Merry Christmas

The Christmas celebrations begin today. Our family schedule is:

Wednesday: go to my grandmothers (kids to the Crowders)
Thursday: Christmas breakfast at our house; go to the Millers at 2:00 pm
Friday: Visit a family in Dawson Springs
Saturday: Go to my mothers

It is busy but it is good. We get to share Christmas with our family and friends. So many people do not get to do that. I cannot complain. We are looking forward to it.

Sarah & Ross are coming home tonight. I don't know how many places they have to go.

Christmas

Christmas is just two days away. Cathy has much more of the responsibility than I do. I have come to the conclusion that the wife does most of the work on holidays. My job was basically help shop for the kids and I buy Cathy a gift. This year I think I got her a good one. She is hard to buy for. I am not allowed to buy her clothes (she picks her own out) or jewelry (she picks her own out). This narrows the field of possible gifts considerably but this year I think I got her. I think she is going to like it and not return it. Notice I have used the word think a lot.

Hope House Update

I have an update for the Hope House. After last Sunday we have raised $12,488.00! Is that incredible? First A/G is a generous church and I believe God is going to bless us for it. With one more offering we can reach the 15,000.00 mark!

Just a thought

There is one part of the wedding ceremony I think we ought to change. It is the "giving away the bride." I spent a whole lot of money on that wedding. We didn't give away anything.

Wedding Day

Today is finally here! I am taking it easy this morning. I have to be at the church dressed for pictures at noon. The wedding is at 2:00p.m. The rehearsal went well last night. The rehearsal dinner was great. Don Ploss out did himself. I think everything is ready. Time for a wedding.

Wedding Rehearsal

Tonight is the rehearsal. They are always a little chaotic but the wedding comes together. Today Cathy and Sarah are getting their nails done and getting in some girl time. I am going to spend the afternoon studying the ceremony and I still have to get ready for Sunday morning's service. I cannot let that slip by because I don't think I will have much time to study Sunday's sermon tomorrow.

In the midst of all the wedding preparations, I am looking forward to our Christmas service. We have a breakfast potluck during Sunday School and have communion in the morning service. It is a great way to celebrate Christmas. I am going to preach on peace. The angels said that the birth of Jesus brought peace to the earth. With all the wars the world has experienced since then, how is that so? We are going to learn that the Bible teaches we can experience two types of peace: peace with God and the peace of God. I hope on Sunday that we all experience both.

Wedding week, part 2

The wedding process has begun. We got candle stuff, communion stuff, etc. It is going to look nice. Cathy, Pam, and Sarah are buying more stuff. The check writing may never end! Just kidding.

The wedding is coming together and it is going to be a great day. Sarah will be a beautiful bride and things are coming together.

Charles & Tyler got home last night. They helped set stuff up at the church and we had lunch together. They are getting their tuxedos this afternoon.

75 Anniverary Service

I just got home for our second planning meeting for the 75th anniversary service. The opening night of district council is going to be a celebration service. I think it is going to be a great night. The theme is going to center around the concept of "past, present, and future." We are going to ask our pastors and congregations to invest into the children and young people of Kentucky. I am looking forward to it and it has been a privilege to participate in it.

Bad Weather

I have to be honest I am not a fan of cold weather. I am more of a sunny and warm guy. I am always amazed on how quick the schools close around here. You wake up in the morning and see the roads are clear but the schools are closed. I also wonder if the weathermen really know what is going to happen. You go to sleep thinking you will wake up to snow and ice and then again nothing.
I am suppose to drive to Louisville tomorrow for a meeting at the district office. I hope the roads are clear. Last January I went to a breakfast in Lexington and drove back in an ice storm. It was crazy. I should have stopped in Louisville but didn't. I am not doing that again.

Wedding Week

This officially "The wedding week." Sarah is getting married on Saturday. She is excited but there is a lot to do. I worked on the wedding ceremony today. That was a weird feeling. You are happy and sad at the same time. It is going to be a beautiful wedding. We hope the weather is good for those travelling from out of town. We have some driving in from far away (including Charles & Tyler.) Please keep us in prayer.

Flu

Last month I went to the doctor and got a flu shot. Yesterday I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with the flu. I spent three hours at the MOM clinic and waited another hour for the medicine. When you are sick the last thing you want to do is wait for four hours. And I am really tired of coughing.

Now I am finished feeling sorry for myself. I am going to work from the house today but I am going to prepare for tomorrow night's Bible study and on the 2009 budget.

I am really excited about what God is doing in our Sunday morning services. The presence of the Holy Spirit has been so strong and I believe that lives are being changed. I don't want to lose it.

Holiday Home Tour a Success

The Holiday Home Tour was a huge success and a lot of fun. Cathy and enjoyed going to all the homes and having everyone to our house. There is nothing like Christian fellowship. It also feels good to do good. All the proceeds from today will go to the Hope House in Sucua, Ecuador.

Tomorrow we will continue our series on "The Ministry of the Holy Spirit." The Bible teaches that joy comes from the Holy Spirit. The Christmas season is suppose to be a time of joy but research reveals that many people express loneliness, discouragement, and even depression during the Holiday season. Why is this? Come tomorrow and we will see what the Bible has to say about it.

The Gleaner

Did you see the newspaper today? That is the favor of God! What brought the favor about? It is missions. The idea that we were doing a home tour for a mission project caught the attention of our community. God blesses a church that blesses what is on His heart. I have always believed that if you take care of God's business, God will take care of your business. This is two weeks straight that our church has made the local paper and both times it was because of missions! You cannot put a price tag on that type of publicity.

Now that we have said we are going to support the Hope House we need to do it. Go on the home tour Saturday and come prepared to give on Sunday. We will take up a special offering every Sunday morning in December for the Hope House. I believe we can raise $10,000.00. Will you help?

2009

I have been doing some planning for 2009. I am getting really excited. There are two events that I am especially looking forward to.
1) Elaine Hollmer revival in January
2) Pentecost Today, a conference on the Holy Spirit in March. The guest speaker is Dr. Gary Denbow, president of Central Bible College

I believe these will get us off to a great start for 2009. I believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the key to a spiritual awakening in our church and spiritual transformation in our community. These are my hearts desire. We know Sister Hollmer is used in the spiritual gifts and then to have the president of our leading Bible college to come and teach us about the Holy Spirit is pretty awesome. Plan now to be a part of these great opportunities to draw closer to the Holy Spirit.

Church in The Gleaner

I am not feeling well today and would appreciate your prayers. In a few minutes The Gleaner is coming to our home to interview Cathy and I about the holiday home tour and Hope House. This is the favor of God. The church's Thanksgiving dinner was in the paper last week and now they are doing an article on our end of the year mission's project and fundraiser. God is good.

Leadership College at First A/G

I have a desire to start a leadership college at First Assembly. It would be 10 courses. They would come from Berean College which is a division of Global University. The Bible says we are to equip people for ministry. The courses would include:

Bible - Old Testament Survey, New Testament survey, How to study the Bible, The Gospels, and the Book of Acts.
Ministry- Leadership, Evangelism, and Counseling
Theology- Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine and Introduction to Theology
I think it would increase the discipleship in our church. I need help. Anybody interested?

Christmas Party

Tonight is the first Christmas party of the year. We are having our staff/board Christmas party. It is for full time employees, deacons, and trustees. I really appreciate those who serve in leadership at First A/G. Being a leader in the church can be a tough job with little outward rewards. We have men and women who serve faithfully and give it their all. Tonight Cathy and I get a chance to thank them.

Being in leadership has few outward rewards but the one of the benefits is the fellowship between leaders. When you spend time on the front lines together, you draw close. The best thing that has happened to me is that the leadership has stuck together. We have refused to allow things to cause division among us. I think the most important characteristic of church leadership is unity. You cannot become divided or allow dissension to destroy the unity of the body. You may disagree with one another at times but you stay together. Walking that tight rope is the difficult at times but absolutely necessary for church health. The leadership of First A/G has been successful in this matter. That is a reason to celebrate.

Random Thoughts

Today was another great day at First A/G. We had a wonderful service. I believe they get better each week. Cathy and I are enjoying some down time tonight. It has been a busy weekend but enjoyable. It is always good to be with family especially those from out of town. Thanksgiving is the only time of year I get to visit with some of them. Wouldn't miss it for anything.

Charles and Tyler went back to school after lunch. They should get back to the campus later tonight. They have 7:30 a.m. classes tomorrow.'

Now we are focusing on the wedding and Christmas. Tomorrow night is the staff/board Christmas party. The wedding is just over two weeks away. Sarah has her last dress fitting on Thursday.

Life just keeps going along. I am enjoying the ride.

Thanksgiving Celebration

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Ours has been busy but good. Thursday we went to my father's family for lunch and then to my mother's family for dinner. I ate way too much but we had a really good time. This is the only time of the year I get to see some family members.

Friday we traditionally go to a movie with my brother and my cousin Matthew and their families. The kids always enjoy it. Then we go to my parents house and have pizza together. This is one of my favorite times.

Today (Saturday) we are going to Cathy's family in Robards. They are nice enough to work around my family for Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to it.

I am really looking forward to service tomorrow. Last Sunday was a special service and I believe for more tomorrow. Hope everyone is able to come.

Thanksgiving

Wednesday night we had our thanksgiving dinner for our food pantry guests. It was a great night. I shared with the guests what I was most thankful for this year. Let me share them with you:

1) Charles & Tyler graduated from high school
2) Charles & Tyler enrolled into Central Bible College
3) So far we have been able to the college bill.
4) Sarah is getting married in December
5) Emma & Macey turned 1 and are doing well.
6) For a great family and church family

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Generosity

I was reflecting today about First A/G's generosity. We gave 145 shoe boxes full of toys to Samaritan's Purse missions project Operation Christmas Child. These are gifts that are given to the world's poorest children. Tonight we are having Thanksgiving Dinner for our Food Pantry guests. We will serve dinner to around 150 guests and give out around 150 food baskets. This is meeting the need of the neediest of our community. In December we will begin raising money for our end of the year mission project: Hope House. This is a residential home in the amazon jungle for girls that come out of overt poverty, prostitution, and even slavery. Our church is truly generous.

I believe giving is what the holiday season is all about. We live in such a consumer culture. It is easy to get caught up in it. We think more about what we want rather than what others need. I believe these service projects we do at the end of each year is important to help us to keep a proper perspective.

Charles & Tyler

We are waiting for Charles & Tyler to come home. We are really excited. It has been quite a while since we have seen them. This is the first time in our lives we have been separated from any of our children. It has reinforced the idea that the holidays are about family. This is the most excited we have been about thanksgiving in a long time because our family is going to be back together. For those parents who have all their children home, enjoy it and don't take it for granted. Also remember those families whose sons and daughters are serving overseas in the military and as missionaries.

My brother is coming to town tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing the babies again. I have not seen them since labor day weekend. They change so much at that age. I know they will not remember me, but hopefully they will warm up to me quickly.

Planning session

I went to the KY District office today for a planning session. 2009 is the 75th anniversary of the KY District Council. The opening night of District Council will be our celebration service. I am a member of the team planning the event. It should be a really exciting night. We are going to honor the past, celebrate the present, and invest into our future. We are putting together a creative team and praying about what investments we are asking our people to make but it is exciting. I really believe that the best days for the church are coming. Something in my spirit tells me that God is up to something. I am looking forward to the future.

Healing

We had a marvelous service today. I am always amazed at God's grace. I believe that God changed some lives today. I believe that some miracles of healing took place. So many times when we think of healing we think of broken bodies, but I have learned that some of the biggest hurts are broken hearts and spirits. Some of the deepest healing is those that need to occur on the inside of a person. I think God did some of that today. For those who came to the front, keep possession of your healing through faith. God did something special today.

Home from Fall Fling

Cathy and I just got back from the youth convention. It was really good. Each service was incredible. I think our young people were really blessed. This is one of those trips were everything went right. The band was great, the kids were good, the speakers were right on, and God showed up. Cathy and I have been on a lot of these trips, but this one would rank right up there with the best of them. Glad we got to go.

Life Principles

I have been working on something in my personal devotionals. Psalm 119 uses the word principles several times. The Psalmist says teach me your principles. I have been making a list of "life principles." Biblical principles that I want to live my life by. It is an unfinished product. So far I have written 31 of them. The list may grow or shrink as I work on it. For the next several days I want to share some with you. My first life principle is this: "Knowing God is my highest calling." There is nothing more important in life than to know and experience God. If I only do one thing in a day it has to be to know God more. Knowing God is the key to everything else: my marriage, kids, money, etc.

I will continue sharing my life principles when we get back from the youth convention (remember to pray for us). In the mean time begin thinking and writing your own. What Biblical principles are you living by.

Random Thoughts

Tomorrow we are going to Fall Fling. It is the A/G youth convention. Cathy and I are really looking forward to it. It has been a long time since we have gone on a youth trip. Pray for us.

I spoke with Bill McDonald today. He said his grand daughter is doing well. They are still waiting about the surgery. They should know more in the next few days but for now baby and mother are doing well. Praise the Lord. God answers prayer.

This Sunday I will continue teaching on the Holy Spirit. The teaching will be "The Holy Spirit is Wonderful." I believe that God is going to bless us abundantly.

Saw some snow flurries this afternoon. It seems a little early for snow but it was pretty. It is going to be a cold weekend. I hope it warms up some for Thanksgiving.

Charles and Tyler are coming home next Tuesday. We can't wait to see them.

Youth Trip

This weekend Cathy and I are taking the youth to Fall Fling. It has been a long time since I was on a youth trip but I am looking forward to it. Pastor Steve is working on his house and wants to be with Leslie, so we are going on the road. I am getting ready for a long ride in a church van, lots of pizza, and no sleep. The good side is the speakers that are scheduled are awesome. I believe the services are going to be great. Pray for us and for the kids.

We have a baby.

I received an email from Bill McDonald. It says "all went well. 6lbs. 11oz 19.25 inches. No immediate surgery needed. We will know more later."

Saturday

Today is work around the house. Cathy and I painted a bathroom and are working on Christmas decorations. Our house in on First A/G's holiday home tour. It is a fund raiser for missions. We need to get a lot done this weekend. Next weekend we are going to Fall Fling and then it is Thanksgiving. The home tour is on December 6. It is only three weeks away. It will be fun though.

Breakfast with Kristen

Today I got to take my niece, Kristen, to breakfast. I don't get to spend much time with her, especially alone. She is in for the day and we got to spend some time together. It was fun. I believe in the importance of the extended family. There was a time in our nation that you lived close to your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Now a days families are more spread out and we do not always live close to one another, so it takes more effort to have influence over your extended family, but it is worth it. I believe we can have an impact on our families. We do not want to reach the whole world and lose our own families. We need to make the effort to spend time with them. The holiday season is coming and it is a perfect time to do so. Make time this year to spend extra time with your family.

A Visitation of the Holy Spirit

Last night I had a wonderful experience. Before I went to sleep I was reading a book on the Holy Spirit. Later in the evening I was awakened and experienced the presence of God. It is hard to explain or to put into words but you know it is God. I just stayed in my bed and my mind was full of thoughts about the Holy Spirit, how great and wonderful He is. I do not know how long it lasted but it was incredible. It is one of those moments you live for. A few moments in the presence of God gives you a taste of what heaven is like. For those who have never experienced this, I know it must sound weird, but all I know is I was blind but now I see. I cannot explain it but I can tell you about it. God filled my room, my heart, and my mind. God is a today God. God is a personal God. God is a now God. The Bible teaches that if we seek God with all our hearts, we will find Him. You can have a personal encounter with God as well.

Family Night

Wednesday night is family night at First A/G. We have family meal at 5:30 p.m. Tonight we are having barbecue and all the fixings. At 7:00 p.m. we have our family ministries. There is Missionettes for the girls, Royal Rangers for the boys, G7 youth ministries for our young people, and adult Bible study and prayer for the adults. It is a night that the whole family gets ministered to.

In the Adult Bible Study we are going to learn about establishing memorials in our lives. The concept is that remembering what God has done in the past builds faith for the present. I am going to give each person an opportunity to build a memorial by remembering what God has done in your past and then we will spend time in prayer for the present.

Holiday Home Tour

I had a really good day today. It was one of those days that I felt like a pastor. I visited two people in the hospital and led one of them in the salvation prayer. I made some plans for Christmas. I prepared for CLASS 301. I wrote a letter to be mailed out to the congregation. I prepared for Sunday's sermon. I think I got a lot done and made a difference in some people's lives.

One of the Christmas plans we made for First A/G is a Holiday Home Tour. This is a fundraiser for our end of the year mission's project Hope House. We preparing to have five homes from our church and the church sanctuary on a tour. They will decorate for Christmas and we will charge $10.00 per person. All proceeds will go to the home in Ecuador that houses girls that have experienced severe abuse, prostitution, and even slavery. It is a great project and I believe a great fund raiser. It will be fund and go to a good cause.

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning I am going to teach on "Four Principles for the Operation of the Holy Spirit." Paul teaches in I Corinthians 14 how the gifts of the Spirit are suppose to operate in a corporate worship service. The church in Corinth was a Pentecostal church where the gifts of the Spirit were evident. The church was having some difficulty and was becoming divided. Paul wrote this church a letter that taught the church about spiritual gifts and how they were to be demonstrated. Paul not only spoke about how the Holy Spirit ministered to the individual but how the Holy Spirit ministered to the whole body. I hope you are able to be there Sunday. I believe God has something special for us.

Spending the day with Cathy

Today I am going to spend the day with Cathy. Sarah and Ross went to Springfield to visit Charles & Tyler so Cathy and I are alone this weekend. We are looking forward to it. We have talked about taking a drive, having lunch together, doing a little shopping, and anything else we want to do. We are looking forward to it.

A Great Day

Cathy and I had a great day yesterday. We spent the day visiting some couples in our church. We really enjoyed ourselves. First A/G is made up of some of the best people on earth. We were given such hospitality and kindness. It was one of those days that you are thankful to be pastors at First.

This Sunday I am preaching on "The Ministry of the Holy Spirit." We will learn how the Holy Spirit helps us in everyday life. I think it is going to be a great day. At the altar time we are going to give people an opportunity to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit or to receive a fresh filling of the Spirit. If you do not know what that means, come to the service and check it out.

Don't forget that we are sponsoring "Samaritan's Purse" this holiday season. Cathy and I are going this weekend to get our shoe boxes. We are going to give one for a boy and one for a girl.

Conference on the Holy Spirit

Yesterday I worked on the calendar for 2009. I think we are going to try something new next year. Many of our people like to go to conferences. It is a good time of renewal. I think next year we are going to try to host a conference. I want it to be a "conference on the Holy Spirit." I want it to be a weekend where we all receive a fresh filling of God's presence in our lives. I am currently working on scheduling the speakers and confirming dates. We will need help putting together promotional materials and figuring out all the details. I would like for churches across the region to participate. Please pray with me. I want this to be God's will and I want to think big.

Election Results

Today is the day after! Some of your candidates won and some of your candidates lost. This is true for me. This morning I was thinking, "what is the right response the day after the election?"

1) Continue to pray for our nation.
2) Be civil. The Bible clearly teaches us to obey our authority.
3) Stand for righteousness. Speak up for the unborn, marriage, etc.
4) Trust in God. Jesus is your saviour, healer, and provider. Place your trust in Him.

This is a day of great opportunity for believers. We can be the voice of righteousness. We can demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and civility. We can demonstrate faith in God. This is not a bad day but a great day. A day the Lord has made.

Vote for Jesus

Today I got the privilege to vote. I really do believe it is an honor. Men and women have shed their blood for our nation's freedom. Families have had an empty seat at their dinner table because their sons and daughters gave the greatest sacrifice for America. I believe that gives me the responsibility to vote. I do not understand why so many citizens fail to exercise their duty. I hope all of you voted today.

Thinking of the sacrifice our soldiers made for us naturally reminds me of the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us. He shed his blood that we might be saved. Jesus has provided for our freedom from sin, death, and the grave. If you have not received that freedom, I strongly encourage you to do so today. Vote for Jesus!

Vote

I encourage everyone to vote tomorrow. I believe it is our civic responsibility. The Bible teaches that believers are to be good citizens. I am going to the church for our prayer meeting. I am seeking God's will for America.

Today I was in Louisville at the District office. We had a departmental meeting. It was really good. We do not get together very often. Most of the district department heads also pastor a church or have another full time job. We are volunteers. They are a great group of people. They love God and love our Kentucky pastors and churches. There was a good energy in the room. Pastor Joe, our district superintendent, does a wonderful job. It was a good day.

Election

Tuesday is an important day in our nation. Every four years we elect our president. He is considered the leader of the free world. I believe it is the civic duty of every believer to vote. I encourage you to vote Tuesday for the candidate of your choice. Monday night we are having a prayer meeting. I believe it is good to gather and pray for our nation and God's will on the eve of election day. They prayer meeting is 6:30 till 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Step up and spend some time in prayer for America.

Surviving an Economic Crisis

This Sunday I am giving a special message. I am teaching on "Surviving an Economic Crisis." I believe the Bible teaches a great deal about how to handle our money. If we manage our money God's Way, we can survive any crisis, whether it be on a national or personal scale. Tomorrow I will teach Four Principles to Succeed Financially.

Monday night I am calling a special prayer meeting. This Sunday begins 21 days of prayer. I believe our church needs to set some time aside and seek God. Monday is especially strategic because it is the day before the election. We will pray in the sanctuary from 7 to 8 p.m. The Pastor's Cabinet will meet from 6:30 to 7.

Day Off

Today I am going to mow the yard hopefully for the last time. It is not a job I enjoy doing but since the boys are at school, it is mine to do. I will also clean up my car. It needs it really bad. The inside is kind of embarrassing. At least I am going to have pretty weather. This is not exactly an exciting day off but you got to do what you got to do.

Prayer Breakfast

Today Cathy and I went to Owensboro for a minister's prayer breakfast. Ministers from Henderson, Madisonville, and Owensboro gather monthly to learn, encourage, and pray for one another. It is an important time. I think pastors have it more difficult today than ever before. I see many pastors discouraged and ready to give up. Only other ministers can understand what others pastors go through. These monthly meetings are very important. In addition to the monthly prayer breakfast next year we are going to try to begin monthly small groups for pastors and their spouses. I think it is a great idea. Please pray for our pastors and ministers. They need it. Thanks.

Mission Service

Last night I was working on the power point for the service tomorrow night. I think you will enjoy the pictures. We had a great trip. The service begins at 7:00 p.m. For our family dinner we are having fried chicken. That sounds really good. Dinner begins at 5:30. Hope you are able to come.

Day 6 Thursday

Thursday was our sightseeing day. We took a train to Paris. The train was comfortable, a step up from coach on a plane. I slept most of the way there. I think the rest of the train was awake because of my snoring. Cathy finally elbowed me.

In Paris we took a double decker bus to the major sights. You could get off and stay at one place as long as you wanted. Buses came about every 20 minutes and would take you to the next stop. This was a good way to see the city but also visit the sights. Our first stop was to Notre Dame. It was an incredible church. For lunch we ate a ham & cheese sandwich from a street vendor. We then went to the ritzy shopping district. Great to look at but beyond our pocketbook. Then we went to the highlight of the day, the Eiffel Tower. It was incredible. The walk up to it was wonderful. The views from the top were breathtaking. I gave Cathy a kiss from the top.

For dinner Janice, Melody, Cathy, and I went to an Italian place (yes I know Italian in France). It was really good. Overall it was a once in a lifetime day.

Day 5 Wednesday

Wednesday was our busiest ministry day. In the morning we went to the Continental Theological Seminary. Their present student body represents over 20 countries. Their alumni serve in over 70 nations. All the classes are offered in English and French. It is truly an international university. The students are not only trained in ministry but get to learn in an diverse environment. I had the privilege of preaching in their chapel and Cathy got to teach a youth ministry class. It was a real honor and a lot of fun. We got a tour of the facilities and had lunch with the students.

That afternoon we visited the Gaasbeek Castle. It was built in the 1500's. It was amazing. It looked like something out of a fairy tale.

That evening we went to the youth service at International Christian Center. One of the members of our team ministered to the youth and at the end we prayed for each student. Their youth service was very similar to ours. They don't play a lot of games but go after God.

It was a full and satisfying day.

Day 4 Tuesday

Tuesday we toured the European Union. It would be similar to going to the capital in Washington DC. It was interesting. The former Roman empire plays an important role in the end times. As I was sitting there I thought "decisions will be made in this room that will affect the end of the world." We then went to the European Union Chapel. We spent time in prayer for Europe and our world. It was a holy time.

We took that afternoon off and rested because Tuesday night was the regular meeting of "Students for Christ." They meet in the Turley's apartment. It was gratifying to see the fruit of their ministry. Students from all over the world are a part of their ministry. They had a visitor that night from China. He knew nothing about Christ. I mean no knowledge at all. He had heard of Jesus but did not know anything about Him. He was checking all of us out pretty close but he seemed to enjoy himself. His name is Pong. Please pray for his salvation.

It was another full day. To be honest if I had not taken a nap that afternoon I would have been in trouble because Wednesday and Thursday were our busiest days.

Day 3

On Monday we got to help the local church with their mission fundraiser. Cathy and I missed working on the burgoo but we did help with the "Apple Dumpling Gang." The church in Belgium sells homemade apple pies for missions. They don't sell a few but over 1000! They profit close to $9000.00 We helped peal apples. I mean a lot of apples. To be honest, I was not very good at it.

We spent the rest of the morning touring the European Ministries Center. The Assemblies of God World Missions headquarters for all of Europe is in Belgium. They have an office complex that serves Convoy of Hope, Church Planting, Euro boost, Masters Commission, and more. We met all of the missionaries and spent time encouraging them. They made us lunch. It was a great time of learning and fellowship.

We spent the afternoon touring Brussels. It is a beautiful city. Next Wednesday night we will show you pictures. We did a little shopping but most of that happened on Friday.

Day 2

On Sunday went to a church service at International Christian Center. It is a church of diversity. They have several nationalities in the church. The pastor preaches in English but the service is translated in many languages. It was really neat to go there.

Sunday afternoon we went to Waterloo, the place of the famous battle with Napoleon. After that we visited Villeirs Abbey ruins a 12th century Cistercian Abbey. It was incredible. Other than Paris it was the highlight of the trip for me. It was like walking through Narnia. It was a beautiful place.

That night we went prayer walking at another university. We saw what they call baptisms. Students join "circles" which are similar to fraternities. They have to go through an initiation. They do part of them out on the streets of the college. They looked occultic. They were chanting and doing other things. It was creepy. You could sense the spiritual darkness. I kept thinking what are these students opening themselves up to. It was definitely an eye opening experience.

We ended the day by going to a restaurant and ate crepes. To be honest it was my least favorite meal. I didn't like it very much but the food was so good that it is hard to complain.

First Day

We left for Belgium Friday afternoon from Louisville, when we landed it was 7:30 a.m. in Belgium. We took our luggage to the Turley's apartment and had an orientation. Most of the group members had never met before. We represented all of Kentucky. Then they took us to the university campus where they begun their ministry Students for Christ. This is a "free" university which means it is free from God and any mention of Christ. You cannot do evangelism on the campus but on the public sidewalk leading into the university. Steve and Deanne have been escorted off the campus many times. Steve gave us a tour of the university and we spent time prayer walking. Europe is a dark continent and needs much prayer. The spiritual forces of evil over Europe must be defeated. We then drove around a second campus and prayed for it. After that we checked into our hotel rooms. Our room was small but neat, clean, had a comfortable bed, and hot water. That night we ate at the Turley's. Deanne made spaghetti. It was really good. By this time we were all pretty tired and ready for a good night's sleep.

Mission Trip

We had a great trip to Belgium. Our sightseeing day in Paris was incredible. That is an incredible city. In the USA we think that a building that is 100 is old. In Europe buildings are hundreds of years old. They build nothing out of wood, everything is stone. It is a totally different look and feel. There is a sense of history there. This week I will be giving you a day by day look about our trip.

News from the boys

Charles called today. He was elected Freshman class president at CBC. He was pretty excited. Tyler lost Vice-President by 2 votes in a runoff. Cathy and I are proud of both of them.

Belgium Trip

Cathy and I are leaving for Belgium tomorrow. We are leading a KY District Mission trip with Steve & Deanne Turley. They are great missionaries and this will be my first trip there. I am really looking forward to it. We will be prayer walking, ministering to college students, going to the European Union Chapel, and more. For our free day we are going to Paris! It is just a train ride from Brussels. There are 10 people from KY going. Please pray for us. I will not be blogging on the trip. I won't have Internet access. We will return on October 18.

Possessing Your Promise

This morning I have been preparing for the Bible Study tonight. I am continuing the teaching "Possessing your Promise." It is a study of Joshua. The book of Joshua is about how God enabled the nation of Israel to possess the promise land. It teaches principles for us to possess our promise. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying for the series. It has been coming alive in me. I know when it comes alive in me it usually translates and helps others. Hope you are able to be there tonight. Because of fall break we are not having our family dinner, missionettes, or Royal Rangers but youth ministries and adult Bible study and prayer are on regular schedule.

Galapagos Islands

We are planning a mission trip to Galapagos Islands. It will be a life changing trip. I encourage everyone to consider going. This really is a once in a lifetime trip. If you are interested contact Chris & Michele Nally.

Praise Report

I have a praise report. Cathy's mother, Beverly, had a medical procedure today. They put in a pace maker. Her heart rate had been low. They did a heart cath and it turned out fine. There is no blockage or damage. She should get out of the hospital tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers.

Prayer

What is the best planning meeting? I believe it is a prayer meeting! How can a church plan until it has heard from God. That is why we are changing our deacon meeting tonight into a prayer meeting. I believe the church needs to slow down and for the next three months spend time seeking God's face. Remember it is His church. We want to make sure we hear from Him and are in His will. By spending the last three months of 2008 in prayer, we can go into 2009 knowing that we are in the center of His will. Join me tonight at 6:30 in the sanctuary for prayer. It is open to everyone.

Dog

We are facing a family crisis. Our dog will not sleep. That may not seem like a big deal, but when the dog does not sleep, Cathy and I do not sleep. We have tried everything. We have bribed, disciplined, begged, kennelled, etc. Nothing works. She has never done this before. Cathy and I thinks she began acting this way when the boys went to school. We don't know if she is mourning that the boys or gone or what. Cathy's routine has also changed in that she is spending three days a week at the detention center. Animals need a routine and ours has changed. All I know is that I am becoming sleep deprived. She will not let me sleep. Anybody want a dog?

Fasting and Prayer

I am sensing a real prompting to call First A/G to a time of fasting and prayer. I think we will begin Monday night by turning the deacon meeting into a prayer meeting. We will continue to focus on prayer on Wednesday nights and we will call the first 21 days of November a time of fasting and prayer. I think we need God to work in a mighty way. Will you join me?

Great Day

Today was a really good day. This morning I taught the seminar Class 201: Experiencing Spiritual Maturity. It is a class that teaches the four spiritual habits that will lead to you becoming more like Jesus. We had over 20 take the class and it was great. The information in this class is so good that I highly recommend it for every person.

This afternoon we went to the Miller Reunion. It was at Cathy's parents farm. They had a good turnout and perfect weather. I think Cathy had a good time visiting with extended family.

Tomorrow we have a surprise guest speaker. I was planning on preaching but yesterday I received a call from Bill McDonald. He had a cancellation and was available. I told him to come on down and preach for me. He will minister in the morning service.

It has been a great day.

Listening to God

I have written a lot lately about transitions. Cathy and I are going through a transition period in our lives as the boys have left for college and Sarah is getting married. We are going to experience the empty nest. Cathy is now spending three days a week at the Detention Center and our daily schedule and routines are different. We are transitioning. I believe that God speaks during these times. I believe it is a time to raise your antenna and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If you are in a time of change be attentive to what God might be doing in your life. Don't just jump into any and every thing but be open to God and what He is speaking to you.

Burgoo

Tonight we are having Burgoo for dinner. We freeze some burgoo every year and eat it all year long. It is great. I know I am biased but I think First Assembly makes the best burgoo in town. The best thing about it is all the proceeds goes to missions. When our church goes on a construction missions trip the monies we make from the burgoo purchase the materials for the project. This way First A/G is not only providing free labor but we are providing free materials. This make it a win/win for our missionaries. The burgoo is October 18. We need lots of volunteers on October 17 & 18. Go to the welcome center or call the church office if you are interested.

Wednesday night teaching series

Tonight I am beginning a new teaching series "Taking Possession of our Promise Land." It is a study of the book of Joshua. Joshua was the leader of Israel when they entered into the promise land. I believe it has principles that we can learn to enter into our own promise land. The promise land does not just represent heaven. It is the quality of life we are to live after we are saved. It includes heaven but it begins at the moment you are saved. Jesus said he came to give you an abundant life. That is one of my favorite promises in the Bible. So on Wednesday nights we are going to learn how to take possession of our promise land.

Wedding Anniversary

Cathy and I celebrated our anniversary yesterday. We went to Cork n Cleaver for lunch and I bought Cathy flowers. She got me a great card. It has been 13 great years. I married way over my head.

Last night we went to Sectional Council. This is an annual meeting of the Assemblies of God officers of the Pennyrile Section. The section includes A/G churches in the Henderson, Owensboro, and Madisonville area. We elect officers, conduct business, and have fellowship. It was a good night. My friend Lewis Nall was elected presbyter. Presbyter is a Greek word that means elder, pastor, or leader. Lewis will pastor the pastors in our section. I am happy for him. He will do a good job.

I am looking forward to tonight's service. We are having pasta for dinner and I am beginning a new series on Joshua in the service. We always spend time praying for one another on Wednesday nights.

Chi Alpha

Tonight I am meeting in Evansville with several local ministers. We are meeting with the regional Chi Alpha director. Chi Alpha is a ministry that focuses on college campuses.The local universities have no Chi Alpha ministry. There are thousands of students in this area that are making the most important decisions of their life with little or no spiritual influence. Chi Alpha has been proven to be effective in reaching and disciplining college students. We are getting together to discuss the possibility of starting campus ministries at USI and U of E. These are large universities that need ministries. Please pray for us as we meet tonight that God's will be done. We need unity, God's presence, and His direction.

The movie "Fireproof"

Cathy and I went with Chris & Michele to see the movie "Fireproof." It was an excellent movie. It has thoroughly christian. It gives a great gospel message. It also emphasis the importance of marriage and how to make it better. I highly recommend it.

Saturday Serve

We had a great day today. We went to Community park where we painted, trimmed trees. striped the basketball court, pulled up old bushes, trimmed more trees, cleaned up the tennis courts, raked all the play ground areas, and more. There was a big turnout and I think everyone had fun. Thanks to everyone who came out. Today Henderson is a little better place to live.

Tomorrow I am continuing the teaching series, "The Dreamer." We will learn that our dreams sometimes go in the opposite direction. Hope to see you there.

Home from vacation

I am home. We had a great time in Springfield, MO. We had a good visit with Charles & Tyler. They are doing real well. They look like they are happy. They have made several friends and everyone on the campus has been real nice. We went to a class with them on Tuesday and we visited their chapel service Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The most important thing we did was take them out to eat every night. They are tired of cafeteria food. I think they miss Mama's cooking.

In addition to seeing the boys we got to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousin. We went out to eat with them and then to their house for dessert. Tuesday and Thursday we went to Branson and Cathy and my mom did a lot of shopping. Cathy found her dress for Sarah's wedding. My dad and I got a little bored. We did read a little.

Tomorrow I am getting up early and going to community park. It is our first Saturday Serve. We are going to spend the morning cleaning up the park and making Henderson a better place to live.

Vacation

We had an incredible response this morning in our ReachHenderson service. We had Representatives from six of our ministry partners. Each gave us an update of their ministry and their present needs. We took up an offering for them and then prayed for each minister and ministry. Thanks to everyone who participated. First A/G is an loving outreach centered church.

Tomorrow Cathy and I begin our vacation. We are going with my parents to Springfield, MO to visit Charles and Tyler. We also hope to spend a day or two visiting Branson, MO. Because I will be gone I will not update the blog next week but you can keep up with me and what we are doing on vacation on Facebook. If you do not have a Facebook account, sign up and then request me to be your friend. I will keep my status up to date.

Hope you have a great week.

Busy Saturday

I have a busy day for a Saturday. I am going to the hospital. Bob Gish's mother had surgery yesterday. I am going to the funeral home in Sebree. My great aunt passed away. And finally we are going to Robards to celebrate Cathy's mothers and Katie's birthday. So I will be in Evansville, Sebree, and Robards. Don't you love these gas prices?

I am looking forward to our ReachHenderson service tomorrow.

ReachHenderson Service

This Sunday is our ReachHenderson service. Representatives from our local ministry partners will be in the service. I will give each member a five minute interview and they will give us an update of their ministry in the last year. Each of our Connection groups sponsor one of the ministries. It has been a great for our church to make a difference in our community. First A/G is committed to make Henderson a better place to live. I hope you are able to attend. This is one of the most exciting meaningful services we have.

Women's Retreat

Saturday we have our women's retreat here at the church. It is an annual event where the ladies seek God together. This year Donna Latham is the speaker. She is excellent and God uses her to minister around the altar. They are going to have a great day.

I believe we all need to set aside time to seek God. That could be at a retreat or conference setting or it could be to spend a day with God or to go away by yourself. I try to take a personal retreat every year. I go away for an evening spend the time by myself seeking God. I usually will go to one of Kentucky's state parks. I cherish those times.

Another thing I do is I go to the Leadership Summit every year. It is a conference for church leaders. It is based out of Chicago but their are satellite locations all over the country. I am to attend in Evansville. This makes it cost effective but I get challenged every time I go.

I encourage you to do something special with God. Find what fits you and what inspires you the most. Pray for our ladies Saturday as they go after God.

Financial Markets

I don't know if I understand everything in the news concerning the financial markets. I know none of it sounds good. I don't worry too much about it. I learned a long time ago who my source is. My source is not my employer, it is not the government, it is not the global economy. It is God. God has always been and will always be my provider. His provision is consistent. God is faithful in good economic times and bad. God is not controlled by the financial markets. God is not caught by surprise. God is always in charge. I encourage you to trust in your God. Be faithful in your giving. He will be faithful to you.

Wednesday Night Meals

I am looking forward to service tomorrow night. In our family meal we are having meatloaf. That is one of my favorites. Then I love the prayer service. It is good to have a time that we as a church spends to pray. Prayer is what we need to do the most. Prayer works. Prayer brings answers.

A Wild Sunday

Yesterday was a wild day. We had church in the dark. Right as service was beginning the electricity went out. We only had the emergency lighting. We had no sound and no air conditioner. It was crazy but we refused to let circumstances defeat us. We went ahead and baptized 21 and received 19 new members. The best part, even though attendance was down, is that one person was saved! God is so good.

Yesterday afternoon we went to Cathy's parents. They live on a farm and had a few trees down. We helped them clean up some and then came home to the dark. We didn't get electricity until around 7:00 p.m. It was a fun day.

This experience did help me emphasize with those who live in Texas and Louisiana. Can you imagine 100 miles per hour winds? Many of them have no power or water. Please keep them in prayer.

Prayer Request

Charles & Tyler called last night. One of their professors died in a motorcycle accident. He had a wife and I believe four children. He was the chairman of the youth ministry department. The boys were beginning to get to know him. The college campus is mourning. Please be in prayer for his family, the students, and faculty.

Trevor Foster

I went to watch Trevor Foster play football today. He lost 7-6 but played real well. Trevor likes to hit!

Tomorrow we receive new members and have water baptism. I will continue the series "The Dreamer." It should be a great day.

Tonight it is USC vs Ohio State. I will be watching (until I fall asleep anyway.)

Boys Update

We got some good news today. Tyler got a job on campus at CBC. He will make phone calls in the evenings to prospective students. It will give him some spending money and help with car insurance. Now pray with us that Charles can find an on campus job.

Weekend

I am looking forward to the weekend. This Sunday we will receive 21 new members and baptize around 30 people. It should be an exciting day.

Some of our men went to a men's conference this weekend. Pray for them. I think this will be a great time for them.

Cathy and I try to take a date every weekend. It is not much dinner or some time together but we strongly believe in spending time together alone. We need to reconnect every week in some way. Sometimes it is as simple as taking a long drive but with the gas prices we don't do that much anymore. We drive somewhere and park and talk.

Talking about gas prices I found one of our old budget sheets. It was not long ago that Cathy and I budgeted 35 dollars a week for gas for both cars. Now $35.00 will not fill up one. Times are changing.

Kingdom Thinking

I just got back from our district office in Crestwood, KY. I serve as the district mission director and twice a year I chair a committee of pastors that is responsible for promoting missions across our state. We had a great meeting today. There is something uplifting when pastors sit around a table and discuss how to promote and expand missions in the state of Kentucky. We get up to date information concerning what is happening around the world, we are told of the challenges facing our missionaries and we try to come up with solutions. I believe it is a God honoring thing to do our best thinking with God's blessings to find kingdom solutions.

Tonight's Guest

Tonight Steve Lehman is going to be our guest. Steve is the regional director of Chi Alpha. This means he oversees all the A/G college ministries in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. He was here a few years ago and did a wonderful job. I am looking forward to seeing him again.

We have our family dinner at 5:30 and the service at 7:00. Hope to see you there.

Iraq

One of my best friends is Lewis Nall who pastors an A/G church in Owensboro. His son is being redeployed to Iraq this weekend. He will have a dangerous assignment. Please keep Lewis and his family in prayer. Cathy and I have struggled with sending our sons to Bible College seven hours away. I cannot imagine sending my son to a war across the world.

This reminds me that whenever we think we have it bad, there is always someone who has it worse. Self-pity never accomplishing anything. It always makes things worse. It usually paralyzes us from the action that would make things better. Reject self-pity and get into action that matters.

Beautiful Weather

This has been the most beautiful weather. I love days like yesterday and today. The Connection group I attend joined with two other groups and had a picnic at Audubon Park. It was the perfect day to be outside. We had a great time visiting with one another and ate some great food, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Great Day

I have good news. We had 30 people attend the membership class this morning and I think most of them have decided to join the church. Next Sunday is going to be a great day. We will baptize 20 new believers and receive around 30 new members. Can't be much better than that.

Tomorrow I will continue the teaching series, "The Dreamer, part 2" It is also our second anniversary of our Connection Groups. We will recognize and honor our Connection leaders, interns, Pace Leaders, and Host homes. It is going to be a wonderful service.

Brokenness

Tomorrow I am teaching the new membership class. I am really looking forward to it. We have over 20 signed up for the class. I have set up for 30. God is so good. I am learning that brokenness and dependence is the exact state that God wants you to be in. That is the state that God can bless you and trust you with His blessings. The Bible teaches us to hunger and thirst. Hunger and thirst are not pleasant feelings. In fact they are painful. Yet that is the condition God teaches us to be in. Hunger, thirst, brokenness, and dependence are words that describe the state you need to be in, in order to receive the blessings and abundance that God desires to pour out. Most people are not willing to pay the price. They want a quick and easy way to God's blessing. So many times spiritual principles are opposite of human principles. We must retrain our minds to think the way God thinks and to believe the way God believes. God desires to bless you today but you must put yourself in the position God can.

NFL Football

Tonight is one of the best nights of the year. It is the first game of the NFL season. I cannot wait! It has been a long time since the super bowl but it has finally arrived. Men can have the television back. I will be watching tonight. Thank goodness for something to watch other than politics. I believe in being informed so I can vote intelligently but two weeks of conventions is enough for me. Back to something really important like football.

Food Pantry

I mentioned this last Sunday but it does not get mentioned enough. Last Wednesday our Food Pantry gave food to 130 families in our community. This is incredible. In addition to the food they receive, each person attends a Bible Study and is prayed for. It is a whole person ministry.

First A/G wants to unleash unprecedented acts of compassion in our community. On September 27, we are partnering with our city parks department to refurbish a local park. This will give children and families in our community a safe and attractive place to go. First A/G is committed to making Henderson a better place to live. Join with us to make compassion a priority in our church and our lives.

Hurricane

Please pray for those hit by the hurricane. My roommate from college pastors a church in Baton Rouge, LA. It wasn't quote a "hurricane" but they experienced 100 a mile winds and a lot of damage. I am glad I do not live there. Many families are rebuilding again and churches are stretched to the limit as they try to clean up, minster to people, and reach out to the hurting. I believe we are to pray for our brothers and sisters when they are in need. In the Book of Acts there is a record of drought and famine. The early church gathered their resources and sent aid to those in need. The church today should do the same. As I receive information I will send it to you.

Louisville

We are going to visit my brother in Louisville today. It has been awhile since we have been there. Sarah and Ross are going with us. It is days like today that we miss Charles and Tyler but my parents are grandmother are going as well. Hope everyone has a good day.

UK 27 UL 2

Kentucky beat Louisville today in football. This our big rivalry and we have beat them two years in a row. It is always a good day when Kentucky beats Louisville in anything.

UK 27 UL 2

Kentucky beat Louisville today in football. This our big rivalry and we have beat them two years in a row. It is always a good day when Kentucky beats Louisville in anything.

A Great Saturday

This is a beautiful Saturday morning. Cathy and I got up this morning and went for a walk. I did my prayer time, worked some more in the yard, and cleaned up a little around the house. I am looking forward to spending the afternoon watching college football. Football is finally back. They make Saturday and Sunday afternoon's worth living! This is turning out to be a great holiday weekend.

Tomorrow we are having family communion, Sunday School promotion and I am beginning a new sermon series entitled, "The Dreamer." Pentecostals are dreamers and we will look at the life of Joseph as of how God fulfills His dreams for His purposes.

Tomorrow night most of our Connection groups are taking a break even though some are having cookouts. Contact your leader for more information.

Yard Work

I finished taking care of the yard. I have extra chores now that Charles and Tyler are at school. I have to pick up the slack.

I am really excited about what God is doing. I believe we will have a great service this Sunday.

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

Emma and Macey

Emma and Macey are in town. They are my nieces. They will be one year old on September 3. They are beginning to walk and say a few words. They are really cute. It is going to be fun spending some time with them this weekend.

I am looking forward to some rest this weekend. For a lot of different reasons the last few weeks and months have been draining. I am really looking forward to some down time.

Sharing

We experienced a great service last night. God has been so good to us and has blessed us with His presence. I go to services with a sense of expectancy, anxiously waiting for what God is going to do next. When I got home last night I asked myself, why. Why is God pouring out His Spirit upon us? See, I know that God has a purpose in everything He does. One of those purposes is God likes to bless His children. He wants to pour out His Spirit upon us. He delights in healing the sick and setting captives free. I also believe He has another purpose though. God purposes always include the planet. God is pouring out His Spirit upon us, so we can be a witness in His world. We can not hold the blessing just for ourselves, we must share them with others. If you believe God is doing something special in our church, then share the word. Tell others about what God is doing. Invite someone to come with you. Let's not hoard God's blessing. Let's share it with others.

Charles and Tyler

I talked to Charles today. It was pretty cool. Tyler has not called yet. If you want to see what their dorm room looks like, go to downloads and then photos. We have posted some pictures of their room.

Cathy's Ministry

Cathy was appointed Assistant Chaplain at the County Jail today. She will work under Miss Faye in the woman's program. She will work with some of the harder cases. Today she counseled and prayed for the woman that killed the social work before she was transferred to federal prison. I didn't think Cathy would ever do this, but she loves it. Please pray for her. She is ministering to some real hard cases. I believe we will see fruit from this.

The Holy Spirit

I am really excited about the service tonight. I believe our church is experiencing a fresh move of God's Spirit. The word that keeps coming to me is movement. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is like the wind. You cannot see the wind and you cannot control where it comes from or where it goes. You cannot see the wind but you can see and feel it's affects. The Holy Spirit is just like that. You cannot see the Holy Spirit but you can see and feel it's affect. You cannot control the Holy Spirit, we must flow and cooperate with the Spirit. I don't want to control it. It is a movement. I want to be a part of God's movement on this earth. Be here tonight as we experience the movement of God's Spirit.

Pentecostal

Today was a good day. I attended the conference at the District Council. It was on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I am more committed to Pentecostal theology and the ministry of the Holy Spirit than ever before. I believe we are living in the era of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts had no ending. We are still living it. What does it mean to be Pentecostal? Pentecostals are people who pursue God's presence with their whole person in order to receive power to fulfill God's purposes for the whole planet.

Tomorrow Tricia (not her real name) is ministering in our midweek service. She is a missionary to Muslims. It is a miracle that a single woman is able to reach Muslims for Christ. She recently baptized several Muslims. Her very existence is based upon the miraculous. She has received divine protection as men of a village came to stone her to death. She has seen miracles of healing that resulted in Muslim families salvation. She has experienced those who practice the occult and are possessed by demons be delivered.
Don't miss the service tomorrow night.

Facebook

I am now on Facebook. I am not sure what I am doing but I know it is a way to communicate to people. So if you are on Facebook please add me as a friend.

Tomorrow I am going to the district campground in Crestwood, KY (outside of Louisville.) It is a meeting for pastors. I have to get up at 5:00 a.m. and not get home until late at night. I probably will not post tomorrow.

Wednesday night Lisa Leliaert is speaking in the service. She will speak on "signs and wonders." It should be an exciting service. We are having bar-be-cue for dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Boys in College

We did it. We took Charles and Tyler to college and I got Cathy home. That is a major accomplishment! Actually she did very well. We were so impressed with the College. They are at Central Bible College and their mission is to discover, develop, equip, and send Spirit-filled servants of God. They are focused on producing pentecostal ministers. Their kindness to Cathy and I as parents was great. They helped unload the cars and we got their room set up. Later this week I will try to post a couple of pictures on the website. One of the Vice-Presidents of the college gave us his cell phone number and said call anytime if we had questions or concerns. That is impressive.

The ride home was kind of lonely but we were also proud. As a parent you want your children to grow up and fulfill God's call on their lives. Charles and Tyler are doing that but we are going to miss them. I will keep you updated on their college career.

Book called "It"

I am reading a new book called "It." The thesis of the book is that some people, churches, and businesses have "It" and some don't. Those that have it tend to be successful and those who don't are not. The Spirit has something to do with "It" but cannot totally explain everything. It would be very insulting to claim that some churches have the Spirit and others don't. They all do to a certain degree. "It" includes the Holy Spirit but it is also more.

I love reading the book and want First Assembly to have "It." Whatever "It" is. Pray with me that we would be full of the Holy Spirit and full of "It."

Good Byes

My parents took Charles & Tyler to lunch today. They are leaving town on Monday so this was their good bye. We take the boys to Springfield on Thursday. It is getting sad.

Tomorrow I will preaching on the "Power of Pentecost." Pentecostals believe that God's power is active today. God still heals, saves, and deliverers. Other groups say they believe the same but in many ways they just give it lip service. They never if rarely pray for the sick. The do more counseling than deliverance. They trust more in man's ways than God's power. Pentecostals believe that all the I Corinthians gifts are for today and not just selected ones. We believe that God is all powerful and that as a loving Father he loves to use His power to bless His children. We cannot and should never try to manipulate God but we can believe for miracles. We can trust our God to meet our needs and change our lives. I believe that God is going to display His power in our midst.

Wednesday Night Dinners

Did you see Michael Phelps break the Olympic gold medal record? Isn't he amazing. He might be the best athlete in the world today. No one had dominated the Olympics like him in a long time.

Tonight we resume our Wednesday dinners. Because of cost we had to increase our prices but they are still cheap. We will charge $4.00 for an adult, $2.00 for children under 12, and no more than $12.00 for any family. It is almost impossible for a family to eat out cheaper than $12.00.

Our mission teams from Ecuador and Egypt will give their testimonies tonight. I am really looking forward to it.

Hope to see you here.

Olympics

Have you been watching the Olympics? I have watched more this year than in the past. To be honest I have always been a basketball, football, and baseball guy. Beyond the big three I do not watch many other sports. Watching golf always leads to a great nap but that is about it. Yet this year I have been watching swimming, volleyball, gymnastics, and other sports that you could not get me to watch any other time. Why is that? There is something about them wearing the American uniform and hearing the national athem. It makes me watch. I love cheering for team USA. I am actually looking forward to watching some more. Watching Michael Phelps swim has become fascinating. I would have never believed that I would enjoy watching someone swim!

Friends

Today I am going to Owensboro. A member of our congregation is having surgery. I want to pray with her before she goes in and sit with the family. I believe Jesus is the healer.

Before I go to the hospital I will have lunch with a friend. We try to get together at least once a month and have lunch. I believe friendships are one of the keys to life. Life is not made up of things but relationships. I want to be in a right relationship with God, my family, friends, and my world.

Keep your relational world healthy. Do not neglect the most important things.

Today's Service

I am getting ready for today's service. I have prayed, read, and studied. I always get nervous before a service. I really want God to come and touch people's lives. I want to see the lost saved, the sick healed, and the captives set free. I believe what happens on a Sunday morning has eternal ramifications. I know that hurting and lost people will walk through our doors. I know there is someone who needs a fresh touch of God. I know there is someone who needs to be challenged to go to another level. And most of all, I know I cannot do it. It has to be God. He has to show up. We must experience His presence and power. I also have great anticipation because I know God wants to do more than we can ask or imagine. So I am getting ready to walk down the hallway into the sanctuary. It is going to be a great day. God is good all the time.

Leadership Summit

Thursday and Friday I attended the leadership summit. It is a conference for church leaders. It is conducted in Chicago but is shown by satellite in cities all over the world. I was able to go to Bethel Temple in Evansville. Over 100,000 people attend the conference world wide. I enjoy this conference because you get to hear speakers from several disciplines. There are church business, government, and social sector leaders teaching leadership. It is my one "can't miss" conference of the year. I have gone 6 straight years. This year my favorite speaker was Gary A. Haugen. He is president and CEO of International Justice Mission. It is a ministry that sets to bring justice to the mistreated of the world. For example there are 27 million slaves in the world today. Did you know that? I didn't. There are more slaves in the world today than in the civil war era. This ministry sets out to set these slaves free. It is an incredible ministry. His talk was extremely challenging. Other speakers included the CEO of Best Buy, Charles Colson, Bill Hybels, and other incredible people. I always leave the conference stretched and challenged.

Tonight we are birthday party for Cathy's father. We are going to their house.

I am looking forward to the service tomorrow. I believe I have a message from God for the church. I will see you there.

Baby Fix

Pray for Charles. He has hurt his back. I think over the last couple of months he has done different things to it. Yesterday he went and saw Dr. Nunez. He is going everyday. We are trying to get everything in order before they go to college. There is always something going on.

Tomorrow I am taking Cathy to Louisville for a dentist appointment. Her old fillings are rotted and have to be replaced. My sister-in-law works for a dentist there so we are going to get all the fillings changed (better her than me.) Like I said there is always something going on.

Hopefully I will get to see my nieces, Emma and Macey, tomorrow after the dentist appointment. I have seen them in a couple of months. I heard they are almost walking. They grow so fast at that age that every time you see them there are big changes. I am looking forward to my baby fix.

Count Your Blessings

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I thought yesterday's service was great. God is moving in our congregation. I love to see people commit and recommit their lives to Christ. I love to see people worshipping God with passion. I love preaching the Word. I love being a part of a Connection Group. God is good.

It is easy to forget that at times. Our perspective in life can be blurred by our circumstances and we forget how much God has done for us. I believe the discipline of gratitude is one of the forgotten spiritual disciplines. Paul teaches us to be content in all circumstances. How can you do that? Your contentedness is determined by your gratitude. When I spend time thanking God for my blessings, my problems shrink. I become more satisfied with who I am, what I have, and what I am doing.

I encourage you to spend some time today counting your blessings. Practice gratitude. It will encourage you and make you feel better.

Gideon Breakfast

This morning I went to the Gideon breakfast. Once a year they have a meal for local pastors. They give us an update on the Gideon ministry and ask us for support. It is a great ministry that distributes God's Word around the world. I had the privilege of eating with Rev. Todd and Michelle Linn. They are pastors at First Baptist. They are real nice people. Henderson is fortunate to have them. First Baptist is doing some wonderful ministry in our community. We are thankful for what God is doing. We do not compete with each other but complete one another. Henderson needs several local churches to reach our whole community. It is great to be God's co-workers with them.

Did you notice the pictures of the church in The Gleaner? That is great publicity for our church.

Servanthood, part 2

I just walked down from Biram Hall and saw all the teachers looking at the displays the vendors set up. So many of them thanked me as I walked by. Servant hood is a good thing. When you serve others, you feel better about yourself. To be honest with you when my alarm clock went off at 5:00 a.m., I did not feel like serving. I thought I do not want to do this but when I see all the people here and know that First A/G is having some influence on the teachers that will influence our students, it is worth it. Jesus said he came not to be served but to serve others. As followers of Jesus we have His DNA. We are called not to be served but to serve. Today First A/G fed over 1000 school employees breakfast, we hosted their vendors in Biram Hall, they had their orientation in the sanctuary, and we handed each employee a packet from our church that included the salvation message. It is a good thing.

Later today we have to put all the chairs back where they go and clean the building for Sunday. It will be a long day but again, a good one.

Servanthood

Our church is experiencing some great service opportunities. Last night we hosted a banquet for Ryan Delling, missionary with Eagles Wings Ministry. We had a great turnout. Tomorrow we are hosting the school orientation for all school employees of the Henderson County School System. We will have over 1000 people in the building. Next week we will host a banquet for Western Kentucky Teen Challenge. The banquet is on Thursday. These events are a lot of hard work and cause us some inconvenience but it is worth it. God has called us to serve, both locally and globally. When we remodeled the building we wanted our facilities to be the kind that people will want to use. We are not charging any fee for any of these events. We are even donating the food for the banquets. I am so grateful to be a part of a congregation that loves God and people and is willing to serve. I believe that our service leads to the expansion of God's kingdom and that is what it is all about. Thank you to everyone that has helped. A big thank you goes to Pam Mitchell, Jan Frederick, and Kay Gish. They have gone over and beyond what anyone can expect.

Pentecostal, part 3

Another distinctive of Pentecostals is we believe in the initial physical evidence. What does that mean? It means that a person does not have to wonder if they have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, God lets them know by giving them a wonderful gift. What is that gift? It is speaking in tongues. I know that there is a lot of controversy around speaking in tongues today in the church in America. It was not controversial in scripture and it is not controversial overseas. It really is only an issue here in the states. Why do we believe in speaking in tongues? We believe in it because speaking in tongues was the initial physical evidence of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. If you study the times when someone received the baptism in the Book of Acts, the pattern of scripture is they spoke in tongues. It was not controversial. It was not debated. It was accepted as an act of God. We believe as it was in the Book of Acts, so should it be today. Pentecostals pattern themselves not after a modern day model but after the record of the first church in Acts.

What do I mean by initial physical evidence?
1) Initial- it is the first evidence but no the only.
2) Physical- it was outward, something that could be tested and proven
3) Evidence- it is how you know you got it.

A distinctive of Pentecostals is we believe that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecostals, part 2

What makes Pentecostals distinct? What makes us different from other churches? One of the main things is we believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second experience after salvation. Acts 2 was not a salvation experience. It was an empowering experience. The disciples were saved in John 20 when Jesus breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirit. This is an example for all believers. When you are saved, you receive the Holy Spirit and He resides within you. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an empowering experience when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The are two separate experiences found in scripture. This is the pattern throughout the Book of Acts. I encourage you that if you have not experienced the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, seek it with all your heart. Jesus knew His disciples needed it and He knows you need it.

Pentecostal

I thought we had a great service today. I believe people received healing and deliverance in the service. I began a new message series to day entitled. "Pentecost." I had not planned on teaching this series and to be honest it is not developed yet but God is leading me to teach on what does it mean to be pentecostal. Most people know we are a pentecostal church but I am afraid that not too many know what than means. So for the next few weeks we will focus on what does it mean to be Pentecostal. I hope that it informs and inspires.

I believe one of the biggest mistakes the American church has made is to move away from the ministry of the Holy Spirit and towards programs and methods. I believe in a church having ministries but they must be fueled by the Holy Spirit. I also believe God want to transform our community. I want us to continue in the flow of the Holy Spirit. Please pray with me that God leads and guides us into His presence.

Tent Revival, part 3

Last night was another good night. The focus was on repentance. Bro. Ken gave us a great word about complacency and allowing bitterness and unforgiveness into our hearts. It was right on. Mrs. Elaine followed up with a teaching about rivers of water flowing through us. It is a good thing when you see people on their knees at the altar repenting before the Lord.

Tonight is the grand final. I believe it is going to be the best night yet. The weather has been wonderful. I cannot believe it is this cool at the end of July. Don't let the rain scare you away. The tent does not leak. It just keeps it nice and cool.

Last night we had some guests that seemed pretty skeptical of what we were doing. Do not let the skeptics or critics to cause you to doubt the moving of the Holy Spirit. We are a pentecostal church. We will never apologize about it. For those who do not believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit, we love them and bless them but we do not water down our beliefs or practices to please them. We will always stand for Pentecost. We will always allow the Holy Spirit freedom to move in our midst.

Tent Revival, part 2

Last night was another great service. Several people had encounters with God. The evangelist preached that miracles, signs, and wonders are still for today. God still saves the lost, heals the sick, and sets free the captives. We must not water down the gospel or the power of the Cross. The difference between Christianity and other religions is the power of our God. Other gods are unable to change a heart, cause the blind to see, or make the lame to walk. As I travel in other countries it is the confirmation of the gospel through signs and wonders that draws people to Christ. It distinguishes our God from theirs. We must proclaim the full gospel. The A/G logo for the Assemblies of God also stands for "all the gospel." Too many denominations have watered down the gospel and denies it power. This was not true in the book of Acts and is not true for today. God still saves, heals, and delivers. The cross is still powerful. The gospel will be confirmed by God's power. Pentecostals stands for preaching the whole Bible not just portions. Pentecostals expect to experience all the gospel not just parts. The blood of Jesus Christ has provided for your salvation, healing, and freedom. Do not settle for anything less.

Tent Revival, part 1

The tent is set up! Tonight we will move our revival services out into the tent. Last night we met in the sanctuary because of weather concerns. We had a great service. Our evangelist preached on having memorials in heaven. You establish memorials in heaven through prayer and giving to the poor. Our young people were prayed for and I think all of them received something from God. I think it is so important for children and youth to have an experience with God at an early age. It is one thing to teach our children information about God. It is another for them to have an encounter with God.

Another thing God did last night was healing. This past Sunday I was told that an individual in our church had a MRI on their back. They were told they needed surgery. Last night our evangelist asked this person to stand. Said that God was the best chiropractor in the world and prayed for her. The neat thing is the evangelist had no knowledge about the MRI. I am positive about that. She just got into town that afternoon and did not know the person she prayed for. Isn't God great?