http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/index/ en blake.rymer@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-10-17T12:22:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/poland_trip_october_2012/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/poland_trip_october_2012/#When:12:22:00Z Dear Friends and Family, Sandra and I have our tickets to head back to Europe on October. 22. As always our son-in-law Greg has a busy schedule arranged for us. We are excited to share with you what awaits us there: • Arrive in Warsaw; recover from jet lag while we reconnect with our kids and grandkids; scope out Warsaw for future mission opportunities. • Pulawska Church in Warsaw; Couple Communication translation team check-in; “Soul Care” training and coaching; Couple Communication class for 6 English speaking couples. • Altensteig, Germany for the Youth with a Mission European Kings Kids staff conference; lead workshop on burnout; meet European leaders and build strategic relationships for future staff care opportunities. • Bck to Warsaw for further work with Pulawska Church; teaching opportunities in other churches; connect individuals seeking further training in the exchanged life message. • Lublin Pentecostal Church for seminars on the the exchanged life and grace-based living. • Bsck to Warsaw, Samuel Christian School for class on identity in Christ for young teens. • Debriefing and packing and return flight to USA. Dear Friends and Family, Sandra and I have our tickets to head back to Europe on October. 22. As always our son-in-law Greg has a busy schedule arranged for us. We are excited to share with you what awaits us there: • Arrive in Warsaw; recover from jet lag while we reconnect with our kids and grandkids; scope out Warsaw for future mission opportunities. • Pulawska Church in Warsaw; Couple Communication translation team check-in; “Soul Care” training and coaching; Couple Communication class for 6 English speaking couples. • Altensteig, Germany for the Youth with a Mission European Kings Kids staff conference; lead workshop on burnout; meet European leaders and build strategic relationships for future staff care opportunities. • Bck to Warsaw for further work with Pulawska Church; teaching opportunities in other churches; connect individuals seeking further training in the exchanged life message. • Lublin Pentecostal Church for seminars on the the exchanged life and grace-based living. • Bsck to Warsaw, Samuel Christian School for class on identity in Christ for young teens. • Debriefing and packing and return flight to USA. Tickets, conference expenses and travel in country total about $3000. We also have $300 expense for the training materials we will take with us for the communication skills training. We could definitely use your support as we seek to take the message of Christ as our Life to Europe again. If you’d like to help us financially with this mission you can give online at http://www.thegracelink.org or send a check for Grace Link to Grace Link, PO Box 4131, Huntsville, AL 35815. (These are tax deductible gifts.) It goes without saying that your prayers for this undertaking are huge to us as well! Please consider if Father might lead you to invest in this mission. We look forward to sharing with you all that He does on this trip! Thanks! Blake and Sandra Grace-Link News 2012-10-17T12:22:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/start_your_year_with_a_fresh_perspective/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/start_your_year_with_a_fresh_perspective/#When:16:51:01Z Christ Our Life Conference January 20-21, 2012 How does God really feel about me? Why is life so terribly hard at times? What is so different about the Christian life anyway? Why does God allow suffering in the lives of believers? How can I live the Christian life? “For the message of the Cross is…the power of God.” These and other issues will be addressed when Grace Link offers the Christ Our Life Conference January 20-21, 2012 How does God really feel about me? Why is life so terribly hard at times? What is so different about the Christian life anyway? Why does God allow suffering in the lives of believers? How can I live the Christian life? “For the message of the Cross is…the power of God.” These and other issues will be addressed when Grace Link offers the “Christ Our Life Conference” at Rivertree Church (The Tree House) 652 Taylor Road, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 Friday, January 20, 6.30-9.30 pm and Saturday, January 21, 9 am–4 pm Cost for the conference is $10 and includes syllabus, snacks and lunch on Saturday. An offering will be collected on Saturday. Presenters will be Blake Rymer and Bart Justice Who together have shared these empowering truths internationally with more than 10,000 folks over the last 20+ years. Space will be limited to 50 people and you must pre-register by sending a check for $10 to: Grace Link PO Box 4131 Huntsville AL 35815 (or pay online at http://www.thegracelink.org) To get more info call Blake Rymer at 256.682.2216 or access the Grace Link website, http://www.thegracelink.org Also, check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OurWellspring (Click on the “Like” Button to follow us) Come join us and invite your family and friends! Bart and Blake Grace-Link News, Conference Information 2011-12-27T16:51:01-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/thoughts_from_a_fall_risk/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/thoughts_from_a_fall_risk/#When:21:39:00Z By now you may have heard about my recent fainting spell that landed me in the hospital for two days. If you haven’t heard it happened at Sam’s Club (which had nothing to do with it) while Sandra and I were shopping for groceries for the Grace Link Advanced Training (GLAT) retreat. I passed out, fell to the floor and hit the back of my head. This resulted in me earning a bright yellow wrist band that says “FALL RISK” in 64 point font when I wound up in the emergency room!! “Hi! My name is Blake and I am a fall risk.” They didn’t even want me to walk around in my room! This fainting has happened to me twice before: in 1998 the first time I went to Sighisoara, Romania and around 2004 when I was in Cluj, Romania. Both those times I was involved in teaching the EL message. Well, this time I was preparing to teach the EL message to the AT group here and it was the first time I was in a place where a thorough evaluation could be made. All the tests were clean by the way and the bottom line is I had a vasovagal episode. (If you Google it it’ll explain it better than I can.) By now you may have heard about my recent fainting spell that landed me in the hospital for two days. If you haven’t heard it happened at Sam’s Club (which had nothing to do with it) while Sandra and I were shopping for groceries for the Grace Link Advanced Training (GLAT) retreat. I passed out, fell to the floor and hit the back of my head. This resulted in me earning a bright yellow wrist band that says “FALL RISK” in 64 point font when I wound up in the emergency room!! “Hi! My name is Blake and I am a fall risk.” They didn’t even want me to walk around in my room! This fainting has happened to me twice before: in 1998 the first time I went to Sighisoara, Romania and around 2004 when I was in Cluj, Romania. Both those times I was involved in teaching the EL message. Well, this time I was preparing to teach the EL message to the AT group here and it was the first time I was in a place where a thorough evaluation could be made. All the tests were clean by the way and the bottom line is I had a vasovagal episode. (If you Google it it’ll explain it better than I can.) I’m not sure exactly how all this relates but it gives me pause to consider the spiritual implications of this experience. I certainly don’t for a moment want to imply that I am public enemy #1 to the councils of hell, but I do think that the message we proclaim is lethal to the false gospels, both to the legalism and the license that Satan would have us pursue in the name of Christ. It is simply typical that anytime we attempt to offer a conference or workshop or advanced training, some unexpected concurrence takes place, be it weather or illness or family issue or something else out of the norm. The only time Sandra and I ever had a serious discipline issue with our youngest daughter (who was in high school at the time) occurred when I was doing an extended training event in Romania and Sandra was left to deal with it without me being there!! (Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean no one’s out to get me!) At this point in my life all this doesn’t surprise me, even though it took two days in the hospital to recognize it with the help of some perceptive friends. And one of the takeaways for me is that I must not forget that we are engaged in a war of eternal proportions. The effectiveness of the training we offer is not about how good an organizer or teacher or counselor we are nor how great are the handouts or notes we use. It is about the glory of God, the name of Christ and the amazing grace They administer to us through the indwelling Spirit. It’s about the Truth! Sometimes I lose touch with that reality and give more weight to the preparation and organization of the training over the opposition we face when we take up the banner of Christ. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If they fall down, they can help each other up. But pity those who fall and have no one to help them up! (Proverbs 4.10-11) When it comes to spiritual battles we all are fall risks, especially so when we are solo. We need each other, a band of brothers, a community, a team to move with us and under-gird us. Confession time: While I know this from experience and from the scriptures, I sometimes fall back into the independent way, the way of my youth and my life in Adam. Another takeaway for me is this: I will no longer travel alone to teach and offer ministry. Either Sandra goes with me or one or more of you go with me. There is the very practical issue of physically helping me up off the floor of Sam’s or Tesco or a train station floor should the enemy pull the vagal nerve torture trick on me again. But there is also the very real issue of spiritual cover we must always offer one another as move into the fray for the Kingdom of God. I have heard that Billy Graham always traveled with a companion in constant contact with him. What wisdom! This will make it more challenging for me to travel as I’ll need to coordinate schedules and likely have to find financial assistance to allow others to travel with me. I’ll probably ask my sons-in-law to go to the front of the line here since I’m still waiting on the payment for the brides I furnished these guys! They owe me! But please know that I’d be blessed to share those trips with you when it works out. You too are my community, my band, my team, so I hope you will prayerful consider this as a valid opportunity for you - I suppose I should emphasize the male gender here so as not to send the wrong message - to take an active part with me in Europe and the other options Father offers. So enough for now except to say thank you all for the prayers and encouragement and love you have lavished on us! We are grateful. Grace-Link Blogging 2011-08-30T21:39:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/live_sermons_by_blake_rymer_mp3_files/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/live_sermons_by_blake_rymer_mp3_files/#When:18:51:00Z Here are a few live sermons: Giving Christmas Away: Love - 12/13/09 Speaker: Blake Rymer Luke - Who is this Man - 3/21/10 Speaker: Blake Rymer Luke 12 - Our Ransomed Heart - 6/6/10 Speaker: Blake Rymer Luke 19 - Zacchaeus - 2/2/11 Speaker: Blake Rymer Here are a few live sermons: Giving Christmas Away: Love - 12/13/09 Speaker: Blake Rymer Luke - Who is this Man - 3/21/10 Speaker: Blake Rymer Luke 12 - Our Ransomed Heart - 6/6/10 Speaker: Blake Rymer Luke 19 - Zacchaeus - 2/2/11 Speaker: Blake Rymer Grace-Link News 2011-08-03T18:51:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/christ_our_life_conference_august_12_13_2011/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/christ_our_life_conference_august_12_13_2011/#When:03:09:00Z How does God really feel about me? Why is life so terribly hard at times? What is so different about the Christian life anyway? Why does God allow suffering in the lives of believers? How can I live the Christian life? How does God really feel about me? Why is life so terribly hard at times? What is so different about the Christian life anyway? Why does God allow suffering in the lives of believers? How can I live the Christian life? “For the message of the Cross is…the power of God.” These and other issues will be addressed when Grace Link offers the “Christ Our Life Conference” at Rivertree Church (The Tree House) 652 Taylor Road, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 Friday, August 12th, 6.30-9.30 pm and Saturday, Saturday August 13th, 9 am–4 pm Cost for the conference is $10 and includes syllabus, snacks and lunch on Saturday. An offering will be collected on Saturday. Presenters will be Blake Rymer and Bart Justice Who together have shared these empowering truths internationally with thousands over the last 10+ years Space will be limited to 50 people and you must pre-register by sending a check for $10 to: Grace Link PO Box 4131 Huntsville AL 35815 (or pay online at http://www.thegracelink.org) To get more info call Blake Rymer at 256.682.2216 or access the Grace Link website, http://www.thegracelink.org Also, check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OurWellspring (Click on the “Like” Button to follow us) Conference Information 2011-07-23T03:09:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/c_h_r_i_s_t_o_u_r_l_i_f_e_c_o_n_f_e_r_e_n_c_e/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/c_h_r_i_s_t_o_u_r_l_i_f_e_c_o_n_f_e_r_e_n_c_e/#When:14:36:02Z C h r i s t O u r L i f e C o n f e r e n c e J u n e 10 - 11, 2 0 1 1 How does God really feel about me? Why is life so terribly hard at times? What is so different about the Christian life anyway? Why does God allow suffering in the lives of believers? How can I live the Christian life? C h r i s t O u r L i f e C o n f e r e n c e J u n e 10 - 11, 2 0 1 1 How does God really feel about me? Why is life so terribly hard at times? What is so different about the Christian life anyway? Why does God allow suffering in the lives of believers? How can I live the Christian life? “For the message of the Cross is…the power of God.” These and other issues will be addressed when Grace Link offers the “ C h r i s t O u r L i f e C o n f e r e n c e ” at Rivertree Church (The Tree House) 652 Taylor Road, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 Friday, June 10th, 6.30-9.30 pm and Saturday, June 11th, 9 am–4 pm Cost for the conference is $40 and includes syllabus, snacks and lunch on Saturday. Presenters will be Blake Rymer and Bart Justice Who together have shared these empowering truths internationally with thousands over the last 10+ years Space will be limited to 50 people and you must pre-register by sending a check for $40 to: Grace Link PO Box 4131 Huntsville AL 35815 (or pay online at http://www.myrivertree.org) To get more info call Blake Rymer at 256.682.2216 or access the Grace Link website, http://www.thegracelink.org Also, check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OurWellspring (Click on the “Like” Button to follow us) Grace-Link News, Conference Information 2011-06-03T14:36:02-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/christmas_2010/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/christmas_2010/#When:18:43:00Z Dear friends and family, First of all, Sandra and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season! I suspect you’re like me and find it hard to believe that it’s that time again. Just enjoy and make the most of it by enjoying the many blessings Christ came to share with us. Dear friends and family, First of all, Sandra and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season! I suspect you’re like me and find it hard to believe that it’s that time again. Just enjoy and make the most of it by enjoying the many blessings Christ came to share with us. Around Thanksgiving Sandra and I were in a Cracker Barrel waiting to get a table. We were browsing around the bazillion trinkets they offer in the store and found a couple of small candles with fragrances we thought would be nice to burn during the holidays. We’ve used them a few times and thoroughly enjoy the aroma they provide for our home. As I was reading through the Bible just this week I came across this passage that made me think of those candles and their lovely fragrance. READ MORE and PICS Grace-Link News 2010-12-17T18:43:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/pay_your_conference_fees/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/pay_your_conference_fees/#When:23:50:00Z Counseling - standard - USD 75.00Counseling - Rivertree Discount - USD 40.00Taylor Johnson Temperament Analysis - USD 35.00Counseling - Summit Crossing Discount - USD40.00Conference - Christ Our Life - USD 10.00 Conference Information 2010-07-24T23:50:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/christ_our_life_conference1/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/christ_our_life_conference1/#When:15:31:00Z Ever wondered why you have negative thoughts about yourself? Do you struggle with a chronic temptation or sin? Would you like to better understand God’s strategy for your growth? Why is the “Cross” much bigger than just forgiveness with God? Interested in overcoming the performance treadmill and resting in your true identity? Can we really overcome sin and live in peace and rest before God? Christ Our Life Conference August 20-21, 2010 Ever wondered why you have negative thoughts about yourself? Do you struggle with a chronic temptation or sin? Would you like to better understand God’s strategy for your growth? Why is the “Cross” much bigger than just forgiveness with God? Interested in overcoming the performance treadmill and resting in your true identity? Can we really overcome sin and live in peace and rest before God? These and other issues will be addressed when Grace Link offers the “Christ Our Life Conference” at the Summit Crossing Meeting Room 347 Hughes Road, Madison AL 35758 Friday August 20th 6.30-9.30 pm and Saturday August 21st 9 am–4 pm Cost for the conference is $40 and includes syllabus, snacks and lunch on Saturday. Presenters will be Blake Rymer and Bart Justice who have shared these empowering truths internationally with hundreds over the last 10 years Space will be limited to 50 people and you must pre-register by sending a check for $40 to Grace Link PO Box 4131 Huntsville AL 35815 To get more info call Blake Rymer at 256.682.2216 or access the Grace Link website, http://www.thegracelink.org. Conference Information 2010-07-21T15:31:00-06:00 http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/i_just_want_it_to_go_away_the_uah_dilemma/ http://www.thegracelink.org/index.php/site/i_just_want_it_to_go_away_the_uah_dilemma/#When:13:26:00Z How would you feel if your campus counseling office set up rooms for you to receive counseling, but the TV news crew was waiting as you came out of the session trying to interview you? Or how would you feel if you were invited to a prayer gathering to receive comfort on the night of a shooting only to get there and have it hijacked as a press conference in order to share information with you? Or, what if you found out that the shooter had not been background checked before they came to teach you, and it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway because the system was broken somewhere up the line? What would be going on inside your mind when, in your grief and pain, you looked around and it seemed like everyone else was moving on, but you couldn’t.  In other words, how would you feel if you were a part of the UAHuntsville community right now? How would you feel if your campus counseling office set up rooms for you to receive counseling, but the TV news crew was waiting as you came out of the session trying to interview you? Or how would you feel if you were invited to a prayer gathering to receive comfort on the night of a shooting only to get there and have it hijacked as a press conference in order to share information with you? Or, what if you found out that the shooter had not been background checked before they came to teach you, and it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway because the system was broken somewhere up the line? What would be going on inside your mind when, in your grief and pain, you looked around and it seemed like everyone else was moving on, but you couldn’t.  In other words, how would you feel if you were a part of the UAHuntsville community right now? Angry? Frustrated? Lonely? Guilty? Anxious? What about ambivalent? What does that word mean anyway? Well, knowing that might be a key to understanding what is really going on with many of the students, staff, faculty, and administration. Each campus tragedy and school shooting that we have in our country gives us a little more insight into the angst, frustration, dysfunction, and yes, ambivalence that is seething under the surface in our culture…especially in the lives of our young people. So, what is ambivalence? Well, it is a kind of defense mechanism that makes decision-making very difficult. And, if a decision is made, ambivalence makes it very hard to stick with that decision. Simply put, it occurs when a person has two or more conflicting emotions at the same time about an issue, person, or thing.  Thoughts and actions end up in contradiction with each other.  The outworking is often confusing for all parties involved. A faculty member may be happy and relieved to see extra police and security around campus while at the same time have a disdain for and mistrust of those same law enforcement officers because of the failings that are represented in the system from which they come. A student may have intense feelings of fondness and loyalty to their university while concurrently despising it for the way it has seemingly handled a grievous situation. An administrator may love his or her job but fear coming to work. The list goes on… “I just want it to go away” seems to be the overwhelming sentiment on campus. Many are stuck in various parts of the grief cycle but do not have the energy or are unwilling to move on or get help. They just want it to go away. Many are suffering from post-traumatic stress and are thinking that, maybe with time, their symptoms will just go away. Loss of sleep, appetite, and ability to concentrate are common. Maybe these symptoms will just go away. Something that enables the ambivalence virus to do its nasty, destructive work in a person is the need to have the appearance of having it all together. We think, “Well, everyone else seems to be doing alright. Maybe I should be over this by now. I don’t want people thinking I’m weak or weird because I’m still struggling. Maybe I should just press on and maybe these thoughts and feelings will just go away.” American culture breeds independence, and with it, a need to feel as if we can solve our problems ourselves. But we weren’t created that way. We were created to need one another! We were created as relational beings, like our Creator. We weren’t meant to always figure it out for ourselves. It has been shown that soldiers suffering from PTSD best deal with their trauma in groups. Often, a group of people dealing with the same difficult issue or addiction can be far more effective in aiding someone in their pain than a lone counselor can. Sometimes a small church group or Bible study can bring far more care and comfort into a person’s life than that person’s pastor can. However, ambivalence often keeps us from seeking out this help. And our pride and/or shame help us along in our independent loneliness telling us that someday the problem will just go away. There is a balloon release on the UAH campus this Thursday. There isn’t anything magical about releasing balloons that will make the problem just go away. But, it is a group activity that has shown considerable benefits in helping folks let go of things so that they can begin to move forward. There will be a discussion on “Where Was God In The Midst Of This Tragedy?” before the balloons are released. This is a question being asked all over the campus, the community, and even the country. Will people come to hear the answer to that question, or will their desire for the issue to just go away (along with their need to have the appearance of doing alright) be strong enough to keep them from coming? I guess time will tell… To anyone that is still reading this that is dealing with feeling of ambivalence, guilt, fear, anger, hurt, or frustration, please know that you are not alone. For anyone that can’t sleep, has lost their appetite, or can’t concentrate on their work or studies, please know that you are dealing with things that many others are dealing with as well. The effects of trauma and grief do not go away over night. But, they can be dealt with very effectively in relationship. A good start might be to come and release a balloon that you have written on and watch it disappear into the evening sky while talking with others that are doing the same. Maybe calling the counseling office and scheduling an appointment to talk with someone that understands what you are going though would be appropriate. Maybe sitting down with you friends, pastor, or church group and admitting your struggles will be a good starting place. From personal experience, I would suggest approaching Jesus, as He is a great starting place for your journey. Ambivalence breeds bitterness, depression, and rage – none of which you want as companions. On the other hand, Jesus promises to take our burdens and give us rest. He actually becomes our place of rest. And as we rest in Him, we find a Wellspring of Life coming from within us that is anything but ambivalent.  “Come, follow Me,” He says! 2010-04-06T13:26:00-06:00