Faith Revolution

I was at a conference in Colorado a couple years ago with about 250 people present.  At the conference we would begin each day with about a half hour worship service.  One morning in particular, the band led us all in our usual morning worship, but a funny thing happened on the way to the rest of the day…we didn’t want to stop.  A half hour soon turned into 45 minutes of worship; then into and hour.  It was at least an hour and a half later that the band finally sat down and we moved onto the rest of the agenda for the day.  The interesting this is that not one of us was the same.  God’s presence become so real that we had no other choice but to worship.  His prescence was so great that I could not continue to stand.  So, I fell on my knees and wept.  Why?  When confronted with the holiness of the presence of God, one is also confronted with the insignifcance and ineptitude of self.  Grief rolls over the entire being of one confronted by the holiness of God.  But in that process of grieving during worship, one finds him/herself being cleansed.  And in that cleansing, God lifts us up with His incredible love and forgiveness.

It took me a long time to learn to worship and to understand, to some degree, the depth of worshipping a living God.  But I do know the process involved a tremendous level of grief that caused me to deny self so that I could see Him in His supremacy.  Life and being has to change when that occurs.  But you must grieve and you must long to see Him.

The Apostle John said that he was in the spirit on the Lord’s day when he heard a voice.  John turned to look and saw Jesus.  He states that he then fell on his face as if he were dead.  Grief.

If you want to truly learn to worship, begin by trying to see who you really are in light of a holy God.  Then you will admire and appreciate Him so much more.  But there will be some pain initially, if you are truly honest with yourself.

Here’s a video of one of my favorite songs.  Listen to the words.

After some recent feedback from you, I realized that there are many of you that read this blog that spend much time in prayer for my family and I, as well as our ministry. I can’t express to you how much we appreciate it! Without your ministry of prayer, our ministry would be impossible.

Because of that feedback, I decided to make this blog a little more personal from time to time so that we can keep in touch a little better. Feel free to comment at any time. Feel free to stop and see us, as well. We’d love to see you. Also feel free to pass the link to this site on to anyone else who may be interested.
We’ve been Pastoring the Osceola Mills C&MA church for a little over three years now (including the months when we were part-time). Linda and I are doing well. We celebrate out 16th anniversary in November. She hasn’t given up on me yet; bless her heart! The kiddos are growing up. Caleb is 14 and Bethany is 8. We can’t keep Caleb full of food. He’s now about 5′ 10″ and 160 lbs! He can’t beat me, though. He thinks he can and tries sometimes, but I still show him who’s boss. Bethany is just full of life. She reminds me more of her mom every day.

We’ve got a dog named Ben (Ben Cartwright! Get it? You know, Bonanza), 2 cats, Sammy and Mellow, a rabbit (don’t know his name) and numerous other critters, depending on Bethany’s catch of the day.

Linda is still home-schooling the kids and I am completing my BS degree in community ministry at Geneva College. I’ve been driving to Pittsburgh at least once a week since February. I’ll finish the degree in 2007.

The church is doing well. There is a great group of people here who are truly loving God and loving each other. It’s great when you’re a pastor and you see people loving and taking care of one another.

God has always taken care of us, but a person sometimes doesn’t realize what he/she has. We have a lot of great friends and aquaintances. We want you to know that even though we don’t see or talk to you as often as we’d like, that we love you and appreciate you tremendously. God uses people in the lives of other people to get them where he wants them to be. Thank you for being used of God in our lives. We know that He will continue to bless and use you.

How many have you passed up? Why? McManus says that it’s great to have potential, but there must be a shift from where we have potential to where we are potent. Are you potent or still standing on the sidelines looking at all the potential that God has given you. What’s sad is that many people do not even realize that they have potential, choosing instead to live the dim life of comfort (as in status quo) and mediocrity. I wonder if that is why many people get bitter as they get older.

Life is about risks. You take calculated risks every single day. In fact, you take some really stupid risks during your life. You will risk your financial well-being by buying houses, cars and other stuff you can’t or may not be able to afford in the future. You risk your health by eating all the wrong stuff, you drive 65 mph with a car coming 65 mph right toward you, and so forth. Yet you spend your life seemingly trying to minimize, if not eliminate risk all together.

Take the risk.  Constantly improve.  Follow God…by faith.  If He gives you an opportunity, go!

It’s the essence of the Revolution

It’s Sunday.  Are you going to church?  We all know what that means. A person gets up Sunday morning and goes to a place to worship with other people.

You’ve heard it said that the people are the church not the building.  If people are the church then church is where ever God’s people are.

Call me crazy, but I think the designation of the building that we call God’s house is just another part of the dualistic mindset that has so affected the thinking and behavior of God’s people.  For some people, that’s where we meet God.  That is actually where we worship God together.  Now, I am not saying that people shouldn’t gather together for worship and other purposes. However, if the people are the church then we can worship together whether we are in that brick building or the town park.  In fact, if we would endeavor to seek God persistently throughout the week in our homes, schools and work, imagine how much greater our corporate worship would be!

My mom stopped feeding me when I could feed myself.  Babies need fed.  So if you’re not getting “fed” in church, maybe it’s time to grow up and feed yourself during the week.  Then when you come together with your brothers and sisters “in church” on Sunday, you will be more able to truly worship.  You could also think about helping to feed the true babies that need it in the church.  Remember, it’s not about you.  It’s about Jesus.

Thursday night…Steelers, baby!   Here it is, write it down…Steelers 27, Dolphins 20.

Enjoy worshipping today…and every day.

The bog at Black Moshannon

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.
When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May.
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl).

I’ve got so much honey the bees envy me.
I’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees.
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl).

I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame.
I’ve got all the riches baby one man can claim.
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl).

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
with my girl.
I’ve even got the month of May
with my girl