Bad Car Day

Sunday after the morning service, Jeanne and i took the missionary out for lunch. After lunch we headed home. As we neared the Pilot gas station on 17A, my alternator died. I coasted into the gas station  and put my portable charger on the battery. The car started up and we proceeded on 17A with a little anxiety. The car then stalled by the Hot Spot and once again we coasted in. All of this happened about a month ago, but I tightened the cables  and charged the battery and everything seemed fine. But if the alternator is not working, you are destined to repeat history.

I tightened up the cables again and charged it some more. When it started up we took off again, but a mile later it died once more. This time I had to call our daughter and her boyfriend to come and get us. While waiting, I got the last bit of charge from the charger and made it to the little par three golf course on Cypress Garden Road. We waited for help about 45 minutes because Emily’s boyfriend ran out of gas! When they finally arrived, we charged the battery for about 15 minutes. That charge got me about seven miles up the road before it stalled again. One last 15 minute charge and we coasted into my garage. After  six breakdowns in the cold rain and two and a half hours later, I made it home. No Sunday nap for me!

After charging the battery all night, I took the car to Advance Auto. They checked everything and confirmed that I need a new alternator, of which the cheapest is $175.

The lessons in this little car disaster are numerous, chief of most is that cars don’t fix themselves. I should have taken care of the problem a month earlier and avoided the entire “bad car” day.

The lesson that I want to leave with you is this: if you want to stay “charged up”, stay connected to the right source of power or eventually the charge on your battery will go down.

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… — Ephesians 3:16

Pastor Larry

November 23, 2009 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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“Increase our Faith”



We had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. The team knew when we got the roof completed, we were headed to an all-inclusive resort for our free day. So Thursday we got up at 5:30am, had cereal for breakfast and headed to the job site just as it was getting light. By 2:00pm we were putting up the last piece of tin. We arrived at the resort by 6:30pm and ate a wonderful buffet. The next day was fun in the pool and ocean. We had a great time!

Our plane was scheduled to leave at 3:30pm on Saturday. We got to the airport a couple hours early and well rested. We had a great time on our trip but were looking forward to coming home. When we got to the airport we put our bags through the scanners and proceeded to the Delta line. When some of the team members got out their passport, I realized that I left mine back in the room! I grabbed a taxi and rushed off for the resort, which was 35 minutes away, praying all the way. When I arrived at the resort, they were cleaning my room. I grabbed my passport, ran back to the taxi, and headed back to the airport. I had a sick feeling in my stomach that I was not going to make it in time.

We pulled up to the terminal at 2:55pm. I thought with 35 minutes to go, I might make it, but when I got to the counter there was no one there. Now the panic started to settle in. A porter took me to the Delta office, where a man told me the gate was closed  and I could not get on the plane. I begged and pleaded. He called the supervisor but no one answered. He talked to other people and they all said it was too late, the gate was closed!

I grabbed my carry on bag, ensured I still had my passport, and went to security. They would not let me through without a boarding pass. I went back to the office and pleaded some more but again they said, “No way!” About 3:15pm the phone rang. The man who answered the phone looked up at me and gave me the thumbs up sign! A Delta representative arrived and escorted me through security, to the gate, and onto the plane. Several of my team members were pleading on the other end, and everyone was praying!

I walked on the plane at 3:27pm and we pushed off of the gate at 3:30pm. It was a miracle that I was on that flight. The next flight to leave was one week later!

My sense of urgency was compounded by the fact that I felt I had an urgent message for the congregation, and I had already missed the previous week. God gave us a great service and the presence of the Lord was strong! It is really good to be home.

5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. — Luke 17:5-6

I don’t mean to imply that I have great faith. In fact, in reality just a tiny little faith in a GREAT, BIG GOD!

Thankful to be home… on time!

Pastor Larry

November 17, 2009 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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Greetings from the Dominican Republic

I’m sitting in missionary Mitch Martinez’ house in the Dominican Republic watching Monday Night Football.  So far our missions trip has been great.   First day a little slow as usual.  Most of the blocks have been laid by a previous team.  We are building the steel trusses, so a lot of welding has to be done which is time consuming. We also were forming the bond beam which we poured on Saturday.  This morning rain shut down the welding and block laying, but we were able to finish forming the columns.  This afternoon the sun came out so we finished all the forming, pouring and some more welding.  We worked late tonight, because of the late start.  Got blisters all over my hands from wet gloves and concrete.  I know you are about to cry.

We are staying in a couple of houses.  Cooks come in and have done a great job.  Sunday morning Grady preached for the church that hosted our Medical team seven years ago.  On the way, we stopped by the church we built as well.  It is rewarding to see a building we had a hand in starting finished and filled with people.

The church we are building now is replacing the one that was destroyed by a flood in 2007.   For the next year the church met under a tree.  More recently they have been renting a former disco.  That is where I preached last night.  We had a great time with the people as we shared communion together.  Soon they will have their own building!

Heard we had a wonderful service with Ray yesterday at Faith Assembly.  People saved, filled and delivered.  Will have to check it out on our web page!

Got some heavy days of work left, but we should get the roof on. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.  We are going to have an awesome service!

Building the Kingdom Together,

Pastor Larry

November 10, 2009 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

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