I am what I am!

When God pronounces a "woe" you can take it to the bank. Isaiah 5:20 says "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Recently in the news, Homeland Security named, to the shock and dismay of many, some groups that they included as terrorists and could possibly pose a threat to our country.

I am proud to say that I belong to almost all of those groups. I am:

• a veteran, having served our country for 4 years of active duty in the US Navy, and I will still fight to defend my country and my family!
• a conservative right wing supporter of the pro-life movement (which is not a movement but is a Biblical standard set long before movements began)
• a Christian who still believes that God is a holy and righteous God who loves us, but also judges sin and unrighteousness.
• a preacher who believes the Bible is the infallible, inherent Word of the living God and who believes and teaches end time prophecy;
• and to sum it up I am: a wide eyed, sanctified; blood bought, Spirit taught; Bible totin', Scripture quotin'; Satan bashin', sin thrashin'; Christ followin', pride swallowin'; hard prayin', truth conveyin'; faith walkin', Gospel talkin'; bonafide BIG TIME believer and proud of it!

So if that classifies me as a terrorist...I am what I am!

It's Crunch Time

It's time for our pre-camp meetings. Deadlines are here and paperwork is due soon!

April 22nd...everyone going to camp needs to meet in the youth room @ 7:30 pm. Your paperwork will be handed out at that time.

THEN, Saturday, April 25th @ 9:00 am, parents and campers will meet in the Sanctuary to go over all the paperwork and get it turned in. It must be completed at that time. There will also be a question and answer time. I have made arrangements for a notary to be available in case you need one.

I am looking forward to another blessed week at camp. If you haven't checked out the web-site go to www.wildweek.com and www.campwow.com. Get ready!

Sense or Sensitivity

I have always thought of myself as having relatively good sense. Still at times I wonder! What is good sense anyway? Is it making right decisions? Is it knowing how to accomplish a certain task or work out a difficult problem? Or is it having sense enough to keep your mouth shut and walk away from what might become a bad situation. Sometimes we as adults think we have more sense than the younger generation. After all we have experience at life. But there are times when sense needs to give way to sensitivity. Being sensitive to the needs of others is what actually makes more sense in almost every situation.

Did you ever have a bad day? Have you ever needed a pat on the back? I certainly have, and if you've been around teens very long you know that many of them have as many bad days as they have good ones. Maybe a not so good report card; or perhaps a so called friend made fun of them or put them down in front of their peers. Or quite possibly they don't come from the best home environment. But praise the Lord they choose to come to church! Maybe they aren't dressed like we would prefer. They may even have holes in their jeans or smudges on their faces. But deep down on the inside they have feelings just like yours and mine.

The next time you see one of our students, or anyone else for that matter, who isn't smiling, or isn't wearing what we you think they should, give them a hug or a pat on the back or maybe even one of your smiles. They might be having a bad day. Be sensitive, which by the way shows good sense.

Who's account is it anyway?

How much is too much and how far is too far? I suppose those are age old questions. When it relates to us personally we have a tendency to draw some very definite lines. Sometimes we get pushed and shoved around until we throw up our hands and say "enough!"
Having recently learned (well maybe not completely), some lessons about deposits to and withdrawals from our personal accounts (not $'s in banks located in the town where we live, but our emotional banks), I'm fearful that for the most part I am overdrawn and in some cases on the verge of bankruptcy. Those words can relate to our account from which others withdraw or to the accounts of others from which we withdraw.

I am thankful that God's bank is never empty, even though there are times I'm sure He could say to me "enough!, you haven't made enough deposits to cover your withdrawals and your account is overdrawn." But instead, "Out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again."

He could have said "enough" when my sin debt became so great that it would have tested anyone elses love and patience, instead, "He bore my sin in His own body on the cross."

He could have said "enough" when my sin drove nails in His flesh and peirced His side; He could have called legions of angels to His rescue, instead He said, "It is finished!" and He died alone for you and ME.

Transaction completed! (An accounting term meaning... reconciled.)

So the next time we want to throw our hands up and say "enough"...or ask "how much is too much", or "how far is too far"...remember that "we owed a debt we could not pay and He paid a debt He did not owe" and that's called GRACE.

"Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8