Welcome to the "Bates" Cave

Shut Down Notice

2010-05-06T18:59:00.003-04:00

This blog has been shut down due to a lack of content.
We are saddened by the author's complete breach of blogging protocol but we couldn't allow this heinous disregard to continue forever. What a loser!

Signed,
The Blog Police

Simple Ideas

2010-01-16T23:35:00.003-05:00

I am in Arkansas for vacation. We enjoyed a birthday party for my niece Callie Thursday evening at the local skating rink in Russellville. But then I noticed that none of the kids brought gifts - all they brought were cards. And in the center of the gift table was a bucket with the words "Crisis Pregnancy Resource Center" on it. Attenders to my 11 year old niece's party were encouraged to forego gifts and GIVE to something that could make a difference in God's kingdom. $175 was raised to help this Christian based outreach ministry. Sometimes the best ideas are simple. What simple ideas do you have that will help us all to give a little more, take a little less and make a bigger difference?

A Glass of Clean Water

2010-01-07T10:12:00.003-05:00

We take it for granted. For $85 you and your family can give another family a bio sand filter that will last for 20 years. Check out http://www.bloodwatermission.com/projects/ to find out more. This isn't a guilt trip but just a reminder that we should love our neighbors as ourselves.

John 16:33...Tim Tebow

2009-12-08T22:31:00.002-05:00

Tim Tebow is a college quarterback who is also an outspoken believer in Christ. I usually don't give celebrity Christians much credit - but Tim appears to be the real deal. Many of you know he puts a scripture verse in white letters on his eye black. At first, it seemed a little hokey...kinda like those comic book looking tracts warning us about the dangers of Halloween. But then I read this quote in an article...
For the biggest college football star of the Google generation, there was no more appropriate symbolism to Tebow's career than Google's own data on Saturday night: For much of the afternoon, "John 16:33" from Tebow's eye-black was the most-searched term -- until nightfall, when it was bumped to the No. 2 slot by "Tim Tebow crying." By Dan Shanoff
You may not like football. You may not believe Tim Tebow. But for an evening, just because of some letters on some eyeblack - people were reading the Bible. And who knows, maybe if someone watched Tebow all season and read all his eye black scripture verses it would lead them to the Christ in which Tebow so outspokenly believes. You may not like Tim Tebow but he wears his faith on his sleeve and everyone knows where he stands. What about you? Maybe it's time for us to put on some eyeblack and get in the game!

Who is your mentor?

2009-12-03T09:24:00.003-05:00

In discipleship, we need to think about 3 relationships that are vital to this process:
1. Who am I leading, discipling and mentoring? (Behind me)
2. Who is my peer group that I am leading with? (Around me)
3. Who is my mentor? (Ahead of me)

That last person must be someone further down the road than you. We are not talking about perfection, just someone further along in their walk with Christ. As a pastor, it is hard to find people willing to take on this task. So that's why I hang out with guys like Howard Hendricks, Alistair Begg and Dave Ramsey. I don't agree with these guys on some theological issues but they do help me in specific areas of my life and ministry. Just this last week, Dave Ramsey spent two hours coaching me to stay on our financial plan. Howard Hendricks is currently speaking into my life teaching me about leadership. I know many of you don't like Bill Hybels but I learned a lot from him this past summer about managing yourself and leading others.

You may not have a personal mentor speaking into your life - but quit living out of that excuse. You can read books. You can download FREE podcasts and video on ITunes. You can get online content for FREE on just about any subject. Take advantage of the growth that awaits you and let someone speak down to you for once. Pastors need pastors, too!

2 Months...

2009-11-03T19:27:00.003-05:00

...until 2010 gets here. That has me thinking a lot about all the unfinished business of 2009. I could punish myself and wallow in guilt about what I haven't finished. Or I could decide to do something about those loose ends. So...
1. Sit down and clear about a half hour to think.
2. Scan your life in categories...Family, Professional, Personal, House, Personal Growth, etc.
3. Decide what things you need to FINISH in the next two months to finish off 2009.
4. Write each task down with a next step attached to each.
5. GET IT DONE! And yes, I am yelling. You have 2 months to make 2009 count!

You might have wasted a few days, weeks or even a month or two in 2009, but now is the only time you can change. Beg for God's wisdom, ask for His grace and do it! You'll be glad you did. And you will enter 2010 with momentum instead of regret.

Quityerbellachin!

2009-09-15T09:57:00.005-04:00

I traveled to West Viriginia this past Thursday & Friday for the Mid-Atlantic Pastor's Retreat. One of the speakers was Darrel Owens. I enjoyed getting to know this brother. He is a great example of what faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ looks like. He is still fighting the fight and keeping the faith! Listening to Bro. Darrel speak over the weekend reminded me of one thing I miss about the South...those great southern expressions and figures of speech. Western PA is our home, but I do miss hearing these gems from time to time:

"That is as worthless as a saddle on a hog."
"NIP it in the bud...NIP IT!"
"We were as poor as Job's turkey."
"My parents were so poor they had to lean against a wall to pay attention."

And lastly, one of his classic jokes:
Question: "What did the snail say while he rode on the back of the turtle?"
Answer: "WHEEEEEEEE!!!!"

p.s.: The title of this post is another classic - it is pronounced as one word but is actually a sentence and a great command for pastors: "Quit your belly aching!"
Translation: "Stop complaining."

Death of Blogging

2009-08-27T09:21:00.003-04:00

It is no surprise that blogging has rapidly declined as a popular form of online communication. The speed of life for most folks (and our laziness to think and write clearly) makes the micro-blogging world of Facebook and Twitter perfect for quick and constant communication. While I enjoy reading what is on everyone else's minds on Facebook, I still don't interact much and I doubt that I ever will. So here's the question, for the other 2 people who have read this blog - shall I give this blog a nice funeral? Or, should I re-invent this blog with renewed focus and begin updating weekly again? I think blogs have their place but only if they are updated often and the content is worth reading. So give me an opinion. A funeral or resurrection? My blog hangs in the balance.

scott

How Big Is Your God?

2009-06-01T12:15:00.002-04:00

"Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, GLORIOUSLY." (Isaiah 24:23)

How big is my concept or understanding of God? Not big enough. How do I know this? I have too high a view of myself, too low a view of others and His glory is not my consuming motivation.
He will reign GLORIOUSLY in the future, upon this earth - but what about now? Maybe I can take a cue from the sun and moon and hide myself in the shadow of His glory.

Dave Ramsey Would Be Proud

2009-05-16T21:19:00.002-04:00

We are working on Dave Ramsey's system for personal finances. While the progress is slow, we are moving in the right direction and God is blessing. One main component of Dave Ramsey's system is pretty simple...pay cash. Today was Mercer, PA's annual city wide garage sale and we went on a hunt for a few items.
Here is what we found...
*A ton of girls clothes for next to nothing.
*A DVD player with two screens for the Blazer and the long trips to AR. ($10)
*A Weslo Cardio Walk manual treadmill in mint condition. ($10)
*"Born Again" A book detailing Chuck Colson's coversion story. ($.50)
*Bridgestone MB-6 Mountain bike for me. ($10)
*Thayer's Greek Lexicon. ($.50)

There is nothing like the satisfaction of buying what you can afford and being happy with it.
"Godliness with contentment is great gain."

LifeChurch has three of Dave Ramsey's "sermons" uploaded to their site. I encourage you to check out what he has to say about personal finances.

Now on to kicking our debt out the door!

Merry Christmas From the Cave

2008-12-24T12:31:00.002-05:00

(Here is an excerpt of a conversation with myself...)

Me: "Wow, your blog is outdated and you haven't posted in a month."

Myself: "I know...I know but it is on my "list" of stuff to do."

Me: "You need more graphics, shorter entries and a complete makeover."

Myself: "Well, you know what they say - 'You can't teach an old blog new tricks!' "

Me: (grins)

Merry Christmas...you are free to share this corny joke with whomever you want!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2008-11-18T13:11:00.002-05:00

here's an article I wrote for the Allied News for Thanksgiving...

“When God Isn’t Enough” – by Scott Bates, Pastor of Mercer Baptist Church

“Sin is what you do when you aren’t fully satisfied with God.” – John Piper, Future Grace.

It is Thanksgiving season but I have a problem. As I look into my own soul for the proper attitude and approach to this holiday – there is a roadblock. As I try to genuinely express gratitude for the life He has given and circumstances He has ordained, I find myself miserably embittered.
“I deserve more…I desire better…If only, then…”
Maybe you are beyond such problems and if so, you can pray for me. But if you aren’t beyond such a quagmire, I want to share just a few thoughts from a verse which not only explains our wickedness but also offers a remedy.

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” – Hebrews 13:5

Covetousness
This isn’t a popular word today. But this inner attitude of loving money and things more than God is the root problem of our economic crisis. The word in Hebrews 13:5 simply means a lover of silver. Now, don’t make the mistake that the money is the problem because it isn’t. It is our attitude towards money that is the problem. When I love silver more than I love God, then there is no room for thankfulness.

Covetousness is also translated from a word in Colossians 3:5 which means “to have more.” The idea of covetousness is that we aren’t satisfied with our share – so we want more. And of course, this insatiable desire is never quenched and leads us down a dead end road of greed. But the passage in Colossians goes on to describe what covetousness really is… “and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Did you stop and let that sink in?
Wanting more than our share is idolatry. It is saying to God that His presence, His gifts, His will, His provision are simply not enough and we will search for our own gods.

If we find ourselves pining for a circumstance to change, wishing for things on a wish list and chasing after things or money – then I’m sure this Thanksgiving, God will not be enough for you or me. So go ahead, get up at the crack of dawn and run all day filling your baskets with things that you can’t afford. Or is there a better way?

Contentment
This virtue and inner attitude means to be sufficient or to be enough. Rather than wanting more, we are satisfied with what we have. It is an attitude that must be learned! Paul the Apostle, said “…for I have LEARNED in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11) He goes on to say that He learned “both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:12,13) In other words, it is through dependence upon Christ that we learn this attitude.
We cannot find this virtue in us but in Jesus Christ who lives in us.

A Thanksgiving Promise
Finally, we find the last two phrases of Hebrews 13:5. It is a personal promise to you and me. He, Himself has said this to us. It is also an emphatic promise. The quotation in the greek language has five different negative modifiers to place emphasis upon the surety of this promise. He will never, in any way, for any reason, at any time…leave us. What this verse says is that our God, our Lord Jesus Christ is enough!
And because He is enough – I can destroy the idols of covetousness and be content. What if lose my health? What if I lose my money? What if I lose my good name? I can be content…I can be thankful. I have Jesus and He is enough.

Ouch!

2008-10-21T12:39:00.002-04:00

"Christians are the most forgiven people in the world.
Therefore, Christians should be the most forgiving people in the world."

-Ken Sande in The PeaceMaker

Hurricane Update...

2008-09-18T13:59:00.010-04:00

Sustained winds between 72-82 miles per hour...Category 1 hurricane status for those interested. 1,000's without power for 3-?? days. Trees down everywhere - homes damaged. You probably think I'm talking about Texas but this is what we came home to on Monday after our vacation. We are still without power at the church and many of our families are without power. I can't imagine what IKE did in Texas if this was just a "remnant" of the storm. Penn Power is working towards Friday being the day everything is back up and running.

Houston Nutt or Meatloaf...You Decide

2008-09-18T13:59:00.009-04:00

There I was in Colonial Williamsburg when the rocker Meatloaf appeared out of nowhere...or is that former AR head coach Houston Nutt? What do you think? To getter a better look just click on the image.

Bacon Update

2008-09-18T13:59:00.005-04:00

For those on the edge of your seats, we have received our first pig back from the butcher. "Bacon" netted 136 lbs. of pork chops, steaks, bacon, sausage and ribs. Special thanks to Richardson farms for letting us try this pig experiment. Since we still have fresh tomatoes in the back yard - BLT is now back on the menu!

Vacation Thoughts

2008-09-12T19:32:00.002-04:00

We are on vacation in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Being home educators, we are combining history & vacation. Thankfully, our girls are too young to realize how sneaky we are. It has been a great week and I have been reflecting upon the genesis of our great nation. Which brings me to a question for you...

If you were faced with being a patriot (fighting for independence) or being a loyalist (siding with the crown)...which would you choose? The problem I have is this...Peter and Paul clearly teach that we must submit to the authority over us. And they wrote those words while submitting to a pagan empire who at times persecuted the faith. Spiritually and politically, how would you defend your position? I love the freedom we have but I do wonder if I could have rebelled with a clear conscience before God.

Give me some feedback and convince me to be a Patriot!

Random Thoughts

2008-09-01T22:42:00.005-04:00

Do you think online discipleship actually produces results outside the virtual world?

If Jesus had access to a calendar like MS Office offers, would he use it to “expand” his influence or would He be unplugged?

I ask this simply to point out the possibility that technology (from phones to email to blackberry’s and yes even this blog) have not made us more effective just busier. These things haven’t made us more holy – just more hurried. Holiness has a rhythm to it but I feel like a bluegrass flatpicker trying to sit in on a jazz session...out of step, a beat behind and out of place. And technology doesn't aid in my learning the syncopation.

I think I may just chunk all my spreadsheets and work off of post it notes. Of course, if I did that I would color code the post it notes and prioritize them by task, date, etc...

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-09-01T22:28:00.001-04:00

My momma turns ???? tomorrow...Happy Birthday!!!

A Biblical View of Self

2008-09-01T22:23:00.001-04:00

Here are some statements that I hope to develop into full statement of what the Bible teaches about me (and you as well.) This isn't a syllogism but rather just some foundational thoughts on properly viewing myself and also life...give me some feedback.

1. God made me.

2. God does not make mistakes. He is sovereign over every life.

3. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ I am forgiven, justified and reconciled to God.

4. Therefore, I am capable of becoming and doing whatever God wills me to become or do in His grace.

5. The fact that this is true gives me hope and encourages me to grow as a husband, father & pastor.

This simple statement is based upon my understanding of man, God and also the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in scripture. Give me feedback and arguments if you see some faulty thinking or theology in these statements.

The practical application for daily living is simply this. In and by the grace of God, I am capable of being the father God has called me to be. In and by the grace of God, I am capable of being the Pastor this church needs. In and by the grace of God, I am capable of being and becoming the husband that my wife deserves.

Parenting Class

2008-07-27T23:16:00.002-04:00

Here's a nugget of truth from our parenting class...
As we parent our children, our way of parenting must grow as our children do. As our children grow older, we must relinquish more and more control to them as they develop self discipline and internalize what we have taught them. As we move into the teen years, parenting then becomes more about influencing our children rather than "ruling" or "bossing" them.
In other words, as we lose control over our kids we must at the same time engage them so that we can influence them. Less control...More Influence.

Here is something about this process that I have noticed in myself and other parents. Many times we try to "influence" little children who need discipline & a more authoritarian approach. Then when they reach the teen years, we suddenly go nazi on them and come up with a billion rules to govern their behavior when they need us to engage them and influence them.

If you ever want to get into a solid, Biblical model for parenting children into adulthood...check out Tedd Tripp's book "Shepherding a Child's Heart." It is thoroughly Biblical. It is based upon the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ and views parenting as a long term discipleship commitment. I wish I had read this book and done the small group years ago!

New Phone for the Old Man

2008-07-27T23:08:00.003-04:00

37 today...pretty cool to preach on your Birthday! Here's a pic of my new phone...my 5 year old v180 finally bit the dust...The Samsung Blackjack is a "smartphone" and is a great blend of camera, phone and pda. No, it's not an Iphone or whatever those things are called but hey mine was only $48 and I only pay $13 for unlimited minutes via a family plan. Take that Andrew Johnson! Now, if I can only figure out how to turn it on...

When In Rome...

2008-07-23T23:50:00.003-04:00

Perfect Father's Day gift...Steeler's shirts!

Niagara and Lake Erie

2008-07-14T23:36:00.002-04:00

While Mom and Dad were here we made an overnight trip to Niagara Falls and stopped by Lake Erie on the way home. The falls exceeded my expectations. Here are some pictures of our short trip.

100 Posts and Still Kickin'

2008-07-14T23:34:00.003-04:00

Hey...just a note about my previous post about Sonic...it was my 100th post on blogger. First, I would like to thank blogger for making all this possible. Second, I need to thank my 7th grade typing teacher whose tireless instruction helped me learn the skill of typing. I would continue but I might get choked up.

Okay...We Might Survive!

2008-06-15T18:32:00.004-04:00

One of the things we miss about the south is SONIC...America's Drive In. You might be familiar with the commercials. Esther, the kids and I are fans of the cheeseburgers, slushes, ice cream and cokes with chipped ice. BUT...we heard a few months back a rumor that SONIC was moving into SW PA. So, Friday we loaded into the Blazer and spent the day in Tarentum, PA shopping at various stores and bookending the day with a meal and ice cream at SONIC. I can still taste the cheeseburger...okay, I think we can survive next winter now! :)

Father's Day

2008-06-15T18:19:00.003-04:00

Here are some pictures from our afternoon on Father's Day...By the way, got a new black Steeler golf shirt for Father's Day - SWEET! Check out the frogs the girls have grown from tadpoles. (There is a frog on Miriam's finger tip!) After a great day with God's people at church, I will finish the day organizing our sunroom and watching the final round of the US Open. Mom and Dad should be here by Friday so this week is going to be great!

Put Me In Coach!

2008-06-10T15:54:00.002-04:00

Here are some pictures of Miriam and her softball team - Pizza Joe's. She is having blast in her first year of slow pitch.

Cashmere's New Home

2008-05-16T21:03:00.002-04:00

Here's a picture of Cashmere's new 2 story condo...

Piggy Pictures

2008-05-16T20:53:00.002-04:00

At long last...here are the pigs. Enjoy!

This Little Piggie - Part Two

2008-04-24T08:15:00.002-04:00

Uh - oh. We have problems in the pig world. As you know from a previous post, we are now owners of two pigs. These are not pets of course - but...uh...how do I say it nicely - they are future pork chops. Since my wife and I aren't farmers, we thought it best that the pigs NOT receive a name when they were purchased. This creates an easier transition from cute little piggy to nice, yummy pork chops. But upon arriving from the farm, my wife and children informed me that not only do we own two pigs but they now have names. Uh - oh. Could be trouble. What are the names? Bacon & Piglet. I'll post some pics of our new additions after this evening when I go to see our new family members.

Paul Wiesenbach

2008-04-22T08:44:00.005-04:00

Paul Wiesenbach is now on the internet! Check out his sweet Harley! He dropped by Saturday to check on his wife Donna who was helping us host the garage sale.

This Little Piggie...

2008-04-22T08:37:00.002-04:00

Well, we might have actually lost our minds. Our good friends the Richardson's asked us a simple question last week, "Hey, do you guys want a pig this year?" And because we love the bacon and ham...we found ourselves saying "Yes." So, in the next week or so, we will be going to an Amish farm and picking out a pig. Don't worry, we aren't letting the girls name the pig because by July / August this little piggie will be in the freezer. The funny part about this whole scenario is imagining Esther, who is even more of city slicker than I am, going "whole hog" for this idea.

$800 Raised...Fellowship...100's of Neighbors

2008-04-19T18:01:00.002-04:00

So what was the nexxus that brought all this together? A 3 location garage sale hosted by our church all benefiting the Pregnancy Services Center of Western PA located in Sharon, PA. Our goals were simple for this event:

1. Raise some money for a worthy ministry that protects the unborn.
2. Fellowship and serve together deepening our relationships with each other.
3. Meet our neighbors and plant some seeds.

All 3 goals were met and exceeded. We raised almost $800 for the center and MBC will be matching the $ to bring the total to $1600! We had traffic all day at all the locations and passed out flyers, invite cards and a tract called "More Than A Carpenter." All the garage sales were just one big party as everyone hung out and had a great time at each location.

GREAT JOB MERCER BAPTIST CHURCH!
Thank you, Lord, for a great weekend.

Pictures to follow...

THIS SATURDAY!!!

2008-04-16T21:57:00.004-04:00

1 Garage Sale
3 Locations

1 Worthy Cause

April 19th, 8am – 4pm

8264 Lamor Road – Mercer
941 Milbrook – Jackson Center
431 Pueblo Trail – Lake Latonka

100% of the proceeds go to the Pregnancy Services of Western PA.
Hosted by Mercer Baptist Church. Contact 724-748-4612 for information.

Bob Ross Sighting at the I 79 Meeting

2008-03-14T23:26:00.003-04:00

Once a month, I travel to WaPa or sometimes MoTown for a meeting. The I 79 Crew is a group of guys like me in the midst of a church planting adventure who are willing to be honest, be challenged and also put up with my penchant for having an opinion on just about everything. (sorry fellas - I'm working on that one.) Anyway, had a great meeting this morning as we discussed post modernism and what the discipleship process looks like for someone who is post modern and decides to believe the absolute truth of Jesus. Interesting discussion.

And in the middle of the meeting, one of my favorite painters - Bob Ross - showed up and had a cup of Java with us...sorry David, I couldn't resist. Above is a picture of Bob who just returned from San Francisco.

Seriously, David Story is a cool dude with a heart for Jesus and CD you need to buy...check it out here.

Myrtle Meet Cashmere

2008-03-04T22:23:00.003-05:00

Our friends the Richardson's and Dave Seivers gave us a bunny. Esther named the bunny Cashmere and we brought her home tonight. After a brief stare down, Cashmere sniffed at her new turtle friend. Myrtle hissed and then hid in her shell. The girls are happy beyond description. I guess we'll be having a race real soon...

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-03-04T09:44:00.003-05:00

It is my dad's birthday. I thank God for my dad. My prayer is that the life I lead will honor him and the heritage he has given me as a man and as a follower of Jesus Christ. Here are a few pictures of Mayor Bates...

We Survived!

2008-03-04T07:31:00.003-05:00

Sorry about the long hiatus but February is the longest short month of the year! Here's a few updates and a picture of our last snowman (possibly) of the year.

Dodge Dakota tranny bit the dust...decided to buy another vehicle rather than fix the truck. It's a year newer (1995) than my old truck but with a lot less miles.

Church has been busy...we celebrated the Lord's Supper for the first time, began a new Easter series (5 Part), received enough in our special Project Offering to pave half of our parking lot and also had one profession of faith. We also knocked out a bunch of projects this month around the church and began our baptistery project.

Signed Miriam up for softball...now the whole family will have to endure my Spring Training regimen so that Miriam will be ready for the season! :) "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play - today!"

I am ready for Spring - yesterday we were given a teaser with 60 degree temps. Snow is on the forecast for the next two days. Ah, March in the mid-atlantic...

Reclaiming a Lost Treasure

2008-02-07T22:58:00.000-05:00

This is the article I was asked to write for the upcoming edition of the Allied Newspaper.

“Reclaiming a Lost Treasure”

Jesus sometimes makes me uncomfortable. His words call for far too much commitment and His worldview was just too narrow. Whether He was speaking on the subject of salvation or loving your enemies, Jesus wasn’t trying to win popularity contests. He was simply and forcefully telling us the truth. And on the subject of marriage, Jesus was and is controversial. Jesus’ teaching on marriage is too narrow and calls for far too much commitment. Let’s revisit His words…

“…have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
So, then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matt. 19:4-6

First, it is important to understand how Jesus framed or constructed His worldview. He didn’t consult local mores or cultural norms, He consulted scripture. Jesus quotes from Genesis 1:27 and 2:24 to undergird His teaching on this subject. Second, as Jesus moved from quotation to application, He spoke as if His words carry as much authority as Old Testament scripture. Let’s reclaim a lost treasure – the marriage covenant – by
simply accepting what Jesus says about marriage.

1. Marriage is heterosexual. Jesus quotes directly from the Genesis account of creation to point out this obvious truth. If we are going to construct a worldview aligned with Jesus it begins here. God created Adam and Eve. Men and women are biologically, physiologically and emotionally different yet compatible.

2. Marriage is monogamous. Jesus says it clearly “two” become “one.” This not only refers to having just one
spouse it also refers to faithfulness to that one spouse. Emotional or physical flirtation with someone besides your spouse is not only dangerous it is sin. Yes, that’s right – sin. It’s not an “affair” it is called adultery. It isn’t a fling – it is an attack on the most sacred foundation of our society, the marriage covenant.

3. Marriage is oneness. This is the magic and mystery of marriage. This applies to every aspect of the relationship. It is physical, mental and emotional oneness. “Two” become “one”. Marriage is a process of weaving together until you cannot tell where one ends and the other begins. Commitment can keep a marriage together until death but it is oneness that makes marriage a blessing.

4. Marriage is permanent. Ouch! Did Jesus really say that? Yes, He did. In direct answer to a question about divorce, Jesus didn’t stutter. He says it clearly. “What God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Don’t discuss divorce. Don’t contemplate it. Don’t threaten your spouse with it. Whatever problems you have, divorce only complicates and multiplies them.

5. Marriage is God’s covenant. Notice the words in verse 6. Jesus says “what” God has joined together. In other words, not every individual marriage is ordained of God but once two people are married they have entered into God’s covenant of marriage. Ultimately the marriage covenant and every marriage belongs to Him! It isn’t our place to destroy, weaken or dissolve it.

My prayer and plea is for those who call themselves followers of Jesus, to reclaim this lost treasure. Refuse to allow anyone or anything to demean or destroy your marriage. Treasure your spouse as a gift of God’s grace and thank God for His gift of marriage. The words of Jesus are narrow. He doesn’t leave us much wiggle room. Will you reclaim this lost treasure or will you trade it away for something lesser?

Basement Graffiti

2008-02-06T11:35:00.000-05:00

While DryLok'ing the basement walls, I got crazy and painted some graffiti on an unpainted wall.

15 years of marriage today! Thank you Esther!

Happy Groundhog Day!

2008-02-02T19:09:00.001-05:00

FINALLY...I can get back to normal blogging. :)

Groundhog Day

2008-02-01T09:42:00.000-05:00

Quick Recap...
Avoiding the crowds...Saw Phil...swam in the pool...ate ice cream in New Bethlehem.
Weird day.

Groundhog Day

2008-01-31T00:24:00.000-05:00

We decided to avoid the crowds of Groundhog Day and visit Phil and the borough of Punxsutawney on Monday instead of Saturday. We have a workday scheduled at church on Saturday anyway - so this worked out great. We had a great time swimming (indoor pool) and also sightseeing on Monday in and around Punxsutawney. We love taking side roads and found a great vista among the rolling hills & farmland. The only downer of the day was that the weather center was closed for repairs but the upside was that we stopped in New Bethlehem at a downtown soda fountain and had ice cream for supper. :)
Sorry, no pictures this time...I really felt like I had seen most of this stuff before.

Groundhog Day

2008-01-30T08:56:00.000-05:00

Phil The Groundhog

Esther & I standing next to one of the many "Phil" Statutes in town.

Gobbler's Knob - The magical place where Phil predicts the weather.
It is located on a ridge just outside the borough.

Snow...Rolling Hills...Sunshine!

We decided to avoid the crowds of Groundhog Day and visit Phil and the borough of Punxsutawney on Monday instead of Saturday. We have a workday scheduled at church on Saturday anyway - so this worked out great. We had a great time swimming (indoor pool) and also sightseeing on Monday in and around Punxsutawney. We love taking side roads and found a great vista among the rolling hills & farmland. Here are some pictures from our day...
The only downer of the day was that the weather center was closed for repairs but the upside was that we stopped in New Bethlehem at a downtown soda fountain and had ice cream for supper. :)

Sunrise in the Mountains of NW Arkansas

2008-01-22T08:36:00.001-05:00

This is a picture from my Mom's back porch at sunrise in my hometown of Huntsville, AR.

Nothing to Report from the Deep Freeze

2008-01-17T10:46:00.001-05:00

I would blog about something if there were something to blog about. We are expecting single digits this weekend - great timing for the freezing temp's since we are having a Chili Fellowship Sunday night. Currently we are working on two projects at home in our "spare" time...the basement (DryLok on the walls) and also our kitchen. The kitchen will probably be something we finally finish by fall 2008.

Since many of us may be trying to make some changes in 2008 and have hit a wall...I offer these words:

Don't Give Up! God blesses tenacity! If you fail (and we all do), don't quit! Beg God for His grace and don't give up! Because of who we are in Christ and what He has promised us - we can change and we can grow.

God Bless!

Happy New Year

2008-01-06T17:25:00.001-05:00

I can honestly say I have never entered a year with more optimism. Even though the Razorbacks lost and the Steelers gave their playoff game away - I still think 2008 can be salvaged! Why the optimism? Normally, as a family, we spend part of our New Year's Eve talking about the past year and thanking God for different things that happened during the year. This year, we took it a step further. I printed all my 2007 blog entries, printed up my calendar from 2007 and then sat down with Esther to make a list of significant things that happened in 2007.
Here are the things we listed...
1. What places did we visit? Travel to?
2. What events or activities did we attend and participate in?
3. What spiritual milestones happened at church or in our family?
4. Who did we lose this year? (Family & friends that passed on)
5. What new friends did we gain?

We listed other miscellaneous things but these were the main things. And after about 1 1/2 hour of work - I was amazed at everything that happened this past year. Although, 2007 was filled with a lot of loss (death of my grandfather and great uncle) - 2007 was still a wonderful year of growth and new experiences. I know 2008 will be full of struggle and difficulty. I know there will be some frustration and maybe even some pain. But out of that and even in the middle of it - God will bless us with a great year. By God's grace, 2008 will be a year filled with growth, joy and God Himself will get the thanks and the glory.

I challenge you to journal through your year and look for God's grace...and when you go back and see His hand on your life it will encourage you to take on this New Year with hope.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Update...

2007-12-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

We have enjoyed Christmas...here are some highlights.

Great services at church including a special PM Christmas service.
We enjoyed Christmas eve with some friends in our church. The food was great and we laughed until our sides hurt.
Ipod Nano - Thanks Mom & Dad.
Freakanomics - Thanks Betty & Presley.
Steelers collared shirt - Thanks Miriam & Naomi.
Bonus & Mucho Presents From Mercer Baptist - Thanks Church Family!
Christmas morning & afternoon were relaxed. We had all day to open a ton of gifts.
The fun part was calling Mom & Dad and letting them watch the girls open their gifts via a web cam on my laptop. It wasn't like being together but it was cool.
Yesterday was fun...Target, WalMart, Sam's Club, Best Buy, Build a Bear, National Treasure 2 and Taco Bell.

Two interesting people yesterday...

1. I met a fellow Arkansan (he saw my brand new AR shirt - thanks Mom) at the movies in Boardman, OH yesterday. It was great to say "Woo, Pig Sooie" to someone who actually understood. I almost teared up. :)

2. I met an elderly fellow at the mall yesterday. I asked him if he had a good Christmas. His reply (with a grin) was "Any day I can get out of bed is a good one!"

Have a great week and see you in New Year!

Mary's Christmas

2007-12-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

I Wonder What Mary Thought of Christmas & Easter

The holidays are not always that jolly for some folks. This season does mark the end of a year and can be a harsh reminder of what has been lost in the past 12 months. At the same time, what could be more jolly than little children and special Christmas’ services at church? And who among us doesn’t like the candy, food and fellowship this time of year? It is my belief and experience that the holidays – Christmas and New Year’s Day – are supposed to be bittersweet. Losing and gaining…grieving and rejoicing.

I think Mary, the mother of Jesus is a good example of this. Consider what went through her mind at Christmas and Easter (Passover). Consider the gamut of emotions and confusion she must have felt that first Christmas season. God did not spare her the details of her Son’s future and she wrestled with the mystery, wonder and fear that first Christmas. Throughout His ministry, Jesus slowly walked toward His destiny…a cross and empty tomb. But Mary? She could only watch as her Son was crucified between two thieves during Passover.

Certainly, she experienced unbridled joy when He arose from the grave and she cherished every appearance in His post-resurrection ministry. But then He was gone. She was left with promises of His return but these promises were never realized in her lifetime.

Can you imagine what it was like for Mary at Christmas every year after Jesus ascended back to the Father? Joy…yes! Sorrow…certainly! What about Passover and Easter? Scenes from a bloody cross, an empty tomb and ascension through the clouds would have been bitter yet sweet. Joy…oh, my yes! Salvation! Forgiveness! Life! But sorrow…yes, this too. For what mother could forget the pain of her Son’s death?

So as we all walk our way one more step closer to eternity and turn the page on 2007, don’t forget to mourn your losses and celebrate your victories. Cry and laugh. Pray and sing. The experience of a young, Jewish peasant girl named Mary reminds us that both joy and sorrow are valid this time of year.

Sledding!

2007-12-21T10:49:00.000-05:00

The great thing about the snow in PA is that it sticks around for quite a few days. In AR, we would have to run out and play in it the day or day after and then it usually melted. We had a bunch of snow this weekend and we waited until Tuesday and 35 degree weather to go sledding.

Life in the NE / Mid Atlantic

2007-12-16T23:47:00.000-05:00

January will mark 2 years here in the Northeast / Mid-Atlantic region for me and my family. I have grown to enjoy some things living here in the North...here are just a few.

1. Basements - I worked on my basement a little this afternoon while listening to the Eagles / Cowboys game on my computer. As long as your basement is well built and dry - they are wonderful. Now I just need to install that extra bathroom down here in the dungeon.
2. Snow - I know we are the ONLY people in Mercer who enjoy the snow. Lord willing, we will be sledding sometime Monday or Tuesday.
3. AFC Football - I used to be an exclusive NFC guy in football but now living in Steeler country I find myself drawn to the darkside...the AFC. It's hard not to like a franchise with as much dignity and class as the Steelers.
4. Pierogies - Man, I am addicted to these. My family likes them as well. Baked, fried, boiled, with or without onions...it doesn't matter. I like d'em pierogies.
5. New Friends - We have great neighbors all around us. We have great friends at church. We have a great network (I - 79 Crew) of church planters for support. Without moving here, we would have missed all these great people.

2008 promises to be a great year. Who knows maybe I'll get to eat some pierogies while watching the Steelers play in the playoffs while it is snowing with some of my new friends. :)
Of course, I will settle for a Razorback win in the Cotton Bowl. Woo Pig Sooie!

Christmas E-Card

2007-12-10T18:49:00.000-05:00

Here is our Christmas E-Card we will be sending out in few weeks. Many of you will also receive an update letter and card via snail mail.

The Golden Compass...It Doesn't Point North!

2007-12-06T09:35:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to Albert Mohler's blog where he reviews the Golden Compass and also the three books "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman. Parents need to be aware of where the trilogy is leading and also the goals of Philip Pullman in his book series.

13 Degrees

2007-12-05T23:27:00.000-05:00

Yes...it's cold. That's all I'm gonna say 'bout that.

Snow!

2007-12-05T10:36:00.001-05:00

Here are some pics from the past few days of snow...looks like winter is here. All I ask is that this stuff comes back in a few weeks on Dec. 24th!

12 Point Buck...

2007-12-02T16:32:00.000-05:00

I wish. But here's the update for the past few weeks. We spent Thanksgiving with some friends in Morgantown, WV. Our whole I-79 gang was there except for the Sheffstall family. Special thanks for Russel, Belinda, Ryan & Jana for inviting us to their home. Belinda not only did a great job hosting all of our families but my kids came home with some great crafts!

Lilly Johnson stole the show at Thanksgiving. See cute baby picture.

The funniest part of the day was playing Cranium...men vs women. In spite of the fact that I can't tell the difference between corn & wheat, the men still won.

I enjoyed bear and deer hunting this year. Lord willing, I will go again next year. Next year I will definetly apply for doe tags so I can put some meat in the freezer!

Chris Rice Concert

2007-11-20T22:02:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note...one thing my family shares is a love of music. We saw our favorite artist Saturday night - Chris Rice - who was playing in Bradford, PA. Great concert! If you have never listened to any of Chris's stuff...you are missing out. I wish I could write and play with such skill.

Bears...Oh My!

2007-11-20T21:55:00.000-05:00

Well for those who are waiting breathlessly...I did not get a shot at a bear during "the hunt." But it was a great hunt! Driving in Sunday night there was a light snow that grew into a heavy snow. By the time I arrived at Larry's cabin in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains near Benezette, PA there was 4-6 inches of snow on the ground. The Monday hunt was spectacular, cold and exciting. I saw one bear who had been flushed out by the some hunters down below me. It was moving! All I saw was his tail end as he dove into a thicket. I tracked him about 1/4 mile up the mountain before giving up. Hopefully, I will have some pictures to post of the snow. Next week is deer season. I have already picked out some prime locations with mucho deer sign. Who knows maybe next Tuesday the blog entry will be "12 Point Buck...And I'm Not Kidding."

HAIRCUTS!

2007-11-11T16:22:00.001-05:00

Well, all my girls got their haircut. Even my little baby...8 Year old Naomi got in on the short hair do's!

Trunk N Treat

2007-11-11T16:11:00.000-05:00

Hey...What do Moses, a can of spam and the Wizard of Oz have in common???

Well, they all showed up at our Trunk N Treat!

R.I.P.

2007-11-05T13:59:00.000-05:00

Well, the time has come for the this blog to fade into the sunset. Feel free to come back around and check out family pictures & updates. This blog will now become a place for family & friends to keep with our family. There may be an occasional post about ministry - but it will be rare. I simply have too many things going on to blog effectively and I am tired of doing a bad job of blogging. I have many ideas to write about but I just haven't made the time. Maybe in 2008 I will refocus and relaunch a ministry blog. Until then ADIOS! Thanks for reading

Meet Myrtle the Turtle

2007-10-23T09:18:00.000-04:00

Our only pet is this aquatic turtle named Myrtle. We "inherited" her from another homeschool family last Spring and she has slowly (ha...she's a turtle!) become a fixture in our home. This past week, the girls and Esther dressed her up like a pumpkin and took her to a Pet Costume Contest at Agway. The above picture is a familiar pose for Myrtle when she is sunning.

I will be checking out for a week or so while I go to Reach America's Huddle. Thanks for reading!

Esther & I

2007-10-15T16:38:00.001-04:00

Mom & Dad

2007-10-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

Mom and Dad left this morning to head back to AR. Needless to say, it was a somber morning after we have enjoyed non-stop fun & fellowship this past week. Here are few pics from the week.

This past week included...

Huge Corn Maze, Pittsburgh Zoo, Duqusne Incline, homemade cake & cookies, golf, Titusville Train Ride, Shopping at the mall and we even squezzed in time to watch the Razorback game on Saturday night. God blessed us with a great week.

Backyard Campfire!

Train Ride in Titusville, PA

Mom overlooking the Golden Triangle in Pittsburgh

Golden Triangle & Duquesne Incline

2007-10-10T12:28:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note...Mom and Dad are here this week. Monday - Duquesne Incline and Pittsburgh Zoo. Check out the panoramic pic from Mom's new digital camera.

If you are in Pittsburgh, the Incline is a great way to learn about some history of Pittsburgh and also see the "golden triangle" from above.

Also included...
New Sign with part of our Mission Statement included!
New Kitchen at church!

The Last Sin Eater

2007-10-02T19:42:00.000-04:00

This weekend we rented a DVD I would recommend. "The Last Sin Eater" is a clean and chilling movie which clearly and cleverly presents the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a little scary so little kids need to wait until they are older to watch it. This would be a great movie for a movie night at church or a teen movie night. The movie is entertaining and has a great story line of sin, redemption and sacrifice. Check out the review here. I enjoy creative people who find a way to get Christ into the culture. Fox Faith Films also has put together some free church resources to use if you want discussion starters and promo materials.

Sunset in My Backyard

2007-10-01T10:06:00.000-04:00

Action At Fort Necessity

2007-10-01T09:57:00.001-04:00

French soldier (Naomi) has the drop on a Brit.

Shots are fired!

Fallen Red Coat!

FIRE!

Fort Necessity

2007-10-01T09:29:00.001-04:00

We camped a few weeks ago near Fort Necessity in southern PA. Fort Necessity was built at the onset of the French & Indian War (7 Years War in Europe & the rest of the world). The British were led by a young soldier named George Washington and at this fort, G.W. suffered his first and only military defeat. Here are some tidbits from this important historical site.

1. Fort Necessity...Bad name for a fort. It sounds like a latrine rather than a military encampment.

2. The Fort was a failure because of geography and planning. G.W. placed the fort in an open field but placed it too close to the woods. When the French and Indians attacked, they were able to stay in deep cover while picking off the Red Coats who were mired in the muck & mud.

3. The roads used by G.W. and later General Braddock would later become the first federally funded road in American history. What is now present day Highway 40 was a major artery connecting the "East" to the frontier which lay beyond the Alleghenies.

4. How important was the French and Indian war to American cultural development? It cannot be overstated! After the 7 Years War ended, so did the French domination of what is now the United States. Great Britain became the dominant colonial power worldwide. Just one example...The French controlled the Ohio River. (Source is at Pittsburgh at the mouths of the Monangehla & Allegheny and extends to the Mississippi River) They had controlled the area from Fort Duquesne. After defeating the French, the British renamed it...Fort Pitt. Nothing against the French but I like the sound of Pittsburgh much better.

As an aside, the above trip is one of the reasons we homeschool. Our whole family enjoyed a great weekend camping and learned valuable lessons on the history of the French/Indian War and also road construction in America.

Ohiopyle State Park & Falls

2007-09-16T21:25:00.000-04:00

More on the trip later...here are some pictures. One day a year, the state opens the falls so people can kayak over them - thankfully, we happened to be there this weekend.

We also visited Fort Necessity (love the name...probably a great leadership lesson there).

Sunset in Van Buren

2007-09-06T20:19:00.000-04:00

“In the Beginning”
His beauty I’ve seen in the waning winter’s sun;
His glory I’ve glimpsed as away it would run.
Words always fail to describe this to you,
Nature’s full splendor....the pink, red and blue.

His beauty I’ve seen in the clouds of the skies,
With colors that sparkle and dance in your eyes.
Shadows flee quickly from the beams of the light,
as glory breaks through with all of its might.

His power I’ve heard in the whip of the wind.
It cracks and it pops and the storm now begins.
The howl of the gale and the crash of the sea,
His power I’ve heard, and it humbles me.

His wisdom, I’ve wondered, just how this was done.
All things created with words from the SON.
From the tiny strands of protein - the mystery of life,
To the beautiful eyes of my only dear wife.
In wonders sublime, that I can’t believe;
His wisdom, I’ve wondered....Has mesmerized me.

PA Hogs...The Championship Journey Begins

2007-09-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

Fantasy Football...I have never played and here is my first team. I drafted a few PA guys - Parker, Big Ben and Westbrook. And since I couldn't get Romo, I opted for Terry Glenn so I could add a little silver and blue to the mix. I will probably get hammered this year but as long as I beat Aaron Johnson and Jason Sheffstall I will be happy.
PA Hogs...I need a logo. Black and Gold with a Razorback.
Unfortunately, I didn't do much research prior to the draft. My final pick and the last pick of the draft was a washout...turns our Dominic Rhodes is suspended and is not even listed as a 3rd string RB for the Raiders. Looks like the front office dropped the ball on this pick.
1.(10) Willie Parker RB
2.(11) Brian Westbrook RB
3.(30) Cedric Benson RB
4. (31) Ben Roethlisberger QB
5. (50) Philip Rivers QB
6. (51) Chicago DEF
7. (70) Calvin Johnson WR
8. (71) Deion Branch WR
9. (90) Santana Moss WR
10. (91) Jason Elam K
11. (110) Benjamin Watson TE
12. (111) Seattle DEF
13. (130) Chris Henry RB
14. (131) Terry Glenn WR
15. (150) Dominic Rhodes RB

Big Boy Toys

2007-09-02T15:27:00.000-04:00

My blog has been ignored lately but these pictures help explain the chosen hiatus. I began this summer with the goal of finishing a major outdoor project. I cut down 6 scotch pine trees and then began the long process of digging up the stumps. I also dug up 2 huge oak stumps and one tiny pine stump left behind by the last homeowners. Friday, I brought 7 loads of dirt into the back yard to spread and fill holes. After spending most of Saturday on a Bobcat spreading dirt, I finished up last night at dusk by seeding and laying straw. This project has been ridiculous but I have learned a lot about chainsaws, mini-trac ho's, Bobcats and dirt work. Now, for my fall project...the kitchen.

"Leftover Grace"

2007-08-13T17:44:00.000-04:00

Mark 5:24-34

She had suffered for quite a few years. Twelve to be exact. Nameless. Hurting. Humbled and broken. An unknown and untreatable scourge ravaged her body causing a continual bleeding. We don’t know her name. Nor do we know if she was married or if she had children. We do know that the Old Testament Law would have marked her as defiled. We know that the religious system of the day ran by Pharisees and Scribes would have ignored this woman. Unclean, defiled and ignored.

Like any person who was sick, she wanted to get better. So she did the normal thing, she went to the doctor. Then another…then another. After being ravaged by this disease and suffering at the hands of helpless doctors, she was no better and actually getting worse. She had run out of money. She was running out of hope.

Then she heard about a man. He wasn’t a doctor – but He was a healer. He wasn’t a trained Rabbi – but He was a master-teacher. We don’t know exactly what prompted her faith or why she chose to approach Jesus anonymously. The text in Mark simply says: “she came behind Him…” After a long day of teaching, healing and preaching, Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal Jairus’ daughter. The crowds were great and pressed upon Jesus. And in the middle of this mass of people, this anonymous suffering woman “came behind”
and reached out for Jesus. Maybe she felt unworthy to ask Him to stop. Maybe she was ashamed to be seen in public. Maybe she was just looking for leftover grace. In the midst of all the good He was doing, maybe she was wondering – “Jesus, is there any grace left for me?”

Her faith may appear a little superstitious. But Jesus’ response to her faith dispels that quickly. She simply believed that if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. A wordless request and a simple faith resulted in immediate and complete healing. But then Jesus stopped. This anonymous plea for leftover grace was going to become public. He turned and looked at her. She fell at His feet and poured out her heart. The Healer rewarded her faith with peace and blessing. She came diseased…the text says she left as a daughter.

The message for us is simple. For those who are desperate enough to reach out to Jesus – there is enough grace and help for everyone. Even if your faith is quirky. Even if we don’t know your name. Even if your situation is hopeless. Even if you are broken. If you will fall at His feet, if you will ask…you will find more leftover grace than you could ever imagine.

Signs of Life, Part Two

2007-08-07T18:18:00.000-04:00

Another sign of life we should look for is the reaction that people in the church have to the word of God. If our churches are alive and headed toward God's vision - then there will be a thrist for His truth and willingness to obey Him. Repentance, life change, confession of sin and growth will become regular responses to the word of God. Playing church is easy. I will say it again...playing church is EASY! Biblical Christianity is not easy. Jesus calls us to repent, grow, change and be transformed by His Spirit and His word. A church that is alive is not satisified with just hearing the word or believing orthodox doctrines...a church that is alive must be consumed with a desire to know and obey the will and word of God. And pastors, this attitude towards the word and will of God begins with us!

Signs of Life - Part One

2007-08-06T12:45:00.000-04:00

There are many encouraging signs of life in a church that we as leaders need to look for as we evaluate our ministry. Here are three that I noticed yesterday that encourage me about Mercer Baptist Church...

1. Messy hand prints on our front doors. I investigated...due to the height and size of these handprints there were some kiddos at our church yesterday.
2. First Time Guests...We had 2 more yesterday. Love seeing new faces in our services! It's even better when 1st timers become 2nd timers who then become regular attenders who then become members who then...well, you get the picture.
3. Sunday night we had to break out tables in our foyer for our informal fellowship. Usually we can fit everyone in the kitchen - but last night we needed more chairs.

It is a blessing to be a part of a church that is alive, headed towards God's vision while trying to fulfill God's mission. More signs of life to come...

Braves and Baseball

2007-07-31T08:09:00.000-04:00

I miss baseball. Not watching it, but playing it. But ever since TBS (the Superstation) began brodcasting, I have been a Braves fan. I have been watching the Braves since the days of Bob Horner, Dale Murphy and Biff Pocoroba. Well it seems that my beloved Braves are finally making some moves that indicate they are trying to build a championship team. With the recent additions - it could an interesting September. Go Braves!

Music and Mission

2007-07-27T08:34:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard this reason for not liking contemporary (whatever that is) music...

"It's too repetitious. We just sing the same thing over and over and over..."

Sitting in church Sunday, we sang "Wonderful Words of Life." Guess how many times you sing Wonderful Words of Life in that song...21 times! My point? Folks who use the above excuse haven't looked at the hymnal with a critical eye...it is full of songs that are sing songy, repetitious and predictable.

Another thought on music in church...have you ever noticed the all contemporary crowd (I am a blended music kinda guy) is just as stubborn as the traditional bunch. It has to be loud. There has to be a band. No hymns allowed. And absolutely no organ. And if these demands aren't met - they are going elsewhere. Of course, the traditional side of this argument is just as rigid.

I really believe consumerism in America has poisoned the church so that we are no longer a family and a body. I don't believe it is God's will for us to divide the generations...rather we must unite them. But please listen - you don't accomplish that with music. You accomplish uniting the generations with clear and compelling MISSION.

Updates...

2007-07-10T15:20:00.000-04:00

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and so blogging has taken a backseat...here are few updates:

Last two weeks of Sunday services have gone very well. We broke the 80 mark last Sunday due to Sharon Baptist's Youth choir being in town. They did a great job Sunday morning. We also had a PA pig roast Saturday night thanks to the Richardson's & Seivers. It was a great time of fellowship and food. These two families are teaching me by example about hospitality.
The funeral service for my grand-dad went well. He was a second father to me and he will be missed greatly. It was an honor to minister to my family by preaching the service. Thanks for your prayers.
Lumberjack? Yep, that's right. I have just cut down six trees in my backyard. They are limbed out and logged...but man, why did I pick the hottest week of the summer to do this project? P.S.: Don't tell Esther the backyard is a mess!
BELIEVE Class...trying hard to get this membership class finished so we can offer it in August. I am excited about this class as well as the GROW class that I have outlined. These two classes are the beginnings of our discipleship strategy at MBC!
Myrtle the Turtle is doing great...she enjoys sunning in her new turtle pool outside during the day when I'm home.
I miss my kids and I especially miss my wife. Being home here in PA without them is not much fun. Don't get me wrong - I like living here but HOME is where they are not where my house is!
Flying out next Monday to see my parents and also attend Esther's parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. 50 Years...definetly one of my life goals for marriage. Presley and Betty have given us all a good example to follow.
Driving down to Wash, PA on Friday. Meeting with Sheff, Russ, David and hopefully Aaron and Andrew for some fellowship. Should be a good day. I might get a chance to hold the new addition to the Johnson house while in town.
And finally, I won't be back in the blogosphere for a week or so while I am in AR and on the road back home.

I leave you with some more of grandad's "say'uns" that formed his unique outlook on life...

"I could stand it on my eye." This was his defiant stand against pain and difficulty. No matter what he didn't back down.
"Can't never did do nothing." He always instilled in us the freedom to try and fail but always rejected a lack of effort. My first driving lesson at the age of 12 was behind the wheel of a 66 Chevy truck at 5 AM on the windiest road in NW Arkansas...he didn't ask me if I wanted to drive, he simply said... "You're driving." I was scared and drove 25 mph but we did make it to the hunting woods safely.
"Always live within your means even if you have to borrow to do it!" My grandad knew that money and possesions were only tools. He held on loosely to things and held on tightly to people.

Have a great couple of weeks and God bless.

"Every Day is a Holiday"

2007-06-25T22:16:00.000-04:00

My grandad died today in an automobile accident. CaCa (that's what we called him) was 82. I won't be back into the blogosphere for awhile with traveling back to AR. Thanks for praying.
The title of this entry is one of his favorite "say'uns" that conveyed his thankfulness for life and also his will to deal with difficulty.

Live from the ABA - Part Three

2007-06-22T00:23:00.000-04:00

Began the day with a meal at Braum's that didn't cost 4 billion dollars like the food in the hotel.
We then skipped the morning session of the ABA to check out a museum.
The Gilcrease Museum was cool. It was also cheap! Great Native American and Western museum with some of the most breathtaking artwork I have ever seen. Some of the murals were 15 feet across and 6 feet tall.

We then headed to the final session of the ABA.
Next year's speakers are...
Annual Sermon - Darrel Owens
Missions Sermon - Jason Rigby
Nothing of note was done in either session today and today's sessions were sparsely attended.
Kevin Higgins has a post on improving the meeting that sounds good.

One observation via John Owen...this was one of the lowest attended ABA meetings in a long time. My observation...Interest in these meetings among people below 45 is probably not that high. So when it is not in a good vacation spot - most avoid the meeting. What do you think?

Finished today with a visit to DISCOVERYLAND. We saw the musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and had a blast. My girls loved it. Free horse rides, a decent meal, Indian dancing, a pre-show dance and sing and also a great musical. Smiles all around plus we got to hang out with Donny Haynes and his family while at the musical.

I fly out tomorrow...my wife and kids will be in AR for a few weeks visiting family.

LIve from the ABA - Part Two

2007-06-21T01:05:00.000-04:00

Hello again from the ABA in Tulsa, OK. Your roving reporter will give you a blow by blow of the exciting action. Once again here are the highlights of my day in no particular order...

Breakfast was better...bacon, eggs and a visit with my sponsoring pastor, Rich Hamlin and a good friend Pat Greer.
Morning meeting was a bit difficult for me. After one hour and 15 minutes of doing nothing we finally began discussing the recommended missionaries.
During the above discussion something ironic and sad happened...First, we removed a guy from full support because he was at a place too long with too few people or results to show for it. Then immediately after that discussion one brother called a successful missionary out for having TOO MANY people and still being a mission. Okay, so now let's make sure we understand...don't grow too slow - they'll kick you to the curb. But don't grow too fast they will question your motives and reluctance to organize before it's time.
Met some more great folks today that make coming to the ABA worth it.
Met a missionary from Ohio who has been at his post 9 years. God is blessing the work but that isn't what makes him unique. He lost his wife to a rare disease two years ago. Yet through this, he has remained faithful to his call and to the church. I am a wimp!
Got to hear Todd Calloway (spelling?) share his calling to the Cleveland area to plant a church. It is so much fun to hear the excitement build in a church planters voice as they explain the place and people they are trying to reach. Great guy with a lot of faith to move his young family far from home to follow God's call. Hope to spend some time with him in the future.
Worked side by side with Andrew from Washington, PA again today. It's a blast doing ministry with these guys from Washington, PA. We just make fun of each other and make sure people know that Jason and Russell were too lazy to come to the meeting. :) Just kidding Motown guys!
Met Darren Clements who is going to China to share the gospel. Wow!
Met Jay Gibson of Harvest Oaks in Allen,TX. It was great to meet a fellow church planter who is doing some things that I hope to do in the near future. He had a ton of stuff on discipleship and pastoral training that explains why God is blessing through his ministry in Allen, TX.
Had lunch with Paul Carter of CABBI. He is the president of the school and is a great guy who is now my new best friend since he paid for my lunch(and my family's). We talked about his first pastorates in ministry, our families and also discussed our favorite systematic theology textbooks. We also discussed how we do not like people referring to each other as DR. in meetings. We even discussed that famous scene from Spies Like Us with Dan Akroyd and Chevy Chase where they say... "Doctor, doctor, doctor...etc"
2011 we are going to St. Louis. That kinda stinks because Rogers, AR would have been 45 minutes from my hometown. Oh well.
Hooked up with some old friends from First Landmark in Springdale. That was first church after seminary and was a great church to get me started in solo pastoral ministry.
Met a missionary family from India.
Seatle's Best coffee is pretty good - had 2 cups today to keep me awake.
Spent 8 hours at the booth the past two days. Had fun but my feet are killing me.
Missions presentation tonight was good. Some interesting testimonies and the choral music was well done. The sermon was preached by Ricardo Roldan who was probably the funniest dude this week. He also preached a 14 point sermon...no joke. Even though it broke all of Andy Stanley's rules for a sermon - it was good. How can you not like a sermon by a 70 year old Peruvian missionary that is still sharp and on fire?
Spent some time with Javier Moreno. Great friend, great pastor...the world is a better place because his family and his brother's family is in it!
Got back to the hotel at 11 pm and we were starving because we didn't have time to eat. Dude downstairs got us some club sandwiches and fries even though it was past closing. I tipped him 7 bucks...worth every penny!
I am ready to get back to Mercer and get back to the work.
Kevin Higgins is still a really tall dude.

Last post will be tomorrow evening or Friday while flying home.

Live Post from the ABA

2007-06-20T00:35:00.001-04:00

Yes...that's right. LIVE from the ABA!!!
It's 11:36 PM and my kids are eating supper and watching TV while Esther and I are chilling out after a crazy day at the ABA in Tulsa.
This post is for Noah Lee who requested some live updates from the ABA.

Highlights of my day...

I got up late...no breakfast except coffee and peanut M&M's.
Missionary Committee meeting was thankfully dull and finished up on time.
Great lunch with some guys that I love and respect.
Meetings today were smooth and nothing major discussed. Out by 2:15 or so.
One change to our mission policy is being considered - not sure what I think about it.
Manned our booth for about 4 hours today. Met a few new faces but mainly just talked to old friends.
Note to self...get free stuff for our booth next year. Poor preachers like free stuff!
My favorite part of the day was re-connecting with some people that I have worked with or mentored.
My girls are such a blessing. God's grace is so evident when I look around my hotel room and see my wife Esther and 2 children. I don't deserve any of them!
ABA meetings are worth going to for two reasons... -Old friends. -Getting to see what God is doing through ministries and mission work around the world.
Kevin Higgins...he is one tall dude. Finally got to meet him briefly. If I ever go to church camp with him I can already see a give, go and a dunk in 3 on 3.
Richard Vogt...cool dude. It was great to hear his story and how God saved him and called him to plant a church in Las Vegas.
Jerry Grimes...great example of a servant. Willing to do the stuff no one wants to do so that people get nametags, booths and other behind the scenes stuff.
Met a NAVY Chaplain recruiter today - Wow, what a guy! His conversion story and call to ministry was inspiring.
Met Kevin Plaster...he is an evangelist! Man I wish I had his gift and his boldness. He gave me some great advice...just be faithful!
Gave advice to a few guys who for some reason think I might have some insight to offer for their situation...that's kinda weird since I have no idea what I am doing.
Talked to Clay Parrish whose church is supporting the work here in Mercer. It was great to get to say "Thanks" in person. The support from churches in AR is helping save us thousands of dollars in interest on our mortgage.
I think next year we are going to change up our booth...streamline it, simplify it. Also I may just wear a giant placard that says... "Pray and send us money." :)

And finally, I still don't understand why we spend a whole lot of money printing reports and then reading and re-reading them ad nauseum at our meetings. If you print your report - I don't need you to read it to me. We just need to adopt it, briefly discuss and move on! Here's a radical thought...if we could condense some of the meaningless strutting on stage some of the missionaries on Monday nights might get longer to present their work. But asking the ABA to change how we conduct our meetings is pointless. But here's the thing - shouldn't our associational meetings be MISSIONAL since our name is Missionary Baptist?

There She Goes...

2007-06-12T15:05:00.001-04:00

The training wheels are off and she is gone!!! I could say more but I might get choked up. :)

It's About Time

2007-06-12T10:13:00.000-04:00

After 8 months or so of blogging, it is way past time for me to say something about my wife, Esther. From the first time we discussed deep, Spiritual matters, I knew that she loved Jesus and that she had a life long desire to serve His church. We have been married now 14 1/2 years and she still loves the Lord and His church. And yes, even though I have asked her to make tremendous sacrifices, she still loves me. Most people don't understand the tremendous pressure of ministry and they don't understand the difficulty that the "preacher's wife" has to endure. That's okay. I'm not looking for sympathy. I guess I am writing to say this:

Esther, thank you for loving me and being devoted to me inspite of my weakness, sin and stupidity. Thank you for being devoted unconditionally to our 2 dear children and sacrificing your time and effort to teach them these past 3 years. Thank you for loving Jesus, His people and being willing to move more times than I can remember and to sacrifice a normal life for the life God has called us to live. Thank you for being a source of wisdom, insight and encouragement as we have followed Jesus together and thank you for reminding me to enjoy the journey.

I love you.

Values Inventory

2007-05-21T10:06:00.000-04:00

Jay McGuigan - "The Chef" Great Homemade Meatballs!

Paul & Teri Gilbert - The New Happy Couple!

Look...is that Fred Welton on the internet?

The world is indeed coming to an end!!!

Proper spaghetti etiquette...thanks Steve!

Last year when our core group and I finished work on our values and also our mission statement, I was nervous. I was nervous because it was now time to put those values and that mission statement to the test and try to live them out. Two Sunday nights ago, we did a Values Inventory where we reviewed our values and then looked at our church and tried to see those values reflected in our strategy and ministries. It was encouraging to see our values beginning to come to life in our church. While we are far from being the church God has called us to become (that's Vision) - we are headed in the right direction (that's Mission) guided by Biblical core principles (Values). And who gets the credit for this progress? God does. He is building a church in Mercer County and He has decided to allow us to help Him. My prayer is that we will not get in the way of what He has started. Well, that brings me to this Sunday night. Instead of our usual Bible Study, we decided to live out one of our values...Families. We celebrated the recent marriage of Paul & Teri Gilbert by having a short bible study on Matthew 19:1-6 and God's blueprint for Marriage. We then had a great spaghetti fellowship provided by Jay McGuigan. Above are some pictures from Sunday night...

The Great Commission In Washington, PA

2007-05-16T12:30:00.000-04:00

These are pictures from the various trips to Washington, PA to help church planter and friend Aaron Johnson renvoate his recently purchased home. We support Aaron on a monthly basis and we are thankful for the work that God has called them to do in Washington. Our church has stepped up in this project with 5 people (not counting my 4) making a few trips to Washington for painting, repairs and other needed work. I also want to thank my wife and children for working so hard. We homeschool so this was a great opportunity to do some hands on learning and community service with our girls, Miriam & Naomi. My girls babysat, painted and cleaned for two days without complaining once...obviously their mother gets the credit for that because I am a whiner! :) I spent yesterday working with Aaron, Andrew and their friend Josh on sanding the wood floors. If you have the chance, ask Aaron about the edge sander! Here are a few pictures...enjoy.

BEFORE (100 Year Old Wood Floors)

AFTER (Ready for Stain and Top Coat)

Group Prayer Ideas

2007-05-14T09:37:00.000-04:00

Here are some group prayer ideas that we incorporate into our Wednesday night prayer meetings.

Prayer Walk through your building or facilities. I like to write requests on post it notes and stick them all over the church building so that people can walk through the church praying strategically. We pray at the baptistery and ask God for more disciples. We pray in our nursery asking God for more young families. We pray in the sanctuary for our worship. We pray in our foyer for our first time guests, the unsaved and unchurched. We don't do this every week - but I have found it is a great way to pray every couple of months. By the way, if you are portable...you can still do this! Have a prayer team do this prayer walk before services or during set-up.
Family Share: During Family Share we ask each family represented to share 3 specific, personal requests. After they share their burden, then I ask another family to pray for them specifically about each of those requests. This is a great way to be obedient to the "one another" fellowship verses in the New Testament.
Children: During this prayer time, we pray for every child in our church and their parents. This is a great way to live out two of our values at the same time...Families and Prayer.
On Mission Prayer List...Strategic Prayer List. My main complaint with what most churches call prayer meetings is that they aren't related to the mission of the church. We have a two page Strategic Prayer List that is specific and is directly related to our mission statement. We do have a miscellaneous list on the back where we pray for other things but it is my goal to make sure that our prayer times aren't just about Aunt Bessie's ingrown toenail and her appointment with the foot doctor.
Thank You Service. This is fun and also humbling. After a season of prayer and active ministry (3-6 months), it is great to take your Strategic Prayer List and instead of listing requests...we just list answers and then praise God for His grace. This reminds us that although we are instruments in His Hand to do His work - ultimately this is His work, His church, His Kingdom and it is for His glory.

I wish I could tell you that our prayer meetings are heavily attended like Brooklyn Tab's are...but I can't. There are only a few people willing to devote an hour of their week to this ministry. BUT that's okay! I don't guilt people for not coming, I just try to encourage those who do. If you have a leadership team or staff - these ideas would also work for meetings with them.

I Love Spring

2007-05-04T00:26:00.000-04:00

Baby birds - nuf said.

Thanks Woody

2007-05-04T00:14:00.000-04:00

The last couple of weeks have been busy and partly sunny which explains why I haven't blogged in a while. When the sunshines in Western PA, you had better enjoy it! So, I guess you know I wrecked my truck on Easter morning during our Easter snow storm...broken back glass, crumpled right front fender...not good. But thanks to Reach America and my new best friend Woody, I have a "new" front fender and back glass on my old Dodge Dakota pickup. So, thanks Woody for helping us out and here's some pic's of my truck. Now, does anyone know how to paint a truck? :)

Gettysburg

2007-04-16T16:08:00.000-04:00

Prior to enjoying the fellowship of the Mid-Atlantic Association meeting, my family and I completed a driving tour through Gettysburg, PA. This particular tour came with a full color History channel map and was narrated by a Gettysburg historian and tour guide. It was awe inspiring, sad, humbling and exciting. Gettysburg is a special place in the history of our great country.

My children loved the tour and both spent some of grandma Susan's money in the gift shop buying books about this 3 day battle and also about the Civil War.

Gettysburg reminded me that past generations were made of sterner stuff than we are. Over 600,000 men died in this bloody war. Yet, they fought on. Many today care so little about our country and her future that they don't even bother to vote. May the sacrifices made on this great battlefield remind us why we fought this war and why great ideas require great sacrifice.

Easter Snow and New Attendance Record

2007-04-08T14:44:00.000-04:00

Field Behind Church
Sunday Morning - Easter
Me, Miriam, Mark, Angie, Callie & Jared

I am too busy to blog this weekend but here's a quick update...

1. Five straight days of SNOW. In April...on Easter...this is insane.
2. Esther's sister and family are with us this weekend - good times!
3. Esther and I wrecked my truck on the way to the church at 7:30 am and kicked off our Easter by being stranded in our truck for 20 minutes.

4. We had 73 in attendance today...our high attendance for the year so far.

5. Gave away "The Case for Easter" at the end of the service and challenged people to deal with the truth of the resurrection.

Whew...what a crazy but good weekend!

Pancakes and Maple Syrup?

2007-03-22T22:14:00.000-04:00

My wife and kids got in today from a homeschool outing to a maple syrup farm just about 30 minutes south of here. Maple syrup is great on pancakes, waffles, bisquits...okay you get the point. But here's the thing - go get your bottle of syrup and find out how much maple syrup is actually in your syrup. I can save you the suspense - there isn't any. Pancake and waffle syrup fool us into thinking it's maple syrup but it's not! It's just high fructose CORN syrup with caramel coloring. Ahh!!! Sometimes education takes all the fun out of life. I'll never look at my pancakes the same again.

Now here is where it gets interesting. The reason you can't even find real maple syrup in your local supermarket is.....

1. It takes a bunch of raw syrup and a lot of boiling to make one bottle of syrup.

2. Because of the labor and difficulty, it is expensive.

But Esther brought some REAL maple syrup home from the farm. And it is good. I mean it is REAL good. I mean...I ate 2 extra biscuits with it kinda good.

So what's my point?

In our walk with Christ, we can be tempted to substitute a form of Christianity that is socially acceptable, comfortable and requires little sacrifice. We will fit in, look like good little Christians but in the end all we become is a cheap imitation of the real thing - Jesus. Vital, life changing Christianity requires patience, work and yes - it's expensive...just like real maple syrup. Following Jesus will cost you your life. Following Jesus requires us to die to ourselves. Don't settle for the imitation. Give Jesus your best! Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Huntsville Eagles are State Champs!

2007-03-13T18:34:00.000-04:00

I had to give a shout out to my alma mater the Huntsville Eagles who defeated Hamburg for the 4A State title last week. They finished the season 33-1 and gave Coach Jim Stafford a state title after 40 years of coaching. My former coach's son, Cooper Trumbo led the charge in the title game with 22 points. You can read the article here.

I also wanted to share another picture from the state title game. Scottie Pippen is a Hamburg alum and was at the game. My cousin Amie, her nephew Carter and her niece Hannah all got a picture with him.

Go Eagles!

DST Bug

2007-03-12T10:29:00.000-04:00

Scott is not a tech geek...say it with me now - "Scott is not a tech geek." Okay, good...now that we have that settled. If you have a computer that isn't running Vista, you may be having trouble with your Daylight Savings Time settings on your computer clock. This is due to the changes in our DST law made a few years back that causes DST to start earlier and continue longer. For those of you who aren't aware, your XP OS uses an internet based time synchronization utility that updates usually every day to keep you in sych with some of the world's most precise clocks. Right click on your time in your task bar...left click on adjust date/time...click on folder for Internet Time. Under this folder you will find a drop down menu which allows you to choose which internet clock that your computer will synch with daily.

Now, how do you fix the DST issue? Download this FIX from microsoft and install. It's simple and easy and it will ensure you are on time for Sunday School next week! :)

Lost In America

2007-03-10T00:33:00.000-05:00

Here's a song I wrote this week about being "Lost In America."

Light all around, but can't see a thing
He hears the words and the sounds, but what does it mean?
Pretty good guy, with a wife and some kids,
He lives a pretty good life...doesn't even need Him.
He's lost in America.

On a road to nowhere, gettin' there fast.
Someday he's leaving - never comin' back.
He's lost in America.

Living the life, or so it seems.
Missing the Life, while chasing his dreams.
Running so fast, holding on tight.
Dying to live, while killing his life.
He's lost in America.

On a road to nowhere, gettin' there fast.
Someday he's leaving - never coming back.
He's lost in America.

At the end of his road, the journey is done.
His dream was lie, now he's all alone.
He looks up from his down - Why am I here?
He hears all around - "You can't get there from here..."

On a road to nowhere, getting there fast.
Someday he's leaving - never coming back.
He's lost in America. Lost in America.

(C) 2006 LSB

Igloo Attempt #2

2007-03-01T04:47:00.000-05:00

Okay...so my wife and kids survived in the igloo on Monday night for 4 hours. But even after that my kids were still begging to sleep in there again. So I caved. Esther spurced up the igloo a bit by plugging a few holes and adding an extra blanket. She takes such good care of me! So tonight after prayer meeting - me and my two little eskimos climbed in the snow shelter. Once again, the kids slept fine but old man kept tossing and turning. At 4 am, I was done. I beat Esther's time (with her help of course) by a few hours and enjoyed some time with my girls. Sleeping in an igloo/snow shelter just for fun may not be that fun but listening to two little girls say a gentle "I love you, daddy" makes it worth it.

3 Hours and Counting...

2007-02-27T02:01:00.000-05:00

Our family loves watching SurvivorMan and also watching Bear on his survival show but tonight I don't need Discovery channel...

Currently, my wife and 2 dear girls are all bundled up inside their snow shelter/igloo sleeping the night away. They crawled in their igloo about 11 pm and are sound asleep. I was about asleep when I got a little concerned and checked on them. Snow on the ground...25 degrees outside...and the 3 people I love most in this world are sleeping outside! Why didn't I sleep out there? I like the winter, I like the snow - but it's cold out there! My wife is creating a memory with our 2 daughters they will never forget...this is just one of the many reasons I married Esther. Now, I will try to get some sleep.

DRIVE...Session One

2007-02-26T12:33:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my good friend Aaron Johnson, I am watching the sessions from Northpoint's conference called Drive. I just finished session one and here are my take aways in no particular order...

1. While you may not agree with Northpoint's philosophy of ministry or style - you have to agree that a church that provides FREE access to this conference along with an integrated interface for notetaking, etc is thinking missional.

2. Andy Stanley is a gifted communicator. Although he has pet mannerisms that can be a little distracting, he does a great job in communicating his message.

3. His exposition of Acts 15 is accurate although some of his applications to church history were too simplistic. You can't take 2000 years of church history and summarize it in a 2 minute application.

4. His view of denominations is also too simplistic. Some denom's exist because we are idiots but some exist because our differences are real, important and worth dividing over.

5. The Ladder Illustration is a great illustration for helping communicate your discipleship process. It is a succession of steps and we need to help people in that process. I'm probably going to use the illustration in a sermon about our discipleship map.

6. One thing I don't agree with Andy about is the concept of making the gospel "easy." The gospel isn't "easy" - according to the Bible it is offensive to our human nature. It is foolishness to educated people. The gospel is clear - but it isn't "easy." Believing is a struggle. The gospel must be CLEAR and easy to understand - but let's not strip the gospel of it's power.
The gospel is hard - but WE shouldn't make it harder!

7. The gospel should be accessible. I believe this to be true. The gospel and God's grace must be accessible at our churches. Our discipleship process should be clear and accessible for those who turn to Christ or those seeking Christ. Christian maturity is God's goal for EVERY believer not just a few and God disciples people where they are... not where WE think they should be.

8. Great question - "Do we have ANY obstacles that WE have created that keep people from connecting with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ?"

9. Great Statment - The gravitational pull of churches is to become inwardly focused instead of outwardly focused and missional. We must constantly fight this battle.

Those are my thoughts on the first session - I will hopefully post a few thoughts as I work my way through the rest of the conference.