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Great news for Ethan!!

Posted by Matt Wolters

Hi Everybody!

Just a quick update on Ethan… Wendi called the doctor on Monday to report that since Ethan was put on the migraine medication, there have been no symptoms present.  The doctor said that he thinks that gives us a clear diagnosis that what Ethan’s experiencing is an optical migraine of some sort.  It also confirms that the tissue that they found in his brain is nothing that we have to worry about.  It’s simply a mass of cells that didn’t fully dovelop before birth, and is actually pretty common, but not always noticed.  Praise God!  It feels so great to finally know what’s going on.

Thank you all for all of your prayers!!  We know that they were heard and answered.

GOD IS GOOD!!

Matt and Wendi

The Wine That Set Jesus Free

Posted by Daveg

Manna Haps for July 18

Walker Percy has written a novel called The Second Coming.  In it, one of the prinicpals speaks of a town not much unlike Holland:  “I am surrounded by Christians They are generally speaking a pleasant and agreeable lot, not noticeably different from other people…yet I cannot be sure they don’t have the truth.  But if they have the truth, why is it the case that they are repellent precisely to the degree that they embrace and advertise the truth?  One might even become a Christian if there were few if any Christians around.  Have you ever lived in the midst of fifteen million (fill in the blank with the predominant denomination in your area)?..A mystery:  If the good new is true, why is not one pleased to hear it?”

What is it that earns we Christians that kind of reputation?  I say “we” because I know that I have contributed more (far more!) than my fair share to promoting the kind of caricature.  His painful reminder of the sad state of the Christian community sets my mind to wandering.  What if?  What if we could reclaim words like “happy?”  What if Christ followers were thought of as winsome rather than wearisome?  What if we could tap in to a heretofore untouched source of power that would transform us?  What if we were free to dance and wail and love and moan with the kind of recklessness that earned Jesus a reputation as a “drunkard” and a “glutton” and “friend of sinners?” 

In the weeks and months ahead, that’s exactly what we are going to devote ourselves to at Manna.  We’re going to mine for the gold in the tributary of God’s grace called the Acts of the Apostles.  Written by one of Jesus’s best students, Luke, this book is about power and freedom and happiness.  It’s a painfully “real-world” story that will flood your heart and your life with other-worldly joy.

One-time bartender turned singer/songwriter, Dave Matthews, used the metaphor of his tending bar to imagine an encounter with God.  With God playing the part of the bartender, Matthews pleads, “Bartender, please fill my glass for me, with the wine you gave Jesus that set him free, after three days in the ground.” 

Come join us this week.  Bring your empty glass.  I hear the Bartender is more than generous in filling your cup. 

Fire Engine Blue concert

Posted by Ed and Lois

Local happening/ events are important to what the church as a “verb” looks like, does. Thanks to those who were able to make last Friday’s concert (Josh and Sara) in the park fun. You know who you are.

Saturday night July 17, 2004 the band Fire Engine Blue will be appearing at Lemonjello’s at about 9:00 P.M.The members this week are Paul Genzink (vocals,guitar), Charlie Marcus(bass,vocals), Scott Kuypers,(drums and beverages) and Jason DeWard.(lead guitars,jokes) Paul helped me out this past Sunday(July 11) with the music at Manna. He also be helping me this Sunday and hopefully take taking the lead soon. He and Scott K. are running off to Nashville this fall as students At Belmont College joining Scott’s brother Matt, Kyle Zweip, Tony Bakker(he might be off touring with his band) and Ian Leech. Charlie will be heading off to Hope College. Bill and Brenda will become empty nesters. (please pray for them) I’ll have to find out what Jason has in store. Maybe their agent (Donna G,) could post what Jason’s plans are. Thats why you get the big money Donna.

Pictures from 7.11.04

Posted by Mike Boyink

I know Wade has more (and better) photos than these, but thought I’d upload what turned out.

Lee holds Manna’s first offering:

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Sounds Of Summer

Posted by Ed and Lois

O.K. Mike. You got me thinking about summer music.( Song Of The Day) So I’m gonna pick some artists and choose my favorite summer tunes of theirs. Feel free to join in.

First up, The Beachboys. ( I know an obvious choice)

1. The Warmth Of The Sun

2. Don’t Worry Baby

3. Surfer Girl

4. California Girls

5. God Only Knows

I was only gonna pick three song per artists but coudn’t stop there. So where are Good Vibrations, Fun Fun Fun, Woudn’t It be Nice, Help Me Rhonda, Surfin’ U.S.A? Not on my list.  Some other favorites are Caroline No, Little Deuce Coupe, Surf’s Up, and Please Let Me Wonder.  Best Beachboy LP? Pet Sounds.

Next up? Jackson Browne. Coming soon, Otis Redding, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Riatt, Aretha, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and more.