The BLOG will be quiet for a few days as we head out on a bigger boat to different waters. Brother House will be covering for us Sunday. I appreciate you all, and look forward to returning to you with a more rested head.

Greg

Christian films doing well in America

For films released between 2002 and 2006, ones with very strong Christian values fared three times better at the box office than ones with very strong non-Christian values, according to a recent study by MovieGuide, a Christian movie review company. The study compared films with explicit Christian content such as The Nativity Story and movies with morally uplifting themes such as Charlotte’s Web to films with strongly unbiblical worldviews such as The Da Vinci Code and Brokeback Mountain. Though there were 116 uplifting films and 299 strongly non-Christian films, MovieGuide found that films with Christian values earned more collectively than those with non-Christian worldviews.

"American moviegoers want movies with overt Christian values and biblical worldviews," said Ted Baehr, leader of the research team and founder of MovieGuide. "They don't want to see movies that mock their faith and values."

Running with the big dogs ;-)

Taylor Lawrence had a special guest at his birthday party. Heavy Weight Champion Jermaine Taylor. Way to go Taylor !

I am always glad to post a note about one of our youth. Clay's team is #1 in the nation. Congratulations Clay!
Link to team stats

I found a great article on Leadership by none other "Mr. Leadership" John Maxwell. He writes;

"An earnest young man once approached me during a Q & A session, and asked, “What is the ONE THING I need to know to be a great leader?” as if he was searching for the hidden key to unlock the universe. Amused by the simplicity of his question, my answer was equally simple: “To be a great leader, there’s more than ONE THING you need to know about leadership.”
Full Article

Brad Delp EndsLife

Brad Delp died last week; this week we learned it was suicide. You may not know that Brad was the lead singer for the Rock band Boston, and now you are wondering way I am writing about it on a Pastor’s Blog.

I grew up listening to Boston, “More than a feeling” and “Long Time” were the anthems of my life. The music they played was upbeat, positive about life and spoke to me. Boston hit the music scene in the 70’s and left an incredible mark. Since that time the members have gone different ways, yet remained friends. They even had a reunion tour planned. Yet, Brad ended his life. Everyone that writes about him says things like he was the nicest man; he gave and gave, a true friend. No one writes of a dark side. But I think one writer may have hit on the problem. “He gave and gave until he had nothing left, he was tired very tired, maybe he can now rest in peace”

He gave and gave….

I am thinking about the man that sang the songs of my youth, I question, did those he gave to understand what it was costing him? Why did he not take better care of himself? Did he know how to?

How about you, are you giving all you got and not putting something back in?

When you talk of self-care our world sometimes has a selfish view. To many self care means avoiding responsibilities, apathy or dropping out. I think either extreme is wrong, that is not doing any care, and being so totally absorbed that we fail to consider our responsibility.

This is a hard one to get your hands around. The givers of all feel guilty at any thoughts of making sure that they also give to themselves. The selfish souls, not only don’t think about those who count on them, they don’t care. So the answer depends on who you are talking to. There has got to be a balance! In simple terms I believe that self-care is using wisdom to monitor our tanks, to have resources to draw from, a system of refilling, and then to actually use the system. After all our lives are about more than just us. I believe there is no such thing as daily balance. Some days you have to give it everything, you can’t take a nap while the boat is sinking. On the other hand you got to do the things to make sure that the boat doesn’t get in a place that it might sink. We have to use our time wisely to recuperate and refill.

I sound like I understand this topic more than I do. Brad died with a lot of music still to be sung. My prayer for you and I is that we sing all our songs.

“May you live all your life”

Brad Delp Article

Self care article

Max Lucado

Max Lucado is a writer that most Christian readers are familiar with. I ran across the following article about him;

Max Lucado has been called "America's pastor." Now in his 20th year as the leader of San Antonio's Oak Hills Church, Lucado says he's turning the reins over to someone else.

"This is the hardest decision I've ever made," he said.

Link to story

The Begining of Spring

Time did change yesterday signaling the beginning of spring. I have noticed the dogwoods blooming and several trees around here starting to bud. I have no favorite season; rather I enjoy the changing of the seasons. The warmer weather, longer days draw us outside. For many a new flow of energy begins. We start clearing away the debris of the winter and begin the process of placing seeds for a bountiful autumn. At this time of the year lets not forget that the same principles that go into making our surroundings cleaner and ready to receive the seed of a promised harvest, apply to our lives as well.

What are you clearing away? What dead wood are you pruning? What habits are you changing? And what ground are you preparing to receive the seed of you coming autumn.

This is the very beginning of spring a prefect time to start a new.

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet (1612?-1672) US poet

The Boys (and Girls) of Summer are back

A few pictures of the opening ceremonies of Vestal Park.
(Top) Mayor Patric Hayes
(Middle) Craig Oneal
(Bottom) Med-Flight landing

A Letter From Rwanda

Dear Pastor Gregg,
Greetings from here in Rwanda in Jesus wonderful name.
Thank you very much for your message of 26th Feb 2007, and I am sorry for delaying to reply.
I also want to thank you for the spirit of desiring to stand with us in the ministry of building the kingdom of God here in Rwanda and Burundi.
I also appreciate the idea of sending some pictures about the ministry here and please find with message pictures done on power point program.
I have tried to show different areas of the ministry and different needs, you can pray with us and share with others about the needs of the church here.
I appreciate your love and please be assured of our constant prayer to you and your ministry to the Lord and His church.

Special love to your family and the church.


Yours in the Lord

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning at 2:00 AM, March 11, 2007. This is a new date to start DST.

Reset your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night when you go to bed or you will be late for church Sunday morning.

Chandler had his Birthday on the 6th and Susan will have her's on the 8th. Happy Birthday you two!!

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Jesus asked this man "Do you want to be made well?" Of course he did! Wouldn't you? Why did Jesus ask a question like this when its answer was so clearly obvious? It seems the Lord wanted to hear him verbalize his need.

In the biography of George Mueller, a strong man of God who established orphanages throughout England in the 1800's and raised the kids up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, this amazing Saint relied upon God for every single need that he faced without making any financial appeals. He laid before the Lord every aspect of these orphanages. He prayed for the locations, the buildings, the furniture to fill them, the workers to run them, and everything else he could think of. When the first orphanage was ready, Mueller realized one major thing was lacking -- orphans!! He forgot to ask the Lord to provide the orphans!

Sometimes the obvious things just smack us in the face, don't they? On several occassions, I've found myself in this very position! Silly me -- I forgot to ask!

The Lord is asking us today, "Do you want to be made well?" Whether it be physical healing, spiritual, emotional or financial healing, no thing is too great or too small for our Lord! Perhaps we've just forgotten to ask Him!

George, Rivka and Elianna Whitten
Negev Desert, Israel

How old are you?

Age is a quality of mind,

If you’ve left your dreams behind.

If hope is cold,

If you no longer look ahead,

If your ambitions fires are dead,

Then you are old.

But if from life you take the best,

And if in life you keep the jest,

If love you hold;

No matter how the years go by,

No matter how the birthdays fly---

You are not old.

Prayer Request

Pastor Wilson (pastor at Mountain View) is back at SVI. From what I understand his hip is basically crumbling. The Doctors are not left with many options. Please remember them in prayer at this very critical time.

I have also heard that Brother Dilldine is not doing well with the cancer he has. Continue to remember both of these men in your prayers.

A big Monday!

Brooklyn had her first Birthday Party tonight. Marie and Nate did a great job at hosting the event. We got to see their beautiful new home. Thank you for a great time, and Happy Birthday!

The youth event was a success this past weekend. I am having trouble with the pictures, as soon as I correct this I will pass them along.

Baseball officially started today at Vestal Park. It was a grand affair with a military color guard, fire engines, an ambulance and even med-flight landed. The Mayor and Craig O'Neil threw out the first pitch. Tom is sending me a few pictures to post.

It has been a little busy so I am a little behind on the Blog. I ran across an old sermon by what must have been a great minister. The words are as follows, but to get a real sense of his message listen to the copy on u-tube.

By Dr. S.M. Lockridge

The Bible says my King is a seven-way king....He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....He's the King of Israel; that's a national King....He's the King of Righteousness....He's the King of the Ages.....He's the King of Heaven....He's the King of Glory....He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King. Well....I wonder, do you know Him?.... David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings. He's enduringly strong....He's entirely sincere....He's eternally steadfast....He's immortally graceful....He's imperially powerful....He's impartially merciful....... Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son....He's a sinner's Savior....He's the centerpiece of civilization....He stands in the solitude of Himself....He's august....He's unique....He's unparalleled....He's unprecedented....He's the loftiest idea in literature....He's the highest personality in philosophy....He's the supreme problem in higher criticism....He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology....He's the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion....He's the miracle of the age.... He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour...... I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak....He's available for the tempted and the tried....He sympathizes and He saves....He strengthens and sustains....He guards and He guides....He heals the sick....He cleanses lepers....He forgives sinners....He discharges debtors....He delivers captives....He defends the feeble....He blesses the young....He serves the unfortunate....He regards the aged....He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies the meek....... I wonder if you know Him?

Well, my King....is the King....He's the key to knowledge....He's the wellspring to wisdom....He's the doorway of deliverance....He's the pathway of peace....He's the roadway of righteousness ....He's the highway of holiness....He's the gateway of glory....... Do you know Him?

Well....His office is manifold....His promise is sure....His light is matchless....His goodness is limitless....His mercy is everlasting....His love never changes....His word is enough....His grace is sufficient....His reign is righteous....and His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable....He's incomprehensible....He's invincible....He's irresistible.

Well, you can't get Him out of your mind....You can't get Him off of your hand....You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him....The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him....Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree....Herod couldn't kill Him....Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. Yea!!!, that's my King, that's my King.

Father..."Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory....Forever"....and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever...and ever...and when you get through with all the forevers, then.... AMEN!....AMEN!

Note: I have been unable to determine whether or not this material is copyright protected. We share it in 'good faith'.

Link to u-tube

A retired military mechanic is removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spots a well-known heart surgeon in his shop. The mechanic shouts across the garage, "Hey, Doc, can I ask you a question?"

Surprised, the surgeon walks over. The mechanic straightens up, wipes his hands on a rag and asks, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take valves out, fix them, put them back in and when I finish, it works just like new. So, how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"

The surgeon pauses, smiles, leans over and whispers to the mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running."