and doing whatever could be done to get me to their parish. Last night, I finished the last of a three day visit to OLPH, with a two hour faith jam in the church. Carol and Joey, picked me up at the airport with about 16 minutes to make it to OLPH for a concert with the school! We made it. Stopped in at the 2nd grade class where Ms. Conway let me greet the super second graders who by the way are some singing super servants of God. Then Keith, Dominic, Ralph, and Sean, had the gym all set up for the concert. BAM. Plugged in the guitar, Carol intros me and we're off to the races. Prayer Slam 2007 and it's so on, I look over and see Mr. Reese, the principal of the school singing, grinning, and doing all the hand motions with all the children. Stick a fork in me, I'm good to go. The weekend is chock full of activity, and Deacon Bernie, who passed away long before he could see his dream of my visit come true, well, let's just say that Bernie was there all weekend. Ask Carol, Joey, and especially Ali, his little granddaughter. Sang at a concert on Friday night. Presented a workshop on Saturday morning and afternoon. Sang at the 5PM mass.
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St. Gregory the Great, Milwaukee, WI
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 05:31 PM
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2238 Reads
March 17-20, 2007
New friends at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Parish in Milwaukee! Invited by Fr. Ken, Kathy, Patti and the whole parish leadership, to lead a parish revival. Kathy picks me up right aways at the airport and we're off. Get to the church and meet David, the music director of the parish (huge skills). Handbell choir, youth choir, children's choir, parish choir; Chris is the music leader of the LIFETEEN Band. Huge skills. I meet Lindsey who is 6, her brother Sean sings in the children's choir. Morgan and Taylor are sisters. Makayla is one of many Brownies present at the Church and assist in hospitality after all the masses. Every generation of the parish is present throughout the revival. Dick Daleke, the father of a high school friend of mine introduces himself to me after I give the reflection after the gospel. Lord have mercy, I remember him as Captain Richard Daleke, Commanding Officer ot the Alameda Naval Air Station where I grew up in my high school years. He and his wife, Ellen, take me to dinner at Omega, a local Greek Family Style restaurant. The secret password is....Kielbasa and Baklava. Mike Patin is giving a parish mission right next door at St. Matthias, and meets Fr. Ken and I for dinner at an amazing restaurant in the Knickerbacher Hotel. Mike and I actually meet once more to chat and catch up. The revival is wonderful in that I get to present to every aspect of the community. Children to Elders of the parish. Solomon, Carla, Sarah, Vince, Max, Cortney, Amanda, Olivia, John, Sr. Marianne, Deacon Jim, Karen and Jim, JoTherese, Peg, Karl, and all of the beloved St. Gregory the Great parishioners. Love you all! Fr. Ken, keep rocking the real world with your courage, boldness and faith!
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Bismarck, ND, Lansing, MI, Manchester, CT
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 05:14 PM
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2180 Reads
UNIVERSITY OF MARY, BISMARCK, ND
March 8-9, 2007
Sr. Kathleen invited me to share some time with the community of the University as well as neighboring communities. Got to see my friends, the Griffin family, the Benedictine Sisters, Joann, Thomas, Gemma, Nancy, and others. Did a concert Friday night and a presentation for the Christian Leadership Center on Saturday, a Day of Renewal and Encouragement. During the concert, a little girl named, Hannah, came up on stage to do hand motions from TRADING MY SORROWS, and when she returned to her seat, exclaimed to her mother, "that was the best minute of my life!" Yikes. Craig, Jay and Nate backed me up with percussion, guitar and bass. Very awesome. Loved the time. Loved the sisters, the university, the area, the music...and the wonderful silence as well.
DIOCESE OF LANSING, MICHIGAN
March 10, 2007, Disciples; Cast Your Nets!
It's a Diocesan Middle School Rally, featuring the magic, the madness and the mayhem of Director of
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LA Congress, 2007
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 04:09 PM
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2176 Reads
February 27, 2007
Arrived at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Getting ready for Youth Day/LA Congress 2007, in Anaheim, California. Going to help at Youth Day during the opening and closing session, as well as help with liturgy. My friend Curtis Stephan, wrote the theme song for Youth Day, LIVE OUT LOVE! Check it out. In fact, email him at www.razedrecords.com. He'll love hearing from you. Lots of rehearsals, sound checks, and a zillion meetings at this event. Jodi, Jayme and Jennah attended. My parents, and sister, Toni too. Lots of help in the booth this year. Jim and Liz, from St. Ferdinand were awesome. Sarah Hart was there with the coolest tee shirt, "Chosen Chick." You gotta email her and get one of those! Got to make some music with James Flaherty. Pretty cool. Youth Day/LA Congress is an amazing place. And if your workshop is picketed by folks saying it's heretical, well then, that's a good sign that that particular workshop is going to be sold out. Think about it.
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Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, CANADA
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 02:57 PM
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2150 Reads
February 21, 2007.
ASH WEDNESDAY. What did you do? I jumped on a plane before the birds woke up and headed north to Yellownknife, Northwest Territories. I wore my standard short pants, baseball cap, long sleeve tee shirt and light jacket. HELLO! IT'S WINTER IN CANADA! I should've gotten the hint when folks at the airport looked at me strange when I got to Calgary. Yep, all of them were impervious to any kind of winter chill because all of them were dressed WARMLY. My flight path was DFW to CALGARY, then onto EDMONTON, then on to YELLOWKNIFE. The further north we flew, the more trouble I knew I was getting into. Landed in Yellowknife; no jet way, so we had to board out into the
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Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida
Posted by: jesse on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 09:28 PM
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2329 Reads
February 10-11, 2007
Anne McGaugh, outstanding friend of Jesus, and Diocesan Director of Youth Ministries for the Diocese of St. Augustine, picks me up at the airport, loads guitar, the tee shirts, the clothes bag, and eventually, even me, into the vehicle and we're blasting off from Jacksonville towards St. Augustine where the annual Diocesan Youth Conference is going to be held. Anne and I get a chance to speak about the uniqueness of the diocese, the area in general, and ministry to young people in the Church. The Diocesan paper ran an article that Anne had asked me to write, an invitation of sorts, to the
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St. Peter Catholic Church - Jupiter, FL
Posted by: jesse on Friday, February 09, 2007 - 11:24 PM
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2711 Reads
February 9, 2007
Presented tonight at St. Peter Church in Jupiter. Tom Tehiel, music director and all around good guy invited me to the parish to share song, story, laughter, and just hang out with the folks. Got to the church around 6PM and started running through tunes with the LIFETEEN band of the parish. Nicki, Christina, Denise, Neil, Tom, Ranses, Darrell, Lisa Tom and others were backing up yours truly. Drums, bass, electric guitar, drum kit, keyboards -- too much fun. Saw my friends, Sue, Ed and Joy, from the Greg Comella Holy Land days....waaaay back when. Nice to reconnect. Met Fiona, Katie, Richie, Michael, Kelly, Chris, Trevor, Andrew, Giovanna, John, Deanna, Fr. Don, Sean, and lots of others. The time was too short, even so, it was beautiful. Shared a meal with a few folks, and John and Tom eventually dropped me off at the hotel. Beautiful folks. Beautiful area. Beach, lighthouse, weather far away from 6 below! SCHWEET!
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RESURRECTION RALLY, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 08:13 PM
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2365 Reads
February 2-4, 2007
Dave and Dawn Kordell have been trying to get me up to the Dells for their Resurrection Rally for years. Bryan Thompson, IT guru and woodworker master, picked me up at the airport, and although American Eagle lost my bag for almost two days, we managed to make it up to the Dells, where the site of the conference is the Chula Vista Resort. Hello Waterslides galore! It also happens to be 6 degrees below Zero. MOMMA!!! This kind of cold hurts. And Dude, it's not like
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Hurlburt Air Force Chapel, FL
Posted by: jesse on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 06:50 PM
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2241 Reads
January 28, 2007
Marilyn Austin, servant of the Lord and close friend of Jesus, advocate of young people in the Church and beyond, woman of faith and sacrifice, serving for over 18 years, the people of God, and for quite some time, the people of God at Hurlburt Chapel, has a bold vision for a renewal for the families, and troops of the chapel. She's planned a couple of events at Hurlburt Chapel, a small community of Air Force personnel and their families. I finish up at San Destin, and right at the end am whisked away (doesn't that sound cool and like I'm not heavy?) before the end of the Pensacola-Tallahassee conference....I mean, we're talking 37.5
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