Thanking Your Way Out of the Blues

Pastor’s Blog

Thanking Your Way out of the Blues

Self-pity is a lousy place to dwell.  It may feel good at the moment…you can sit back and blame everyone else for your problems.  While dwelling there you will make irrational decisions and justify your actions.  I know from experience, I have been dwelling there.

To get out of the land of self-pity, begin by thanking God.  As I look at my life, I have so much to be thankful for.  My salvation, my wonderful kids and grandchildren, my church, wonderful friends and the thirty-four years I had with the most wonderful lady in the world.

Thanksgiving is a great time of the year.  Family, turkey and football - it doesn’t get any better than that.  But not only this week, may everyday be filled with thanksgiving.  And if you are blue, thank your way right out of those blues.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor Larry

November 24, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished

11.17.08

We had a great mission trip to El Salvador.  We spent Monday through Thursday laying blocks and pouring columns.  By the time Thursday rolled around all the materials had been used up and just a few corners of block remained to be completed.

When we finished, members of the church gathered with their pastor to express their appreciation.  It is very humbling to watch them weep over such a simple building, but it meant so much to them.  One lady shared they had moved to that village when she was 2 years of age.  There was no evangelical church in that entire area, and they had to travel long distances to attend one.  Now after all these years God had answered her prayers.  Testimonies like that certainly make our small investment of time, labor and finances worth it all.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Verses copied from BibleGateway.com

We enjoyed our last day and a half at a beautiful, all-inclusive resort on the Pacific Ocean.  All-inclusive means you never really stop eating.  Great way to end the trip.

It is good to be back home.  Even with the problems here in our country, there is still no place like the U.S.A..  And somewhere along the way in my journey I picked up a few facial hairs.  Imagine that!  Probably looking for a new season in my life and a change.  We will see what God will do.

Pastor Larry

November 17, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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El Salvador

Pastor’s Blog:  El Salvador

We arrived safely on our Missions construction Thursday afternoon in El Salvador.   The missionary, Kevin Stewart, has already been a great host.  The food has been great, the motel comfortable, and people very friendly.  But the joy is really in the work. We have 18 men working as hard as they can to get a job done.  My hands were made for writing sermons, not block laying.  But when you see a building take shape out of nothing it makes all the sweat and labor worth it.

The first day we got the steel structure and roof on.  Saturday we began the block work.  At our present pace we should be able to complete the entire building.  Today we had Sunday am service in Kevin Stewart’s church he planted one year ago.  This afternoon we had service with the new congregation we are presently constructing the building for.  We found the new congregation of about 60 people worshiping under a shade tree.  They have no building whatsoever.  We know that Christ’s church is made up of His people.  But it will be nice to have a building to get them out of the rain and sun, and be a gathering place to reach new believers.  The gratitude and humility of the people never ceases to amaze me.  This is what makes the entire journey worthwhile.  Thank you for giving to missions so building projects like these can be possible.

We look forward to a good work and a lot of fun this coming week.  I will look forward to seeing you guys next Sunday.  God is doing a great work in El Salvador and I am blessed to be a very small part of it along with 17 other dedicated men.

Matt. 16:18

” Upon this rock I will build my church and the Gates of hell will not prevail against it”

Pastor Larry

November 10, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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Fiery Darts

Fiery Darts

11.3.08

Our annual Faith Family Fun Fair, Oct. 25 & 26th, was once again a huge success.  Over 5,000 attended and all seemed to be having a great time.  As always, Pastor Jonathon and his team did an outstanding job.

With the advent of our new paint ball ministry, Don Robertson had the crazy idea of putting the staff in the shooting gallery.  We had a few barriers to run in between.  With the velocity the paint balls travel they can sting and leave welts on your body.  My body is particularly soft, designed by God for office work.

I came prepared with the proper protective gear.  Long underwear, two pairs of sweatpants, a sweat shirt, and a camouflage jacket.  I guess I was hoping they wouldn’t see me.  The most important piece of equipment was my paintball mask.  Paint balls could really hurt the eyes and face.  I also borrowed Mike Turner’s bullet proof vest.  I figured if it stopped bullets then it could stop a raging paintball.  The crazy thing is that the only place I didn’t get hit was in the chest.  Arms, legs and shoulders basically got pulverized.

We actually did pretty good at running from one barrier to the other.  Towards the end I was so hot and worn out from running that my greater danger became a heart attack, rather than paint balls.  But we all survived.  From there, I went to the ice cold waters of the dunk tank.  What a great night!

Much more dangerous than paint balls, which only sting for a moment, are the “fiery darts of the wicked one.”  Those darts sting a lot longer and bring eternal damage.  So get on your breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation and shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  Ephesians 6:10-17

Still Dodging,

Pastor Larry

November 3, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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