Tooth Pain

I have been experiencing pain in my teeth for a few days now I do not have great teeth but this is something different than a cavity. Finally today the dentist thinks my tooth has shifted and I am now biting down on only it and that is causing the pain I experience. They ground it down some to match back up and told me to "stay off it" a few days. But while I was there I thought of Paul and his "thorn" I remembered that we are never so close to God as when we need him desperately. The nights I woke up in pain I remember praying fervently for healing and peace. I am not saying God gave me a tooth ache to draw me closer to him but I am saying my recent "thorn" has taken me closer to my Lord. Although I am happy to be on the downhill side of this problem. :)

Snow Cables

So my Dad found a old set of snow cables in the shed. The set was for our old Chevy S-10 but since I still drive an S-10 he gave them to me. Cool. If you don't know what snow chains or cables are they are just that Cables or chains that you wrap around your tires and clip or hook, then you pull them tight with stretch straps and you have traction on snow and ice where you did not before. So of course I put them on when it snowed a couple days ago. It was fun. I had not put a set on in 7-8 years and it was like stepping into the past. I have to admit it really is the little things in life that make it fun.

Playing in the snow isn always fun. :)

The everyday of life

Sometimes I forget that life is not the series of highlights that I remember but actually the endless monotonous days that string those highlights together. Its not those occasional times that I am really nice to someone that they remember but how I acted on a day to day basis. The attitude I always had or did not have, the sarcasms I did or did not use, the compassion I did or did not possess you get the point. The highlights are always great the really good things we do for people need to be there also but they should be the cherry on top of the sundae that we serve to them everyday. So now that I wrote that how do I do it? :) All I know to do is put down one stone at a time.

My mouth

I recently had a reminder that I need to watch the words I say. I like to smart off every so often nothing bad just funny stuff, but I recently shot my mouth off faster than I engaged my brain and had to go back and apologize. God reminded me how important it is to watch my words and be an encouragement to others instead of a stumbling block. I did not realize how much in need of correction I was in this area but that is life when God convicts you in an area then you find out how much in need of improvement you are. With new levels come new devils and new things in life to master.

Analogy

If you haven't checked out New Jersey Jesus blog then do it. It is way cool but why reading his latest about, well you read it, I was reminded about my own short comings and my own hurts that give way to less and less compassion in my life if I let them. I am a young pastor of 27 and I have been working in the church awhile. I have found it a reality that as you reach you hand out to people you are just as likely to have it bitten off as to have them grasp it in kindness. After a while you find that you are extending a wrist, then an elbow, and finally just a few inches of a nub left at the shoulder. But what I realize in my analogy is that god heals that nub and regrows a hand out from it. If I let him my arm will never be a nub again but a wrist that continually regrows a hand for reaching out to the next person and who knows maybe eventually everyone will reach back a kind hand.

The Love Dare Cont.

Have I mentioned this is harder than I thought? I am falling behind with all this stuff it wants me to do. I know it is one thing a day and you are going WOW you can't do one thing a day for your wife, but it is a specific thing and sometimes you almost literally have to plan your day around that one thing. Its deer season I am booked solid trying to find the deer that have mysteriously disappeared from our area, how am I supposed to find time to do something meaningful for my wife like the dishes? OK so seriously I probably need to try a little harder but don't judge till you have been through this because it is harder than you think. I don't mean to sound like a bad husband I believe I am a good husband and my wife would agree. We have been married over three years and we are still in the honey moon stage which is great but you try to dedicate yourself for 40 days to doing something for your wife everyday and see if it is just soooooo easy.

The Love Dare

Yea I am doing it too. No I have not seen the movie (Fireproof) yet but it seems like a really good book(The Love dare). It gives you kinda a short devotional reading then tells you your dare for the day. I thought no problem I have a great marriage this is a breeze. But its not as easy as I thought it would be. Its got stuff like don't say anything negative to your wife all day. Do you know how hard that is in a sarcastic society like ours? But it is a great process so far, I am on day 4. There are 40 days total so we will see how this goes. My wife is really enjoying it also which is good. Our church staff are going through it first with the men toward the wives and later the wives are going to do it for the men. Helloooooo back rub. I am easy to please. :)

Building Projects

So I am attempting to put back together a shed I tore apart from another location. The problem is I had to completely rebuild the bottom of the shed and I am having to replace rotted out parts of the walls. I am choosing to do this because sheds are very expensive to buy and when I get this one put together I will have less than $50 in a 8x10 foot storage shed. I like this idea very much, but the process of putting it together can be frustrating. I have to cut out some sections and splice in new wood it becomes very time consuming. In these moments of frustration when I am thinking in my mind that I just want to scream at this wall I am rebuilding it is comforting to reflect on the fact that Jesus was a carpenter too. I am sure a better one than I but it is nice to know He was standing staring at a project that was frustrating a time or two as well.

First Time Painting

OK so not really painting but is was my first time painting with a spray gun. We painted a whole house in about 2 hours this is not including the setup and learning how to run the gun. It looked great for the first time. Sorry no pics yet but maybe later. So I am sore with all the leaning and holding my arms up for so long but the house does look better and it has been a year in the process, yea it got primed last year about this time. Better late then never right. So hey any forward motion is progress though, granted slow progress. So I have joined the ranks of the painters in society this is important to me because I love to do Home Improvement and now I have done one more thing I had never done before. I am a very practical person the more I know how to do the more I can help someone else do. I relate allot with James on the whole faith without works is dead thing (James 2:17).

Running (from Saul)

I am not a very good runner. I don't literally mean running although I used to run in high school, I mean turning from things when God says too and keeping my mouth shut when he says too like David running from Saul. I have this urge down deep that has to justify myself, I try to leave the situation alone and let God justify me but it becomes hard when he doesn't do it by the next morning. That's why I say I am not a very good runner. If God had David to run from Saul for so long before making him king I wonder if there are situations in my life I am to bare for awhile. Is this to teach me humility like Paul and his thorn, is this to develop some character traits that I am presently lacking, or is running part of the overall attack plan. I like this thought its not running its a strategic withdraw to build my character for a final victory. Maybe that thought will help me keep my mouth shut when it comes time to run. :)

Wind generators

So I have looked into wind power in my area of Oklahoma and at first it did not make since because we have such little wind average here. But when I looked deeper into it they have small wind generators that are 1000 watts and smaller that you can build yourself. I realize this is not alot of power but every little bit helps with riseing utility bills right? The only thing is I live in town and cannot put one up but my Dad is inn the country and looking into it. Does anyone have any good advice or experience they would share about these systems?

Long Time Gone

Hey I am back. I couldn't get on to blog for awhile because I am so technologically inept. Something about my cookies changed and I am not even a baker. I don't make cookies and I rarely eat them (because no one else makes them for me with the exception of my step-mom occasionally). But the important thing is I am back. Good Times are here again. :)

It all comes from God

Everything we are as Christians comes from God. He is our source, but sometimes we are distracted from him by our circumstances. The economy, the election, the changing of seasons and preparing for winter all these things compete for time and attention but where is God left in the mix? It is so easy in conversation with the people around us to be overcome with all the GLOOM and DOOM that they are dumping out. At our church we call it "spiritual vomit" because it needs cleaned off just like when someone really vomits on you. If you don't clean it off you start thinking like that other person. This is our chance as Christ-like people to encourage those around us with hope that the creator of this world still holds it in his hands and nothing knocks him off of HIS throne or takes HIM by surprise.

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)
Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.

More Schooling

I am starting to get a little tired of all the schooling. Let me say up front that I did not manage my time well and am now having to buckle down and spend allot of time catching up on my studies. But I am wearing own with this continued education. I should look at the bright side and realize this correspondence class is easier than when I was in college but I want to wine a little. OK I am over that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (I've read that somewhere :).

Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Every Day A New Day

I was telling someone the other day that it seems every day I wake up in a new world. I don't really think I'm that bad but it seems that way some times. I was thinking about that and every day is a new day, a new chance to do what we should and clean slate to work off of. I think it was Paul who wrote if we put our hand to the plow and look back we are not worthy of God. I you remember where that's found send it to me. Seems fitting for a guy who used to kill Christians and then became one himself. Here is some words of wisdom "Don't let the past drag you down" and guess what yesterday is in the past.

New Wheels

Yea I got new rims and tires for the back of the golf cart I am fixing up. The golf cart was given to me by my brother and the rims and tires by my father so I have very little money in it so far. I did have to buy some brake parts and I need to buy some more some watch the sidewalks. These new tires are for a small four wheeler so they jack the back of the golf cart up about 4 inches, which is sweet. They run a little rougher on pavement but I can totally go off roadin now. :) this is not the exact tire but it will give you an idea. Picture a tire like this on the back of a golf cart like that. No need to worry about breaking anything.

The Leaders House

This is what I am going to call the house next door to the XA (Chi Alpha) house where the leaders will be living. We are working on it so it will be ready this weekend. It is alot of work and we are only doing a little part of it. There are groups from other Church's in the area who are helping too. So I spent the day up there yesterday with Pastor Trudy's help for the first part of the day doing some flooring, setting a door, and straitening a door jam so another door would latch. It was hard work and I almost sweat out all my toxins but luckily I went to sonic and got some more. Who actually drinks water anyway. I am living proof you do not have to drink 6 glasses of water a day. :) So I will post some pictures of the projects as soon as possible.

We finally got the football field bleechers done. It was myself pastor Trudy and the youth pastor Katie. We worked hard getting it done and are proud we were able to do it. We got to hang out in the sun so we also got sun burns but it was nice to be outside. Except for the labor part of it. Now we move on to the next important thing demanding our time but not without some before and after photos.

Plumbing

So I live on a block with two widows across the alley. I have let them know if they need anything I am willing to help them for FREE. It never seems to be the best time when they make good on the offer but when is the BEST time to put aside the stuff you are doing to help someone else? I found myself the other night taking apart a "P" trap on a sink, after dumping two bottles of drain-o down it, so that I could run a little snake I have through the line. I had to run it twice and that took a little while but we got the line clear and it saved this older widow alot of money that she did not have to spend on a real plumber. I have been paid in kindness, pies, and nuts but that's not why I do these things. God has called us all to help.

"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us."

James 1:27

Back at It!

Once again I am back at community outreach. Maybe I should rename this blog (Community Outreach Unlimited)? Will see, but I enjoy it. We are doing some painting on the football field bleachers, I will post some pics when we are done. It is HARD work as we have to do it with rollers and brushes. Painting is not my favorite thing to do either, but it is the first time in years of trying that the school has allowed us to come onto the campus and help. I am still amazed at how hard you have to work just to earn the right to serve (work more for free) people. WOW, WOW AGAIN. Yea how messed up is our world? How scared of being taken advantage of? I was recently reminded that WE are the salt of this world. It still tastes a little bland to me, but I do like my salt so I guess we just keep adding.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Mathew 5:13

What a day

My dad had surgery yesterday for a back problem. The surgery went well and with alot of physical therapy he will be back to great shape. I did not realize it was going to affect me the way it did. My family is close but I just wasn't worried about the surgery or seeing my father after the surgery. It took me off guard to see him with hoses running out of his back and hip draining the seepage from the operation, the O2 hose out his nose, the monitor and all the leads checking his vitals, and so on. It wasn't just all that but the pain I saw him in when he was between the operation pain killer and the other pain killer they were not quite ready to give him in post op. It is hard to see another human being suffering, but sometimes we have to hurt a little to get better. How many of us are willing to do that in Christianity?

A Pure Heart

I think I am going to explore this concept. In life you have many chances to allow circumstances to "dirty up" your heart. I don't want a dirty heart. I want a clean one with no issues or rotten spots. I don't want to look at my heart and end up saying "how did that worm get in there", or like a banana that has over ripened find it kind of slimy.

Mathew 5:8
Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

The Zoo

we also went to the zoo while we were away from home. It was a blast and a half. I have not been to the zoo since I was in gradeschool. I don't remember the animals being that big. My wife loves the zoo and has been wanting us to go since we were dateing. Over three years later we finally went. Husbands don't make your wives wait that long to do something simple with them. Take a day off and "just do it". Work can wait. I love the saying that you have never seen a grave stone that says "Wish I would have spent more time at work".

Back from camping

My wife and I plus another couple went camping this weekend. It was a blast. We got to see a waterfall, enjoy company of good friends, and relax. It was a little warm but we spent a fortune on batteries for the fan and ice for the cooler so we were OK. Great thanks to our friends for making the time to hang out with us this weekend and Thanks to Natural Falls State Park for having such nice bathrooms. We are back now ready to get back into the swing of things a little at a time. :)

God's Power

I read the story of David and Goliath this morning. I have read this story many times but something new struck me this morning about it. The principle that God overcomes even the greatest odds. That not matter what your personal weakness is, no matter how many times you have fallen prey to the enemy, God will still show up. Even when it seems you are a small Shepperd boy with a stick standing against a giant warrior. God says He will be made strong in our weaknesses we just need to rely on Him.

Time at the Lake

I forgot to post about our time at the lake. My wife and I had the opportunity to hang out with some old friends awhile back at the lake in the Disney area. We had allot of fun. Christina went tubing with me and then I went by myself (she doesn't like to go fast). I also got to do a little skiing. It was the most fun I have had in a long time. Way Cool.

Dorsey Dump Trailer

This too can be yours for a very low price of a new tractor and very well build trailer. OK so maybe that's not a low cost. Anyway dad and I moved some dirt yesterday from the old church up to the new church and since we don't own a dump truck or dump trailer dad decided to improvise. It worked with a little bit of straightening the hitch pin when we were done, but at least we did not have to shovel the three trailer loads off. :) For all those watching please don't try this at your home or church.

New Additions to our Family

Yea I have added a couple new additions to our family. My wife is OK with it so I am moving forward with my plans. No baby's yet but some fun stuff for me. Allot of work but I now have an old golf cart that I am fixing up. It will be a long road but I will try to keep everyone up on my progress. So far I bought a $50 hub so the thing would move, the old one was stripped out and the axle just spun inside of it. Dad and I cut a board to sit on and I had to do some clean up and repair on the wires for the batteries but she moves now. Still no brakes as both lines are either disconnected or broke. I also removed a set of screwed on rigged up seats that were attached to the back of the cart, WOW, Talk about trashy looking. I need a name for our newest toy maybe "Zeke" I have always liked that name and since my wife swears we will never have a child named that maybe our golf cart will do. Long live Zeke may he run "long time". :) Plus I am still growing my baby's they are getting big. I was told they grow up so fast but this is just cool. So I am including a picture of them as well. There is a red bud, a dogwood, a Washington Hawthorne, and crepe merdle. They are going to add color to my yard when they get big enough.

Time with Friends

I spent some time yesterday with friends. I was supporting them as they went through a court proceeding. It was a fun time for me but a very difficult time for them with the uncertainty of how everything would turn out. I enjoyed it because I always enjoy time with friends no matter what the circumstance. Everything turned out great for them and at the end of the day everyone was excited at what God could do though present circumstances. Good times, and congrats again to my friends on winning their case.

That Sore Feeling

Yea I am living through that right now. When you do some hard labor you haven't done for awhile and the next day you feel like you pulled muscles you didn't even have before that's where I am now. Somewhere between ouch and ooch. Glad to take some time today to rest.

Can you tell I like Community Outreach?

I love community outreach. My brother is a welder, he is really good. God gave him that talent. My sister is a cosmetologist and she is good at it. God gave her that talent. Me I am a associate pastor and a handyman. God gave me my talent. I found myself telling a stranger the other day what I do. I told her I was a associate pastor who specialized in small churches who needed a pastor, lawn mower, handyman, plumber. I forgot to add roofer and semi-fair carpenter, but I think she got the point because she asked where I lived apparently her church was looking for a pastor. Not yet. Its not Gods timing. But God has given everyone the talents they have. What talents has God given you? Time management, organization, budgeting, good with your hands, ability to think through a problem, what has God given you?

How much is too much

So I like to help people. Spiritually most of all but physically (community outreach) also. I like to get into peoples worlds and mess with their priorities because in my opinion (and the bibles) their priorities are wrong and I know if they get them straightened out they will have a better life. Thus the help them scenario. But it is not easy to break into some peoples worlds. I try to get in and they shut me out. The walls are too high to climb and too thick to break through. I could camp on their front porch but that just makes me a stalker not a pastor. So I am left trying to find ways through the front gates. The best thing I have going for me is patience. If you are around long enough when your needed your opportunity arises and you can speak truth into their lives.

One reason I do what I do. :)

It amazes me that even when you want to help someone with no strings attached you still have to earn the right. I do allot of Community Outreach through the church I work at and attend. I love it, its awesome but I am always amazed when you offer to help someone with no requirements on their part and they turn you down. It's like we live in a world that doesn't understand "no strings attached" or "just want to bless you". Why would you tell someone no who just wants to do something for you FOR FREE. Its because in our world people have been taken advantage of so many times that they don't trust anyone even Christians. You have to earn the right to work for someone for free because you have to earn their trust that you are not trying to take advantage of them. That is one reason why I do what I do.

In Charge

I am "In Charge" this week as my senior pastors are out of town. I am a analytical personality type that sees everything in black and white, very little gray. However, I am learning there is gray areas or maybe we should call them Grace areas. So I was reading about King Saul this morning and a oath he made. He charged the soldiers in his country to not eat all day until "He" was avenged, sounds like pride to me. The soldiers did not eat until they were done but then they were staving and ate meat "with the blood". I think that means raw but I did not study it out. Anyway the point was whatever it means that it was wrong for the to do at that time. They were sinning against God and the hardship their King (leadership) put them under drove them to it. They were big boys they knew it was wrong and it was their decision but the unGodly oath the king made placed them in a bad situation, and set them up for failure. Life's Lesson # whatever I lost count by now but it struck me the importance of knowing what you are doing before you do it as a leader you can set people up for failure. As a side note they won the battle and all got to eat later. Saul stopped everyone from sinning and life went on (1 Samuel 14).

Even More Community Outreach

I love the feeling of helping people. Somehow God built us with this deep seated satisfaction thank comes from really putting forth some effort in helping someone. I spent the morning helping the mayor of our small community pick up some brush we had cut a couple weeks ago and get it hauled off. Plus we were able to help a widow in our town get some brush out of her yard and we trimmed another tree back from the road so the school buses don't rub against it anymore. It was a hard five and a half hours in the heat this morning but well worth the investment.

Making New Friends

So I have been checking out some other peoples blogs. This has taken some time but has been well worth it. I have read about an atheist women who believes all Christianity to be a cult. I also have read about a artist who is fighting depression, and a man who is finding Jesus in interesting places. They have some interesting blogs some I agree with some I don't but they all have the courage to post what they think and that is too cool that they can be that honest.

Kids Krusade

Tonight we start Kids Krusade. I will be driving the van for the kids picking them up and dropping them off. It should be allot of fun. It is always a blast seeing them have their boys against girls offering war and watching all the little games they play. So come enjoy the fun @ Gateway Church in Welch, OK.

Martha Tennison Story

When Pastor Tennison was here she told a story of a young women dying of cancer. This women was in her twenty's she had a small boy and her husband had left her because he could not handle the pressure of the situation. This situation was told to a pastor by a women in the church who had been visiting and praying for this young woman. She asked the pastor to come pray for the young woman and the pastor told her he would. The pastor makes it to the house and the little boy opens the door and asks him if he is "The man of God". The pastor tells him yes and asks why the little boy asked him that. The little boy told him the woman from church told him when "The Man of God" comes your mom will be healed. The pastor prayed for the woman and she received God as her savior and was healed that same day. That is not the exact story word for word as Pastor Tennison told it but the point was are you "The Man of God"? I am not sure I am but I would like to be.

Another Day Another Project

So I was off and running early this morning I was helping a guy in our church empty a trailer just a helping hand and a hang out for a bit thing. Of course there were five other things I had to do before I ever made it to his house with the trailer but I am finding out that is life. So the trailer is empty. I stopped to check a water heater for a lady in town and bad news its leaking and needs replaced, but I made it back to the church building for lunch. God is Good. Its the little blessing that add up. Another day, another project, another person helped.

Feel Busy?

I hate that feeling. It's horrible. Usually I am not near as busy as I feel, but the feeling itself makes me wast time. It makes me want to do nothing because I am so busy I need to rest. Which is so not true because I am not that busy. It is a time management issue. We have the time if we would just plan correctly it would all get done.

More Community Outreach

By now you may be saying "why so much community outreach?" well that's what our focus is at Gateway. Serving Christ by Serving the Community. So we try to serve the community you know the whole Christ came to serve not be served thing so we should do the same. Yea well we are at it again we are going to help our school this time. We are going to be painting the seats and kick boards on the football field bleachers. Plus the lean pole that surrounds the concession stand area and the fence around the trash dumpsters. If you feel like helping let me know. We are looking at doing this on a Saturday so others can help.

Community Outreach Continued

So the other day I was able to go help out a some people. I was needed, no not for extensive biblical knowledge (yea right) or my ruggedly handsome exterior (my wife thinks so) but for the fact that I am still small enough to wiggle through holes and I apparently do not suffer from claustrophobia in the slightest. There was a floor that needed extra support and I was small enogh to wiggle in jack up some support and wiggle out again. I enjoyed being needed as everyone does and I also enjoyed helping others out.

Much Better

I am feeling allot better today. I went home after a day at work where I barely worked (sorry boss) and decided I was not going to have another night like the one before. So I had already purchased the stuff to add another receptacle in my home for a window A/C in my bedroom (thank you God for that incite). I jumped in and torn out some wall above the drop in ceiling and made access to the area of the add on of my home that I needed. Drilled the hole for running the wire down the wall. Remeasured and drilled the hole in the right place this time, cut the box in put the recep in and presto "POWER". My wife helped me put the A/C unit in the window and man did I sleep GOOOOOOOD last night. For all you people out there whose A/C can't keep up with this 95+ degree weather I would suggest a window unit to push you over the top. I am also told that they will cut down your electric bill as it saves you from overworking your central A/C. Look out world I've had some sleep. :) Special thanks to the couple I helped move for the blessing of the free window unit.

Tired

I did not sleep well last night. I couldn't get comfortable, I was hot, and just could not shut down. Finally I went and slept on the floor of the living room. It is cooler there and I just threw down a sleeping bag and threw a comforter over me. I finally got some rest. I have had a sore throat for a couple days now. It is an allergy thing, my nose is stuffed and runny and it irritates my throat. So in short today is not on my top ten list of best days. I know this because people are looking at me and asking whats wrong, so it must be showing quite a bit. Not everyday can be the best day you ever had some days we just lean on God and make it through.

Recycling

So I have been dragging out any scrap metal I could find from the Church's old building to turn in for money. I like to be able to see fruit from my labor add to the churches finances every once in a while. I know that is not my job, my job is to function as associate pastor but it doesn't hurt every once in a while to accomplish a task that gives back to the church financially. So I hauled in 3,460 pounds at 180 dollars a ton to Columbus, KS. It was a good load and we made a little money plus helped out in the recycling effort.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Wow talk about HOT, 109 degree heat index today thats a little to warm for me. I like it it cool enough that you can drink in water at the same rate you sweat it out. :) I have a window A/C now and as soon as I run a new recipticle over to the window i am going to put it in. In this heat my central A/C does not keep my bedroom cool enough without cranking it down and freezing the rest of the house. So run your ceiling fans to help out your A/C Lowes says that saves you money so there is your tip for the day. Trees help shade your house and make it cooler also but they fall and tear it up to so why do that just insulate more.

Helping others Move

So I have been helping, the last couple afternoons, move a couple from our church to another town. I have enjoyed it as they are great people and they are being blessed with a beatiful new (to them) house. You get to know people when you help them move and I have gotten to know these people as little better in the process. Plus I have come away with some cool stuff too. They are blessing me and I hope I am blessing them as well. This move will put them closer to their jobs and cut their gasoline bill down to almost nothing as it is close enough to ride a bike if need be. I am so glad God is blessing them in this area.

Home Improvement

So I am back at it. I rebuilt the bottoms of the columns in front of my house and they are now painted. They need a second coat but its a start. It took all day that finish carpentry is a pain but worth it. Man it looks good. Now paint the whole front porch and I will be done. I have already put up lattice on both ends of the porch. After that I am going to do some concrete work to cover the cracks of ageing on my front porch and pour either new steps or a ramp. Good summer fun.

Last night of Revival

I have really enjoyed Martha Tennison she is great. It has been a great time of encouragement for me. After coming through so much as a church I think the revival with Doyle Brumett (sp) and this revival have finally put me back on top of things. I know prayer is the key to over coming any trial and I have been praying but there is something about someone outside your circumstances coming in and God pouring out a blessing that hits when your ready to receive it that is just awesome. God is Good. I am expecting allot from tonight.

The Mayor

I live in a small town with very limited resources so I chose to help out whenever I can. This goes right in hand with the focus of the church also, imagine that God putting in my heart what his has also put into the senior pastors. So anyway I spent the day yesterday helping do things around town. The mayor and I put up some signs and trimmed some much needed branches out of the right of way. This was a blessing to my community that not everyone will appreciate but it was nice to bless the mayor by being a servant to him. I hope to do it again before school starts.

Transparency

I have made a choice to continue to be transparent in my posting. This is difficult for me to do as recently someone has copied one portion of my posts and tried to use that to stir up trouble for me with my family. However I still believe that when people see your heart they can understand your heavenly fathers heart so much better. I realize in this life there will always be someone who disagrees with me and tries to twist my words to cause harm to others that sorta comes with being a pastor (I wish it did not). But I also realize there are those out there who would not be as blessed if I were to chose to reduce my postings to shallow small talk. Instead I chose to continue to share the trials I walk through in hopes it will bless and encourage others.
We are going through REVIVAL at our church right now and it has blessed me intensely. God has helped me to finish turning loose of a hurt so deep it almost changed my ministry forever. This would have been a great success for Satan as God has called me to do great things, but once again God steps in and heals my hurts and reminds my of His Power, His Promises, and His Performance. Thank you to Martha Tennison our Evangelist who God is using during this time.

Pastors or Monsters?

I think there is a wrong mindset of pastors in our society today. The concept that pastors are stone cold pillars of God's Judgement on earth. We are one way God uses to correct not judge some people who are violating His principles, but we are most differently not stone cold heartless beasts. When Pastoring God gives you a "heart" for the people you oversee, you share in their hurts, their joys, their tragedies. So when God finally tells you "Its time to correct" someone who is out of line with His word the first reaction is not "Oh yea I get to jump someone" but "do I have to". I have never known a pastor who takes joy from pointing out faults in others, I have known quite a few unsaved people who do though. My point is this Pastors do not want to bring correction, we would rather let God do that, but usually when He tells us to bring correction the person has already tuned Him out. There are many hours of prayer that go into every corrective word spoken from a pastor to make sure it is from God so please remember that if you are ever on the other end of that conversation.

My Apology

It has recently come to my attention that some have read my blog and taken offense to it. I have never intended to offend anyone with anything that I have put in my blog. My understanding of the reason for a blog is to share lessons I have learned, keep up with others, and become more transparent because I believe the more transparent we are in ministry the better we can minister to others. So I am taking this time to apologize to anyone who has read about the situations in life I have come through and become offended with the material presented. My intent is to share my trials, shortcomings, and victories in hopes that others can learn from the situations I encounter. Please except this as a heart felt apology to those of you who were truly offended with me for exposing my shortcomings and imperfections.

Character

I am still reading through the bible at my own pace. At this rate it will be three years to finish. I just left Ruth and started 1 Samuel. I am still struck by the character of these people not only Ruth but Boaz. I am sold on this guy here is a man who will marry a foreigner to provide an heir for his extended family. How hard that would be. The first guy in line didn't want to do it, but Boaz gets up early puts himself where he will run into this guy, makes the commitment and shoulders the responsibility. God blesses him for it. He gets a great wife out of the deal and ends up in the linage of King David. Why don't we see more character like that today? Is it wrong to say I am tired of running into "Christians" who couldn't find God with both hands and a flashlight let alone exhibit a little Godly character. I have been there, I've done the stupid stuff and had to stand their and say "I was wrong". It is hard but it needs done when your wrong so why do so many people refuse to admit it even when the truth stares them in the face? PRIDE. So is pride the opposite of Godly character? There's a thought worth pondering.

Special Thanks

I have my own list of thanks for the fireworks tent. Thanks to Jackie for the 2 nights he stayed with me guarding the tent. I did not have to "protect" my wife on those nights and I slept wonderful even though you did not. :) Thanks to Barb for working the tent after working at the daycare the time you put in allowed me to take much needed breaks. Thanks to Pastor Trudy who always thanks everyone else but doesn't mention the countless hours she was there working the tent then counting money the next morning. A Special Big thanks to my wife, not many wives would stay so many nights with their husband in a bug infested tent where every night things like crickets, moths, and mosquitoes were crawling on you (no joke). There were others who helped and not everyone can be mentioned, but thanks to all who made the fireworks tent happen.