My senior Pastor and the Music Minister have asked me take over the ministry and become the Pastor at an independent living facility that our church has had services at for the last fifteen years. It's called "The Church at Tregaron", has about twenty five people each Sunday. 99% women, from many different theological backgrounds, with an occasional husband or son attending. They are a lovely group of people, who are very caring and who are just appreciative that someone is taking the time to provide them spiritual care. They have been a very receptive to the Gospel Message but everyone has expressed already having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ our King.
The ministry team is made up of a gentlemen and two ladies who do all of the music and set up and one lady who does snacks and hands out hymnals and the bulletins. I have found that Lifesprings Church put some money into the equipment that we use. I have preached in many nursing, independent living and assisted living and only the really high end facility have anything to support a service. Our mother church really shows how much they care about these loving folks.
Personally, music has not and probably will never be a strength, unless we start singing like the Old Appalachia Baptist's? You'll have to look that one up, I found it really interesting. We sing hymns out of the old Baptist Hymnal and sometime the Music Leader gets a little excited. He really does love God's music and he just pours his whole self into rejoicing in God. I so enjoy watching a man who is on fire for the Lord and shares so much through his worship. It makes it hard to laugh and sing at the same time!
God has luckily gifted all of His people in different ways. I have to remember that though I have been there for a few months know, one of the Ladies and her now deceased husband started it 15 years ago and the music guy has been there almost as long. They are very gracious with me, even when they think I'm supposed to be the leader of our little circus but I'm supposed to do it the way it has always been, Ha, ha, ha...
It's all to the Glory of God! May he bless you and keep you close to His bosom!
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2020
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Loving Jesus even when I don't understand people!
I'm preaching from John 5:1-9 but I also touch versus' 10-14. While prepping for this sermon, it struck me that Jesus heals this man and the man just gets up and walks away. This guy has been a cripple for 38 years and BAM! you're healed. I would be dancing, singing and celebrating because I'm whole, but who just came up and asks "Do you want to be healed". Then this dude (I am not trying to be disrespectful to Jesus, dude is just my internal dialogues use of terminology for identification) say's, "Get up, take your bed and walk", BAM!, there would be dancing from this man, hugging and kissing anybody who wasn't faster then my amazingly healed self.
John 5:1-9 All scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV)
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[a]called Bethesda,[b] which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.[c] 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Being Positive and Proactive
Dear Friends,
As I have been walking along this path that God has set before me, I have found that even when it all goes wrong He is still great. I find that I get tired of writing about negative things all of the time, it is both draining to you but to myself as well. Even though I could put many things up on this blog about negative things, I have decided I wont.
So, lets look at the goodness and greatness of what God has been doing. The most exciting is that I have a wonderful family, with a wife who I know loves me. I am also going to get to co-teach a Pastoral Care and Counseling extension class. The local SBC Association is administering it for MBTS and we have a great DOM and Association. If you know me, you know that I am very hands on, I love to teach and I loved to be involved with people. Only God could have set this in my path because so many hurdles had to be jumped and it was done by so many others.
Another thing that I am excited about but hasn't happened yet is that I have put in some applications for online teaching jobs. These would be great if they worked out both financially but also would add some fun. Remember though pray for my family and myself, just as I pray for those whom I know and for everyone in general. Though if you need more pray let me know, I do love direct prayer for people whom I care for. Love you all...
I have decided to become involved in some specific issues in Nebraska.
1. I am against the "Die with Dignity Laws" that are being introduced across the country. We have a state senator here who has introduced it for the last several years and will continue to do so. This is a slippery slope and people are misinformed.
2. My family and I are going to get involved in the anti-abortion movement in Omaha Metro area. Prayer is going to be our biggest weapon but we wish to show our children how to be active in our faith.
3. My children wish to be involved more with the homeless problem in the Omaha Metro area. Haven't exactly figured out how to do this but my heart swells with there express of compassion for those without and in need.
4. This is one that I have been involved with for a few years. Its two parts, first being the treatment of the poor when they die. Secondly, getting green burials legalized in the state of Nebraska .
As I have been walking along this path that God has set before me, I have found that even when it all goes wrong He is still great. I find that I get tired of writing about negative things all of the time, it is both draining to you but to myself as well. Even though I could put many things up on this blog about negative things, I have decided I wont.
So, lets look at the goodness and greatness of what God has been doing. The most exciting is that I have a wonderful family, with a wife who I know loves me. I am also going to get to co-teach a Pastoral Care and Counseling extension class. The local SBC Association is administering it for MBTS and we have a great DOM and Association. If you know me, you know that I am very hands on, I love to teach and I loved to be involved with people. Only God could have set this in my path because so many hurdles had to be jumped and it was done by so many others.
Another thing that I am excited about but hasn't happened yet is that I have put in some applications for online teaching jobs. These would be great if they worked out both financially but also would add some fun. Remember though pray for my family and myself, just as I pray for those whom I know and for everyone in general. Though if you need more pray let me know, I do love direct prayer for people whom I care for. Love you all...
I have decided to become involved in some specific issues in Nebraska.
1. I am against the "Die with Dignity Laws" that are being introduced across the country. We have a state senator here who has introduced it for the last several years and will continue to do so. This is a slippery slope and people are misinformed.
2. My family and I are going to get involved in the anti-abortion movement in Omaha Metro area. Prayer is going to be our biggest weapon but we wish to show our children how to be active in our faith.
3. My children wish to be involved more with the homeless problem in the Omaha Metro area. Haven't exactly figured out how to do this but my heart swells with there express of compassion for those without and in need.
4. This is one that I have been involved with for a few years. Its two parts, first being the treatment of the poor when they die. Secondly, getting green burials legalized in the state of Nebraska .
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Once again life is a learning opportunity for us who are ill equipped with the basic tools needed for everyday, well Life.
My family have been attempting to get a second vehicle for a long, long time but just have never been able to do it. It usually has been finance related, as a one income household taking on a car payment just doesn't make much sense. In addition someone has to be willing to sale a car to someone with less than perfect credit, its getting better but still not stellar. This usually regulates people in our circumstances to buy here pay here places. These people pray on those who are not able to purchase a car another way and fall into what seems to be an unregulated nightmare similar to payday loan hovels, but I digress...
We did not go to one of these places to finance our vehicle, we were blessed from some friends who in all purposes gave us a van. Suddenly we have two vehicles and just as suddenly the second van begins to develp issues. At this same time we also got our tax returns, which we had not been expecting due to other issues and used to catch us up on bills but did leave us with some left over.
The intelligent thing to do would to have fixed the one van and saved the difference but I guess I'm not that smart. We decided to use the old van and the cash to hopefully get a good deal. Have I mentioned the fact that I know nothing about cars, I mean very little. We got ripped off! I should have just walked up and handed some stranger the keys to our van and the money and said have a good day because that would have probably helped someone. I did attempt to talk to the car dealer but he was unapologetic but did offered to take the car back, see what he could get for it at auction then put me in something "nicer", maybe at a discounted rate. The other option he had was there are a group of mechanics he works with and he would be happy to direct me towards one of them. Ha, ha...fool me once shame on me.
There are so many things wrong with this vehicle but I am trying to work them out so that Sarah is not stranded at home. Today I attempted to change my own oil, I watched the videos on YouTube and I had all the stuff. I crawled underneath, or as far as I could get and loosened the bolt and out the oil came into the pan. My oldest is sunder the car and says "Dad is oil supposed to be red"? well no its not!
I had just drained my transmission, which doesn't have a refill spout but you need a funny tool and brains to be able to fill it. It just gets worse from there but I know if I die right at this moment I will go to Heaven but some of the things coming out of my mouth did not edify God in anyway. In all of this I am just happy that my wife is OK, my children are healthy and God has a lot of grace because I don't.
Why can't I forgive this man who lied and stole money from my family? He will continue to cost me money into the for see able future. Why can't I forgive myself for feeling so foolish, feeling like I have let my family down and put undo stress onto my wife who really doesn't need any. Why can't I be more like my Savior and forgive? Why, why, why...?
My family have been attempting to get a second vehicle for a long, long time but just have never been able to do it. It usually has been finance related, as a one income household taking on a car payment just doesn't make much sense. In addition someone has to be willing to sale a car to someone with less than perfect credit, its getting better but still not stellar. This usually regulates people in our circumstances to buy here pay here places. These people pray on those who are not able to purchase a car another way and fall into what seems to be an unregulated nightmare similar to payday loan hovels, but I digress...
We did not go to one of these places to finance our vehicle, we were blessed from some friends who in all purposes gave us a van. Suddenly we have two vehicles and just as suddenly the second van begins to develp issues. At this same time we also got our tax returns, which we had not been expecting due to other issues and used to catch us up on bills but did leave us with some left over.
The intelligent thing to do would to have fixed the one van and saved the difference but I guess I'm not that smart. We decided to use the old van and the cash to hopefully get a good deal. Have I mentioned the fact that I know nothing about cars, I mean very little. We got ripped off! I should have just walked up and handed some stranger the keys to our van and the money and said have a good day because that would have probably helped someone. I did attempt to talk to the car dealer but he was unapologetic but did offered to take the car back, see what he could get for it at auction then put me in something "nicer", maybe at a discounted rate. The other option he had was there are a group of mechanics he works with and he would be happy to direct me towards one of them. Ha, ha...fool me once shame on me.
There are so many things wrong with this vehicle but I am trying to work them out so that Sarah is not stranded at home. Today I attempted to change my own oil, I watched the videos on YouTube and I had all the stuff. I crawled underneath, or as far as I could get and loosened the bolt and out the oil came into the pan. My oldest is sunder the car and says "Dad is oil supposed to be red"? well no its not!
I had just drained my transmission, which doesn't have a refill spout but you need a funny tool and brains to be able to fill it. It just gets worse from there but I know if I die right at this moment I will go to Heaven but some of the things coming out of my mouth did not edify God in anyway. In all of this I am just happy that my wife is OK, my children are healthy and God has a lot of grace because I don't.
Why can't I forgive this man who lied and stole money from my family? He will continue to cost me money into the for see able future. Why can't I forgive myself for feeling so foolish, feeling like I have let my family down and put undo stress onto my wife who really doesn't need any. Why can't I be more like my Savior and forgive? Why, why, why...?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Learning Through Pain
If you are in church long enough, especially in the ministry, you will hear horror stories about how we as believers treat each other. This was one of the biggest shocks that I think happened to me, the fact that we profess so much love,caring and grace for our fellow believers yet when things go bad, as they are prone to do then they will be the first to point fingers. Before Christ called me to Him, I truthfully didn't like people, most could not be trusted and the ones that I did took a very long time to earn that trust, most relationships where very superficial. Then Christ goes and saves me, makes me want to love my fellow man, something completely antithetical to me and at first I thought how am I going to do this?
I opened myself up to His word and studied, I tried to live out the "Love thy neighbor as thyself" even though at first I did not agree or understand. I expected non-believers to turn on me, show me there true selves but to be bitten by those who profess to care for me, really caused me heart pain. See, Christ changed my heart, he gave me one of flesh that really feels and with that can come pain, which I am completely not able to deal with on my own.
If you don't know me then I will tell you something about myself, I fall into the Reformed school of thought. I am a 4 point Calvinist, because I cannot find any true evidence for Limited Atonement, this is just some background to explain part of my outpouring. If you listen to most people who profess to be reformed and listen for any length of time, they will talk about Grace. Yet, I have found that many lose any sense of Grace or what Grace truthfully means. God's Grace is awesome, its what saved a sinner like me, yet many of my fellow reformed types miss it all together.
They have become bogged down in a Neo-Pharisaical Legalism, not showing Grace and Love but use the Bible as a hammer to beat people to conform to what they believe is right. They have lost or maybe just missed the section where Jesus (also through out the epistles) that we are to do all thing out of love. We get tied up with all of head knowledge without it ever touching our hearts, so we judge people with impossible standards and leave out any Love or Grace.
I was hurt very badly by those whom I loved the most here on earth. I believe that there is a reason for everything but that doesn't help with the pain. I have to switch churches, move my family to a new body of believers, hoping that it wont happen again. All the while I am trying to truly forgive those who have caused my family and myself this pain, so if you are reading this please pray not only for me but for those who have caused this.
I opened myself up to His word and studied, I tried to live out the "Love thy neighbor as thyself" even though at first I did not agree or understand. I expected non-believers to turn on me, show me there true selves but to be bitten by those who profess to care for me, really caused me heart pain. See, Christ changed my heart, he gave me one of flesh that really feels and with that can come pain, which I am completely not able to deal with on my own.
If you don't know me then I will tell you something about myself, I fall into the Reformed school of thought. I am a 4 point Calvinist, because I cannot find any true evidence for Limited Atonement, this is just some background to explain part of my outpouring. If you listen to most people who profess to be reformed and listen for any length of time, they will talk about Grace. Yet, I have found that many lose any sense of Grace or what Grace truthfully means. God's Grace is awesome, its what saved a sinner like me, yet many of my fellow reformed types miss it all together.
They have become bogged down in a Neo-Pharisaical Legalism, not showing Grace and Love but use the Bible as a hammer to beat people to conform to what they believe is right. They have lost or maybe just missed the section where Jesus (also through out the epistles) that we are to do all thing out of love. We get tied up with all of head knowledge without it ever touching our hearts, so we judge people with impossible standards and leave out any Love or Grace.
I was hurt very badly by those whom I loved the most here on earth. I believe that there is a reason for everything but that doesn't help with the pain. I have to switch churches, move my family to a new body of believers, hoping that it wont happen again. All the while I am trying to truly forgive those who have caused my family and myself this pain, so if you are reading this please pray not only for me but for those who have caused this.
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