Ben & Phyllis' Blog

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We are two happily married Christians who wish you well! Ben just happens to be a little camera shy. May God bless you! Please note: Unless otherwise noted, all photos are property of Ben & Phyllis and may not be used in any professional capacity without our prior written permission.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Happy Birthday, Teresa!


Happy Birthday to Teresa!!!!! We love you and hope the year ahead is filled with love, peace and joy!

May God bless you and keep you!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Magnolias




The cherry blossoms have mostly passed but the magnolias are in bloom. We thought the yellow was a rare treat. Ben took these photos today at the U.S. National Arboretum. May God bless you!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

Much More!

Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. —Romans 5:20

A statement I heard at an Easter service stays with me: “More has been gained in the resurrection of Jesus than was lost in the fall.” More gained than lost? Can it be true?

Each day we experience the damage caused by sin entering our world. Greed, injustice, and cruelty all trace their origins back to Adam and Eve’s decision to follow their own path rather than God’s (Gen. 3). The legacy of their disobedience is passed down to every generation. Without God’s intervention, we would be in a hopeless situation. But Jesus overpowered sin through His cross and conquered death through His resurrection.

The victory of Christ is celebrated in Romans 5, often called the “much more” chapter of the New Testament, where Paul contrasts the devastation caused by sin with the restoring power of God’s grace. In every case, grace overpowers the consequences of sin. In a grand conclusion, Paul says: “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (5:20-21).

No matter how much we have personally lost because of sin, we have gained far more through the resurrection victory of Christ. — David C. McCasland

Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater—yes, grace untold—
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross. —Johnston
© Renewal 1939 Hope Publishing.

Our sin is great—God’s grace is greater.

Source: 4/12/09 Our Daily Bread http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Kenwood Cherry Blossoms 2009




Here are some pictures from our recent trip to Kenwood, MD, a neighborhood filled with cherry trees. The first photo has some neighborhood art on the lawn. Photos by Ben. May God bless you!

Saturday, April 04, 2009

U.S. National Arboretum Cherry Tree



Ben & I each took one of these photos today at the U.S. National Arboretum. Hope you enjoy these snippets of God's beautiful creation!

Thursday, April 02, 2009

National Cherry Blossom Festival




Ben took these photos at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC this week. If you've never been, it sure is a sight to see. We look forward to it each spring. May God bless you!