Friday, October 05, 2007
Happy Friday!
Christie Ponjican here - Kent wanted Dan and I to remind our readers of who we are and why we are blogging on the "Month in the Life of..." gig.
We are hanging around the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina - Dan is a Mechanical Engineer, I am a Fundraiser/Events Planner.
We attend Heavenview, where Pastor Harold, Sis. Lisa Linder and their two adorable children are of great service not only to the church members but also to the community. (Okay, so... maybe the children do not serve quite yet, but with parents like these, I'm sure they will be serving soon!)
It is absolutely incredible to think, when given the opportunity, God, allows His plan to unfold in our lives with such clear direction. I LOVE THAT!
We participated in the AIM Program - we went to Sri Lanka for six months to serve Rev. Prince and Sis. Suzanna Mathiasz a few years ago.
We have been involved in Student ministry for several years. (like thirteen) YIPES!
We stay pretty busy - no children and none that we talk about often enough to actually take the plunge into parenthood. We have been married for eight years, dated for two and a half years prior to our marriage - we are just enjoying life.
We both say it, "We love our lives!" God has been good to us. Each day, we take our walk of faith, and God always shows up to meet our needs.
One thing I should mention:
For those of you who thought the picture I included in my last blog (of the home office ordeal) was an actual picture of our home office... I have to say, I love Google Images =) If our office looked THAT messy, I would just be nuts!
Weekend plans?
Cleaning, redecorating, reorganizing our living space - cluttered spaces = cluttered thoughts. Interesting link for your review... (see Dan! I told you we needed to clean our office!) http://www.homeofficeweekly.com/office-space/clutter-hayes.html
Have a great weekend! See you HERE on Monday!
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
We are hanging around the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina - Dan is a Mechanical Engineer, I am a Fundraiser/Events Planner.
We attend Heavenview, where Pastor Harold, Sis. Lisa Linder and their two adorable children are of great service not only to the church members but also to the community. (Okay, so... maybe the children do not serve quite yet, but with parents like these, I'm sure they will be serving soon!)
It is absolutely incredible to think, when given the opportunity, God, allows His plan to unfold in our lives with such clear direction. I LOVE THAT!
We participated in the AIM Program - we went to Sri Lanka for six months to serve Rev. Prince and Sis. Suzanna Mathiasz a few years ago.
We have been involved in Student ministry for several years. (like thirteen) YIPES!
We stay pretty busy - no children and none that we talk about often enough to actually take the plunge into parenthood. We have been married for eight years, dated for two and a half years prior to our marriage - we are just enjoying life.
We both say it, "We love our lives!" God has been good to us. Each day, we take our walk of faith, and God always shows up to meet our needs.
One thing I should mention:
For those of you who thought the picture I included in my last blog (of the home office ordeal) was an actual picture of our home office... I have to say, I love Google Images =) If our office looked THAT messy, I would just be nuts!
Weekend plans?
Cleaning, redecorating, reorganizing our living space - cluttered spaces = cluttered thoughts. Interesting link for your review... (see Dan! I told you we needed to clean our office!) http://www.homeofficeweekly.com/office-space/clutter-hayes.html
Have a great weekend! See you HERE on Monday!
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: christie ponjican, clean, dan ponjican, engineer, Google Image, office, space
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Mid-week
Last night I taught the adult class in our midweek service at Heavenview UPC in Winston Salem, NC. I took my text from Acts chapter two starting at verse 42 and discussed attributes of the early church and how it related to their highly successful evangelism efforts. What stood out to me in my study of this text was the common threads in almost every description of the early Church's efforts... supernatural power and fellowship.
If I look back on my life, it's easy for me to realize the life-changing effect that specific relationships had on me. The fellowship that I enjoyed with various groups from all around the world literally made me who I am today!
"Hind-sight is always 20/20"
What is clear to me is that God orchestrated every step to bring me where I am today. What an amazing concept! If we surrender control... that is to say, if we "pass every decision" through the Word of God and prayer, we can be confident that all things will work together for our good.
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
Dan Ponjican
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
If I look back on my life, it's easy for me to realize the life-changing effect that specific relationships had on me. The fellowship that I enjoyed with various groups from all around the world literally made me who I am today!
"Hind-sight is always 20/20"
What is clear to me is that God orchestrated every step to bring me where I am today. What an amazing concept! If we surrender control... that is to say, if we "pass every decision" through the Word of God and prayer, we can be confident that all things will work together for our good.
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
Dan Ponjican
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Appreciating our differences
After a long day at work (on Tuesday), I came home to tackle our home office. (this is something I have wanted to do for quite some time now - and the day had finally arrived!)
Looking in Blueprint Magazine has actually become detrimental to not only my health but my marriage as well. (just kidding on the marriage part)
When I arrived at home and explained to Dan that I wanted to take everything out of our office, clean, then rearrange furniture and put only 1/3 of the "stuff" back in to the office, he was a little uncomfortable with the idea, to say the least.
He wondered why I could not clean the office and rearrange the furniture with all of the "stuff" where it was... because he had a work space in the office, that he was able to clean up within about an hour... (without removing anything from the office)
After a long evening of sorting old books, personal notes and student ministry lessons, I figured out that this project was going to take ALOT longer than a few hours in one evening. (we had ALOT OF STUFF!) (by the way, I have to tell you, I call my stuff "precious memories" (that Dan thinks we can toss), Dan calls his stuff "historical documents" that cannot be thrown out, no matter what.
Needless to say, we are completely different in our approach to "getting the job done" - and yeah, I will probably be working on this project until Saturday. (hopefully I will get it done before our dinner plans on Saturday evening)
Dan and I talked about how we are different, but we are learning to appreciate our differences as each day passes. I'm glad God can use anyone no matter how different they are than "us". So I guess today's though is one to appreciate diversity!
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Looking in Blueprint Magazine has actually become detrimental to not only my health but my marriage as well. (just kidding on the marriage part)
When I arrived at home and explained to Dan that I wanted to take everything out of our office, clean, then rearrange furniture and put only 1/3 of the "stuff" back in to the office, he was a little uncomfortable with the idea, to say the least.
He wondered why I could not clean the office and rearrange the furniture with all of the "stuff" where it was... because he had a work space in the office, that he was able to clean up within about an hour... (without removing anything from the office)After a long evening of sorting old books, personal notes and student ministry lessons, I figured out that this project was going to take ALOT longer than a few hours in one evening. (we had ALOT OF STUFF!) (by the way, I have to tell you, I call my stuff "precious memories" (that Dan thinks we can toss), Dan calls his stuff "historical documents" that cannot be thrown out, no matter what.
Needless to say, we are completely different in our approach to "getting the job done" - and yeah, I will probably be working on this project until Saturday. (hopefully I will get it done before our dinner plans on Saturday evening)
Dan and I talked about how we are different, but we are learning to appreciate our differences as each day passes. I'm glad God can use anyone no matter how different they are than "us". So I guess today's though is one to appreciate diversity!
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: Christie, Dan, differences, dinner, historical, Ponjican
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Signs, Wonders & Miracles!
It's Tuesday and the second day in the month of October, of which seems is going to be one of the busiest months I've had in a while!
Let's see, where do I begin?
I have several soft deadlines for IT projects, I am working on including finalizing an internet portal for a regional website, I have two mid-week service lessons to prepare for, two Sunday sermons, a car that needs attention (I'm a stubborn DIY'er... I know, I should just take it to someone), house work, a brother and sister-in-law that I want to be a help to (they just moved to NC), yard work, 4 blogs, 3 websites that need maintenance, district youth administrative work that needs immediate attention... and oh, did I fail to mention 40 hours a week for the one that pays the bills, good 'ol Daimler Chrysler/Freightliner (and usually 30 or so engineers that seem to always desperately need my attention aside from the rare moments like right now when I break for a little blogging).
Stop! Take a breath!
With my personality type, I tend to want to crawl into a deep hole when times get like this and just let it all somehow go away.
What makes me not do that, is an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
Responsibility to my family, my church , my ministry, my finances, etc. In reality, this is the life I have chosen. God has presented so many opportunities for my wife and I and when opportunity knocks I'm not one to ignore!
I love what God is doing in my life! I am definitely not a good "life architect" and that's why it is so easy for me to lay back and let God present doors that He wants me to walk through.
Look at the amazing opportunities that are knocking at the doors of the Church of today. It's mind blowing what we have at our finger tips. As Christians, I honestly believe we are in a better place than ever before to really make a significant impact in our culture and in the lives of people in our generation!
Sometimes we have such a traditional view of what "signs, wonders and miracles" are supposed to look like.
We, right-away think of the visual of a sickness being instantly cured, or perhaps a God-sent philanthropist to bail out a struggling preacher. You all know the list... But what if it's happening before our very eyes and we do not even realize it?
I would cherish miracles such as Apostolics that unite (at large) and focus on the big picture... a country filled with hungry hurting people not just the small group of souls that walk into the doors of our churches every Sunday. Churches meeting the needs of their communities in a real and practical way. Sign's of the presence of "God-thinking" and "God-personality" in the Church by actions such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and providing for the needy.
I used to get worked up and a little discouraged when I thought about this... but these days I'm excited! If you take a moment to step back and look at what is happening, I think we can all agree that "The Great Architect" is busy these days too!
I can list a hundred things that all seem to be working together to make conditions ideal for the Church to make a major impact in our world in the coming days. I honestly believe that we will look back at these days and identify them as key times to the ignition of the last day revival.
Pretty cool!
Dan Ponjican
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Let's see, where do I begin?
I have several soft deadlines for IT projects, I am working on including finalizing an internet portal for a regional website, I have two mid-week service lessons to prepare for, two Sunday sermons, a car that needs attention (I'm a stubborn DIY'er... I know, I should just take it to someone), house work, a brother and sister-in-law that I want to be a help to (they just moved to NC), yard work, 4 blogs, 3 websites that need maintenance, district youth administrative work that needs immediate attention... and oh, did I fail to mention 40 hours a week for the one that pays the bills, good 'ol Daimler Chrysler/Freightliner (and usually 30 or so engineers that seem to always desperately need my attention aside from the rare moments like right now when I break for a little blogging).
Stop! Take a breath!
With my personality type, I tend to want to crawl into a deep hole when times get like this and just let it all somehow go away.
What makes me not do that, is an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
Responsibility to my family, my church , my ministry, my finances, etc. In reality, this is the life I have chosen. God has presented so many opportunities for my wife and I and when opportunity knocks I'm not one to ignore!
I love what God is doing in my life! I am definitely not a good "life architect" and that's why it is so easy for me to lay back and let God present doors that He wants me to walk through.
Look at the amazing opportunities that are knocking at the doors of the Church of today. It's mind blowing what we have at our finger tips. As Christians, I honestly believe we are in a better place than ever before to really make a significant impact in our culture and in the lives of people in our generation!Sometimes we have such a traditional view of what "signs, wonders and miracles" are supposed to look like.
We, right-away think of the visual of a sickness being instantly cured, or perhaps a God-sent philanthropist to bail out a struggling preacher. You all know the list... But what if it's happening before our very eyes and we do not even realize it?
I would cherish miracles such as Apostolics that unite (at large) and focus on the big picture... a country filled with hungry hurting people not just the small group of souls that walk into the doors of our churches every Sunday. Churches meeting the needs of their communities in a real and practical way. Sign's of the presence of "God-thinking" and "God-personality" in the Church by actions such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and providing for the needy.
I used to get worked up and a little discouraged when I thought about this... but these days I'm excited! If you take a moment to step back and look at what is happening, I think we can all agree that "The Great Architect" is busy these days too! I can list a hundred things that all seem to be working together to make conditions ideal for the Church to make a major impact in our world in the coming days. I honestly believe that we will look back at these days and identify them as key times to the ignition of the last day revival.
Pretty cool!
Dan Ponjican
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: Dan, Miracles, Ponjican, Revival, Signs, Wonders
Monday, October 01, 2007
Getting to know Dan and Christie
This is the first day of "a month in the life of Dan and Christie Ponjican".Kent asked Dan and I to write a little about ourselves in a daily blog throughout the month of October. We have been thinking about all that we could write to help our readers get to know us.
After listening to Mark Johnston's message on Saturday evening at General Conference, however, I feel that the only thing I can say about Dan and I is that we are Christ followers that hope to impact the lives of others in a very positive way - we would rather be a hero than a celebrity. We had an opportunity to watch Mark's message online - it was powerfully convicting and deeply thought provoking.
**
On a personal note: We have been married for eight years. We have lived in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Sri Lanka and have called North Carolina home, for a little over four years.
We worship at Heavenview in Winston-Salem, NC with Pastor Harold Linder.
Dan is a Mechanical Engineer and I am a Fundraiser at the local Arts Council.
Check back tomorrow.
All the best,
Christie
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: Christie, Dan, Heavenview, Ponjican
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Random ramblings of a Sunday morning
The photo-elusive blogger Steve is awarded a UGST pen!
FYI:
I have awoken with a puffy eye. This is not a euphemism. Just a statement of fact.
Now to the business at hand:
UGST has figured prominently (albeit anonymously) in the legendary Gen Conf offerings. Nate Turner (MTS '03) along with his wife, Ingunn, and son, Christopher, were appointed to Estonia and had all funds raised to return to the field in Foreign Missions service. Yeah!!!
Another graduate (MTS '05) was unnamed in an earlier blog and was the featured deadpan HM offering video guy (he used a pseudonym in the video so I'm respecting perceived wishes of anonymity). Anyway, I love seeing UGST-ers out and about making a splash!
My battery is dying so must suddenly wrap up! Lots of stories to tell and pics to post. The UPCI microcosm is so interesting when suddenly cohered and appeared in a singular location! Overall, it's been well-represented to the folks here in Tampa! Kudos to all attendees (minus the one devil lady referenced earlier)!!
Marjorie!! Lover of exclamatory phrases!!!
Marjorie
