We in Linton, Indiana are enjoying our annual Freedom Festival this week. The week ties down with the largest July 4th parade in the state of Indiana.
This year our church is participating in the parade. Our entry will be simple, advertising our coming VBS. We will also serve our community, as a team of twenty-two from our church walk along and hand out bottles of cold water to those who are viewing the parade. We are praying that through this simple act of service many in our community will see Jesus in us. I am looking forward to it!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
BLAST
BLAST This week we have been hosting our first Junior High BLAST. It has been a blast. Under the direction of Pastor Billy and Karen Worland and their helpers the numbers are growing and everyone seems to be having a great time. We are praying for God to do good things.
You can check on it and other youth ministry at “3N1” youth ministry webpage by clicking below
http://www.3n1ministries.shutterfly.com/
You can check on it and other youth ministry at “3N1” youth ministry webpage by clicking below
http://www.3n1ministries.shutterfly.com/
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ma Said!
“Ma Said!” Growing up, I was very close with my grandparents. My grandmother loved the Lord and she loved me. To me anything she said was absolute truth. There were times when I was as a young boy and I would overhear her say something and I would repeat it. If someone disagreed with me I had a simple two word response, “Ma said!”
I did not have that confidence because she was smartest grandma in the world, nor because she was more educated than anyone else on our street. It was because I knew she cared for me, and that she would not tell me anything untrue. It didn’t matter what I felt like, or what the other person thought, or what was going on around me, if Ma said it I knew it was so. “Ma said!”
As Christians we need a similar response. Whatever we may feel like, or whatever someone else thinks, or whatever is going on around us, we need to trust in God and hold to the truth of His Word. “God said!”
I did not have that confidence because she was smartest grandma in the world, nor because she was more educated than anyone else on our street. It was because I knew she cared for me, and that she would not tell me anything untrue. It didn’t matter what I felt like, or what the other person thought, or what was going on around me, if Ma said it I knew it was so. “Ma said!”
As Christians we need a similar response. Whatever we may feel like, or whatever someone else thinks, or whatever is going on around us, we need to trust in God and hold to the truth of His Word. “God said!”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hour of Power
I have been a little tired and have been experiencing writer's block. Today I met with some dear friends in our Hour of Power prayer meeting and was really refreshed as we prayed together.
It is not wasted time to wait on God and call to Him in prayer.
It is not wasted time to wait on God and call to Him in prayer.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Hill
Hills are killers; at least the uphill climbs. On a recent bike ride my mind was filled with thoughts of the hill at the end of the ride, endless pavement stretching to the sky. When it came time to face it for real, three things pulled me through. I was riding with a friend, I put my head down and focused on the road directly in front of me rather than the hill ahead, and I just kept pedaling.
This week I have spent alot of time at hospitals. There are a number of people facing a hill, an almost insurmountable challenge. Maybe you are too. A few lessons from my ride may help you: make the journey with someone (that is what the church is all about), focus on what is at hand, and just keep pedaling!
Most of all, remember the Lord is a way maker and a mountain mover!
This week I have spent alot of time at hospitals. There are a number of people facing a hill, an almost insurmountable challenge. Maybe you are too. A few lessons from my ride may help you: make the journey with someone (that is what the church is all about), focus on what is at hand, and just keep pedaling!
Most of all, remember the Lord is a way maker and a mountain mover!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Grateful for 23!
Judy and I are taking some time away today to celebrate our 23rd anniversary. How time flies when you are having fun! I will blog more next week.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Joy Replacing Fear
“The fear of rejection is the number one barrier most Christians experience when they are considering sharing their faith", writes Tom Richardson of People Reaching People Ministries. "We must face that issue and resolve it if we are going to be comfortable openly living and sharing our faith.
If the fear of rejection sometimes causes you to hesitate to be a faith-sharing Christian, I encourage you to:
1. Ask the Lord to help you identify where you have fear of rejection. Ask Him to help you identify the roots of it. Ask the Lord to show you the implications of that fear in your life as a Christian.
2. Put your reputation in God's hands. Tell Him you want to be known the same way He would be known if He lived in your world in your skin. Tell God you don't want to be known for anything more or anything less.
3. Ask the Lord to help you to live it out on a person-by-person and situation-by-situation basis.
4. If you feel you need it, ask God to bring healing to your inner being and to the experiences, emotional wounds and outlooks that have motivated you to look out for yourself.
5. Commit yourself to being diligent in your awareness of your identity being in Christ.
Putting your reputation in God's hands allows Christ to live through you to love those around you and draw them into His Kingdom. Joy will replace fear.”
Tom Richardson is a gifted teacher and has equipped many to more easily share their faith. He will be at Linton Assembly of God in all services Sunday June 14th. I hope you can join us.
If the fear of rejection sometimes causes you to hesitate to be a faith-sharing Christian, I encourage you to:
1. Ask the Lord to help you identify where you have fear of rejection. Ask Him to help you identify the roots of it. Ask the Lord to show you the implications of that fear in your life as a Christian.
2. Put your reputation in God's hands. Tell Him you want to be known the same way He would be known if He lived in your world in your skin. Tell God you don't want to be known for anything more or anything less.
3. Ask the Lord to help you to live it out on a person-by-person and situation-by-situation basis.
4. If you feel you need it, ask God to bring healing to your inner being and to the experiences, emotional wounds and outlooks that have motivated you to look out for yourself.
5. Commit yourself to being diligent in your awareness of your identity being in Christ.
Putting your reputation in God's hands allows Christ to live through you to love those around you and draw them into His Kingdom. Joy will replace fear.”
Tom Richardson is a gifted teacher and has equipped many to more easily share their faith. He will be at Linton Assembly of God in all services Sunday June 14th. I hope you can join us.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Family Matters
It is so good to have Judy's father, David Plymire, coming to be with us for this final weekend of missions convention. I know his message will encourage and challenge all of us.
He and his wife Pat are veteran missionaries and great people. The ministry will be great, but best of all, they are family!
He and his wife Pat are veteran missionaries and great people. The ministry will be great, but best of all, they are family!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Dedication
Whenever I am with missionaries my heart is stirred. Their commitment to Christ and his cause always brings one word into focus, dedication. A pastor friend, Jerry Scott blogged on that topic today and with his permission I share his thoughts below. It is longer than my normal post but definitely worth the read.
"NBC profiled the Obama White House in a special program that aired this week. In an interview with Rahm Emanuel, the chief of staff, Brian Williams took note of the high personal cost that the 49 year old man is paying to be a part of Obama’s administration. Politics aside, one has to be challenged by the dedication to 7 day work weeks and 18 hour days. Emanuel, a four term Congressman whose dream was to become the first Jewish Speaker of the House, gave it up to serve this President. He lives apart from his wife and three children, seeing them only a few times each month. The story of sacrifice was repeated by numerous staffers. These men and women do it for a political cause, for ambition; perhaps for a man.
Disciple, we are called into the service of the Lord of Glory, whose ‘administration’ will never end. When we advance His Kingdom, we not only change the way people live for a few years; we are privileged to change hearts and reconcile people to their Father, bringing them to life eternal! It is a noble cause and it will require sacrifice. "Then Jesus said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:23-25, NLT)
Have you put parts of your life off limits before the Lord? Does He own all of you? Those are tough questions that we must answer daily. We receive the life of the Spirit once when we are converted, born anew as children of God. Remaining in His service is an ongoing process, requiring choices along the way. Jesus speaks to this when He says, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62, KJV) In case that metaphor is hard for you, here’s the line in The Message: “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”
Is He able to ask you to forgive when you prefer to hate? Will you let Him call your kids into His fulltime service knowing that it will mean less comfort, less ‘success?’ Will you put aside personal desires to say ‘Yes,’ to holiness of heart and mind? Are your weekends His or yours? Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not for wimps! Church-ianity, the preferred religion of many, allows a person to choose the hours of his ‘service,’ to give only as much of himself as he chooses to give, to volunteer and feel good about it. Christianity is an all or nothing Call to the service of a King.
Watching Rahm Emanuel explain his dedication to making the vision of President Obama a reality, I was challenged anew to give myself to my Lord and King. Here’s a word from the Word. Though familiar, I urge you to read it carefully and then take a few moments to re-dedicate ALL to Him.
"Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen." (2 Timothy 2:3-10, NLT)
"NBC profiled the Obama White House in a special program that aired this week. In an interview with Rahm Emanuel, the chief of staff, Brian Williams took note of the high personal cost that the 49 year old man is paying to be a part of Obama’s administration. Politics aside, one has to be challenged by the dedication to 7 day work weeks and 18 hour days. Emanuel, a four term Congressman whose dream was to become the first Jewish Speaker of the House, gave it up to serve this President. He lives apart from his wife and three children, seeing them only a few times each month. The story of sacrifice was repeated by numerous staffers. These men and women do it for a political cause, for ambition; perhaps for a man.
Disciple, we are called into the service of the Lord of Glory, whose ‘administration’ will never end. When we advance His Kingdom, we not only change the way people live for a few years; we are privileged to change hearts and reconcile people to their Father, bringing them to life eternal! It is a noble cause and it will require sacrifice. "Then Jesus said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:23-25, NLT)
Have you put parts of your life off limits before the Lord? Does He own all of you? Those are tough questions that we must answer daily. We receive the life of the Spirit once when we are converted, born anew as children of God. Remaining in His service is an ongoing process, requiring choices along the way. Jesus speaks to this when He says, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62, KJV) In case that metaphor is hard for you, here’s the line in The Message: “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”
Is He able to ask you to forgive when you prefer to hate? Will you let Him call your kids into His fulltime service knowing that it will mean less comfort, less ‘success?’ Will you put aside personal desires to say ‘Yes,’ to holiness of heart and mind? Are your weekends His or yours? Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not for wimps! Church-ianity, the preferred religion of many, allows a person to choose the hours of his ‘service,’ to give only as much of himself as he chooses to give, to volunteer and feel good about it. Christianity is an all or nothing Call to the service of a King.
Watching Rahm Emanuel explain his dedication to making the vision of President Obama a reality, I was challenged anew to give myself to my Lord and King. Here’s a word from the Word. Though familiar, I urge you to read it carefully and then take a few moments to re-dedicate ALL to Him.
"Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen." (2 Timothy 2:3-10, NLT)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Missionary Representatives
Whether in basketball, baseball or ministry, it is good to be on a team with gifted, dedicated players. Our annual missions convention at the church is this week so thought I would pass on a link for one of our team members.
http://tysontidings.com/wordpress/
http://tysontidings.com/wordpress/
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