Until Friday

This is what she'll look like until at least Friday.

 The deck just needs a dozen or so more railings and a completed step in between the trunks and it'll be functional by the 4th of July.

And we checked the steering wheel out.  We were able to park the pirate ship before going back inside this evening.

Pictorial Update of the Tree Fort

My week of vacation last week helped get the tree fort closer to the finish line.  Here's the latest pix:

 As of June 4th.

As of June 13th, we have most of a deck...and a trap door!

 Here's a wide view, as of June 13th.

One of my helpers tried to draw up new plans for me.

 Here's another helper putting primer on one of the walls.

 Currently, it looks like this...

 

...and like this from the other side...

...and like this from the top of the slide.

(Thanks to Chris Orban, too, for his help getting the deck and trap door finished this past week!)

Umph (6-3-2012 sermon audio)

The audio from last Sunday's sermon, Umph, is now up.  It's based on Psalm 29.

You may want to view a minute or two of each of the three videos we watched, too...

The 2011 Japanese Tsunami:

The 2007 Hurricane Katrina:

The 2011 Tuscaloosa Tornado:

You might also be interested in the closing song, Everlasting God.

Tuscaloosa Trip Info

We're set! Tuscaloosa, here we come!

Who wants to join us?

UABC is organizing a group to travel to Tuscaloosa in early August to work with Habitat for Humanity and help the city rebuild after the mile-and-a-half tornado ripped right through the city in the spring of 2011.  If you're interested or know someone else who might be, check out the Trip Information document.

The Commitment Form is here and is due by Monday, June 18th.

If you're thinking, "Hey, I thought they were going to Joplin," here's an explanation for the change.  While many organizations in Joplin are still needing volunteers, the Habitat projects have been filled by contractor-level workers, which means they aren't scheduling groups except for a day here or there.  We (UABC) have grown fond of working with Habitat, so we found that Tuscaloosa, which was also hit hard by storms in the spring of 2011, is eager to host and use volunteer groups.  So, while it's a different location and bit farther, it's the same idea.

What shall we call this thing?

I intended to log the tree fort's progress, and I've been taking pics, but hadn't posted anything yet.  So this is the quick catch-up...

Here's a sketch of what we're aiming for...just imagine a maple tree in the middle.

April 9th: Ground has been broken and construction has begun.

April 12th: The first three poles are in the ground with footings poured.

Ack!--the hole ate my assistant!

April 21st: All poles are in the ground and all 4 outer joists are secure.

April 29th: Yes, a swing was functional for his birthday on the 27th.

April 29th: All 4 top railings are secure and the swing header mounted.

May 12th: We have the beginning of a deck...and a slide!

May 16th: Vertical rails have started to appear.

May 28th: A climbing wall!--now there's a way to get to the top of the slide!

(Thanks to those who've helped so far with tools, ideas, & muscles!)

At this slow-n-steady rate, 

she'll be ready in time for...

Dealing with Biblical Contradictions

Sermon audio from May 27th:
Smash-Up: Bright Lights v/s Clueless Hands

Synopsis: Jesus said, "...let them see your good deeds...," and then said, "...don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing..."  So, which is it?  Is our faith supposed to be private or public?  What's the deal?

The biblical texts are Matthew 5:14-16 & Matthew 6:1-4.

Is God Sexy or Sex Godly?

Several were interested in hearing this sermon but couldn't be there.  So, here is the audio:  Is God Sexy or Sex Godly?  

(Yes, it begins with the Beatles.  The full video of what you here can be seen here.)

(Here's a link to the New Living Translation of the text, Song of Songs 2:4-7.)

(And, you can try to follow along in the prezi if you'd like.)