Congratulations Tom

Small picture of a big deal. Congratulations Tom on your first 1/2 marathon. Since Tom started on his running journey he has lost weight, got in shape, avoided wearing a Speedo (you have to ask him) ran a few 5Ks and now this. Tom, you making me look bad brother, I know what you mean when you say I am your “BIG” Brother...so...I have started my own journey each morning at 06:00, I do my running (indoors with a bunch of old guys at the Y) did you know it is still dark? Don’t know if I can ever beat ya, but I will be chasing.
Run forest run...;-)

COGOP "Face Book"

The Church has just launched its version of a "my space" or "face Book" for the Church of God of Prophecy. Neat stuff, as we use Blogs, e-mail and my-space to communicate and get to know each other, "community space" allows us to connect with a whole other side of our church family.

The link is: http://www.mycogop.com

Sad ending

Tonight our own Charity Baroni was voted off the show dance War. Oh well I didn't like that show anyway......

Happy Birthday Robert!

We had the joy of celebrating Youth Minister Robert House birthday today. It is a privilege to have him here at NLR. Robert You Tha Man!

"Offical Members"

We had the privilege of finally making the transfer of membership official for 6 of those who attend North Little Rock (Rosa not pictured) Although they are already a part of this local family, we are glad to finally have their papers :-) Welcome!

1/26 thought

Fear is an insidious virus. Given a breeding place in our mind, it will permeate the whole body of our work. It will eat away at our spirits and block the forward path of our endeavors. Fear is the greatest enemy of progress.

James F Bell

Former NLR Pastor

Pastor Brock posted some pictures of our long lost friends and former pastors of NLR. Larry and Susan Lowery who now live in Florida. It has been a lot of years.

Susan, Newt Gingrich, and Larry Lowery.


Larry and Mike Huckabee


Larry and John Hagee


They sure are getting around ;-)

New Youth Blog

Team 180 is NLR's Youth Group. They have launched a new Blog to keep the group up to date.

Check it out

New Diet for God???

We showed this video clip last Wednesday, it has started a whole new diet Fad at NLR.

Link

Know her?

Some of you may remember David Baroni, a contemporary singing artist that has visited our church as well as several other events in Arkansas over the years. His daughter Charity is on ABC's Dance War. Link to her bio Always fun to run across someone you know doing something that you may have never expected. The last time I saw Charity she was a baby. I also noticed on David's web site that he has a new book out.
David's site

Billy WIlson to serve on ORU Board

Pastor Brock found the following story:

Oral Roberts University on Wednesday named the members of a transition team organized to help ORU's $70 million benefactors as the school transitions from having a board of regents to following the benefactors' shared governance plan. Under the plan from the Green family, which founded the Hobby Lobby and Mardel Christian and educational supply stores, ORU will be governed by a new board of trustees, to be made up of several ORU graduates, executives of Christian organizations, higher education officials and three regents.

The board of regents will turn into a nonvoting board of reference whose members will lend their names to ORU, said donor Mart Green, who will be chairman of the board of trustees.

In ORU's televised chapel service Wednesday, Fagin praised current Interim President Daugherty as a "man of ability and character," and both men said they would be working together. Daugherty has been serving as the interim president since Richard Roberts resigned Nov. 23, following a highly publicized lawsuit against Roberts, ORU and others, and following allegations that he misspent ORU and Oral Roberts Ministries money and poorly managed the university. Roberts has denied wrongdoing. Fagin said he would serve in the role "for a season, so that we can find a president who is worthy of Oral Roberts University."

Daugherty announced to students and employees that "a special day of prayer and fasting" "for wisdom, . . . for God to fulfill his intent in our lives" and more would take place on campus Thursday. Burton confirmed that regents are tentatively planning to meet Monday to receive, review and vote on the final version of the Green family proposal, revised bylaws and articles of incorporation. The date of the meeting will be determined by how soon the documents are finished.

ORU board of trustees:

* Chairman Mart Green, founder of Mardel Christian and educational supply stores and Every Tribe Entertainment
* Don H. Argue, chancellor of Northwest University outside Seattle
* Freddy Boswell, an ORU graduate, Bible translator and executive director of the Summer Institute of Linguistics International in Dallas
* Stanley M. Burgess, a professor at Pat Robertson’s Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.
* Hal Donaldson, editor in chief of Today’s Pentecostal Evangel magazine in Springfield, Mo.
* The Rev. Robert Hoskins, founder of the Christian missions organization Affect Destiny Teams and president and CEO of Book of Hope International in Pompano, Fla.
* Lynette (Troyer) Lewis, a motivational speaker and ORU graduate who lives in New York City and Cary, N.C.
* Ron Luce, ORU alumnus and founder of Teen Mania Ministries in Garden Valley, Texas
* Charles W. McKinney, an administrator at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla.
* Oral Roberts, founder of ORU
* Russell P. Spittler, retired provost and professor of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.
* R. Lamar Vest, an executive of the American Bible Society in New York City (former General Overseer of the Church of God)
* William (Billy) Wilson of Cleveland, Tenn., executive director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal, executive producer of Voice of Salvation Ministries and host of “World Impact” weekly TV show (Church of God of Prophecy)

1/16 Thought

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

New Blogger!!

My sister Sandy who now lives in Iowa, has now joined our growing group of Bloggers. Welcome to the community Sandy!

Hanging in there with the Scott's

Guest this AM

It was very good to have Brother and Sister Pense with us this morning. I really enjoy his style of ministry. I appreciate the question that he is teaching us to ask, "What next" it fits with what we have been feeling already about 2008, "The year of new beginnings". Bishop, stop in anytime.

Special Guest Sunday

And no, not because of the strike ;-) It is our regional Overseer.

1/13 thought

To always be intending to live a new life, but never find time to set about it - this is as if a man should put off eating and drinking from one day to another till he be starved and destroyed. ~Walter Scott

District Rally

We had a great time tonight at the rally. It was good to spend some time with folks that we see not near enough. Pastor Parker (top) is a man that I have grown to know and respect, I always enjoy time with him and his family, and would love to hang out with him, I knew the first time I met he and his wife that I liked this guy.
Bishop Pense gave an outstanding message, more on him tomorrow as he is our Sunday guest.
It was also very good to have our own Jason (bottom) back from New York. Having him back in the worship band on the base was like old times.

Yep, it was very good to be with Friends.

1/12 thought

"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. " --Abraham Lincoln

District Rally this afternoon

Reminder that the rally begins at 5PM at the NLR Church (Saturday January 12) Special guest will be the Regional Overseer and his wife. Should be a packed house today. If you can't make today remember they will also be our guest tomorrow AM. Fellowship begins at 10AM with worship at 10:30.

1/9 thought

“Tell me, what is it you plan to
do with your one wild
and precious life?”

Mary Oliver—The Summer Day

January 8 in history

January 8 1790 President Washington delivers his first state of the union address
January 8, 1889 1st Computer patented
January 8 1935 Elvis Aaron Presley is born in Tupelo Mississippi
January 8, 1954 Elvis Presley pays $4 to a Memphis studio and records his 1st two songs, "Casual Love" and "I'll Never Stand in Your Way"
January 8, 1956 Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog," single goes to #1 and stays #1 for a record 11 weeks (for a single)
January 8, 1962 Golfer Jack Nicklaus, 21, 1st pro appearance, he came in 50th
January 8, 1992 George Bush gets ill and vomits on Japanese prime minister's lap

Yep, January 8 was/is full of big events ;-).......

New Church Sign???

I would love to attend this place just one Sunday ;-)

Catching up...

We had a great service the last Sunday of 2007. Just downloaded my camera today and knew I had to post some of the pictures. We celebrated communion after the youth led us in a devotion. This was Chandler'sfirst 'official' youth event. Melba blessed us with a beautiful song, and Elizabeth had the privilege of spending a Sunday with Billy and Raven. Yep, 2007 went out very very well ;-)

Birthdays X2

Two of my four grandsons are exactly a week apart in age. Alex December 29th was celebrated his day at his house with a pirate cake (he got some boat in him)




Axton celebrated at our house last Saturday the 5th with a Baseball cake (he got some of my brother in him) These two as different as they are, think they are brothers. May they always feel that connection.

New Sermon Series to begin this Sunday

Link to NLR web page

Update on Alvin

Alvin was entered by his mother in the, "Arkansas Razorback Biggest Fan" contest hosted through focus Arkansas online (before he went to Dallas).Yesterday they received notification that HE WON. They are sending his prize. It is to be a $100.00 prize packet. Way to go Alvin

By the way Alvin, that is not pork you are eating is it..........

1/4 Thought

"For most of us, the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them."
John Ortberg

Alvin did it!

Our own Alvin House accomplished his goal, he made it to the news paper. I have told you about our own very loyal Razorback fan, but many if not most have never seen him 'up' for game day. Well here you go. Alvin, sorry it didn't work out this time, but new coach, etc... maybe next year.

Link to the Democrat Gazette

1/3 Thought

I love the words of Nicole Nordman's song Brave. May you identify, I do....

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

1/2 Thought

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.
by: Mark Patterson

Wow...what a word.......

Singles Ministry Ideas???

So I am sitting here working on ideas for the new church year. I began to think, maybe advice to our singles. So a little research and boom, I find some great pick up lines for church singles. ( by C Michael Patton) Now I have been off the market for a very long time, and don't remember what a good line was, but I think we have some winners here. Try these on for size:

”I am not overweight. The word ‘glory’ in Hebrew is kabod which according to HALOT literally means ‘heaviness.’ The Bible also says that we are to reflect God’s glory. Therefore, I am just doing what the Bible says.”
“Paul said that it was better to marry than to burn. Therefore, I am under God’s mandate to marry you.”
“Here, let me take care of those tithes.”
“You may not have chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
“I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.”
”Your name must be grace, because you are irresistible.”
”There are six things that motivate me to talk to you, yea seven that turned my head.”
“Until this moment, I thought I had the gift of singleness.”
During communion say, “Can I get you another drink.”
“The Bible says that God is not concerned with outer appearance . . . neither should you.”
“The Good Book said that I might be visited by angels unaware, but something must be wrong with my interpretation, because I am perfectly aware of you.”
“I noticed you crying during alter call, can I help?”
“God may be the bread of life, but you are the butter.”
“You must have missed The Fall line, because you are lookin’ righteous.”
Sing this to the tune of George Strait’s “Chair”: “Excuse me, but I think you’ve got my rib.”

OK after reading them, maybe they need some work, in fact maybe I am not called to minister to the singles with pick up line advice after all, it must be another's gift, or at least that what Deb says ;-)

What does 'Auld Lang Syne' mean?

You know that song you hear every New Year'’s Eve? You may have even sang or heard it last night. The one about not forgetting old acquaintances. Did you ever wonder what that phrase is in the chorus? Is it:

* For old ang zine
* Far hold ang zyne
* For old aunt Gzyne
* Farheld ang zyne
* Farheld ang sign
* For old ang sign
* For old angsign
* Foothold and sign
* For all the aunts of mine

Actually, it’s not any of these. On New Year's Eve, the most common song for most English-speaking people to sing is "Auld Lang Syne." Isn't it funny how it's possible to sing and hear a song so many times and have no idea what it means? And wouldn't it be funny if it meant "Big Pink Elephants"?

A good sub-question is, what language is it?

It turns out that "Auld Lang Syne" is an extremely old Scottish song that was first written down in the 1700s. Robert Burns is the person whose transcription got the most attention, so the song is associated with him.

According to this page, a good translation of the words "auld lang syne" is "times gone by." So (incorporating a couple of other translations) when we sing this song, we are saying, "We'll drink a cup of kindness yet for times gone by."

Thought you might want to know ;-)

From How Stuff Works

Happy New Year!