tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21593156926022763862011-09-20T21:08:01.161-04:00Come join the journey, we were not meant to live this life alonePetras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-30132105870789849012009-09-10T19:54:00.005-04:002009-09-10T20:13:55.943-04:00

I (Kendra) was born in Indiana and raised in Austin, TX (from 15 months old), but for some reason British literature (Dickens, Tolkien, Sayers, Austen), British films, and British culture fascinate me. I was once told I sounded like I was from London! Of the books that Mark and I have read aloud, about 75% have been British. When we watch a movie, the most interesting ones, those that we give

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-31740586955140087652009-07-28T20:50:00.006-04:002009-07-28T21:53:31.386-04:00

This past week has been the initiation of potty training--I used the "Toilet Training In A Day" method (from the book Toilet Training in Less Than A Day, by Nathan Azrin and Richard Foxx)this time as recommended by my mom and a fellow pastor's wife. I must admit my mom recommended it with Anna, but I thought is sounded inhumane, or at least something to do with animals, not toddlers. Well, in May

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-60864841692417861582009-02-10T09:33:00.017-05:002009-02-10T13:37:00.943-05:00

Crossroads church had their mini-retreat this past weekend called Real Church 101. We had a great weekend of fellowship and solid biblical teaching from Matt Mitchell, and spirit-directed worship from Jamie on Saturday and Joe on Sunday. I prayed the Lord would enlarge the hearts of His church for the gospel and expand their vision for Jesus' purpose for the local church and the Lord answered my

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-67873904818158732352009-01-25T20:15:00.006-05:002009-01-25T21:37:12.225-05:00

For those of you who are reading our blog with hopes to learn more about our church planting endeavors then here is one for you.Below are some pictures that were taken a few months ago when the church moved out of the store front and into one of our congregant's homes for a time of rebuilding and refocusing. We currently have about 18 adults and 2 children (our own). Here is a brief synopsis of

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-49762178534542643002009-01-19T20:12:00.011-05:002009-01-19T20:35:56.310-05:00

We are still trying to figure out this blogging thing whether to blog personal things, or blog about our church planting journey, or just blog about our family. So since we can't decide we want to blog it all. Blog, blog, blog.Here are some fun pics from our fun time in the snow today! Gracefully done Kendra!Watch out for the sign, Mark! Not so graceful more like scary!Kendra's wipe out and

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-88900678789514455222009-01-04T19:35:00.005-05:002009-01-04T20:28:49.386-05:00

On Dec. 22, 2008 a good friend of mine, Randy Shafer went home to be with Jesus. He is now no longer in pain, suffering from the threat of melanoma cancer, and death has lost its sting. Thank God for His glorious gospel. Randy discipled me shortly after I became a believer. Randy did not just disciple me he taught me how to disciple. He taught me that discipleship is not a formula but is

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-72058690284765938882008-12-13T21:41:00.003-05:002008-12-13T21:55:27.547-05:00

I love my kids, they are both the source of my joy and my discontent. I have been told that once you are a parent, you are always a parent. I have also been told that you never stop loving your kids. I think these statements are very true. So, for you folks who are not having the daily experience of my kids like I am...here are a few recent anecdotes.Micah and Anna like to read books, usually

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-32515108906455993672008-12-07T19:50:00.004-05:002008-12-07T20:43:28.590-05:00

Gen. 3:15 The promise of our forever king to come...“She (Mary) will bear a son (offspring), and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21Gen. 12:3 The promise of blessing to come...so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14Exodus 12:13 The

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-88776258303687432512008-11-13T20:09:00.002-05:002008-11-13T21:02:24.121-05:00

This past Sunday I finished a short series on Psalm 37. God was gracious and kind to us to show us this Psalm 37 during a very challenging time we shared about in our e-newsletter. What a great truth to ponder on that no matter what we are going through, no matter how difficult, and how challenging life can get, the Lord will not leave us to our own demise. In my efforts to do the psalm justice I

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-29304377487925365682008-11-05T20:13:00.009-05:002008-11-05T21:06:36.172-05:00

We are meeting with our established core group, encouraging one another, seeking God's leading, and submitting to His will as we replant this church. We will have a period of “dormancy” this winter while we worship together around God's word, and then watch with great anticipation what God will bring to new life in the spring! Though times have been challenging, God has given us relationship

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-65892020335314649722008-11-05T19:30:00.010-05:002008-11-05T20:08:11.967-05:00

I had the chance to look over some old journals the other night and think about how life had changed and how my relationship with God had developed over time. I thought a lot about purity during those days. These were my college days. I was on my own, away from home, living in the college dorm and then in an apartment with peers. I was searching for a husband sometimes self-consciously and other

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-50500948029338602632008-09-16T20:43:00.002-04:002008-09-16T20:54:02.394-04:00

A.W. Tozer prayed this prayer before his ordination: I have taken liberty to update the prose. I keep this prayer taped on my wall before me as a reminder of how much I need His Gospel.It goes like this:Though I am chosen of You and honoured by a high and holy callinglet me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plaguethe race of

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-14521843523608961602008-09-16T20:13:00.004-04:002008-09-16T21:44:36.072-04:00

How many times have you heard, "I can't stand my job!" "I hate my job!" "My boss is driving me crazy!" Well in my message I addressed how God is not only redeeming his people he is redeeming our work as well. Our work is worship to him.I asked two questions:First: What difference does the Gospel make in our lives as an employee?The Gospel makes us aware of our behavior (v.22a)The Gospel effects

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-40836318805747299462008-09-10T10:52:00.003-04:002008-09-10T12:11:00.362-04:00

As we continue our Stand Mature series in this great book written not only to the Colossians but to us, we now focus on the importance of the Gospel-centered home.I asked some questions on Sunday:Are we settling for less in our relationships concerning:our wives?our husbands?our parents?our children?It is for His glory that we respond to these commands because our glory wants to avoid what these

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-36462223573637204442008-09-03T19:45:00.005-04:002008-09-03T20:10:03.335-04:00

Reflections on the homegoing of Patricia Marie Petras...October 26, 2007I can still remember like it was yesterday getting the news that my mother-in-law's battle with acute myleod leukemia and MDS (a cancer in the blood) was almost over. The doctor called from Cleveland Clinic and in no uncertain terms said "if you want to be with her before she passes away, the time to come is now." We had

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-87410862768006324922008-09-03T14:21:00.003-04:002008-09-03T14:41:34.315-04:00

Summary of the message:Jesus is still captivated by his Bride, the church. Are you? Jesus' relationship with the church will never change. Jesus will always love his Bride.2 pointsAs a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus make the decisions (Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts...)As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus lead the worship (Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-49181391880466318532008-08-16T15:04:00.002-04:002008-08-16T15:41:55.528-04:00

A Summary of the message:Last week we focused on what Christianity was not—legalism and that we are free in Jesus. This week we will learn how freedom in Jesus is be lived out not by more rules but a transformation of our lives and character from the inside out because of the new humanity that we are in Jesus. We have been given a new identity and our new identity is in Jesus. Paul shares this

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-76980541092293351662008-08-10T19:50:00.002-04:002008-08-10T20:46:35.309-04:00

Like I promised, here is a summary of the message from this morning. My hope is to post each week some application questions so that you can think about what I shared and how to apply it-- Monday - Saturday. Ask yourself the question, How do I live a life of grace and freedom from Monday - Saturday? Before getting started, I would encourage you to read and reread the passage. Please do not

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-23008591777080096732008-07-31T15:11:00.008-04:002008-07-31T15:36:13.480-04:00

I (Mark) woke up this morning about six and spent some time with Jesus. Afterwards I enjoyed this sunrise and took a picture of it. A gorgeous shot off our back porch! Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-15849589976298682882008-07-30T10:09:00.003-04:002008-07-30T11:00:11.956-04:00

For those of you who are reading this blog for the first time or for that matter the second time, I apologize for it is a work in progress. My hope is to share thoughts on the messages that I deliver at Crossroads, add sermons that I have preached, and also reflections on what it means to be on this journey called "life" not by ourselves but in "life together". My wife hopes to make her

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-64212165218515058282008-07-10T22:13:00.007-04:002008-07-10T22:24:26.452-04:00

Mark is not angry or constipated, he is just trying to look funny at the camera. Lovely.Kendra looks like she has something in her mouth, and she does! Delicious, rich, moist, chocolate mousse cake, decadence on a plate.

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-70243080536017466282008-07-10T21:02:00.006-04:002008-07-10T21:42:29.870-04:00

I (Kendra) grew up singing hymns, but not many of the really old hymns as I came to find out during our time at College Church. I learned a number of "gospel" or "revival" hymns. So, in my head tonight is the chorus of one such hymn called Revive Us Again--"Hallelujah, thine the glory, Hallelujah, amen. Hallelujah, thine the glory, revive us again." This was commonly sung in our church along with

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159315692602276386.post-3531864205050371912008-06-30T15:10:00.000-04:002008-06-30T15:11:52.166-04:00

The Petras family consists of Mark and Kendra Petras with their children Anna (3) and Micah (1) Petras.Mark grew up in Cleveland, OH suburbs and Kendra grew up in Austin, TX. Their paths converged at Dallas Baptist University where they shared a love for people and an interest in theological/philosophical topics. After Mark's graduation in December 2000, Mark and Kendra were married (literally

Petras Famhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07869039022540073534noreply@blogger.com3