You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February 2007.
I thought it was time for a new look. Now if only I could learn how to link stuff & post pictures…
1 Peter 2:10, Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received His mercy. New Living Translation
I could comment on this passage, but I’ll just let the power of God’s Word speak for itself. Wow! What a verse; what a thought; what a God!
I began this blog with the best of intentions. Life is just too busy! Between school, sicknesses, homework, my family and the everyday business of the church sometimes this doesn’t get the highest priority. I still have a desire to do this, but sometimes I just lack the time or energy. Oh well, I will try to do better.
During December and January we had at least one sick kid for five straight weeks. Then my wife got sick with the fever. Then Mr. Kidney Stone came along and paid a visit to my wife. I’ve been thankful that I haven’t been bit by the sick bug. But, alas, it hit me Thursday night; a small grade fever that made me feel lousy all weekend. Hopefully I can make it to church this morning for the worship service. I’m having someone fill in for Teen Church. I don’t think I have the strength to stand up and preach.
But in spite of it all, I am truly thankful to God for all things! I deserve hell, but He’s given me the promise of Heaven. I deserve judgment, but He’s given me mercy. I deserve death, but He’s given me grace. Man, it’s so good to be a follower of Jesus Christ!
“Leadership is both something you are and something you do. A mentor is not a person who can do the work better than his followers; he is a person who can get his followers to do the work better than he can.” – Fred Smith
About 7:30 AM, on Saturday morning, my wife woke me up with intense pains in her lower back and stomach. I rushed her to the local ER and after 2 CAT scans they discovered that she had a kidney stone. They transferred her to Indianapolis and told her that the stone was in a tricky spot so we just waited and waited. We spent the night last night so I had to cancel my weekend youth revival. We’re home right now and she still isn’t out of the woods yet. But during this weekend I’ve learned some lessons:
1. I have an awesome church! Many have called to check on her and several people have helped out with the kids. Paul and Cindy Easley came to the ER and spent all day with me keeping me from banging my head against the wall in boredom. They encouraged us, spent time with us, prayed with us, and slipped $45 in Jody’s coat pocket for food and expenses.
Luci Garcia and Breanna Wilhelm helped so much with the kids and so did Paul and Catrena Durgan. Thanks guys!
2. I have some awesome sisters-in-law! Jenny & Julie have been such a great help. I owe them so much. Thanks gals, we love you!
3. Lesson number 3: Never ask your wife is she wants to have another child while she’s flat on her back in pain with a kidney stone. Hopefully the swelling in my left eye will go down by Monday!
This weekend I’ll be preaching a youth revival at the Dunkirk Friends Church. My good buddy Daniel Edwards is the pastor there. It’s a zone youth revival for all the churches in that area. I was the speaker at their youth camp this summer and had way too much fun for an evangelist to have. They are a great bunch of kids!
I’m doing something quite different this week end. All weekend long I plan on preaching on the life of Samson. “The High Cost of Low Living.” I’m looking forward to teaching them some practical lessons from his life. One man’s shipwreck ought to always be a beacon to us to avoid the same dangers. Lesson 1 is: “A Good Start isn’t Good Enough” Lesson two: “Samson’s Fatal Flaws”. Lesson 3: “Toying with Temptation.”
I’ll be there Sunday morning too. I can’t wait! I love to preach to teens!
PRINCIPLES OF KINGDOM GROWTH
Mark 4:26-29
I. PRINCIPLE #1: YOU MUST PLANT THE SEED–PLANTING. Vs. 26, He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
II. PRINCIPLE # 2: YOU MUST LEAVE THE HARVEST UP TO GOD– PATIENCE. Vs. 27-28a, …night & day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts & grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain…
III. PRINCIPLE # 3: YOU MUST EXPECT A HARVEST–PRODUCTIVITY. Vs. 28b-29,… first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Preach the gospel always,
if necessary use words.
St. Francis of Assisi
Meredith Moser, my Church Education Program teacher, was talking in class about people who aren’t committed to the church aren’t that committed to Christ either. He said it like this: “If you’re not committed to the body (the church), how can you be committed to the head (Christ)?”
I can’t wait to preach that!
I’m really enjoying my classes. Not only is my head full, but so is my heart. Now that’s vital if you want to be an effective minister for Christ!
