January 27, 2012

 Ray & Noah

A few weeks ago I stood by the bedside of my friend Ray Burtner. He was getting close to crossing over to the other side. As I spoke his name he opened his eyes. I told him that God loved him and soon they would be together. He responded with an “Amen”! Within two hours he had gone to be with the Lord.

A few days later I had the privilege of conducting a memorial service in honor of Ray. He had given me specific details just weeks earlier on how he wanted the memorial service to be. Above all else, he wanted it to be a time of celebration. So, we did just that. There were eulogies, great hymns, special songs, and a message of hope and encouragement. As the final song was sung, “When I get up to Heaven”, by Diane Clark people stood to their feet in honor of Ray and in praise unto God. Truly, Ray’s home-going was a time of rejoicing.

While we were celebrating Ray, I could not help but think of a young family in my church who was also rejoicing in a different way. It was different because a new little baby boy, “Noah Neil King” had just arrived on the scene. His arrival resulted in a celebration of joy in their hearts and home. The words came to my mind from the Bible that says, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” So as God was calling one home, he was sending another to us. Ray, thanks for being part of our lives, Little Noah, we rejoice that you are here!

December 31, 2011

Beginning a New Year

As the New Year begins many people will start out with great expectations. They will reflect on the past and determine that things will be different with the coming of a new year. The hopes of a fresh start offer inspiration and a renewed determination to all who want a better year.

I can assure you that we can have a better year if we but only heed the advice of our Lord and Savior which he gave in the sixth chapter of   Matthew, verse thirty three. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

The following are four things we all want for 2012.

1. Prosperity:As we trust God for our need to be supplied we will experience prosperity.
2. Peace:As we cease to worry about the necessities of life and begin to trust him, then we will have peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you…”
3. Health:As we take responsibility for the stewardship of our health, then we will find it easier to pray for health problems that are not self-inflicted. God then will give better health for the coming year.
4. Happy Home: As we give our children clear positive examples of our loyalty to God, spend time giving ourselves to our children, and practice keeping our romance alive with our spouse, and then we will have a happier home.

As we get our priorities right, we will truly have all these things in the New Year!



Oct. 24, 2011 

AN UNUSUAL PRAYER

 Last night our church had guest missionary, Daniel Bhandari speak to us during the evening service. Daniel along with his wife Sandy operates an orphanage in India. Daniel shared with us how God had led him to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and how God also led him to open an orphanage and take in and provide for children whose parents were martyred for their Christian faith. Daniel and his wife now have 55 children in their orphanage.

To listen to Daniel share from his heart and see the video clip showing the work God is enabling them to accomplish in Indiawith the orphan children was very moving. He shared information about the persecution the Christians are enduring there. When Daniel asked us to pray for their work, the thing that impressed me most was that he did not ask us to pray for money to fund their orphanage in India, but he asked us to pray that the heat would intensify and the persecution would become stronger. He said that persecution resulted in more people accepting Christ as their Savior. My mind went back to the early Christian church as described in the book of Acts. Christianity spread like wild-fire after the persecution began.

It was a difficult prayer to pray, but my congregation stood, and with extended arms toward Rev. Bhandari we prayed the prayer he had requested. I believe Jesus will honor that prayer and give them a harvest of souls for the kingdom of God.

October 13, 2011

“Pastor’s Team Retreat”

 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Jesus and his disciples had been extremely busy healing the sick and spreading the gospel throughout the towns and villages. The disciples had become worn down through service to their Lord. Jesus recognized their weariness and their need for renewal and spoke the word of the text above.

Have you ever felt as if you were running in three different directions at the same time? Often we get so busy doing the things we need to do for the Lord that we become exhausted from the even the job that we love. Our bodies are not designed to continue at a fast pace indefinitely. There comes a time when we need rest, relaxation, and renewal.

 Recently my church provided a time for the pastors and their spouses to get away for that very cause. We drove to Panama CityBeachwhere we stayed in the beautiful Edge Water Resort for three days. It was a truly a lovely place. We roomed on the 9^th floor of one of the condos with a balcony overlooking the beautiful recreational facilities with an extra large pool surrounded by gardens and trails on one side, and the beautifulGulf of Mexico on the other side. I am so grateful for my church providing this time away. I am refreshed and ready to continue my service to them and my Lord. Take time to relax and watch a beautiful sunset such the one in the photo below which we saw during our retreat.

 Oct.05, 2011

“In Memory”

 A wonderful friend of mine, Richard Wade M. D. recently has heard the call from heaven’s portals to come home. Richard has enjoyed the blessing of the Lord upon his life for nearly 81 years. He has served our country in the Armed Forces and then has helped humanity through the years with his medical skills. Dr. Wade has been a blessing to our church, faithfully serving in teaching ministries and supporting our work in so many other ways. His love for others also led him to go on work and witness trips to foreign fields where he could administer medical treatment to his sick and hurting fellowmen. Dr. Wade will be greatly missed. Our loss has become heaven’s gain. When he heard heaven’s call Richard gladly said, yes. The following poem is one that says it so well.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard him call;             

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.                                  

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found that place at the close of day,

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seems all to brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Sept.2011 

“Transformed Lives”

As a small boy I can remember watching as three kernels of corn so small and insignificant were planted in the ground and covered over with dirt. I thought that without any sunlight or fresh air they would never be seen again. But to my amazement in a few short days a corn plant began to spring up out of the soil. In a few weeks ears of corn began to grow on sturdy stalks. And not long afterward from those three kernels of corn there were now full ears of corn and we were enjoying a great feast of fresh corn on the cob. As I have grown in my Christian faith I have had the privilege of watching that same kind of transformation take place in people whose lives were broken and shattered by sin.

Greg and Lelia were so far down in sin and despair that when they looked up they only saw the bottom. They were bound by drugs, tobacco, and many other addictions. I watched their lives as God began to transform them just as I had seen those kernels of corn being transformed. It started when they surrendered their hearts to Jesus. They died and their old life of sin was buried. Then and amazing thing happened, new life began to spring up. I watched two people transformed from rubble and ashes only to rise in strength and beauty. They now faithfully attend worship services and are involved in various ministries within their local church. They are committed to supporting their church through faithful giving of their tithe and offerings. They tell people everywhere about what the Lord has done for them. One cannot underestimate the transforming power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“So, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36)