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.

It is Finished (Fireworks)

I can not remember when I was this tired last. Ten days of enjoyment eating, drinking and sleeping (in the tent) Fireworks. 22 1/2 hours out of 24 was my record for one day. WOW. Yes I am still alive, I have made, I have endured. To whom much is given much is required, what does your God need from you. The good thing about my God is He gives back much more than He has ever required.