The first Sunday back after vacation

What a great Day. Now that its almost over.

Saturday I was excited to learn that the song service would be lead by someone else on Sunday which meant a little less pressure so I thought.
I knew the reason buddy was going to lead the service was because our piano player was under the weather.

so Saturday night comes everything is ready to go in the morning till 10:15 pm when I learn that buddy was in the Hospital with a heart attack. So I went immediately in town to see him.

I knew that by 12:00 midnight I couldn't call in anybody so I left it with the Lord.
knowing that in 8 years here if we had one Sunday with no music it would be good.

So now its 9:00 Sunday and I need to call the lady who normally plays and let her in on what happened to buddy.

So I wasn't sure how under the weather she was - but I knew she couldn't be any worse than him.

So I said right off the bat I didn't want her to feel guilty but buddy was in the hospital.

And she said without a word from me that she would play the music for me !!

Yeah... But my music is always ready by Saturday and put on the pulpit and piano and sound board. But not today.

Well I got the songs picked and We had church !

And I preached on the Highway of Holiness !

And God Blessed us with a great service.

Later

Vacation time is over !!

Well I arrived home today after a week away in NOAA for vacation.
What a great week it was!
We spent the time between my parents and beulah camp!
My Parents even kept the kids a couple of nights so we had some kid free nights.
So what did I do on vacation?
I went for my very first go-cart ride against my son and lost.
But it was a life time dream come true to ride one of those go-carts. Although early I had our car over 140 km to pass a car so these seemed slow.

I also did some used book shopping at frencys and got three great deals.

And a couple of visits to a tackle shop.

And I stocked up on some coffee beans to grind and enjoy.

Plus I did a lot of reading.

Thought I might get some over due journaling in but it didn't happen.

I picked up a book I read a beulah camp in a book store called the Heavenly man. which was a real life changing book.

I also took in via the T.V. 3 bluejays games with my dad that was cool.

And today we traveled home via the mall route getting ready for the expensive start of school.

While waiting for my family I sat on a bench and listened to the 80 + crowd discuss life. Which was really interesting especially when Religion came up.

While these men were not religious (church -goers) they had church figured out -
and I was sad to hear their comments about those who go to church because they didn't see any difference in them at all - they were not doing anything more or less than they were with out going to church.

Maybe what that area needs are some Wesleyans to go in there and set up church and show them what real Christians are or its time that we really start no matter what church we attend to start being like Jesus - instead of re-inventing the gospel if
we could live the one Jesus gave us - people would be changed !
Hey it worked in the book of Acts it can work again!

Later

Turning 12

My son this week turned 12 !
And for his birthday he wanted a mp3 player.
No problem with friends like wal-mart!
So now we are in the mp3 down loading thing.

Now to spare him one of those "talks" I'll post it here.

I remember when I was 12 that stereo's not mp3 players were Big.
I can even remember our family's floor model stereo complete with 8 track storage space. That thing as I think about it now was the size of a coffin.

Big Speakers -- Big stereos -- meant big out put...

But Not now... Its gotta be small.

So we are now entering the age old argument of turn it down.
And putting Christian music in his head not worldly stuff.
But at 12 the radio tunes sound better than my (praise)music that I listen to.
Even the groups I liked years ago are like me "old men" now and "un-cool."
So what are some groups that are Christian and rocky or Rappers ??

I wish at 12 Barney still sounded cool with his sing along tapes but if they were then there would be different kind of worries.

Turning 12 means Jr. High this year....
Now we need to get him interested in a youth group to attend.
Sadly our church doesn't have one and he has learned its boring with the seniors crowd a long time ago.

Turning 12 means I think that there will be some new challenges ahead that make handling board meetings a picnic.

But I will Remain Faith to being a father and see him through it.

Later

still here!

Its the last sunday of July and I have been absent from my blog for a while.
my life has included these last fews days... funerals, Beulah camp, life,reading books, Pastoring, being glued to cnn as its covering the mid-east crisis, trying to get a grip on my own mid life crisis, school being out, and fishing plus a million more things.

This morning I preached on being ready for the lords rerturn...and now as I am preparing for tonights service I am wishing The Lord HAD COME.

Tonights topic is willfull sin. My inspiration for this came from tossing a snake out my boat this week as big as the one that tempted Adam And Eve in the garden from the book of Numbers 21:1-9


Later

Monday at the office May 8

There were a lot of smallies who came calling while I was at the office making the morning FLY..

the season has BEGUN !

Sunday was A great day to start the BBQ tradition....

our new car

The red car is our old car Hyundia XG 300 that we traded yesterday for a brand new golden brown 2006 Sonata.

todays catch

I wish it wasn't true

Maybe you have read this report somewhere this week that....
i am taking it from the associated baptist Press here that

Survey results: Church not important for spiritual growth, Americans say

By Hannah Elliott

Published: April 21, 2006

DALLAS (ABP) -- Almost three-fourths of Americans claim to be Christians, but only a small fraction consider church the place to deepen their faith, a new survey says.

Less than 20 percent of American adults believe participation in a congregation is critical to spiritual growth, and just as few agree that only through participation in a faith community will they reach their full potential, the Barna Research Group reported April 18.

I wish I could say it was different for the church I pastor but I think we are amongst the surveyed...
and here is why I make this sad claim .
last Night was our Night of Prayer for revival in the church. We have been having two nights of the month just for this concern.
And Guess who showed up ?
Just Me.

Thats It. Just Me.
So we really do need a revial , but not the kind that closes down all the taverns and like but one that gets people who come to church back in church.
I hope that God uses my time here to see such an event happen.
But when only one comes out for prayer it tends to put Me in the vally of despair....
Later

todays catch

He was one of 5 !!

Monday

What a Weekend...
Friday: A combined GoodFriday Service with 2 other church's !
Saturday: Setting up our church for a Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast with a community Baptist
Sunday: gGot up at 5 a.m. turned on heat and lights and unlocked doors.
Had Combined service and cleaned up after wards
then got ready for the 10:30 service....
then enjoyed a coffee and a chat following the service
and went out for lunch with 12 people for clams.....
then off to the hospital and vising a shut in ....

And somewhere in there on friday I got my first Bass of the season !!!!!

Before I leave the picture on this page is of a unplanned Pancake face tell me who you think it might be?

Later

todays pics

Took these today of the beach in my 'front yard'

Interesting comments

I am not sure if the three people that shared with me and my wife this week got together and planed it, but from 3 people this week we have herd this comment.
That if they wanted band music and a dance atmosphere they would go Saturday night to a dance BECAUSE they don't expect it in church.
Its interesting to me that 3 people said that they are coming to church expecting it to be different than the world and yet in the church we have adopted our worship music to that style of a dance music (loud and fast) NOW I LIKE FAST MUSIC AND TO QUOTE THAT GREAT CHRISTIAN ROCKER " why should the devil have all the good music"
Could (and I am just thinking here ) that our approach has been wrong that why we see a lot of people church hopping along to bigger and better ...
We are not seeing mr.unchurched come into church like we should because we are not ( and I am just thinking) offering anything different than they get Saturday night at a dance.

Well with that off my chest I have been getting ready for Sunday today , while watching two very board kids who had no school today...
Easter is a great time preaching wise you know what to plan for:)
But I have been thinking ahead to the last of the month and have come up with a two part sermon on God's word under attack ...
I wonder how many of our people could be easily deceived into believing that the bible is inaccurate.
So as I am thinking about what has been in the press and media latelty we need to remind people of the accuracy of the scriptures.
And maybe if the weather warms up get my boat in the water and catch me some bass.

and this week I am reading CHARISMATIC CHAOS by John MacArthur
which is so far great reading.

Later

Busy times

Since I last posted on here I have been busy...
On the first of April I celebrated my 18 anniversary.
I kinda failed in making any great romantic plans for the great day , but I did have a card but my best intentions were not enough this time.
Not only did we celebrate this day but my parents have been visiting with us for a few days, who went to Halifax with us for a overnight trip and waited for me at the hospital while I had tilt test for my heart which was a weird test.
And while in Halifax I meet with one of my preacher pals for a great gab.
So tomorrow My parents leave and I get to preparefore mid week and think about Sunday coming and maybe even get in some fishing...
Later

My 6:30 wake up call

This morning at 6:30 I was awakened by the sounds of a lone Loon singing on the lake behind our church. What a great sound to hear hopefully it means spring is that musch closer and fishing season as well.

Yesterday I Finished a sermon series that was inspired within me this summer when I read a book by Chip Ingram : God as he wants to be known. So we finished with the Faithfulness of God.
This Sunday was an interesting day for me as I filled in for the adult sunday school class and walked up to the platform past the newest empty pew by thoes who have left the church.
As I look down on the church and thoes who sit on my left that come are usually the ones that leave - while people who come and sit as I look down on the church from the pulpit on my right end up staying. I have no explanation for this but it is I think rather interesting.

Usually we have no sunday evening services but last night we did ! There was a combined service with two other church's for which at one time were all together as a circut together.
And we Got to gether for some good old fasioned tag team preaching....
My topic was the blood and I had some fun preaching on it and we ended with communion and a time of refreshments and fellowship.

Now its Monday and my Lovely Wife wants me to paint our bedroom this week.
Painting is not something I prefer to do but as we have been in the ministrty now for 17 years I have done my share of it and while I don't advertise this fact , to me its better that getting a tooth pulled but not as good as fishing all day without a bite.

Later

Memories that can not be replayed....

This week I attended a ministerial breakfast which was and is a great blessing !
And the topic of the morning was depression !
I noticed ( while I listened) that a lot of my fellow pastors are dealing either with a major case of the blues or mild depression aor are about to get depressed.
Hearing their stories reminded me of when I bottomed out in ministry and spent a few days in a hospital room - While I bottomed out emotionally and at the same time had a weird virus attack the lining around my heart so which of the two put me in the hospital for a few days I don't know, but I do know I hit a very low emotional valley.
I was Not "depressed " but very low in spirit or a major dose of the blues.
since then I Have had to fight these 'demons' away.

So how do I keep up in this crazy world or ministry.

1) I work at it.

2) I read continuously motivation quotes. ( its great getting them via email)

3) I go fishing.

4) I think about fishing.

5) I have been looking after my health better . ( I have gone from 230 - 179lbs)

6) I read alot.

7) I realize that apart of this battle is spiritual.

8) I have boundaries now .

9) I listen more carefully to my wife !!!!

10) I go fishing !

11) I watch clean comedy so I can laugh.

12) I go fishing a little more.

13) I meet once a month with two other pastors and go out for breakfast and we laugh, Think, talk, discuss theology and share about life...


Later

I like being me !!

I can remember that great singer from my youth Kermit the Frog singing
" it's not easy being green" and in the words of his Song Kermit makes the color Green not to be so bad . After all ....its the color of spring...



Well this week I had one of thoes moments.
It started with a man coming into my office and saying that he loved me and the church but he was going to be going somewhere else.
Because he is " pentecostal" and we are not!
So to his story that I won't give any deatils to -- I sang my vesion of its not easy being green.
by saying that I am happy to be Wesleyan! Its all I have known ! And its all I plan to know!

So with that we departed as friends....

Later

Turning 40

Well as of today I am now the big 40.
And no matter what I thought about ( being 40) before this day I am now 40.
So far I have not seen any changes from 39 till 40.

This event was announced to my community via a sign board and 25 penguins in front of my church on Sunday !


And during our church announcements the announcement came from the floor that next Sunday will be a pot luck to honor this day !

So there will be more celebrating next weekend again!

Later

My favorite lake is now haunted ??

Here is an article that appeared today in our provincial news paper about my favorite lake...

Mediums to the rescue!
W Network presents psychicsÂ’ series
By INGRID DEON

DARLINGS LAKE — The ghosts that haunt the Churchill Mansion have a little less baggage now thanks to two spirit counsellors.
Jackie Dennison and Christine Hamlett are filming a new television show for the W Network called Rescue Mediums. The British sisters-in-law, who are also psychics, grew up together clearing homes of any spirit presence by helping the spirits "into the light."
"WeÂ’re psychics who make house calls," said Dennison in an interview earlier this week.
The sisters-in-law ended up at the Churchill Mansion in Yarmouth County because itÂ’s long been fabled as a haunted inn. The house was built in 1891 by Captain Aaron Churchill, a wealthy seafarer who owned Churchill Steamship Lines. He had a similar mansion in Savannah, Ga., where he spent a lot of time with his wife, Lois, and niece whom he raised like a daughter, Lottie.
Bob Benson, owner of the inn, said many people believe Aaron and Lottie haunt the mansion.
"Originally, the story started because this is a mysterious building on top of a hill that was vacant for 60 years," he said.
"There are rumours of a hanging in the mansion, but that actually was not in the mansion, it was down the road. But it was a member of the Churchill family."
Dennison and Hamlett wonÂ’t say exactly whose ghosts they helped "cross over," but they will say their stay in Darlings Lake was very eventful.
"We definitely found more than one spirit here and itÂ’s very dramatic," said Dennison. "ItÂ’s a very intense story. It took us four days because of the intensity," Hamlett added. "And we ended up at a strange location in the middle of the night."
The Rescue Mediums team has been shooting its 13-episode premiere season in different locations in Ontario and Nova Scotia. In addition to their stay at the Churchill Mansion, Dennison and Hamlett rescued spirits in Kentville, New Minas and West Pubnico.
Michael Lamport, the showÂ’s producer, said the show they shot in the mansion is the highlight of the season, so theyÂ’re saving it for the final episode, which will most likely air in late May or early June. The show premieres Friday at 8:30 p.m. on the W Network.
But now that Dennison and Hamlett have helped the ghosts that haunt the Churchill Mansion into the light, will they still haunt the inn?
"Oh yes," said Ms. Hamlett. "They love it here."
( ideon@herald.ca)

Can you beliebve it!

If they have 'psychic' detectives and veterinarins , furniture psychics and on and on and on....

You think they would have psychic grave yards or waste management psychics for them...

So I think what I'll do to combat this problem is throw abunch of my old sermons in the lake for what ever good if any it would do ...

It will be interesting to see how this news might affect thoes superstious fisherman.

It might just mean being the only one on the lake.

This mansion is just a maybe 5 miles from the church....
And here is the real truth of this ... that while we are preaching the Good news and seeing God at work in our church - we are also in the devils playground. He's busy in fact Peter said it best
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I have over my years in the ministry always tried to be alert on the spiritual warfare front and to me this is the real deal , and maybe there is more of a cultic pull in this area than I realized but I know the man who Rose again !
And to him I will trust....

Later

Its just another Monday

Well yesterdays sermon I Hope is still working in the hearts and minds of our people...
IT wasn't a fun sermon. It was a sermon I had to deliever and it was on the Justice of God !
The points Included describing God's Justice biblically .
And Since God is a Just God then he must react to sin !
And in fact God hates sin and has prepared a place of punishment.
And since God is Just He must do this.

Now I have never backed away from preaching on hell and yesterday as a sub point described hell very biblically and gues what when I gave the altar call not a person moved.
We sang just as I am and not a person moved !

So here I am on this monday pondering through all this and when I was reminded of what Paul said in 2 tim 4:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

And so I concluded as I have done my part God will faithfully do His.

Today I also started to re~read a book that I read in 1995 by John McArthur
titled: ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

Tuesday - I am trying something new --- I have invited any men in the church who want to join me for breakfast to meet me at a local pizza place that has great breakfast deals to eat together and just laugh and eat together.
And maybe even do a little talking about the coming fishing season that's now just 26 days away !!!!

Later

P.s. my spell checker isn't working ....