More Pics

Here are some more pics of youth and family.

Hits

It has been a maelstrom around here this morning.  With the ladies having a special birthday party for Irene Anglin, who turned 88, and some men tearing down walls to create more classroom space for the adults and teens, it has been quite chaotic.  

My head and heart are still reeling from the blow that our secretary, Jeanne Lessman, is leaving us so soon.  I don’t know what to say…My world is turned upside down.  My Mother Hen is leaving the roost and I have no one to take care of me and set me straight.  First, it was Jim Gardner.  Then, it was Rick and Gail Northen.  Now, Jeanne is leaving.  And the hits just keep on coming!  

Have you ever been down like this?  Where you just felt like all of your dearest loved ones are leaving you all by your lonesome?  It would be great to hear some feedback from some of you out there that have stood up and faced the ‘winds of change’ or the ‘moving of the cheese.’  

Pics

Here are some of the promised pics. They are sort of a collage of Brett Ward's baptism, past activities and interactive classes. Hope that you like them!

Trial

This is a trial of the new item that I have downloaded for my blogging.  If this works, my blogs will come directly from Word.  How cool is technology?  If one is not careful, future shock could set in pretty fast.  

Blast From The Past

This morning has certainly been a blast from the past. My old buddy, Jim Gardner, arrived into town last night to share Thanksgiving with his family here in AR. He drove up this morning to the building and we have been hanging out all day. It is great to spend some time with him once again.

We went shopping for the tailgate this evening. Buns, Dogs, Burgers (Jim Burgers?!?) and all the accompanying fare for the avid tailgater. At 6:00 tonight, the food should be edible.

He had a hankering for the Shack (Jessieville's Country Club) burgers and onion rings. With the amount of eating out lately and Turkey Day looming, I should be a bigger man pretty soon.

Jim and I are getting ready to head over to the Jessieville Sports Arena for the pep rally that will boost all of us up for the coming game.

Tonight, the family ministry will host the tailgate as we wait with baited breath as the Lions square off against the Junction City Dragons. It should be a real nail-biter!

Good Sam

This morning, Jim DuBose and I conducted the the chapel/worship service at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home here in the Village. It was great to see ChloeDean and others in attendance. God speaks to me through ministry to these sweet souls. To see joy and the love of God in the eyes of saints that are nearing the end of their stay here on earth is heartwarming to a young pup like me.

It was also good to be supported by the strong voices of Sam and Betty Laird. I know of no other, more dependable people in the Kingdom. Thank you both for your help!

Tailgate

I know that many of you are heading over to the tailgate this Friday. If you don't have that planned, know this: Jim DuBose, Jim Gardner and Jimmy Mitchell will be manning the grills! It will be great to work with the new man and the old man over burgers and dogs.

Now are you enticed?

Jessieville is playing Junction City, so we know that the game is going to be edge-of-your-seat action. Bring a lawnchair and be ready to have some fellowship and fun.

Quote Of The Day

"God is not here to worship me, to mold Himself into something that will help me fulfill my level of comfort." - Donald Miller

All the Small Things

This past Friday, the youth traveled to Benton to have a Lock-In. I will be posting pics in the near future. Although we had a small number of our core group attend, we had a large number of outsiders. A parent or two voiced their concern that too many outsiders were going. "These people are not even in the youth group."

Well, to address that, I would like to say that I am glad that we had a bunch of outsiders go. From that crew, we had several attend last night for the youth connection group that meets at the building. Little by little, God is bringing them to the group.

Many of these kids have parents that do not attend any congregation. They have no etiquette when it comes to church or its activities. Their sense of morality is skewed, if they have any instilled in them to begin with. They cuss, they make crude jokes, they are disrespectful and they talk about things that are taboo. At the same time, they are insecure, vulnerable and searching for something or someone to bring meaning to their lives. They have found the void and want desperately to fill it.

Guess what! Those are the very people that I seek to bring into this ministry. I long to help them find God and His son, Jesus. I believe that Jesus calls all of us who work in ministry to search for this ragtag group of people that have not seen Christ exemplified in anyone around them and show them the greates love and grace that has ever been or will ever be.

Folks, these are the lost.

Let's go out and bring them in to the Savior!

Vegetable

Well, it is 6:43 on Saturday evening and Elizabeth and I are totally out of it. After watching the Jessieville Lions decimate the Murfreesboro Rattlers in the 1st playoff game, we took a group of 31 teens to Benton to spend a night of devotions, praise and fellowship in Northside's new Family Life Center. Needless to say, there was no sleep. There was a great devotional and singing. There was bowling, volleyball and 'dodge' ball. There was pizza. There was Rocket Man and Herbie: Fully Loaded. There was Dale's Donuts. There was an overall great experience with the family in Benton.

Quote Of The Day

"With the appearance of the two-bathroom home, Americans forgot how to cooperate. With the appearance of the two-car family, we forgot how to associate, and with the coming of the two-and-three-telveision home, we forgot how to communicate." - Dr. John Baucom

I am a lover of technology! There, I said it. Take me to Best Buy and you might as well pitch a tent, because we are going to be there for a long while. I like computers, music, games, movies, cameras, recorders, televisions, etc. You name it! In the shallower end of moderation, they are fun and entertaining, but, and this is a big but, they do not make us truly happy. If they go unchecked, they can become the idols that will ultimately pull us away from our families, friends and God Himself.

So, enjoy these items of entertainment, but make sure that they do not hinder or replace the relationships that you have built up over the years with people and the God that created you.

Here and Now

Well, he has finally walked into the door. The new preaching minister for the VCOC is in the house! Jim DuBose has come in to take a look around at his new work environment. I am so excited about this new ministry here in the Village. Jim is a great guy that will be an awesome partner to work with. We solicit your prayers for this new beginning.

Hurry Up!

My new buddy, Jim DuBose, is coming in today! I am so excited to continue my ministry with some new blood. I just want him to hurry up and get here! There are so many things that he has to learn about the Village and its inhabitants. Also about the wild youth group here (especially McKayla). That last part was written because she is watching over my shoulder at this very moment.

Jim and Susie, I know that you will be greatly blessed here in your new work with us. At the same time, we will be encouraged and uplifted by your leadership and ministry.

God will bless us all in this new leg of the Journey!

Spanish and Ministry

I am here at the school once again substituting for the College English and Spanish teacher. We are going to view "The Roots of Rhythm", a docudrama about the roots of Latin music and its present influence.

It makes me think of our (Village church's) new outreach in the Village to the Hispanic community. I thank God for people like Jim Mabery, Marlon Bonilla, Steve Hogue, Carlos and Maribel Preciado and Doug Murray for their passion to seek these people and work with them in their spiritual lives. God has blessed the Spanish Ministry with continual growth and exemplary leadership.

Because of servants like those mentioned before, the kingdom is expanding rapidly. They may not know it, but they are molding and shaping young lives around them. I hope that I, personally, cultivate a passion like this.

Who do you look up to in the faith? Is there a person you know that has such a fire in their bones that they just can't keep quiet?

People After His Heart

Last night, the youth, young families and others met at the home of Lance and Shelly Mabery for the annual Hayride and Weenie Roast. As we sat around the nice, warm fire, we discussed the privilege we have to be God's people!

To have His blessings all throughout our lives.

To share a family tie with other Christians in this world!

To praise God for all that He gives us.

To be constant followers through our highs and lows

To be, like David, men and women after His own heart.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Way To Go, Lions!

It is with great pleasure that I announce that we have home field advantage through the playoffs until the final in Little Rock! Way to go, Don Phillips and the gang, for having such a great season. I am getting ready to man the grill at another tailgate.

I will be back with some pics of recent events here in the Village youth group.

I miss Jim Gardner and family...Rick and Gail Northen...Carlos and Maribel Preciado.

I can't wait to work with Jim and Susie DuBose! They will be here next week.

New

Well, Carlos and Maribel left this morning for Nashville en route to Florida. They are already sorely missed. I don't know how I am going to do it without them. They are going to be great blessings wherever they journey in life.

Jeanne, our secretary, and I celebrated our shared birthday with a nice lunch at El Acapulco. We were surprised when it came time to pay the check and someone had already paid for us! Whoever you are, thank you so much for doing that! That was quite a pleasant surprise.

Link Additions

I have updated my link list to include some great friends of mine that are in the mission field. Rick and Gail are in Cambodia getting ready to travel up and down the Mekong river supplying natives with physical and spiritual health. Rick and Gail are excellent examples of living by faith and following the call of God.

Carlos and Maribel are preparing to leave the Village and work in South Broward County, Florida. They will be reaching out to the Hispanic communities in and around Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. I love them for their hard work and passion!

God has blessed me with the presence of these 4 people that have totally devoted their lives to God and His work. I know that He will continue to do great things through these 'earthly vessels.'

If you would like to know more about their work, please check out the links to the right of this post.