Graduation Day!

Today I skipped out of the office for a few hours, put on the "daddy hat" and went to something very special - my little girl's graduation from Pre-School! It is hard to believe that"little" Abbey is 5 years old and is growing up fast.

They had a nice little presentation with a variety of songs they sang for their family and friends, as well as poems and fun activities to share. She did very well through the year and is poised to get into Kindergarden.

Pray for us as we go into this next year of school. We are going to attempt to home-school both Alex and Abbey this coming year. We have been very disappointed in the schools here for a variety of reasons, (as are many parents in this community) so we are going to take things into our own hands. It should be fun!

Mourn with those who mourn...

It has become another sad day in VA, and around the world. News is spreading of Rev. Jerry Falwell's death this morning (Tuesday; May 15).

The Bible tells us in Romans 12:15 that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. So today, we in Christiandom, mourn with the Falwell family and the congregation of Thomas Road Baptist Church. Not to mention Liberty University.

Regardless of whether you agreed with him or not, Rev. Falwell did his best for the Kingdom. He took stands on some things that were necessary, as well as those that we erroneous (like the telletubbies) but nonetheless, he was a servant of God that will be missed, I am sure.

All in all, we have to remember the words of Jesus in Luke 9:50, when the disciples complained to Jesus that others we using His name to cast out demons, and heal the sick. Jesus wasn't alarmed liked they were. He simply said that if they are not against us, they are for us.

Which tells me that whether you liked him or not, he was with us, and on our side. One day we will see him in Heaven and rejoice around the throne of God together. Oh, what a day that will be!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know... I know... I am a day late, and a dollar short; as they say. However, they also say it is better late than never! So here are my greetings to all you moms who deserve many kudos for all you do. Bless you!

I am blessed to have a wonderful wife named Angela, who is a fantastic, top-knotch mother to our two great children. To them, she is the best - and she is!

As it typical for us, I always have her preach the Mother's Day message in our Church. Like always, she did a bang-up job and brought a good Word for us all to hear, and grow from. I am so proud of her.

While she shared, she read a fun thing for the moms, and all, to enjoy, and I thought that I would share it here for some fun. So I hope you all enjoy it. We did. I am sure that some parents, and moms especially will identify with it.

THE EVOLUTION OF MOTHERS

Being a parent changes everything. But being a parent also changes with each baby. Here are some of the ways having a second and third child is different from having the first.

Your Clothes
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your doctor confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don’t bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn’t do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

The Clothes
1st baby: You pre-wash your newborn’s clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby’s little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can’t they?

Worries
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pickup the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Pacifier
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby’s bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering
1st baby: You change your baby’s diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every 2 to 3 hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home 5 times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if shesees blood.

At Home
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn’t squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

I know we have all been there. No one is in this parenting thing alone, so try to lighten up and enjoy it!

Until next time...

WANTED: Laborers in the Harvest Field

The Bible (Luke 10:2) tells us that we are to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest field. Why? Because the harvest is plentiful; in other words - there is a lot to do! I believe that with all that is in me - there is tons to do. However, there is the ever-increasing problem of seeing people get involved, and be committed to doing something for the Lord and serving in ministry to others and to the Body.

There could be a variety of reasons why this is so, but I came across this list of reasons why from an e-newletter from our District Church Development & Men's Ministry Director, Tom Rees. He snagged this from another blog from what I understand. I feel it is worth repeating, so here it is again...

Drop me a line and give me an idea of why you think people do not get involved anymore. Maybe we can add to this list. Thanks...

Reasons why people don't serve in The Church... (From PJ Tibayan)
1 - Don't know gifts
2 - Lazy
3 - Don't feel part of the church
4 - Shy
5 - Selfish
6 - Indifferent
7 - Unappreciative members
8 - Angry/critical members
9 - Lack of delegation from leaders
10 - Lack of follow-up
11 - Lack of initiative
12 - Leaders not asking
13 - Fear of what others might think
14 - Parents
15 - Pride
16 - No love
17 - Already have a ministry
18 - Difficult circumstances
19 - Burned-out/frustrated
20 - Unaware of church needs
21 - Handicapped
22 - Misplaced priorities
23 - Rides
24 - Unqualified for the ministry they want
25 - Don't feel gifted
26 - Hog face servants
27 - Not seeing "leaders" serve
28 - Inconsiderate members
29 - Not enough time

We have been doing a study in our Wednesday Night Bible Study at our Church about "Exploring Personal Ministry", which is right in line with this topic. Prayerfully, there will be a renewed motivation to be involved in ministry in the coming weeks as we attempt to help people find their gifts as well as see the need.

Hope to hear from you! Blessings!

Spiritual Warfare

Many times over I have heard people talk about how we are are not very aware of the Spiritual world here in America. Throughout the world, there is a cognisance of evil as well as the battles in the heavenlies; however there is an almost total disconnect here in the States. Plus, the Bible tells us that, "My people perish for a lack of knowledge."

With that in mind, I certainly do not want to be caught unaware. I have tried to be aware through prayer, and in reading about it. To be honest, I have read a lot about it through the years, especially when I was a teenager. After some break from the subject matter, I have picked up a new book (to me) written by Lester Sumrall called "Demons: The Answer Book." I have not completed the book yet, but have enjoyed it thus far. It has helped me to understand a bit more of how the enemy works in the world, and even in people, at worst.

One thing that I wanted to comment on is in regard to the devil though. He, being the beginning of all the evil and trouble that we have come to know today, is the root of where any and all evil comes from. I am not saying that we can use the old excuse that "the devil made me do it," but I am saying that we find we battle in the flesh with the same trash that lucifer spewed out at the beginning of time.

I have always known that the devil's pride was a major downfall. He wanted to be God, and to be praised like God was. So, the reason of pride always made sense and I never went further than that. Then, in this book, I came to understand that he also was full of greed. Not for money like we would think of in this nation, but greed for what God had. Maybe I am slow, but this seemed to make sense to me all of the sudden. In addition to that, I came to also understand just how elusive greed is in our lives. When you get right down to it, any sin can lead one astray just as these two things did with lucifer when left unchecked. Thus, the reason why we have to guard our hearts...

What I am trying to say is be aware of the battle that we are all in. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." The Lord has let us know of this Spiritual battle. So don't be ignorant of it, be aware of it and engage in the battle friends. Because whether you are aware or not, or are engage in it or not - know that you are in it!

As one TV ad says, "Get in the Game!"

Selfishness...

My family and I has a weekend off, and the week was spent with other pastors from around our district at our Ministry Summit in Pittsburgh, PA. It was a nice time away to be refreshed and rejuvinated.

Over the weekend, Angela was able to give a concert at her dad's church in Greene, NY which went great. The people were blessed by her ministry and loved the opportunity to bless the Lord in praise and worship along with her.

It was from there that we came home on Monday, for a short lay-over and to pack for the trip to Pitt. This one time we were able to go by ourselves; Angela's mom watched the kids for us which was a nice blessing, and I know that the kids had a ball with her. A great thing since we live so far apart.

Anyhow, what I really enjoyed was a message we heard on Tuesday Night from Rev. Charles Crabtree about selfishness. Rev. Crabtree is the Assistant Gen. Superintendant of the A/G, and he mentioned that he has his concerns about the Assemblies right now, one of which is the gift of the Holy Spirit, but he said beyond that, his foremost concern was selfishness. Which took me back for a minute because there is a "percieved" disconnect from the Gift of the Holy Spirit and his function in our churches and lives, but after I heard the message from Bro. Crabtree, I knew why.

The message was a great one coming from the parable of the Good Samaritan. But before you read it, back up to read the lead-in to that parable. A lawyer is confronting Jesus about what he must do to be saved, and Jesus gives the lesson about the Good Samaritan. The whole idea is that to be saved you must love the Lord with all of your being and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. That is the clencher... It is easy to say that you love the Lord, but quite another to love your neighbor because it demands that you do something with it.

THAT is the essence of what seems to be lacking in the Body of Christ, according to Rev. Crabtree - and now that I have thought about it, I have to agree. It is easy to say that we love the Lord, but it seems much more difficult to love your neighbors because it requires us doing something about it. Moving beyond our own comfort zones, and actually getting involved other people's lives. His driving point was to the pastors about the need to be better that the high priest and the religious person who passed by the beat-down man, just wishing him well. WE HAVE THE GOSPEL! We must do better than just good wishes for people, we have what they need and we are to share it. Like with Peter and John who went to the temple one day and met a man at the gate, Beautiful. Silver and gold, they did not have, but what they did have, they shared. We have this treasure in clay vessels the Bible descibes...we have to share that treasure. Our salvation is the treasure, Jesus is that treasure. However, it is a treasure that is not to be hoarded, but shared with all - there is plenty of Jesus to go around.

Who was it that assisted the man? The Samaritan, who in that day was a half-breed, and looked down upon. Who would have thought he would have anything to offer? But, he did what we shoudl be doing. Have you ever heard people talk of how someone outside of the Church was so nice and helpful. We wonder, "Is that possible?" Yes! They can do it too, just like in the parable. But, we have to wonder how many "Christians" and "religious people" passed by the needy before he recieved help from the less likely? I am sure, far too many. Listen, I am not preaching - I know that I have been guilty of this, and I have a feeling that you are too. :)

Well, I want to ask you to give this some thought and prayer. I hope that this short synopsis did justice to what I had dropped in my spirit on Tuesday night. I pray this thought transforms your thinking towards selfishness, and gives you an opportunity to search your heart to see if there be any need for repentance. As with all who heard this message in person...I am sure there will be.