Panama Maps Trip Day 2 (04-09-10) Video Update
Panama Maps Trip Day 1 (04-08-10) Video Update
Click Here to check out more photos from April 8th on our Facebook Page
Spring Get-Away
It’s been awhile since my last blog. We went on a cruise with three other South Carolina ministers and their wives. We sailed out of Charleston on March 8th on the Celebrity Mercury. We were on the Sailing in which 343 passengers out of 1800 came down with the Noro-virus, some kind of stomach flu. At every dining area, hallway, and show, ship crew members were standing by with hand wipes and sanitizer. My hands have never been so clean. Of our group of eight, two ladies got sick, but Jeanne and I missed the plague.
As always, we had great food and a lot of fun. I only put on four pounds, but it would have been worse had I not worked out on the ship. It seemed like there were a lot of older people on the boat - maybe that is why I fit in. I did get to win a couple of ping-pong tournaments and a bean-bag toss, but my teams lost all of the trivia competitions. A lot of smart guys on our boat!
We stopped at four different ports in the Eastern Caribbean. We did some snorkeling and I got to scuba dive on a great wreck in St. Kitts. Cruising is a great value when you consider all the food, entertainment and islands you get to visit. We went out for about $90.00 a day per person.
It is good to be home. I am getting excited about Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Should be some exciting days. It always is when you think about all the Jesus Christ has done for us!
Pastor Larry
Ski Trip
I’m pretty happy today, because as I sit in my office I currently have no broken legs or arms. Last weekend I went skiing in Snowshoe, WV with three friends. I am such a bad skier that every time I make it down the slope without any major injuries, it is a blessing.
I can navigate the green runs (easy) and blue runs (moderate) with very little difficulty, but a couple of skiers I went with are very good (Steve and Nick), so they wanted to spend most of the time on the black diamonds (Difficult), which is way beyond my skill level. I would start out on the first steep drop, turning and digging my skis in sideways in an attempt to control my speed. I can go fast, but never really like the feeling of being totally out of control. Often I would wipe out. The good news is that by the time I stopped going down the hill on my back side, most of the steep stuff was behind me. On the occasions I did make it down without falling, my legs would be burning.
The weather was very cold and the wind blowing. Friday the blizzard kept some of the slopes closed, but the 10 - 16 inches of snow gave us fresh powder, which was a lot of fun. Now I have more of a feel for what West Coast skiing is like. At the end of a long day, the jacuzzi really felt good. Coming out of the mountain we sat in traffic because a beer truck slid off of the road. We got home about 3:00am, Saturday morning.
We had a great time on our guys only trip! Next year I should really be good, as once again I will pray, “Lord, get me down off of the ‘Widow Maker’” one more time.
Psalms 91:11
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
Pastor Larry
Snow Day
If you can’t figure it out, I’m the one on the left. What a beautiful weekend. It seems like once every decade we have an accumulation of snow. Last Friday evening was that special day. Jeannie and I sat in front of the fireplace in the warmth watching the snow come down. The next morning was a bright snowy day with a white-out all around. Of course we had to build a snowman. Fortunately he turned out to be an Ohio State fan. Now all that remains of him is a little snow ball. That is definitely not a metaphor for the way the upcoming Ohio State basketball and football season is going to go!
Psalms 19:1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Super Bowl Party
It was a busy weekend with our True Intimacy Conference. I thought Tim and Linda Buttrey did a great job weaving in their testimony with Biblical principles concerning how we can avoid the journey of disconnectedness and move into true intimacy. Then Sunday mornings message of God’s original design for marriage from Ephesians 5 was outstanding.
Ephesians 5:33
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Then the Super Bowl Party at the church was a lot of fun. I ate way too much. I was conflicted about which team I wanted to win, but was just hoping for a good game, which we got. Probably good for New Orleans. They have had enough hard knocks recently. Now we have to wait seven more months for football season to start again.
The Family Works
It is always exciting to see the church moving together in the same direction. To start the year, I felt the Lord lead me to focus on strengthening families. Along with our Sunday morning series, our home groups have been doing a series, “Marriage Built to Last”. We are also launching four, “Two Equals One” intensive study groups as well. This weekend we will be having our first Marriage Enhancement Weekend in several years with Tim and Linda Buttrey entitled, “True Intimacy”. Kinetic Youth has also been doing a family series for our teenagers. We are believing that God is going to use these days to strengthen marriages & families in our church. Testimonies are already coming in, many remarking that “This is just what we needed!”
The divorce rate in the church is comparable statistically with the national divorce rate, but through the grace of God, that doesn’t have to be the case at Faith Assembly of God. By following God’s blueprint for the family, we can change the trend of risking divorce and be a light to the world.
Matthew 19:4-6
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Pastor Larry
Christian Unity
Last week our Summerville Minister’s Association put together the celebration of Christian Unity Week. Each day at noon, services were held at various churches. The host church would put together the liturgy (music and prayers) and a minister from the area would bring a word. This was followed by a light lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed all the different expressions of worship.
We have a wonderful community of believers who worship at different churches across the low country. Every church has a different tradition of worship which makes each congregation unique. And yet, we are all one body in Christ Jesus.
I had the privilege too, of preaching the Monday noon service at Canaan United Methodist Church. I preached on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and had a wonderful time.
Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We must choose not to focus on our differences, but the Lord Jesus Christ who makes us one.
In His Service Together,
Pastor Larry
Ladies Retreat 2010
This past weekend was an exciting one for the women of Faith! We had our annual Women’s Retreat in Hilton Head with Dr. Janice Sjostrand as our guest speaker. From the moment the women began arriving to the time we were packing up for home, there was an air of anticipation and expectancy of what God would do in the lives of those who were participating, and we were not disappointed! God’s presence was there in a powerful, life changing way.
This year’s theme was “Run with Fire”, based on Isaiah 40. Dr. Sjostrand shared in such a beautiful way God’s message for us. She talked about those times in our lives when God lifts us up on His wings and and allows us to soar with Him to the heights. The next session she shared about running this race with the people in our lives and how we must run along side each other in our journey. The final thought was about walking out our faith day by day, moment by moment.
We were so blessed to have LaRell and our worship team lead us each session into the throne room of God. They did an amazing job. Dr. Sjostrand also ministered to us in worship from the keyboard and singing.
I cannot adequately describe what happened at the retreat - you would have to have been there. We had an amazing time with the Lord, and with each other. We had a lot of fun and got to know each other better. If you were not able to attend this year, please plan to be there next year. You will not want to miss it!
I am so thankful for all of our ladies that worked so hard to make this happen for us. I know they do this because they love the women of Faith!
Isaiah 40:27-31
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “ My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Running with Fire,
Jeanne
A New Year
What an incredible way to start the new year: Ohio State 26 - Oregon 17. I can finally get out all of my Ohio State sweatshirts after three consecutive years of heartbreak!
The weekend was also exciting with our men’s breakfast challenge Saturday morning and a wonderful day of prayer and vision casting on Sunday. I am entering the year with anticipation of what God is going to do.
2010 is going to be a year of service. As we reach out and touch our community and world, we will see people open to the gospel and lives changed. As we take on the challenge we must also believe God will provide the resources. As we seek to accomplish God’s will in reaching out, He will prove Himself faithful to bless.
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us… –Ephesians 3:19-20
With Much Anticipation,
Pastor Larry
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Pastor Larry Burgbacher is the senior pastor at Faith Assembly of God in Summerville, South Carolina. -
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