A Prophetic Truth

Writing from a Jail cell in 1963 Martin Luther King penned these words in response to Clergymen who were critical of his activities to bring freedom to America. While I want to post the letter as a whole, I prefer to write on a specific part of that letter that I believe to be coming true at this moment in time. To read the letter in its entirety go to
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Here is part of what he wrote....

There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an arch defender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are.


But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

Martin Luther King ~ From a Jail cell in Birmingham Alabama 16 April 1963


I wrote much in response to this truth then erased it. I'm tired of the use of meaningless words in the face of such honest ones. Blog them if you want, Face book them if you want, I choose to do something about it.

Never thought I would say this but...............

......there are some things we can all learn from a hairdresser.

Kallie Linder from http://blessed-is-me.blogspot.com without knowing it nailed what real ministry is like. Go to her site to read her take but I am going to steal a few things to encourage you in ministry.

 Being good at cutting and coloring hair doesn't make you a good hairdresser.
.....and Being good at ministry doesn't make you a good Minister.

You also need good communication skills, a listening ear, a drive to exceed the standard and the ability to sometimes perform miracles. You have to want to be and do better than the license (ordination) you receive.

It's harder than it looks.
....Ministry is harder than it looks.

Formulating, working haircuts out in your head, removing box black hair color that a client tells you they've only done "once" and it "washed out", lies.. don't lie to your hairdresser and black hair color NEVER NOT EVER washes out.

 

Counseling, Cleaning up lives, and constant lies. Don't lie to your Pastor even if Jesus can wash your black sins away.

 

It's emotional

If you're lucky enough to have clients come back to your chair year after year you become attached.

You become friends.

A bond of love is formed.

You walk through different seasons of life from graduation, marriage, life, death and everything in between.

You become part of each others dash

Moments have taken my breath away as I've watch what once was just a little girl become a wife.

Tears have streamed down my face when learning of a dear clients death.

I've shaved women's heads bald, tears pouring out of them, as they prepare for the battle for their life.

I had no idea this would be part of it.

 

I could not describe it better.

 

It's rewarding

We have a gift and it can be used to help people be their best selves.

We have the ability to make cloudy days shine bright.

 

Yep

 

It isn't flexible

I know everyone thinks it is. It isn't It's true I make my own schedule, but it is still a job and in order to make money I must work real hours.

I am serious about this work thing even though it is a really super fun job.

This has in turn made me a scheduling freak.

 

Ministry is 24/7/365 and rest is required.

 

Working for yourself in someone else's salon isn't the same as owning your own salon.

I've always worked in lease salons which means I worked for myself.

This is a much easier way of doing things because you just worry about your own business.

Now that I am an owner of a salon I have taken on the task of worrying about my own behind the chair business as well as the business of the 7 other very talented women.

These are women whom I love and cherish.

I am never not working.

I am constantly thinking of how we can do better and be more efficient.

How I can help the other girls be successful too.

I research what is up and coming, trending, marketing, new methods, old methods.

You name it I am trying to learn about it.

By the way.. just because it is an "old" method doesn't mean it's not good!

Running business doesn't come easy to me and I don't love that part of it.

Wow I wish all church members felt this passionate about church ownership.

 

There are some things I don't love about our industry (ministry)

 

Like why some hairdressers (Churches) feel they need to bash other salons (Churches) or salon professionals (Ministers). Not only is this highly unprofessional, it isn't a reflection of the person you are bashing it is a reflection of yourself.

 

Imagine if we all worked together!

What if we shared what we knew instead of being a braggart?

What if we were brave enough to ask other hairdressers (Christians) for advice and not just the ones we know that live out of town?

What if salon owners (Churches) could get together and share ideas of what works and what isn't working?

What if we could do all that without fear of being looked down upon?!

The possibilities are endless

Because here is the deal we are all still different and bring different things to our clients.

Even in our small town there IS enough business for everyone.

 

TOGETHER we could rid the world of black box dye (Sin) and over processed blond hair! (Religious fakes)

 

I think we have the power to change the image of how

 hairdressers (Christians) are thought to be catty gossips'

The power lies within us.

 

Thank you Kallie for reminding us that we are in the people business and serving THEM is what we are called to do. I know that is what you were thinking. Lol

 

Blessed is Me to have you a part of our life.

 

I'm Done and Happier for it

In case you’re wondering why I haven’t been blogging lately is because I have been involved with this friend of mine. He’s the nicest guy I’ve ever known. He’s compassionate and caring and is the truest friend I have. He so believes in his mission in life and is confident in the direction its going. Just an amazing guy. If you met him you would love him.  

But he’s got this wife that seems to rub everybody wrong. Sometimes she can be just great, but other times, she can be this judgmental, negative person. It’s like she’s always fighting with others. I’m not the only one who sees it. So many of His other friends see it and he has lost many because of her. They just can’t do it, they love Him, they do but they just can’t stand her. And I don’t know why he doesn’t see it, why he doesn’t step up and defend himself. Because she is tearing him down. Because of her, people don’t even want to get to know him.

I guess Love is Blind.

I would hope by now that you’ve figured out that I’m not talking about an earthly friend but a heavenly one. Jesus and his bride, the Church. And the reason I haven’t been blogging lately is simple, I’m tired of reading negative stuff about her. I’m weary of the complaints from people about her. Even this week someone from newLife told another that she was dying. And I have read numerous articles on why we should change her and even how to do it.

Could you imagine if you were the Bride of Christ and thousands of blogs were set up to tear you down and talk about how to change you? A Chorus of Critics claiming knowledge about you and clearly teaching the world how messed up you are and they know the way to make you prettier or you'll die.

Some people believe that they are creating a record but its nothing but a record of your complaints and arrogance. So it’s made me not want to have an online presence. I just stopped reading your stuff. I just stopped listening to your complaints. And I don’t want to be your Friend.

She’s not your Bride, She’s not your wife. If you don’t have anything good to say about her shut up, she is not yours. And don’t go telling me you love Him and don’t like her. Cause you can’t separate the two.

So for a while, I’m going to stay away from the critics and hang with her. I’m going to hang with my Life Group. I’m going to Encounter God and pray with her. I’m going to celebrate His resurrection with her on Sunday. This last Sunday because of her, three souls trusted Christ as their savior, two new Christians were baptized, and more are to come. They Love him and her and I love them.

And if I ever start blogging again, it will be to honor my friend’s wife who has done so much for me and this world. And you can say it, Love is Blind

See you in Church

Pastor Andy Roberts

Headline: Harleys Cause Cancer

I think.
Its the only Explanation.Yesterday I performed a memorial for one of my best friends who died of cancer at 50 and he rode a Harley. In a strange coincidence, today I am doing a wedding for the daughter of one of my best friends who died several years ago from cancer in his mid fifties, and he rode a Harley.

The only connection I can make is it must be the bikes. There must be something about freedom, clean air, and loud pipes that takes the best friends I have, too early.

Or................
Maybe its the bugs, yea the bugs are conspiring to kill us through their carrying of cancer and then upon impact at high speeds imparting that cancer through our faces.

Maybe the cancer comes through the air, just random cancer cells floating aimlessly that enter our body's through our leather. Yes maybe its revenge from all of the cows that have died to cover our bodies with protective equipment.

Or maybe its a conspiracy by Harley Davidson themselves and that low loud sound actually awakens normally quiet cells in our bodies and makes them go bad. Why would they do that? so that there would be more bikes sold as the old riders die off.

Or maybe its me. No that would be stupid. No maybe being friends with me causes Harley riders to develop cancer.

Or maybe its just that cancer sucks and it has nothing to do with Harley riders being a little crazy and friends of mine.

Yea, its just that Cancer Sucks and both of these amazing men just died too early and happened to be my friends.

Yea, that's it, Cancer Sucks but Jesus Saves and because of Jesus I'll see both of them again one day. So I'll keep riding as its not Harley's Fault.

The Means can be very Mean

For a period of time, I was a Christian who held tightly to What a believer believed and How that believer believed. Hard Doctrine and Holy Direction was what I clung too. Christianity was more about being RIGHT with my view of a Christian than being right with God. (these two often got confused). In fact the Method or Means of the faith was more important than the men.

Jesus taught about this in Luke chapter 7. He was invited into the home of a Pharisee and was given a place at the mans table. But a woman of the city, a sinner heard Jesus was there, she entered into this mans home and began to pour out love on Jesus. To which the Pharisee began to judge not only the woman but the Lord himself.

So Jesus asks this question about who would love more, a person forgiven of much or a person forgiven of little. Simon supposed that it would be the person who had the larger debt. And He was right.

Jesus then turned to the woman and speaking to Simon still and begins to explain the difference between this point. The woman who needed much forgiveness Loved Jesus much, but Simon who loved Jesus little didn't need much forgiveness.

Great truth. Simple truth. But not the truth that I think is the most important truth.

Jesus then forgives the woman of her sins that were great, but all the Pharisee’s were concerned with was the means of forgiveness. Who is Jesus to do this?

They were not concerned with the Woman who needed forgiveness; they were concerned with the way she was forgiven. Their Hard Doctrine and Holy Direction did not provide for Supernatural Forgiveness. Their View of the Faith did not fit in with the Values of the Father. Rather than Rejoice over what ever means or methods this woman came to know forgiveness, they Judged and ridiculed how it was done.

The Apostle Paul spoke to this point in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 summarizing it by saying 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV) ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

That by all means or different methods I might save some. I was asked yesterday why our church doesn’t have more doctors or lawyers and my thought was, because they don't think that they need as much forgiveness as the adulteresses and the drunkards and the addicts do. And I no longer fish for the full, but the Hungry.

 

Distance makes the Heart (of the Christian) more Fake not Fonder

I know that this sounds strange, but as I was crawling out of my comfortable bed and into my nice warm shower and then putting on my nice clean clothes the thought (from the Lord or not) came to me of how good most of us live. I have a place to lay my head every night, a way to feel clean every day, and a way to stay warm and comfortable. Every Day. I have eaten a semi healthy breakfast after sleeping 6 1/2 hours uninterrupted and not been bothered by people needed help.

And I thought of my wife. She is getting about two hours a sleep a night on the floor of a hospital waiting room, using wipes to stay clean, wearing the same clothes every day, eating a banana, and surrounded by suffering people from the moment she is awake to the moment she gets a little rest.

and Today...................
I will do ministry to comfortable people
She will be ministering to comfort people

I will speak to suburban kids whose parents can afford Christian school
She will speak to suffering kids whose parents can't afford medical care

I will celebrate our daughters 25th Birthday
She will celebrate a successful lung transplant

I will gather to play Christianity with spoiled saints
She will gather to pray with soiled aints.

I am the Pastor of a Church with Critics
She is a Missionary to the Critical Care

I am concerned with how much of a pain people will be
She is concerned with the pain of her family

Tonight I will climb back in my comfortable bed, she will fight for a space on the floor

Not sure how I am feeling about all of this

Thank you for getting into my business

Last night at encounter I was minding my own business. Literally my mind was heavy on my own business. and then he comes by with a note...About My Business

How did he know about my business? Who told him what I was thinking? I was talking to God. We alone were having a deep discussion. I don't think it showed on my face and I know I never said a word to any mortal man.

But that was part of what makes encounter so awesome. Sometimes the encounter with God comes through an encounter with a friend. Someone who is open to the voice of God and cares enough to share the word of God with you. My business became his business because he was about my fathers business. I love having friends like that.

Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

No Black Cats

What do you think?
This morning I was riding the Harley to breakfast which is normally an uneventful ride but 4 miles into it a truck beside me, Right Beside Me, decided he wanted my lane and with catlike reflexes I swerved only to miss him by an inch...or a little more. Fresh from my brush with death a 1/4 mile later a tourist backed out of a coffee shop into my lane and decided to park there..... facing me....in my lane....again with the cat like reflexes I maneuvered masterfully to miss this messed up man by an inch...or a little more.

A little nervous but still excited to ride, I enjoyed my coffee (in a real cup) and left again on my journey. This time, feeling a little nostalgic I drove towards my boyhood home and the home I raised my little ones. But one mile into this journey a Dog....yes a Dog ran out right in front of me. He was a Black Dog. Grabbing a hold of my brakes and fearing for the worst I missed him by an inch....or a little more.

and I came Home...by an inch.....or a little more

I never saw a black cat but I get it. I'm staying home and reading. Pray that I don't get a paper cut but if it comes close, that I miss it by an inch....or a little more.

Deep Cries Out

There is something very special about a Christian who Loves God. Not one who claims to love Him, but one that leaves no doubt. 

They Love Him ~ and it Shows

They Live for Him ~ and it Shows

They Long for Him ~ and it Shows

In the way they Love what He Loves

In the way that they Live as He Lived

In the way of their Longing, wanting what He wants

I was speaking to one of those this morning who was at the church before work to worship.

I spoke to another yesterday who was at the church on her day off to make sure her ministry was prepared.

I spoke to another last week who heard what God said to her and repented.

I spoke to another whose heart is broken over selfishness

They are so different who Long to Love the Lord

Psalm 42:1-11 (ESV)
¹ As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
⁶ and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
⁸ By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
⁹ I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Work is Work

Talking with a young man last night I noticed that He, like many others, struggles with discontentedness. He has a great wife, a good Church, and a decent life to which he is not denying. But he’s looking for happiness through an avenue that will never happen. That avenue is his job. Work is a result of Gods curse upon man for rebellion against Him.

Genesis 3:17-19 (ESV)
¹⁷ And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; ¹⁸ thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. ¹⁹ By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

“in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life”

“thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you”

“By the sweat of your face you shall eat”

Contentment was not part of the “job”. But notice the solution to the curse? The Cross.

Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Contentment then would come not through what we do but what He did. He took on the penalty of sin for us. The hardness of life was taken for us by Him and so our contentedness is always found in Him. Our Happiness is not found in what we do (work is still a curse) but what He did.

Yet for many that is not enough. We want our Jobs, something God cursed, to make us content. And it makes me wonder, If a man is content with His job that God cursed, will he need the Cross?

1 Timothy 6:6-11 (ESV)
⁶ Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,
⁷ for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
¹¹ But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Discontentedness is a disease that will seep into every aspect of your life. A man who has everything and is discontent with anything can soon be overwhelmed by sadness.

Seek a life of happiness in the Cross and contentedness will come no matter what you do for a living.

I wouldn't have it any other way

Today is my 30th wedding anniversary.  Instead of sitting on the Sands of Hawaii,  I'm sitting in the sadness of a critical care unit. Instead of presents Debra and I will give prayers. Instead of a party we will be pained to watch Debra's mom cling to life and her step father wrestle with his fears.

But I am with the one I love, and that's all that matters.

Thank you Jesus for my DJ. She is another sign of how much you love me.

A Woman to Look Up To

It is my hope that all of the Gracie's of newLife are able to grow up seeing their true value to the Kingdom of God. And I am excited because they do not have to look far to find a woman to look up to.

And there is one I want to write about. She is so much the proverbs 31 woman. I know this because of what I see in her husband Proverbs 31:11 (ESV) The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 


But some might see her as unsubmissive and her husband as a kept man.
Some might see her as too strong and her husband as too weak.

Which is strange because in all of the years I have been her Pastor, I have never once seen her be unsubmissive to her husband, nor have I seen her husband be weak. What I see is a woman who holds her head up high and who holds her husband in high esteem by being the strong woman he was attracted to when he met her.

In fact she is harder on herself than you could ever be and it has taken years to help her see that her strength is not a weakness to the kingdom of God but a gift.

When I see her, I see a woman who Loves and serves God with all of her heart.
When I see her, I see a woman who Loves and serves her husband with all of her heart.
When I see her, I see a woman who Loves and serves her children with all of her heart.
When I see her, I see a woman who Loves and serves newLife with all of her heart.

She is a woman to look up to and its only those intimated and insecure who might look down. How sad that they cannot see that they could be so much more if they would just lift up their eyes and see her as the godly woman she is.

Proverbs 31:30-31 (ESV)
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.


Gracie, Keep Looking Up

A Beautiful Poem Written by a Beautiful Lady

Last Sunday after service an amazing young woman was given this poem by God. Something that I want to share with you

I am beautiful
I am strong
I have value
I belong

In God's Kingdom
I now live
forgiveness and love
I will give

Peace and laughter
dancing and singing
life's a journey
my God is leading

This is the type of Christian who will be leading newLife into the future.....we are so blessed

Strong Woman Alert

Yesterday I made the mistake of asking one of our preschoolers what she thought of her new classroom. (her old room was taken by another larger class)
Her response was wonderful and with all of the Seriousness she could muster she said to me.....
"I don't like it".

I appreciated her honesty but more importantly that she felt she could say that to me. In some circles they would have said that she was being rebellious. Little girls shouldn't have such strong opinions and yet this is how she felt. She didn't say, I don't like it and I'm leaving, nor did she say "I DON"T LIKE IT" in anger. She also did not blame me for changing her room. She also stayed submissive to the decision by staying in the room. She just doesn't like the new room.

and it made me think. Why do we teach little girls to have no opinion? I am not talking about the opinionated, whiny, complaining type that the bible speaks so much about. The ones that the Apostle Paul said to keep silent in the church. 1 Corinthians 14:33-35. By the way you know your this kind of woman if you get mad at what Paul said. But I am talking about the wise, faithful, strong, and beautiful creations of God.

Strong women face an amazing paradox in the church.

If they feel something strongly and desire to promote that thought, they are perceived as aggressive, uncooperative, and selfish.

But if they say nothing, they become frustrated, angry or even surrender to the point of being as if they are dead which I believe is a greater sin. Some even become manipulative to get their way. Again, I know your the kind of woman who needs 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 if right now your thinking of how you  can leverage this thought to your advantage.

But to the Gracie's of the world, especially the newLife world, I want to encourage your strength by leveraging your God given gifts. Your potential has been undervalued for far too long. Again, if your thinking that this gives you Power or Permission to do what ever you want, go back to 1 Corinthians 14:33-35. But if your thinking that this might allow you to finally be the person God created you to be I will do all I can to help you gain access to the opportunities God has for you.

(and for the men who think that I have overstepped my bounds, the Church is seen as the Bride and Jesus said that she was so strong that the gates of hell would not prevail against her)

Hey Parents of newLife

Don't let it be Said of us

While having breakfast this morning I overheard a prominent citizen say, "I would never have anything done at Columbia Memorial". A statement I have heard my whole life. and while I have no desire to defend the stator or the stateee, I will say this...................

I hope that this is never said about newLife. 

Not that all people will like us, Jesus said some would not. Its more than that. Its not being trustworthy with others lives. I never want to be seen by people in emergency situations or even simple sicknesses not believe that newLife is a viable place to come and find healing.

I don't want newLife to be seen as Arrogant and only concerned with building a bigger empire.
I don't want newLife to be seen as Obstinate to change to meet the needs of the people of Clatsop County.
I don't want newLife to be seen as Independent to the point of being exclusionary.

The message of the Gospel brings NEW LIFE
The message of the Gospel brings NEW HOPE
The message of the Gospel brings NEW HEALING

The Church, the vehicle God chose to share that message, deserves to be Honored by our Humility, Honesty, and Helpfulness in a world of hurting people.

Lets watch our testimony newLife. People need Jesus.

Erin Says

Hey if you want to follow a new blogger go visit Erin Says at called-me-higher.blogspot.com. Erin is an up and coming leader at newlife and a wonderful writer with a very distinct style. I promise she will encourage your heart.

What Makes YOU Different?

There is a very sad trend that I am noticing in Christianity that I am struggling with. Its not something that you could say was Cultural or even distinctly American but in fact its very human. What makes this trend so dangerous is that I believe that its core is what makes the difference between being Human and being Christian. Its what truly separates us from non believers in Jesus.

For years I was taught that separation was from certain places, people, and activities. You have to listen to a specific type of music, wear an extremely modest type of clothing, act in a righteous type of way. Yet, I found that most of those who separated this way were not different but weird and given enough time most of them went back to being worldly.

The Trend? Selfishness. People are very selfish. This is what separates the believer from the none believer. A Believer is Selfless, Giving, Sacrificial. He would never want to be seen as self serving. I know non believers who listen to "Godly Music", wear "Modest Clothing", and act "Righteously". But I know only a few believers who are Selfless.

Many Believers choose the best CHURCH for THEM
Many Believers desire the best MINISTRIES for THEM
Many Believers give the best of their MONIES to THEM
Many Believers take the most TIME for THEM.

Choices, Honor, Money, and Time are what those who are not followers of Jesus worship. But on a Sunday Morning its not hard to find believers acting selfish even though..............

God is a Giver ~ John 3:16
Jesus is a Giver ~ Luke 9:42
The Holy Spirit is a Giver ~ John 14-16

and they expect those who claim to be followers to be like them

Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV) Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

and so the question becomes, if the Trinity showed up on Sunday, what would they find you doing? Separating yourself by being selfless and serving Him, or being no different than those who are not followers and serving You?

I Love Ya Tomorrow

Soon after I graduated from high school I decided to go to college. I desired a higher education which is really a lie because what I really wanted was to get out of Astoria and Party with my friends. My Father, who is the wisest man I have ever known, caught wind of this and he worked very hard to talk me out of it.

He knew that I would fail so he made me an offer he thought that I could not refuse. He offered me his 1979 Ford F 250 Ranger Lariat with a brand new motor in it. It was a beautiful truck. But NOOOOOOO I was too smart for him and went to college anyway.

So after four months, $7,000, and going to two classes I came home. I did so fully believing that Dad would give me the truck to heal my pain. Nope, Nada, Denied. All I got was a cross look and a job in the woods.

I've never forgotten that epic failure. It stands as the first of many really stupid decisions in my life. But something happened this week that changed all of that. After 33 years of suffering, God provided me the opportunity to purchase a 1979 Ford F-150 very similar to the one I lost. Its not the same, but its close enough to heal the hurt of another failure in my life.

While some may wonder if this was a God thing or just a break, I believe its a gift from God and this isn't the first time He healed my past mistakes.

I see this gift of grace every time I see Brea Leanne as through my granddaughter I am experiencing a life I was too busy to experience with my own children.

I see this gift of grace every time I go to church and am surrounded by some of the most amazing people in my entire life, encouraging me that there is no longer any such thing as cranky old church ladies but a people of Love and Life.

I see this gift of grace every time Debra wakes up as our life together just gets better and better.

I have failed at times to take the best opportunities of life, but God often brings my failure around and by His love and grace gives me another shot.

I know that its not always the same, but another round is always appreciated.

God always offers us a second chance, its called "Tomorrow"

Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV)
²¹ But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
²² The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

How many times do I have to say it!!!!!!!

I want every one to stop today and think about this.............
Great Days don't happen Alone and Yesterday was a GREAT DAY

People were Welcomed GREATLY by our Greeters
Children were Cared for with LOVE by our kidsLife team
People were Moved to WORSHIP by our Worship team
People were Excited to GIVE by the prayers of a Godly Man
People were Motivated to FORGIVE by the Word of God

Seriously, did you not see the Joy on peoples faces as they came in?
Did you not Hear the Voices Praising God?
Did you not Witness the walk of Love as people Gave?
Did you not See people DROPPING THEIR BITTERNESS into the OFFERING PLATES?

It all happened because so many of you are involved in this work.

Great Day guys, You helped God to do Great Things simply by being Great People
We are Blessed