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 ....

The sales clerk snickered

This is now March !

And to celebrate the end of February I went to our local Christian book store and ordered some (4) books and one of them made the owner hesitate and snicker it was a book by John MacArthur titled "Fools Gold".
The owner as he was writing down my information made the comment that this book was against a lot of the current trends.
I assured him I knew this and wanted the book.

He with out knowing it sent a very clear message to me of today's church culture, that they treat trends or fads or new teachings "like the purpose driven... Stuff" as the gospel and any one who bucks the trend is bucking " this new gospel" and that's bad...

So where do pastors and Christians go for material that's has doctrinal truth and makes you think besides the internet ?

Well one place I go every Tuesday is Frencys where soft covered books cost a dollar and hard cover books $ 1.60
and this weeks big find was Called to be Holy by Oswalt (new)
Obsessions of an extraordinary executive (new)
Bringing out the best in people (new).
Now I don't always get such finds but the weeks I do I feel pretty proud.

I think its a sad day in order to find books on holiness they have to come from a used clothing store instead of a Christian book store....
Where the owner of the book store attends a Wesleyan church.
That brings me back to my blog on attendance but not adherence.
and This says something on the place of holiness in our lives when we want heatlth over holiness or
heart warming fiction over holiness or
happiness over holiness and
how too's over holiness.

Later

Monday

We just had a Super Sunday !
Our offering was way over the top !
We had a "I love my church offering" a once a year tradition that helps us stay out of debt which was over the top !
And we had a 99% attendance for our potluck following the service !
God is working in our church !

So now for the week ahead I plan to finish reading "Let us be Holy" by Judson Cornwall.

Tuesday I " if the weather is good" plan to attend a leadership class I am taking.
Wednesday get ready for Midweek ...
Thursday Start and even finish my sermon and plan for our prayer meeting for revival.
Friday Finish up sermon.

And somewhere in there I need to visit and do a thousand more things....

But For today ... I am going to read and surf and maybe even tie up a few flies :)

Later

It's Thursday

I am not sure where the weeks are going but this one is wrapping up too quickly!
So beside doing my weekly office duties I was able to attend a funeral on Wednesday.

I went because this lady was a sister to one of our church men.
And I was blessed to watch one of my hero's take part in the service.
He is a retired minister who comes from England with a cool accent and he is a true Calvinist !
He knows what He knows and is not afraid to defend it from the bible, nor is He afraid to use theological terms in his preaching . He doesn't believe in sugar coating the gospel.

Why would I A not so young Wesleyan pick a Baptist as a hero ?
Well this past week I have been fervently reading on line a bunch of stuff on the deception that is entering the church through this "emerging church" fad we find so strong today.

And while we are in a post modern swing of thinking all is ok.
with Christians who don't want to stand apart from the world but blend in.
Comes a man like my hero who will stand up and say " Thus says the Lord..."
You see He isn't swayed by fads but seeks the leading of God.
The very God who began the church and will complete it.
Why trust anyone else ?

Later