CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY

Independence Day is the National Holiday Commemorating the Signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Grand Celebration of the United States of America becoming a Separate Independent Nation.

It was July 2nd, 1776 when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of Independence from Great Britain. They debated and revised "The Declaration for Independence" until it was agreed upon on July 4th, 1776. The actual date of signing from many of the delegates is believed to have been August 2nd, 1776. Because of the date the Congress decided to proceed with the Separation from Great Britain was on July 4th - became historically the date we celebrate.

It was not until 1791 that the term "Independence Day" was found in print describing July 4th. It was not until 1941 that it was declared a legal holiday.

By the early 1800's the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.

The chances are that you will be going to a BBQ on the Fourth of July. This is one of the most popular times for having a BBQ: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Potato Salad, Potato Chips, and baked Beans are the most popular food choices.

This Independence Day - I want to Remember that True Freedom comes from knowing Jesus!

Let us Celebrate our Freedom and please someone pass the BBQ Ribs!!

NEW BOOK - I AM READING . . .

While on Vacation in South Carolina, I picked up a new book to read at the Tanger Outlets off of SC-501 for only $5.00. The book is called: "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" by Tom Holladay (Teaching Pastor, Saddleback Church) and it has been hard for me to put it down. It is set up to read over a 40 Day period but I am having hard time putting the book down. I think I am going to use it as my Mid-Week Bible Study in July or August.

 

The book is based on six Relationship Principles:

    1.    Place the Highest Value on Relationships

    2.    Love as Jesus Loves You

    3.    Communicate from the Heart

    4.    As You Judge, You Will Be Judged

    5.    The Greatest Are the Servants

    6.    Treat Others as You Want Them to Treat You

 

I hope to finish the book in the next few days and then start over from the beginning over a 40 day period of time . . . .

 

"God does not demand of me that I accomplish great things. He does demand of me that I strive for excellence in my relationships." (Tim Holladay)

THE EMPTY TOMB

Before we get to the empty tomb we can't forget the Cross! Jesus died on Calvary for each everyone of us. Today we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!! He has Risen! The Tomb is Empty and we Celebrate our Savior - Because He Lives!!

PLACE YOUR LIFE BEFORE GOD

 

The following passage has always helped to put Life into perspective . . .

Romans 12:1 - 21 (TMSG) ¹So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 
2Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
4In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. 
5The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, 
6let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; 
7if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; 
8if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
9Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. 
10Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 
12cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 
13Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. 
15Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. 
16Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. 
18If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. 
19Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. 
21Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

If we would just place our Life before God and follow Him!!

TEARS

It seems like it was just yesterday that I received a call that we had lost our brother in Christ - Ray Huff but in reality it has been one year today! He was a challenging character but it was hard not to like him. I miss our times of visitation . . . he was always willing to go with me and visit. If you couldn't think of someone to visit he had a list!



A year ago, I will admit that many tears flowed from my eyes and everywhere I looked I could see Ray's influence. I don't cry as many tears as I use to cry over the passing of brother Ray because I know he is with his Lord! But I can hear his voice even as I pen these words - "What are we doing to win the lost? What more can we do?"



Once again as I started my day and thought about Ray's Homecoming a year ago - a tear began to roll down my face. The only difference today from a year ago is that along with that tear is a smile. We still miss him and I know that his precious wife does too.



These tears are but for a moment in the eyes of our Lord . . . but in Christ we can Rejoice in His Everlasting Life! Brother Ray we miss you and someday we will do some more Visiting . . .

LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME REAL TIME OFF

Marlene and I do our best to take every Friday off but like many of us in Ministry it just doesn't happen. Some weeks like this week because of schedule or in this case sickness Marlene is working today until Noon. She is trying to make up for time she lost over the last week being sick – she does not like to take a lot of time of her time bank at work. Marlene likes to save them for District Council, Summer Vacation, and those just in case days. It has been around nine years ago that Marlene had a bad TI (mini-stroke) and was hospitalized for over a week and bedfast for several weeks afterwards. Ever since then she has always managed her vacation time well. We are rejoicing because the last time Marlene had Pneumonia she was down for almost a month. The last two years overall have been good years - health wise and with that we are very thankful.

We have learned that we have to find those times when we get away – and relax! She is already talking about our annual pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My favorite thing to do is to sit on the balcony and watch the ocean from our hotel room – I find it calming and relaxing. Marlene loves to sit by the ocean or the pool and read or just relax. I am looking forward to some real time off . . . . but for today I am working a little bit in the office before our 1:30 p.m. Christian Education Meeting and tomorrow a Sectional Training at Byesville Assembly of God. Blessings and don't forget to find some time to Relax!!

GOOD LUNCH . . . I THINK?

Today, I meet with Pastor Larry and Pastor Ray at the Mall for Lunch and we had a good time of fellowship. I really appreciate these fellow brothers in Christ. We need to surround ourselves with people that will help lift us up when we are down and rejoice with us when we need to rejoice. Likewise, although we don’t always want to hear it – we also need them to be honest with us and give us directions in things that we need to work on or things we need to do.

For example - I don’t like to go to the doctor!! I will take my wife and even push her to see a doctor but I just don’t like going myself. Since leaving Valley Forge Christian College, I have only been to the doctor (Emergency Room) maybe four times in seventeen years. If you would add up the total times throughout my life time it might add up to a dozen. They reminded me that I am getting older and I need to take care of myself if I am going to be around for others. I would like to say that I came directly back to the office and found a doctor and made an appointment – but I didn’t. I guess I need to put that on the Top of my “To Do List” for the next week!! If we are going to be effective in ministry we need to take care of ourselves. I am sure they will keep me accountable so I better make that appointment as soon as possible!!

THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT FOR SALE!

During the last 28 years of my life I have been very active my in local church. Growing up in Byesville it was Byesville Assembly of God, in college it was Park Avenue Assembly of God in Trooper, Pennsylvania, and then several places of ministry as a Youth Pastor and then as a Lead Pastor. The one thing that I have learned over these many years of serving the Lord is that doing the right thing and being popular often result in conflict. God has not called this preacher to be popular but has called me to speak the truth. As believers we have to do what is right, even though that makes us the outcast or unpopular.

Jesus was not always popular. The masses followed him but the religious leaders despised Him and in the end even the masses cried out for Him to be crucified. Judas betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver, His disciples scattered and even Peter (The Rock) denied Him. The awesome thing is that Jesus stayed True to His WORD and went to the Cross for us.

The message I preached on Sunday was Called "The WORD of God is NOT for Sale!" and was based on Numbers 23:10-14. We find that Balak, the king of Moab, tried to purchase the Word of Balaam against the Israelites. But instead God commanded Balaam to Bless the Israelites, and not to curse them. In this verse we find that when Balaam obeyed God, Balak became very angry with him. But Balaam replied: "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord – and I must say only what the Lord says" (Numbers 24:13).

We need more of us preachers to repeat the last portion of the scripture as we stand behind the pulpit every week – "and I must say only what the Lord says!" Balaam's honesty made him extremely unpopular with Balak. But speaking well of Israel was the right thing to do – because it was what God commanded him to do. We can speak the WORD in Love to our congregations without compromising the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I strongly believe that the we could very well be living in the last days and it is time we Proclaim the Truth!

Each and every one of us needs to remember that God's WORD is not for sale to the highest bidder. When we face those times of doing what is right and being popular, we need to ask God for the courage to do the right thing!

CELEBRATE THE GOOD DAYS!

I started the day with a Men's Meeting at the Church (HonorBound). We had a good meeting even though numerically we were lacking. It is great to see our men fellowship again.

Marlene and I had lunch together before I traveled to Byesville to see Dad. Marlene had planned to go to a Stamping Party but she is still feeling under the weather. Dad was having a good day today. He was awake and alert - he talked a little too.

Stopped in Cambridge - picked up a Large Mushroom Pizza from Plus 1 Pizza (per Marlene's Request).

Sometimes we need to Celebrate the Good Days!

TIRED OF THE SNOW

I don't know about many of you but I am tired of the "White Stuff"! So far this month we have only been able to have one Sunday Night Service (first Sunday of the Month) and one Wednesday Night Service (last week).

I am thankful that we were able to have Sunday Morning Services every Sunday in January. We have had really good attendance the last few Sundays in spite of the weather.

The more it snows the more I am looking forward to Spring and Summer. I have lived most of my life in Ohio (five years in Pennsylvania during college). Yes, I should be use to it but the truth is I am Tired of the Snow or better yet I am sick of it!

Looking back I can remember loving snow as a kid! My cousin Tracy and I built an elaborate snow fort (tunnels) in front of my grand-parents house in the country. Brenda (my sister) reminded me of going sled riding down "dead man's hill" with our cousins at the farm.

Maybe I should go Sled Riding or build a Snow Fort in the morning . . . .