A wonderful picture of beauty, force and intenstiy! Can anyone tell me where it is?? We have passed this spot many times!! Grace Sufficient to all our blog readers!!

A good looking group don't you think??

OK...the plan was for the teens and young adults to come to our house last Sunday and cook a Spanish Dinner (it as delicious, by the way)... I think LUKE brought some mountain dew and then sat in ARCHIE BUNKERS (who knows who he is??) chair - better known as MAJOR'S chair!! Only because we love you Luke!!

Luis in the "dough" -

Dough boy Luis??

Nicki stirring things up!

Nicki our SUPERB data entry professional - and now we find out she can cook too!!

A"kettles" view of Philly

Just a nice view of Philly coming down Broad street - this picture was taken after I put our friend on a flight to Cuba!

Mystery Passenger!!??

I (Phil) was driving down Broad Street in downtown Philly the other day when this man (see picture) jumped in my van and said "take me to Cuba or you die" Can you identify this mystery man? Extra points if you can give me any of his nicknames!

Is this what I will look like when I am over 60?? I hope so!!

What the man looked like on the night Susan and I saw him in concert!! Your life is incomplete without at least one Dylan concert! And the second hand smoke wasn't too bad!!

Dylan is Back!!

Indulge me here, dear friends!! Dylan is back!! This is the best thing he has dne since "Slow Train Coming" "Saved" or "Infidels" - What some would call his Christian era. This album is deeply spiritual, for those willing to listen carefully. My favorite is "Working Man's Blues". Did I mention that this past summer Susan and I went to Reading Pennslyvania to see the Legend in concert?? We were like 30 feet from the stage, outdoors, on a great summer evening! And The Man sang Susan's favorite Dylan song, "Make you feel my love" - She is "converted" now!! He get's sweeter with time, like a fine wine (not that I would know!)

The fall of life - That is the season the Doctor told me I am in! Guess that is OK!

"Jacob, you drive me up a tree!"

Hot and humid is over; The air conditioning is off for months to come; sometimes the heat must be turned on during the night and the warmer clothing must be found! Don't you just love fall!

We love Fall - Don't You!?

On a beautiful fall day, just out the door on the way to school, we were struck by the crispness, the freshness, in invigoration of this fine fall day!! Here is Emma outside our home, this picture doesn't do justice to the beautiful red of this tree. Being a city boy, I have no idea what kind of tree it is, but it is truly beautiful - Our Creator God.

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Sarah (in the middle) at her 15th birthday party!! That is Erin on the left and John on the right. Her present was an MP3 player....she hasn't heard a word we have said since....can anyone relate??

Commissioners Watson, our Guests for the weekend...Thanks for your Godly example and leadership...and your passion for the Pioneer Corps!

Pioneer Homecoming - 127th Anniversary!

We just completed our Homecoming weekend at the Church (Corps). Our guests were Commissioners Robert and Alice Watson who are the retired National Commanders of The Salvation Army in the United States BUT ALSO they both went into The Salvation Army's School for Officers Training from the Pioneer Corps back in the 50's....what a great weekend and what wonderful, gentle, sincere people to work with! Thanks to everybody who make it possible, God was GLORIFIED!

The Wittenberg women!! 

Emma with some short old people. 

Emma and Jacob slightly happier than their older sisters!! Come on, admit it you have watched this character on tv!! 

Meaghan and Sarah at the scarecrow festival....Don't they look thrilled!! Let's have a caption contest for this picture...what are your thoughts?? 

24/7 Prayer at the Pioneer Corps!

For an entire week the church was at prayer! Part of a prayer initiative where the entire Salvation Army in the Eastern United States will be in non prayer for a years. A classroom was tranformed physically and spiritually into an upper room and God's people prayed.....the effects are just now being felt.

Who is this?? Can someone tell us?? Confess! 

Our CSM (chief elder) Bill hanging out in the prayer room...how we thank God for this faithful, faithful servant!! 

Beth in the prayer room. The window there looks out into the chapel.....truly an Upper Room....Certainly many were praying for an outpouring not only in the Upper Room but also in the chapel below and on the streets outside...Gode is honoring these prayers!! 

One of the best books I have ever read is "Pure as Gold", the biography of Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire). That is Eric back row left. His true story is better than the film (my favorite film of all time!) as it related his missionary service to China leading to his eventual death in a Japanese internment camp. By the way, there was a Salvation Army Brass band in that camp, a young Salvation Army girl, daughter of an Officer, at his bedside when died. What a true hero of the faith! 

What a wonderful picture of some of our favorite ladies from Estonia......We miss you all!! 

In Plane Sight

I shared this story with my dear friend, and feel I must share it with all of you who will read. I hope you understand the release I experience as I push the "publish Post" button. I am shutting the window shade and trusting once again. Daily trusting.

When we were flying from Colorado three nights ago, below us was a storm going on. The clouds were a transparent carpet showing the power of lightning over and over. It was like a chorus echoing with strength and crescendos. Jacob was sitting with me and was a bit concerned. He being by the window could see the power and might, and also the there was lightning straight ahead, couldn't that be bad for the plane? He asked. I leaned over and commented on how beautiful and powerful God is. That we were getting just a glimpse of His touch and creative love. The pilots knew what to do, so I began to pray out loud for Jacob ending with praising God for His Majesty, and love for us.

Jacob, as soon as I said "Amen", shut the blind and never gave it another look. Friends this spoke to my heart. I have gone through storms, but while above looking down upon the remnant of storm, I can see Gods' hand at work. There is a spiritual battle going on, and Gods' power and might always wins. I can shut the blind now, even as the storm brews around, and place all trust in The One. The I AM. He knows and sees. I can feel the turbulence, I can see the markings and hear the thunder, the Lord even warns us we would experience this kind of hting but I can also rest in the peace He gives.. How? I have been praising. Praising through it all. Giving God the glory, even when I can't see. Especially when I can't see, because I know the One who sees. El Roi. My God who sees. Glory!!!

The view from the Retreat House "The Hideaway" in Monument Colorado!! 

Emma and Marli became instant friends. Marlis family just returned from many terms of service in Africa...they are Salvation Army Officers from Canada! 

The Teen class from our trip to Colorado! Yes,that is our Sarah on the far left...that is not a political statement!! 

Real Camping!!

Well the days of a pop-up or a travel trailer (with Air-Conditioning) are over for the Wittenberg family! We have returned to the realm of tenting! Enjoy these pictures from our recent camping vacation to Florida! Hey Adam, can you keep up??

Emma and Dad "Go Phillies" (note the hat!) 

Getting ready for a full day of sun and fun!! 

The Wittenbergs at the Coke tasting station with drinks from all over the world....Very sorry to say there was no Limoonaad (Estonia)! 

Can you name these TWO Princesses?? 

Can you name this Princess??? 

Cousin Adam giving Emma a ride ( a free ride!) at Disney!