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.