Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Giving...
Hey, this is Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos from Freedom Valley Worship Center in Gettysburg. He is a spiritual father to me and just a great man of God. Check out his story about giving.
Monday, November 19, 2007
How Ya Livin'... Like Thanksgivin'!
I love this time of the year. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the days are filled with excitement as you get to see family and friends who come home for the holidays. I look forward to seeing some friends this week and to spending time with Bethany's family, as we have a giant size Thanksgiving meal with all of them - brothers, sisters, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma's, nieces, and nephews.
This is a time of year that we are to give thanks so I wanted to share somethings that I'm thankful for. In no particular order after the first 3:
- My relationship with Jesus which is always growing and changing as He shapes me
- My wife and son (and daughter on the way)
- The responsibility the Lord has given me as the servant to the New Life Center
- Seeing what God is doing in each and everyone one of you
- The elders of the NLC
- The young people of the NLC
- The entire Ford City community
- My dad and mom
- My entire family
- Friends
- The game of basketball (had to add it cause I love playing and coaching it)
- The church board members (what a great bunch of guys)
- Music (I love to play, sing, and listen)
- God's provision for me and my family (so many blessings)
So what are you thankful for? Take time to think about it this week and every week. There is so much to be thankful for.
This is a time of year that we are to give thanks so I wanted to share somethings that I'm thankful for. In no particular order after the first 3:
- My relationship with Jesus which is always growing and changing as He shapes me
- My wife and son (and daughter on the way)
- The responsibility the Lord has given me as the servant to the New Life Center
- Seeing what God is doing in each and everyone one of you
- The elders of the NLC
- The young people of the NLC
- The entire Ford City community
- My dad and mom
- My entire family
- Friends
- The game of basketball (had to add it cause I love playing and coaching it)
- The church board members (what a great bunch of guys)
- Music (I love to play, sing, and listen)
- God's provision for me and my family (so many blessings)
So what are you thankful for? Take time to think about it this week and every week. There is so much to be thankful for.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
Life Changing People
I had the honor of hearing Gianna (Gee on ah) Jessen speak last night at the Life Choices banquet at Lobby Hall in Freeport. (Life Choices is a Christian outreach to those who are pregnant, thinking about abortion, or have had an abortion in the Armstrong County area) Gianna is truly a life changer. Who is she you may be asking? Well, you can check her story out here. But in short, she is a woman who was aborted by having solution shot into her mothers womb at 7 1/2 months of pregnancy which was supposed to kill her by burning her both inside and outside. When her mother gave birth to her 18 hours later, she was still alive. Had the abortion doctor been there she would have been killed by suffocation, strangulation, or by just being left there. But he wasn't, and a nurse took her to the hospital. Through many painful trials and tribulations, she is now 30 years old, has a beautiful voice (she sang a few songs for us), and is very funny. It was a wonderful evening that those at Life Choices put together. Thank you all very much.
A few things that Gianna shared really struck me in the heart. She had the privelege of meeting President Bush in 2002 which was a blessing for her. From this encounter she gained an appreciation for the president. She made this comment, "Until you are willing to put yourself out there to be hated like the president has, you should watch your words." That comment was made out of her feelings for those who only want to hate and spit venom at the president. She also said this, "It is our nature to want to crucify the leaders that are over us." Two powerful statements from a woman who kept you awake, interested, and on the edge of your seat the entire night. She is truly a blessing and anointed by the Holy Spirit as a speaker.
The fruit of the spirit could be seen in her life through her voice, though she has gone through far more trials and tribulations than some of us will see in our entire lives. It was a blessed night. And I recommend that if you have the chance to hear her, take it.
I pray that God continues to lead her through this world that she might be a blessing to the hurting, the healthy, and the hopeless. Amen.
A few things that Gianna shared really struck me in the heart. She had the privelege of meeting President Bush in 2002 which was a blessing for her. From this encounter she gained an appreciation for the president. She made this comment, "Until you are willing to put yourself out there to be hated like the president has, you should watch your words." That comment was made out of her feelings for those who only want to hate and spit venom at the president. She also said this, "It is our nature to want to crucify the leaders that are over us." Two powerful statements from a woman who kept you awake, interested, and on the edge of your seat the entire night. She is truly a blessing and anointed by the Holy Spirit as a speaker.
The fruit of the spirit could be seen in her life through her voice, though she has gone through far more trials and tribulations than some of us will see in our entire lives. It was a blessed night. And I recommend that if you have the chance to hear her, take it.
I pray that God continues to lead her through this world that she might be a blessing to the hurting, the healthy, and the hopeless. Amen.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
I Must Become Les(s)?...
Today I was writing in my journal and I wrote down what John the Baptist said, "Jesus must become greater and I must become less." That gave me a chuckle because I thought about becoming Les Rishel. He is a great guy who loves Jesus, has a wonderful wife Bernice, and does a lot of great things for the church. But as he pointed out to me becoming like him would take away about 34 years of my life. Just a thought.
To the point now. As I was talking to him about this, he shared something God layed on his heart today. He was taking time to pray for Africa when he asked Jesus, "Why can't we be closer together with our brothers and sisters in Africa?" Immediately God hit him with the answer. God showed him that as he is praying and the people in Africa are praying, He (Jesus) is holding both of their hands connecting them. So it is as if they are together. Think about it. Powerful word. Thank you Les for sharing it.
To the point now. As I was talking to him about this, he shared something God layed on his heart today. He was taking time to pray for Africa when he asked Jesus, "Why can't we be closer together with our brothers and sisters in Africa?" Immediately God hit him with the answer. God showed him that as he is praying and the people in Africa are praying, He (Jesus) is holding both of their hands connecting them. So it is as if they are together. Think about it. Powerful word. Thank you Les for sharing it.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
His Name is Earl...
That's right! His name is Earl Creps and his wife's name is Janet. They are starting a church in California through Chi Alpha Ministries by the campus of the University of California-Berkley. There is approximately 32,000 students in this area and almost all of them have no church background. In fact, this area is known as a trend setting area for the rest of the United States. It isn't uncommon to find people with multiple doctorates. Education is the "in" thing there. It is very "worldly" in its culture and to say you are a Christian lumps you in with the super conservative republican's who support Bush. It is going to be a GREAT challenge to reach this area for Jesus and it's right here in the US.
It scared me as he spoke of going there to start a church. Why? Because we have the ability to start a church and get a few from the mothering church, a few disgruntled people from the church down the street, and maybe some friends and family. He will start with nothing. And what is even scarier, he will start with nothing with men and women who have no Biblical knowledge or interest. (The thoughts of the culture there bring them to think that they have passed Christianity by.) That is very scary to think about but also awesome because this is where man has to step aside and really have faith in Christ.
You might say you have faith but do something daring like that so that I can see your faith. I'm challenged to do something daring. I think of Brian and Angie Bolt who have done something daring in Pittsburgh for Jesus and the results that God is bringing about for His glory. They packed out their Sunday morning service this past Sunday morning with 190 people by having a Steelers Tailgating Party after church. It was a great time of building friendships and sharing the love of Jesus.
We need to do something daring for Jesus like praying for 10 people a month to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is what I want to see, which would mean 120 people a year getting saved. Maybe that isn't daring enough. Maybe we need to pray for 50 people a month to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If God is who He said He is then He will have no problem stepping up to the plate and hitting a home run when it comes to us stepping out in faith and doing something daring. Get uncomfortable! Because I'm ready, and I believe God is also, to BURN the lazy boy/couch that keeps us comfortable.
Lord, I want to be uncomfortable for You so that I might see Your glory at work.
Look out Ford City/Kittanning/Armstrong County for what God is about to do as we look toward 2008.
It scared me as he spoke of going there to start a church. Why? Because we have the ability to start a church and get a few from the mothering church, a few disgruntled people from the church down the street, and maybe some friends and family. He will start with nothing. And what is even scarier, he will start with nothing with men and women who have no Biblical knowledge or interest. (The thoughts of the culture there bring them to think that they have passed Christianity by.) That is very scary to think about but also awesome because this is where man has to step aside and really have faith in Christ.
You might say you have faith but do something daring like that so that I can see your faith. I'm challenged to do something daring. I think of Brian and Angie Bolt who have done something daring in Pittsburgh for Jesus and the results that God is bringing about for His glory. They packed out their Sunday morning service this past Sunday morning with 190 people by having a Steelers Tailgating Party after church. It was a great time of building friendships and sharing the love of Jesus.
We need to do something daring for Jesus like praying for 10 people a month to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is what I want to see, which would mean 120 people a year getting saved. Maybe that isn't daring enough. Maybe we need to pray for 50 people a month to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If God is who He said He is then He will have no problem stepping up to the plate and hitting a home run when it comes to us stepping out in faith and doing something daring. Get uncomfortable! Because I'm ready, and I believe God is also, to BURN the lazy boy/couch that keeps us comfortable.
Lord, I want to be uncomfortable for You so that I might see Your glory at work.
Look out Ford City/Kittanning/Armstrong County for what God is about to do as we look toward 2008.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
One Day at a Time...
I was thinking about small beginnings. In Zechariah 4:10 New Living Translation it says, "Do not despise these small beginnings." As I thought about this verse, I came up with this picture. What if each day as we wake up, God gives us a brick (not trying to weigh anybody down) and what we do with that brick is very important. We may think to ourselves, all I have is one brick and what good is one brick? But if we put that brick down on the ground where it belongs and do the same thing the next day with that brick, and the next day and so forth and so on. Eventually what was only one brick becomes a foundation. What was only a foundation is now a wall. What was only a foundation and wall now has 4 walls. Soon it will have a roof and when completed will be a BIG beautiful building.
Now thinking that way what if we put our dreams and visions in that brick. God wants to birth something in us and in the NLC and each day He is giving us something to add to the birthing process. What He gives us may be small and look to be of little value but as time goes on and days add up ,the small stuff we started with becomes a great big beautiful God sized baby.
We must only be willing to live each day in God's hand and timing. And make sure that the small things He gives us are not wasted or thrown away but set in their rightful place so that eventually the dreams and visions He gave us come to pass.
Now thinking that way what if we put our dreams and visions in that brick. God wants to birth something in us and in the NLC and each day He is giving us something to add to the birthing process. What He gives us may be small and look to be of little value but as time goes on and days add up ,the small stuff we started with becomes a great big beautiful God sized baby.
We must only be willing to live each day in God's hand and timing. And make sure that the small things He gives us are not wasted or thrown away but set in their rightful place so that eventually the dreams and visions He gave us come to pass.
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