The Core

Stop the yelling and do something?

2008-12-19T13:29:00.003-05:00

Collin Powell said that the republican party should stop yelling at the world and listen to them. He also said that they have gone wrong somewhere and have to get in touch with the people again.

I believe that the same can be said of the church! We need to stop yelling at the world and show our love in tangible ways in our community to show Christ. This year, I plan to lead our small church in service to reach the community. Not yelling at them but loving them through service thus fulfilling the "LAW OF CHRIST" (Gal 6:2) which i believe the bible tells us is LOVE! {1 Cor 13}.

Get ready to try new ways to serve as we go forth this year and make a difference for the Kingdom.

ET Ramblings

MISSION POSSIBLE BBQ~~

2008-08-11T08:32:00.004-04:00

We had a BBQ to raise some funs for our mission trip to Panama and Honduras.

We started the day out with music on the lawn!

More music!

Pastor Gary (Our intern raises $150)
Here is Gary enjoying the feast of cream!

ZACH is also going to Honduras.He had rededicated hi life to Christ a couple of months ago

and got baptized last week...We raised ($500) for Zach

Zach's Brother was working but raised $1000!!!

OK, Then I got it! from all sides for both me and Luke (Zach's Brother)

So many are willing! Move over Heath!

I got $1000 and along with the other $1100 we have in, I am fully supported!!! YEA!!!

What a cool time with everyone...

ET RAMBLINGS

SUMMER JAM!

2008-07-30T15:06:00.005-04:00

OK THIS IS THE BIGINING OF THE DAY WITH CHOCOLATE SLIP N SLIDE!

Here are some kids getting ready to go

Here I go scoring for my team!!

Ronnie and kids arwe jealous of my slide!

Here I go again on the soapy slide!

Brianna (jam worker!) on the soap slide!

We are very tired at the end of the game

Pastor Gary (my intern from BBC) in chocolate!

Bri resting after a hard game

Hope alive!!!

2008-07-24T20:04:00.003-04:00

Josh Hamilton -- I'm Proof That Hope is Never Lost
Hamilton Uses Growing Platform to Tell Story

Asleep in the Light!

2008-07-17T19:32:00.010-04:00

“Asleep in the Light!”

July ‘08

Keith Green wrote this song about the church:

Do you see, do you see,

All the people sinking down

Don`t you care, don`t you care,

Are you gonna let them drown

How can you be so numb,

Not to care if they come

You close your eyes,

And pretend the job`s done"

Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord",

You know it`s all I ever hear

No one aches, no one hurts,

No one even sheds one tear

But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds,

And He cares for your needs

And you just lay back, And keep soaking it in,

Oh, can`t you see it`s such a sin?

Open up open up, And give yourself away

You see the need, you hear the cries,

So how can you delay

God`s calling and you`re the one,

But like Jonah you run

He`s told you to speak

But you keep holding it in,

Oh can`t you see it`s such a sin?

Cause He brings people to your door,

And you turn them away

As you smile and say, "God bless you, be at peace",

And all heaven just weeps,

Cause Jesus came to you door,

You`ve left him out on the streets

The world is sleeping in the dark,

That the church just can`t fight,

Cause it`s asleep in the light,

How can you be so dead,

When you`ve been so well fed

Jesus rose from the grave,

And you, you can`t even get out of bed

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead,

Come on, get out of your bed

**************

It is funny that the church, which should be the full expression of Christ to a dying world, would be classified as asleep in the light! But it is true! We let celebrities and politicians do the work of the church by reaching those in need. We are no longer a hospital for the sick but a country club for its members!It is time to wake up and serve instead of being asleep.Gal 6:2 says; “Carry one another’s burdens and in this way fulfill the LAW OF CHRIST!

The Law of Christ is shown in 1 Cor 13…And let me show you the most excellent way… LOVE!As we continue to Connect with Christ and connect with others, our focus will be the community both near and far.

Join with me as we pray to find ways of reaching our community for Christ. Please feel free to email me with ideas and ways to make a difference in the community. No idea is too big or small.

In order to reach this generation we will need to do things we have never done before to reach people we never reached before. Some will work and others will fail. The great thing about our journey is that we will find out what works and do it well! Please join us in fulfilling the great commission in light of the great commandment.

God bless

Pastor Ed

If your interested we started a facebook community :

Heavenly Minded, Community Driven

...to share ideas on reaching the community. Please join and share!

A Picture says a thousand words

2008-07-13T15:46:00.000-04:00

Ordination in Michigan

2008-07-08T10:54:00.001-04:00

I was in Michigan for ordination of Cheri Wellman and recieved this picture from Nathan Bills who was also ordained.

Youth dress from the mess

2008-07-08T10:50:00.003-04:00

Here is our team!

Holy Ghost powder!

Clean version of our team??

Getting the ball ready for slip N Slide

Chocolate kick ball???

2008-06-13T12:11:00.004-04:00

Wet and Wild Kickball

1st Base - Bubblebath

2nd base - Chocolate syrup

3rd base - pool with fish

Home - Slip n slide (with fish in your mouth to score)

Daniel getting ready to pitch-runner on first

Bri, Steph and Alrlene (Basketball team)

Pastor Ronnie

Peter and Tom hug after chocolate westling

???SLIP & SLIDE - YOUR OUT!

Anthony - WHAT?

BRI w/waterproof rubber cast

The wild man!!

Boy did we have fun!

ET RAMBLINGS...

Converge 08 - Youth weekend Retreat

2008-05-27T18:20:00.009-04:00

Ronnie after swinging into river

Peter, Ronnie, Josh and Anthony

As I am resting from the weekend youth retreat (Converge 08), I am reminded again why God saved me. This weekend we had churches and teens from Maryland, NJ, PA and Delaware participate. We had over 60 teens attend and the weekend was fun as we swam, went tubing down the river, worshiped, camped out and did various games.

We also saw 6 teens accept Christ on Sunday night and others rededicated their lives to have Jesus as their Lord!!! One teen accepted Christ as we were getting ready to take our camp group picture. I got to pray with him as the rest of the teens and adult leaders watched. What a great picture. I knew that God was doing something in this boys life at the Sunday night rally because as I gave the call to accept Jesus he wanted to come but his 2 friends were laughing. He had cut marks all up and down his arms. Jesus just wiped that away!
THEY ARE NOT LAUGHING ANYMORE BECAUSE HE IS A CHILD OF THE KING!

Pretty Cool!

TEENS IN THE RIVER

DOUBLE TROUBLE

ZACK & DUSTIN

ETRAMBLINGS...

April showers bring....

2008-05-01T09:07:00.003-04:00

May is upon us and as the saying goes April showers bring…Wait a minute...we have had very little rain in the last month, yet the flowers are still popping up. We can see that some bulbs and seed grow, even in times of drought. I guess that is because they were deeply rooted years ago.

How about us! As we continue our “Transforming Lives” series this month, we need to remember that our lives should continually be transformed to the image of God. So how do we do this?

Last month, we saw that the “purpose of God for the people of God is to become like Christ. Christ likeness is the will of God for the people of God. It is the eternal predestinating purpose of God (Romans 8:29), it is the historical purpose of God (Corinthians 3:18) and it is the final (eschatological) purpose of God 1 John 3:2.

Three perspectives – past, present and future! All of them are pointing in the same direction: there is God’s eternal purpose, we have been predestined; there is God’s historical purpose, we are being changed, transformed by the Holy Spirit; and there is God’s final or eschatological purpose, we will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All three, the eternal, the historical and the eschatological, combine towards the same end of us being like Christ.(Stott)

Last month, we studied:

1. The Power of seeing through Spiritual Eyes (2 kings 6:8-17)

2. The Power of the Inspired Church (Acts 2:36-47

3. The Power of our Fellowship with God! (1 john 1:1-4)

4. The Power of our call to Christ likeness. (1 John 2:6)

This month we will be looking at:

5. The Power of God’s Mercy (Rom 12:1)

6. The power of a renewed Mind (Rom 12:2)

7. The power of our call to Unity (Heb 11:40)

8. The power of Sharing Christ (Acts 17:16-28

If there has been no rain in your life for a period of time or if you have had a period or season of drought, do what David did in 1 Sam 30:1-6. After his family and the families of his warriors were taken captive and his men were plotting to kill him, David was encouraged, restored and found strength in the Lord. Spend time with him!

May God bless you and may we be grounded in the truth to help us in the times of drought.

ET Ramblings...

Family Fun in Florida

2008-04-03T15:01:00.000-04:00

“THE ROAD TO EMMAUS…REMEMBER!”

2008-03-20T08:51:00.000-04:00

Luke 24:30-32 when he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Has your heart ever burned for God and scripture opened up for you by the power of the Holy Spirit! If you have then you would want everyone you know to have that opportunity!

God is doing a new thing around us. Lives are being transformed much like the seeds and bulbs gathering nourishment from the April Showers. We need to be ready and continue to remember what our God has done for us, what he is doing now , and what He will do in the future!

The Harvest is plentiful! We need workers.
· Workers that will remember what God has done for us through His son, Jesus Christ.
· Workers, who know Christ in an intimate way, so that they can share Him with others.
Let us remember and be those people!

Jesus came, died and rose from the grave so that we might have the opportunity to be with Him forever. He came to make salvation possible for all mankind. In this regard, He left the church to tell the world about Him. He left the church behind so that in our fellowship with each other in unity, people will know God sent Jesus Christ (John 17).

As we wait for His return, let us pray that floodgates of Heaven open for our community!!! May we remain united and committed to Him!

Repent, for the Kingdom of God is here!!

ET Ramblings...

Date setting???

2008-03-05T12:22:00.003-05:00

HERE IS A EMAIL FROM A PSTOR FRIEND IN CLINTON ON THE COMING OF JESUS.

Interesting...

****************************

Good morning Pastors,

I have to smile at the never ending efforts to predict the Lord's return.
Here's the latest one in this part of America:
(regards,
Andrew)

***
Sir Isaac Newton, who lived some 300 years ago (1642-1727), was one of the greatest geniuses in all history, with perhaps the highest I.Q of anyone in history. He is called "the father of modern science" and "the father of the industrial revolution." He discovered many scientific laws. God chose Isaac Newton to impart many of His deepest secrets and riddles . Newton was a devout believer in Christ and Bible scholar, fluent in ancient languages, and who translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek. He was unusually drawn to the prophet Daniel, which he began studying at age 12 and continued until he died at age 85. In fact, The Columbia History of the World, a secular history book, remarks, "At the end of his days he spent more time studying and writing about the prophecies in the Book of Daniel than he did in charting the heavens." Apparently, God Himself put in Newton's heart this burning desire to study Daniel, then gave him the key to the timing of Christ's return. Could this be the final profound secret the Lord revealed to this godly genius near the end of his life -- a secret "accidentally" discovered in the Library of Congress and republished just in the last few years -- a secret so simple that most have missed it? If Newton was correct in his interpretation of Daniel, the prophet to whom God gave specific timing, then the return of the Lord Jesus Christ will be very, very soon, indeed! Newton's understanding of one key passage in Daniel chapter 9 is fundamentally different from that of most common interpretations. In about 550 B.C., God gave the prophet Daniel a view of history to the end. From Daniel 9:25, scholars usually add the "seven weeks (of years, or 49 years) and 62 weeks (434 years)" to get 483 years and calculate the time of Messiah's First Coming. However, Newton says there is no linguistic basis for adding those two numbers (49 and 434), and to do so is "doing violence to the language of Daniel." Newton says the two numbers separately speak of both the First and Second Coming, both being counted from the "going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem." Some commentators agree. Newton says the "62 weeks," or 434-year part was fulfilled at the First Coming, and the "seven weeks," or 49-year part will apply to the Second Coming. And three centuries ago he saw in the Scriptures and wrote about the rebirth of Israel at a time when such a thought was preposterous. Amazingly by faith and understanding of the Scriptures, he foresaw a "friendly kingdom" someday again issuing the "commandment to restore and build Jerusalem." Now, centuries later, that "friendly kingdom" may have been the United Nations, which decreed Israel's rebirth in November, 1947, causing Israel to be reborn in May, 1948. The above is taken from my essay on Newton written in the mid-1990s shortly after obtaining a copy of Newton's commentary on Daniel from the doctor who discovered Thomas Jefferson's personal and initialed copy of it in the Library of Congress, and who then got permission to reprint it in the original, difficult-to-read olde English script. The essay is at http://choicesforliving.com/spirit/part3/newton.htm. However, my speculations back then wrongly assumed the final 49-year count began when Israel was born in 1948. At the time, I thought we were so close to the Lord's return it did not occur to me that the count should probably begin on June 7, 1967, when Israel captured Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Now, Sid Roth of Messianic Vision ministry is promoting a new book on the subject, Newton's Riddle by Neill G. Russell, which contains additional information about Newton and his understanding of the end times.Sid says, "Before his death in 1727, Sir Isaac Newton, the famous physicist, concealed a prophetic script in one of his journals. This mysteriously coded script detailed crucial future events involving Israel and the return of Jesus. Incorporating Sir Isaac Newton's extensive research, Bible prophecy, and the bond that exists between America and Israel during the final days of planet earth, Newton's Riddle by Neill Russell is a captivating, suspenseful tale ripped from tomorrow's headlines. I have never read such a current, prophetic book. Newton's Riddle is a 'now' book for the most critical juncture in human history. You will not be able to put this biblical thriller down."Sid quotes from the book where it explains Newton's calculations of adding 49 years to the June 1967 date. Based on "Newton's riddle" the book says, "Messiah's possible return to earth will be on or before the year 2016."However, that is apparently based on using modern (365-day) years in the calculation. As I pointed out in my e-mail dated February 20, 2008, if you use exactly 49 Jewish (360-day, prophetic) years from the day Israel captured the Temple Mount on June 7, 1967, you get 49 X 360 = 17640 days, which amazingly takes one exactly to September 23, 2015, the Day of Atonement 2015. Now what I am about to say is personal speculation. If you go back 7 years from the Day of Atonement in 2015, you arrive at the Day of Atonement in 2008, October 9. Could this be the beginning of the final seven years? This is further personal speculation. If the final 7 years do, in fact, begin October 9, 2008, then the rapture could be any day before then, such as in the Spring 2008, as many believe.

********************
Reason to be ready? or hoax? Anyway you put it, we have a job to do and need to be doing it now!!!

ET Ramnlings...

Rest in peace, Mike!

2008-02-28T14:30:00.001-05:00

Encouragement!

2008-02-26T14:38:00.002-05:00

Another one of my friends passed away today of cancer. He went with me on various missions trips to Nicaragua and was health a year ago.

As I was reading another friends blog I saw this:

I was saddened when I heard that Larry Norman passed away early Sunday morning.
He was my favorite singer during my teenage years -- and I learned guitar by playing his music.

His last word to his friends were this:
"I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up.
I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home."

We need to remember, in Larry's words -- "We're only Visiting This Planet"

Remember, one day we will see our friends and family that put their trust in Jesus!

ET Ramblings

We love you

In the valley, Calling on the Name of the Lord!

2008-02-26T09:15:00.005-05:00

I just got this email, seconds after emailing my friend and co-short term missionary to Nicaragua:
**********************************************

To Family, Friends, and Customers:

Mike passed away at 2:00 a.m. this morning at home surrounded by his son's, Corey and Kyle, their loving companions, Daphne and Alicia, and me.

He fought the process of death just as he fought the battle against his cancer, with complete bravery and fortitude.

He is finally pain free.

Mike will be cremated and we will plan a service/party here in Wallace in his honor to be held some time at the end of the week. We will post details as they are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Mike's honor to the Humane Society of Duplin County, PO Box 88 Kenansville, NC 28349.

We thank you for your friendship, love, understanding and joy that you shared with him during his short journey here on Earth.

Love,
Colette

***************************************************************

Yet another friend dying of Cancer!! OH HOW I HATE CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My fondest memory of Mike, who I have only been with in Nicaragua, is of his smiling face and knowing he's is thinking of something smart to say next. His generosity was unlimited. I had a need in a village in Nicaragua for a metal fence to secure the church and He came forward with another person and paid for the fence. His love of the children was outstanding as he worked in the Pharmacy. He will be missed!

The greatest victory is that He is with His Lord and Savior!

I lift my eyes to the hills...who can I depend on...THE LORD!

ET Ramblings...

Mountaintop

2008-02-20T12:06:00.002-05:00

Well yesterday I attended Brooklyn Tabernacle Church's staff meeting with Jim Cymbala, met with a man named Bishop, who spent 51 years in prison and attended the 4 hour prayer meeting (5-9 pm). Besides the obvious time alone with God and hearing Jim speak about our fellowship with God, I was considerably blessed by two things:

My time with Bishop. Back in 1956, Bishop killed a man on the streets of Louisiana. He was sentenced to death. While in prison, a chaplain prayed for him like this..."Lord do not heal his body and flesh but heal his soul." Bishop went on to tell us that that night in 1963, he went on to pray to God and if God was real, He needed to show him or else he was going to kill himself in his cell. At that moment, bishop felt a large rush of wind and He felt his heart melt and accepted Jesus as his Savior. Ever since, Bishop led the church ministry in the Prision. God interviened and for some reason his death sentence was changed to life in prison and then He was released 6 months ago. 51 years in prison! He was released with $20 and a bus ticket. God's grace. He said God could not use a murder, He could not use Moses the murderer, He could not use David, the murderer and God could not use Bishop, the murderer but God could use all these men who repented!!! He continued to believe even in the pit of Satan's people! God protected him and now He is preaching to young men and old about Jesus. He had over 1,200 men accept christ in the prison ministry that he had. BTW, Bishop killed a preacher!!! How God works.
The second was the Prayer time. People kept on coming in. With all the cares and troubles in the world, especially in Brooklyn NY. They needed to meet with God! most people in the Anglican churches want to do their time and leave, yet they people were hungry for God. they wanted to be with him. Being there was different. I have been in St Patricks Cathedral and other big churches but this was different. It seemed that God lived there! The house is definately a house of Prayer. we prayed and worshiped and prayed and annointed and prayed and heard the word and then Prayed more. Together, alone, in small groups, in holy huddles...lifting our voices to praise His name for what seemd like seconds but turned out to be 5 hours.

On the mountaintop, I wondered if we could sustain the praise when we were in the valley. Do we hunger to be with God? I mean really hunger it! thirst for it.

When we get down to it that is all He wants!

ET Ramblings

Brooklyn Tabernacle!

2008-02-19T08:31:00.002-05:00

I am on my way to NYC to meet and pray with Jim Cymbala and his staff at Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. Later I will get to hear and maybe talk with Rick Warren.

What an opportunity to talk to two men who wrote books that have encouraged and inspired me. I can wait!

I will give you an update when I get back!!

ETRamblings...

Glenn Sturman

2008-02-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

I have just come back from Central Montgomery Hospital in PA and am extremely saddened to inform you that Glenn Sturman has lost his fight with cancer this morning at the age of 25. He leaves behind his wife of a year and a half, Faith; as well as his parents brother and inlaws.

In Isaiah 61, God says that He will comfort all who morn and provide for those who grieve. He will bestow on them a crown of Beauty instead of ashes; the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Our prayers need to be lifted for Faith and Glenn's family (Dad, Mom & brother) who are struggling in the heaviness of this news. I got to share with Glenn's parents from Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. 4 In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed."

While it may seem that God did not hear our prayers He did! And He heard Glenn's prayers. Last night, Glenn told Faith that He believed and trusted in God. Psalm 22:8 "He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." God heals completely !!!!

I remember praying with Glenn in the hospital and for the first time he responded at the end of my prayer with a hearty AMEN. Faith, who exemplified the unconditional love of Jesus, was an inspiration and rock to Glenn and his family. She had asked Glenn to think about praying for himself as it seemed everyone else was praying for him. He prayed with her!

What faith it must have taken for Glenn to stand in our congregation and come and get anointed with oil per James 5 (even while he had no strength). Glenn loved our church and even invited his friends who were moving to the area.

While my heart is heavy, my spirit is being renewed with hope. 'Why does bad things happen to good people' is not the correct question to ask. the correct question to ask is...Who is your Lord, when bad things happen to good people.

Glenn really appreciated and coveted your prayers. They made a large impact on him. Please continue to pray for the family and let us be prepared to act in response to any need that is presented as the body of Christ. I will let you know what needs to be done in the hours and days ahead.

That depends on the meaning of "IS"

2008-02-02T06:29:00.000-05:00

Ok, so it is 6 am and I have been awake for 3 hours as I am coughing out some mean stuff in my lungs. Last weekend, I had the privlege of hearing Pastor Jackson from Spring Lake and he openned my eyes to something in a Psalm that is usually read in Funerals.

Lets look at the verbs:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want;
He makes me lay down in green pastures
He leads me beside quiet waters
He restores my soul
He guides me to righteousness for His name sake
Tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death
I will fear no evil becaue you are with me
Your staff and rod comfort me
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies
You annoint my head with oil
my cup overruns
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

It is quite obvious to me that my God cares and Loves me and that

HE IS SOVERIEGN!

ET RAMBLINGS...

Sick Again!

2008-02-01T09:23:00.001-05:00

That's right, I got enough flem in my chest to mold a miniture King Kong! Or is it Godzilla?

Oh Well, God always has a way of slowing me down. I left work yesterday after lunch and just veggied in the couch with around three blankets on. My kids and wife left me alone which is always a good thing when Dad is sick. (I am a big Baby!)

Although I had a restful but sleepless night I feel pretty good right now. I can't wait for Sunday!!!! No not the Superbowl, but our game...

THE WORD vs COVENTIONAL THINKING

Just like the college sports motto...

I LIVE FOR THIS!!!!

ETRAMBLINGS

FOLLOWING THE LAW: LOVE

2008-01-29T11:22:00.000-05:00

The month of February is forever associated with the word LOVE! February is the Love Month! Valentine’s Day! Giving presents and showing signs of our love and adoration to others…Does this mean that the other 11 months of the year should be void of love? Absolutely not but there is something special about February…It may be an acute awareness of how we should focus our love towards someone special in our lives.

If we focus all our energy to show gratitude for the one person we truly love into one day (Valentine’s Day), then we have 364 days to show others, our neighbors, the love that should emanate from our very soul because the spirit of Jesus Christ lives in us. Jesus tells us that our neighbors are all around us!

In Gal 6:2, Paul writes “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

So if we carry each others burdens (helping because we see people’s needs and hurts through God’s eyes) we fulfill the Law of Christ.

So what is the “Law of Christ”?

May I quote a line from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians…“And now I will show you the most excellent way.”

Go and read the 13 verses of 1 Corinthians 13. Go to verses 4 through 8 and put God in lieu of love because scripture tells us that God is Love. Then put your name in lieu of love because we are to be imitators of God!

May the Love of Christ dwell richly in you!

ET Ramblings

The Untouchables!

2008-01-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

So here we are posing for our church directory which is being finished as we speak. We took this picture back in October!!!!!

As we look back on 6 months, there have been alot of changes. The small country church is very different from the big city church but God is in love with everyone!!!! He needs different people for different jobs. I've learned that a NY boy does not need to know the area and the people (in's and out's of an area) to minister there. He needs the power of the Holy Spirit! It is not about what we know and can do, it is about the Spirit of the living God working inside the individuals. Just as I asked God 'How can a NY city boy minister in Michigan, I asked the same question of God...How can I minister in a rural setting were almost everyone told me not to go." The reason was very clear but I did not understand it fully.

So How can I minister in a small rural setting of NJ.

You see my calling is still the same! It never changed!

Look at Matt 10 which says:

"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, [who are the lost? Anyone who doesn’t know Jesus and live for him].. confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. TOUCH THE UNTOUCHABLES, kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously." (The Message)

Wherever I am, I am to go to the LOST! the Untouchable! (THEY ARE EVERYWHERE) I have been given much and much is required!

God’s love is for EVERYONE – no one is a LOST cause. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish (die) but have eternal life” John 3:16

Lets start by touching the untouchable like Jesus did! Lets finish the job and go home!

ET RAMBLINGS...

ZAMBIA TEAM

2007-12-18T12:07:00.000-05:00

http://www.thewattersfamily.blogspot.com/

Hi all,

This couple is dear to me because Beth was on our teams to Nicaragua and El Salvador. Beth is a nurse/accountant and David was a truck driver/builder. They both came to Nicaragua last year Nov 06 and they both heard the call of God to go to Zambia. They have sold everything and are going to Zambia! They are almost there!!! This would be a great place to go on a short term mission project. Check out their Blog.

It is crazy how God works and who he chooses to use. Are you on the bench?? Are you ready to get in the game? LETS PLAY!

ET RAMBLINGS...

Trust the Lord

2007-12-18T10:20:00.000-05:00

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust...a big word. Can we really trust God with everything? As I look at the bible true story of Jesus' father Joseph, I could only imagine the call of his heart and the pain inside when Mary told him she was preganant.

God, this can't be true. How can she do this to me! the ultimate betrayal!! I loved her so much and she is coming to me with child! I was never with her! She goes away for a couple of days and this! She is a liar!

Trust...Have you ever been hurt that bad, someone dispace you trust. Do you find it hard to trust again? Matt 1:19 states that " Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly."

Listen to his heart... I love you, Mary! How could you do this? With who? What did that conversation sound like? What did his prayers sound like as he cried out to God?

The key is that Joseph was a "righteous man". I am sure it hurt alot but he knew how to handle the disapointment in his life as a righteous man because he probrbaly learned at a young age to trust God and lean not on his own understanding. The angel comes to Joseph and he obeys. "IF YOU LOVE ME...IF YOU TRUST ME...YOU WILL OBEY ME!!" EVEN WHEN IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

Are you in a position were something does not make sense? Does it hurt? Are you asking God some tough question?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Go to God and trust him.

ET Ramblings...

Truth matters!

2007-12-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

Ravi Zacharias begins chapter one:

“Philosophically, you can believe anything, so long as you do not claim it to be true. Morally, you can practice anything, so long as you do not claim that it is a “better” way. Religiously, you can hold to anything, so long as you do not bring Jesus Christ into it.” “all religions, plainly and simply, can not be true. Some beliefs are false, and we know them to be false. So it does not good to put a halo on the notion of tolerance as if everything could be equally true. In the real life struggles between right and wrong, justice and injustice, life and death, we all realize that truth does matter.”

(Ravi Zacharias Jesus Among Other Gods p. 4)

Peacemakers!

2007-12-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

Fenelon said: "Peace is what God wants for us, no matter what is happening around us." Peace therefor involves harmony or being able to live with people of different cultures and backgrounds. In the church, peace should mean working together for unity...for a single cause, to connect with God and Others through JESUS.

When conflict enters what is our responsibility?

Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers; for they will be called sons of God.

Wesley states: "The peace makers - They that out of love to God and man do all possible good to all men. Peace in the Scripture sense implies all blessings temporal and eternal. They shall be called the children of God - Shall be acknowledged such by God and man."

Thomas Merton writes: "Man is not at peace with his fellow man because he is not at peace with God.

Are you out of fellowship with someone? Have you made peace with everyone you have a conflict with?

I guess the first question should be... Are you out of fellowship with God? Are you at peace with Him? Know this...you cannot be at peace with God without being at peace with others.

THERE IS NO PEACE WITHOUT GOD! (Isa 48:22) START HERE!

ETRamblings...

FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMIT...YOUR NOT IN CONTROL ANYWAY!

2007-12-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

Being a driven, compulsive, everything or bust person, it is easy to look at success and numbers and rejoice in God!

Yet, being a compulsive, everything or bust person, does the success take the place of God?

Does succeeding take a front seat to the actual relationship that is the core behind our success?

Does being saved mean more than the actual relationship with God through Jesus?

Are we worshiping the success?

Seeing people come to the Lord and Grow is our mandate. In Dan 12, it talks about those who lead others to righteousness, for they are like stars! Are we celebrating the hunt and training of others to become stars over our deep relationship with GOD? I know what God wants me to do...to share the Good News of Jesus! It is the best high you can ever have!

God has always had me on the freeway in serving Him. things moved forwards at a fast pace as we took ground for the Lord. It seems that I took a exit that led to a country road and everything slowed down. I miss the evangelistic speeches and trips to talk to people about Jesus. I feel like I am moving in slow motion in a community that is far from God.

Habakkuk 3:16-19 "I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

As a man who has worked all of his life at producing to succeed in business, I cannot tell you how hard this is to work and not see immediate fruit. Yet God in his sovereignty has a plan! Evil is prospering around me and the righteous suffer. The church is fighting itself and God is saying here I am worship me, I have a plan. Is this a season of internal growth to make sure the way for the future? I don't know...but I need to trust God and drive the speed limit until such a time that he tells me to open up the throttle.

While I miss the numbers and success of seeing large numbers of people accept and grow in Christ, I know God is building a foundation for the future. Hey, I'm not in control anyway! God is in control and He will do what is right. I can have confidence in that fact as I drive the speed limit.

ET RAMBLINGS...

Pass the test

2007-12-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

Here is a lesson from John Piper...

**********

Revelation 2:10

When huge pain comes into your life—like divorce, or the loss of a precious family member, or the dream of wholeness shattered—it is good to have a few things settled with God ahead of time. The reason for this is not because it makes grieving easy, but because it gives focus and boundaries for the pain.
Being confident in God does not make the pain less deep, but less broad. If some things are settled with God, there are boundaries around the field of pain. In fact, by being focused and bounded, the pain of loss may go deeper—as a river with banks runs deeper than a flood plain. But with God in his firm and proper place, the pain need not spread out into the endless spaces of ultimate meaning. This is a great blessing, though at the time it may simply feel no more tender than a brick wall. But what a precious wall it is!
As a father, I want to help our twelve-year-old daughter Talitha settle some things with God now, so that when little or big losses come—and they will come—her pain will be bounded and will not carry her out, like a riptide, into the terrifying darkness of doubt about God. So as we read God’s word together twice a day, I point out the mysterious ways of God.
Two days ago, we read this from the lips of Jesus to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10:
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
I asked Talitha, “Is Jesus stronger than the devil?” “Yes,” she said. Indeed, I added, ten million times stronger. It’s not even close. In fact, as Mark 1:27 says, “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” So all Jesus has to do is say to the devil, “You shall not throw my loved ones into prison,” and the devil will not be able to do it. Right, Talitha? Right.
So, Talitha, why does Jesus let the devil do this? Why does he let the devil throw his precious followers in jail and even kill some of them? She shook her head. I said, well, let’s read it again slowly, and you tell me the reason that the Bible gives. Slowly, “Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison . . . that . . . you . . . may . . . be . . . tested.” So why does Jesus let this happen, Talitha? “That they may be tested.” That’s right.
And what is being tested? The answer is given in the way Jesus describes what passing the test looks like. He says, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Faithfulness to Jesus is being tested. Will his loved ones keep trusting him? Will they keep believing that he has their best interest at heart? That he is wise? That he is good? That he is stronger than all?
So, Talitha, there are a thousand things that God is doing every time something painful happens to you. Most of these you do not know or understand. Job, Joseph, and Esther did not know what God was doing in their losses. But there is always one thing you can know God is doing when pain comes into your life. This is something you can settle with God ahead of time. He is always testing you.
If the test leads to your death, as it did for some of the Christians in Smyrna, Jesus wants you to know something ahead of time. “You will receive the crown of life.” That means he will raise you from the dead and will crown you with the kind of everlasting joy in his presence that will make up for your loses ten-thousand-fold. “Crown” signifies majestic, royal restoration and exaltation.
James says the same thing:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Passing the test means loving God to the end.
So settle it, Talitha. Loss and pain are coming into your life, but Jesus is infinitely stronger than the devil. So even if the devil is causing it, as he did in Smyrna, Jesus is letting it happen. And he always has his reasons—more than we can know. One of those reasons is always testing, namely, the testing of our faith and our love for him.
We cannot answer every why question. But there is always this answer: My faith is being tested. And our Lord never wastes his tests. Whether we believe this truth is, in fact, part of the test. In the mind of Jesus, the promise that he would give them the crown of life was enough to sustain the Christians in Smyrna. I pray that it will be enough for Talitha—and for you.
Trusting the wisdom and goodness of Jesus in loss,

Pastor John

****************************

ET RAMBLINGS....

BLOGGING TIME???

2007-12-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a while since I blogged. I have to admit, I don't know how others can keep up with blogging on a daily basis. I find myself overwhelmed by the daily struggles between church, family and time alone with God. Will my time of blogging, interfere with any of the three that are currently competing for my time.

I guess I am going to have to choose to cheat on someone! (as Andy Stanley says)

I feel myself more and more responsible for ministries that call for a commitment from others. I want to share my intimacy with Christ with other adults (thank you Mick!) yet there are very little lining up! Busyness, dryness, lack of really wanting to know the God that holds our lives in HIS hand...Talk about a SCARY MOVIE!

Yet God says that upon this rock (Jesus) I will build my church. So as I struggle, I need to prioritize the top three in a way that will glorify God. Focus on the family put out a publication on "How to encourage your spirit, strengthen your family and energize your ministry."

THAT'S IT!!!!

1. GOD
2. FAMILY
3. MINISTRY

Just think ... if in fact you live your lives void of "freshness," you get into a rut and simply go through the motions. If there is not "newness," then you live on "leftovers and warm-ups." If there is no "revival," then you settle for "what is" and lose the desire for growth, both in your own spirit and your ministry. (Focus on the Family email encourager)

I knew about the right list before yet in a new church as the solo pilot you do everything and hear from everybody.

Hey, if I blog about God! Does it fall in number 1? or number 3?

I guess the question for the season your in is...

Who is number one?

and

Who are you going to choose to cheat on when everything is important! We are fighting for an eternal destiny in the lives of people that would otherwise awake "...to shame and everlasting contempt." (Dan 12:2)

That is indeed the struggle!!

"O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid; O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years made known; in wrath remember mercy" (Habakkuk 3:2 KJV).

Et Ramblings...

GO TAKE THE LAND!

2007-10-01T09:17:00.000-04:00

Deut 1:8 God said..."See, I have given you this Land, GO AND TAKE IT!"

God wants our obedience not our opinion!

As for our house (Faith Chapel) we will serve the Lord. We had some doubts but God said take the Land! everyone got on the field and stood their ground and we saw God show up. What a victory celebration we had Sunday morning as we submitted to God, repented of sins and flooded to altar to pray. God broke my heart and we confessed our doubt/lack of faith as well as God's faithfulness. I have never seen a group of people 80-100 strong come together in three months to stand together for the sake of the community. What a great exhibit of what God has done IN OUR MIDST and what He will do in the future as we are Obedient to HIM! We are going to take back NJ for Christ.

The stand team and our church reached families for Christ! (go to http://www.myspace.com/etcooldad shut off the music in the red box and play the video of the stand team in our church)

We visited three schools and spoke to a total of 1,000 students and teachers (many came back to our church and accepted Christ).
We went on the radio 99.1 Star FM and thousands heard about the team, their love for Jesus Christ. (one family came from over 1 1/2 hours away and saw their three children accepted Christ for the First time.)
We saw pastors and people from churches in our area get excited for God and understand that we need each other to infiltrate our community for Christ
We had over 675 people attend our church in 5 days.
Over 200 people raised their hands to make a decision for Christ in five days!
105 people filled out commitment cards about their decision and we will follow up with them.
As God had not done enough, he has given us hope and increased our faith as a church to do anything short of sin to reach the families in our community and the world. We took in the Stand Strength team as missionaries to the world (www.standstrengthteam.org) !

Praise the Lord!

BTW...I was added to the team, ripped a phone book and was invited to break three bricks wit the team. What a feeling of the power of God and...YES it did hurt. BUT as I train God will give me the strength so that by next year I will be breaking some big walls. Oh how God is working. I praise His Holy name!!! JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! AND HE IS COMING BACK SOON! GO TAKE THE LAND!

ET RAMBLINGS....

JUST CHECK THIS OUT!

2007-09-09T15:32:00.000-04:00

http://doreen-momsblog.blogspot.com/

What's happenin'!

2007-08-31T18:13:00.000-04:00

Well the summer is almost over and as we look back we had some great successes in two months...

PULSE OUR NEW YOUTH GROUP reports this

11 attended Penn Jersey Youth camp

8 made commitments to holiness & TO BE DISCIPLED

7 gave their testimony on Sunday Morning

We had 25 teens and 10 adult leaders in our dress for the mess event

We had 27 at our wet and wild kickball event

We already have a youth worship band (eventhough it is kinda heavy metal

We kick off Pulse Explosion on Sept 6th (Thursday nights)

This weekend we are traveling to Revelation Generation concert

Stand Ministries is coming Sept 26-30th

In BIG BOY church..

Redid the sound system

Purchased & Installed 3 projectors (2 front and 1 rear)

Purchased new computers

Have ADULT discipleship classes/small groups starting in Oct on Wednesday Nights

Children's JAM (Jesus and Me) starting (SS, Children's Church and Wednesday night)

Stand Ministry outreach teams

Committed to connect with God and connect with others

New women's SS class -Beth Moore (Oct 07)

Sunday/Monday Night football (men's event) coming with cable!!!

Worship team is rocking!!!! with three teens playing instruments~

We have seen over 30 people accept Christ as their personal Savior

5-7 men meet for prayer every thursday at 6:30AM

I MEET WITH 8 PASTOR'S FROM THE COMMUNITY EVERY THURSDAY

Concerts of prayer every Wednesday night in Sept for Stand outreach

I am joining a mentoring group with our DS Dr. Wood

We had 76 people at our home last Sunday for an ICE CREAM SOCIAL (3 hours)

We had attendance over 100! (107 and 135 during the summer - Doubling our attendance)

We have seen a 25% -30% increase in attendance on average for two months!

On the home front...

We love our new home

We still have issues with our home in Michigan

Peter is in school already and hooking up with others for a band

Brianna has been out of the house with other girls most of the time and is doing great

Matt is 7 yrs old and content with video games

Doreen is in the worship team singing and will co-lead a Beth Moore SS class in Oct (everyone wants to be in the pastor's wife's class...lol)

On a personal note...

I don't know how church planters do this from scratch

I am working twice as hard now and we have a established building and land.

I guess God knew my family limitations.

This has definitely felt like a church plant and I am not a detail oriented guy

I am still looking for more men/women to come along side me to cover my weaknesses

I am dreaming for God and it kinda scares me sometimes the things he is putting in my head

For Stand outreach in Sept he gave me a number of 1,000. Our church only holds 175-225 on a very good day and we have 5 services (do the math)

I will be faithful and let God be God.

I praise God for the great examples of leaders he has put in my life.

The great news is that I have a great Godly friend here in NJ who wants to see Faith Chapel Thrive for Jesus! PTL

Take a good look at our building...it might be changing in a couple of years as we grow!

ET RAMBLINGS...

Heaven is singing!

2007-08-13T19:21:00.000-04:00

Well today I did a funeral for a dear lady from our congregation, Jane Alpaugh. She was told two years ago that she had 6 months to live. Her Husband, Allen, died a couple of months ago unexpectedly.

Well Our church has over 150 people at the funeral service and I preached from 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:10, “Do not lose heart, though our outer man is decaying . . ." Fore some reason, God wanted me to give a bigtime salvation message. I told the story of how Dr. Tony Campolo challenged a pastor and thus the "It's friday, but sunday's a coming!" speech.

Well I told that story and then said ... Thurday morning 12:30 am, Jane's lungs are struggling to gasp for air, you see for her it was Friday. The family and I circled around her bed and prayed because to us it was Friday. We read from Rev 22 as Jane looked lifeless on her bed at home, It was Friday for us. Jane opened her eyes and took her last breath and it was immediately SUNDAY for her! Absent of the body is home with the Lord 2 Cor 5. She not only saw us around the bed but I believe she saw Jesus and her husband waiting for her.

We gave a salvation message and around twenty people raised their hand to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior!! PTL Then I asked if anyone else wanted to receive Christ and read Romans 10 and asked those who wanted Jesus in their lives to repeat the sinners prayer with me. Around a third of the people recited the prayer!!! At least over 40!!

God is working even in death as this area of New Jersey will be HIS. We prayed in amazement after cleaning the church and did not want to leave. I had been in the office since 7am, the service was at 11am and we were still at the church till around 4pm. Praise God.

Alot of the people said they were coming back to our church. Messy floors, messy walls , messy, lives and alot of Jesus!!! To Him be the Glory.

What''s next... Stand Ministry the last week of September for 5 days. We are looking for around 1,000 to accept Jesus as their Savior.

Ed in the Country of NJ...Well I have some cows to evangelize and they can talk to the farmers..

ET Ramblings...

The Job life...NOT YET!

2007-08-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Doreen was very emotional and was missing Michigan, friends and her workout buddies. Peter is missing his friends and letting us know how he feels which is sometimes good and sometimes hard to hear. I do miss the worship and playing with Larry and the group so much! I also miss the office talk with the pastors and office workers. I also do not look forward to calling the mortgage companies and looking at the future financial mess that will happen with our home in Michigan. The stress is mounting...

{breath}

Well...I sat in my office this morning and cried to God about His plans. In my daily quiet time with God, I was overcome with the lonelyness of the changes happening in our lives as a family, the emotions of my wife and kids and not to mention the changes that God has shown me for Faith Chapel in my prayer time. He has called us to reach families and to reach out to the lost in anyway possible (anything short of sin). Change is hard on all but change needs to happen because people are dying and going to an eternal punishment without Jesus Christ and we have the answer! I just feel in my spirit that sometimes we are just to involved in what we want and do not see the entire picture.

He has already put burdens on my soul for people in the area. I met a gentleman across the street from the church named Wayne and I hope to talk with him more. I also met my nieghbor, Ray, who did not seem very friendly and cut the grass along the property border to show me the boundries. I need to see them with God's eyes and continue to love them.

I also know that people within the congregation will resist change. My family and I are struggling with that now so why wouldn't the church also struggle. I know I did not come to NJ to argue about change (worship, outreach or color of walls) and I won't do that at all. There is so much to be done and I just want to talk about Jesus to anyone who needs Him dearly.

...And I look at the calander and see James 1:12:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,

because when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life."

Could it be we are starting to feel a little like Jesus did? He didn't say it would be easy and it isn't. Why should we be surprised. Peter of all people tells us not be surprised at the painful trials that we suffer in 1Peter 4:12-13, 18-19.

"Dear friends,do not be surprised

at the painful trials you are suffering,

as though something strange is happening to you.

But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ,

That you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed...

...And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and sinners?

So then, those who suffer according to God's will

should commit themselves to their faithful Creator

and continue to do Good."

The job life...not yet...not even close!

...For me and my house, we will serve the
Lord!!!!

ET Ramblings...

The World is MINE!!!

2007-07-24T17:10:00.000-04:00

Today I opened up some boxes for my office and unpacked the globe that was given to me when I left Community Wesleyan Church. For the first time I read what the inscription said and was greatly moved. How God is moving in this world, using ordinary people.

I put together the GLOBE thinking of how God would have molded the earth in His hands, how marvelous! I was also thinking of all the godly people in Michigan who wrote their stories into my life and let me write into their lives. There is something about personal stories that are still being written and how God wants us to use our imagination to do life with other and love them into the Kingdom.

If we claim to be a Christian, we must be Christlike in "entering other people's world"...as Christ has entered our world. Incarnation!

As pastors we need to look like what we are preaching. It seems impossible...(with man). All things are possible with Christ!

ET Ramblings...

God moments!

2007-07-07T11:58:00.000-04:00

It has been so cool these last three weeks in NJ. God knew what I needed and provided! This past Thursday, nine pastors from this area met at Faith Chapel for Prayer. We meet at 10:30 am every Thursday and they annointed me, the church, the sanctuary, future evangelic events, the services and the grounds. What an uplifting time of prayer as they poured out oil on my head and we knelt befor eGod and petitioned Him for this area! A good ole Holy Spirit time with Pastors from different denominations coming together for revival in this area.

On the Michigan front, my home has still not sold and I am leaving Sunday July 15th after service in NJ to fly to Michigan and pack up for our move on Wednesday July 18th...exactly 5 years to the date that we arrived in Michigan. So if anyone can help pack a truck on Wednesday Morning please be at my house. If anyone wants the house it is yours! Please pray.

ET Ramblings...

Time alone with God - Fill in the blanks!

2007-06-27T17:46:00.000-04:00

I have found that in my communt of 1 hour each way to and from my Inlaws home in the Poconos and Faith Chapel that God had prepared me with a time frame in order for me to value that time alone with Him in a busy time of transition in my life. What a lesson! I have chaged a sermon and been ministered by God in my lonelyness without my wife, Doreen. He has also shown me the joy of that sinister smile of Matthew, especially when he comes to try and cut my throat with his hand. And of course the joy and wisdom of teenage humor (HAHA) that comes with Peter.

Have you had your Appointment with God

Why? - Quit Time with God. Try this and fill in the blanks.

a. Jesus set the example to spend ______________ in prayer (Mark 1:35)
b. To discover God’s ______ and receive _________. (Romans 12:2)
c. To receive _________________ and ____ from God. (John 6:63)
d. For the joy of Knowing the Savior better. (1 Peter :8-9)
e. What does that look like?
i. Bible reading
ii. Prayer
iii. Scripture application

Just spend time with him answer a - d and let the word of God speak!

Just Listen...

ET Ramblings...

What a WEEK!

2007-06-19T15:10:00.000-04:00

Boy...between CWC in Michigan and Faith Chapel in NJ, my family and I were emotionally drained.

The send off at CWC was nothing short of fantastic and the reception at NJ was the same. Peter and I drove to NJ on Tuesday and then I was at work on Monday going at it with Alan, the Vice chair of FC. We purchased a projector and mics, (added two more projectors on Monday), adjusted the sound system, rearranged the stage area and prepared for a county picnic.

THAT'S RIGHT I PLAYED COUNTRY MUSIC!! I still can hear the song in my head...

It was great! Around 20-25 teens showed up and we had a big water fight and a great game of football. We had baby goats which Matt loved and could not let go of. I thought they were our food! We had burgers instead! The teens here can rock musically. Peter connected with a guitar player named Ronnie (10th grade - like Steve McCoy) and I see God doing great things through them both.

I also am blessed with a great instrumental section...Chuck - is a great guitar player and picks up stuff fast as well as Ronnie and a horn section. Sunday we did How Great is our God and a young adult, Katie, added some flute...It was Beautiful!

Dr. Wood installed me on Father's day and it was a very emotional time for me. I praise God for this opportunity and pray that I will remain faithful. I already met our police department and did not get arrested!!! I offered my services as a Chaplain and am awaiting a meeting with the big guy there.

I do miss my fellow comrades in the office at CWC. It is kinda lonely in the office by myself and I can't wait for Doreen and the kids to come back. Keep praying for my home in Michigan to sell.

God bless

ET Ramblings...

Me and My Shadow!

2007-06-06T18:07:00.000-04:00

2 Tim 2:2 in action!
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. 1 Kings 19:19-21

Elisha means "my God is my salvation". This passage is a call to greatness as Elijah passes the torch to Elisha and Elisha leaves no way back to his old life. Elisha then goes and shadow's Elijah, the man of God.

As I shadow...
This last year, I have asked God for a double portion of the spirit He has blessed my former senior pastors/pastors/friends with:

Pastor Mike Saunders - former/current policeman, ever working and on the move. A great administrator and man of integrity and a stand up christian!
Pastor Matt Mabey - a man of Grace and Truth with a creative (left-handed intelegence) and a hand grenade preacher. Blessed by God as a mentor and writer. The surface is calm but waters run deep and true! Preacher/teacher, grace giver.
Pastor Mick Veach - Although I know him for a short time, he is a man of his word and lives for God. Truly a leader with a vision and a prayer warrior.
Pastor Garry Beecher - although not a senior pastor, we worked together for five years and weathered the storm of transition with me for 6 months at CWC. He has the heart of God, sensitive and caregiving.
Larry Whitcomb - although not a "senior" pastor nor a pastor, he has openned a door to the spirit with his calm voice to let something loose... SO COOL ... HOJAHSDPIUGHEOQH(there I wrote in toungues!) The spiritual connection, a true man of God in every sense and a great worship leader.

Each have given me a vital piece of wisdom and friendship which I know has been ordained by God. Each obedient to the task that God has given them for such a time and each I am proud to call my friend for life. For I would have truely taken a bullet for anyone of them...ALL MEN OF GOD!

Being shadowed...

Having Jason share in this is great.Here is what I wrote in 2004 to the LBA in regard to Jason...

Called By God to lead this ministry
He is a natural Shepard!
A proven and dedicated leader with the adults and teens
Ministerial student seeking ordination
A valuable asset to God’s kingdom and CWC’s youth ministry

Being shadowed and passing the torch is cool. We have been doing it for five years and He is God's man for such a time as this! God had shown me this over three years ago and to see how God has worked this out is amazing! I cannot wait to see the greatness He has for the CWC youth group as well as what He has in store for Faith Chapel in NJ.

May God bless HIS church as we remain obedient!

ET Ramblings...

Tiger's Game

2007-05-30T13:33:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of us at the Tigers Game. Obviously at the Big Boy Resturant in the Park.

Don't worry it's only a statue! (I think!) I wonder how many people tried to get a picture with this dude?

When in Rome...wear a Tiger's cap...but only backwards. (Sorry METS!)

All in all there were 50 of us in attendance that day and we had a great time and only missed White Castles by three blocks (Thanks Jason, sorry Carl).

ET Ramblings...

(GAPP) Youth Room is Finished - Michigan

2007-05-22T15:33:00.001-04:00

The youth room is finished thanks to the trustees and David Engle. We are ready to rock the gates of Heaven with worship tonight from 6pm to 8pm.

Here is David in the sound booth!

Sound booth and snack bar:

Come and hear us worship : Come and fill me up

You're worthy of my praises

More love more power

Holiness

The Message: Life in the Spirit - The Joy Filled Life (John 15)

The colors OF THE WALL are actually COOL: Maroon and Blue...

Et Ramblings

Michigan house needs to GO!!!!

2007-05-21T15:11:00.003-04:00

One Month...Two Months?????

We have opened the pool and are ready for our last couple of weeks in Michigan, however, we need someone to buy our home. We have already lowered the price by $10,000 and would listen to any offer.

Shadow, our dog, is Lovin Summer!

Please pray that God would bring in a buyer or we will have to sell one of our kids to pay the mortgage in Michigan and live in NJ. I am leaving with Peter for NJ around June 12th. Doreen and the kids should meet me later in the week to be in church on Father's Day (Installation Sunday for us). Then Doreen, Peter and Matt will come back to Michigan until we have a place to live in NJ. Me and Brianna will be staying at Doreen's mom's house in PA. God has a plan...

ETRamblings...

PK WEEKEND

2007-05-19T09:28:00.000-04:00

This is our annual East Michigan Pastor's Kids retreat weekend so Peter and Brianna are off to a destiny unknown with other PK's. Last year they went to a Tigers Game and then had devotionals.

Matthew, Doreen and I opened the pool in an overcast day and it was not as bad as last year!

We went to eat at Texas Roadhouse ("NY STRIP"...STEAK BABY!)

and then went to see Shriek 3.

We woke up and Matt was out on the deck

playing with Shadow.

What A day!

Grupido Funeral

2007-05-17T09:23:00.000-04:00

Today I am officiating the funeral of Larry Grupido who accepted Christ at the age of 59 on April 29th. I just thought I would praise God for what He has done in chasing Larry and providing Grace for a hurting soul to find rest.

Excerpts from the Funeral Sermon:

Phil 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

When I read this verse I can’t help but think of Larry.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Phillipi, the circumstances of his life weren’t exactly ideal. He was in prison - under house arrest in Rome – chained to a Roman soldier as his guard. Paul was a prisoner and yet this entire letter shouts with triumph. In 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:10, Paul tells us “do not lose heart, though our outer man is decaying . . ."

Here is the threat he is dealing with:
· His body--"the outer man"--is decaying; it is wearing out.
· He can't see the way he used to. He can't hear the way he used to.
· He does not recover from beatings the way he used to.
· His strength walking from town to town does not hold up the way it used to.
· He sees the wrinkles in his face and neck.
· His memory is not as good.
· His joints get stiff when he sits still.
· In other words, he knows that he, like everybody else, is dying. His outer man is decaying.

That's the threat to his courage and joy.

Although diagnosed on August 2005, Larry lived the last couple of months of his life a prisoner in a body that was filled with sickness – eventhough he asked WHY? He never really complained. He showed an appreciation of his loving, caring wife, ever protective of his children and trying to understand this God that he now believes in.

Ill: 1980’s Triathlon, Julie Moss (swim 19 miles, cycle 100 mi, run 26 mi). She was leading by over seven minutes when she hit a wall and colapsed. She fell again within ten yards of the finish line and crawled accross the finish line in second place.

A writer once wrote: Intense is the agony when the eye begins to see, the ear begins to hear, the heart begins to pound and the fact that the soul can feel the flesh and the flesh can feel its chains.

On April 29th, Larry walked the isles at our church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior by faith! I quoted Romans 10 and he took communion and said to me “ I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” He asked me to come and talk to him about this God that he now believes in but does not know. He had questions!

He was a doer! He felt if he was a good person that that would be enough. I shared with him about the godliest person I ever read about “Mother Teresa” She admitted that she had mistakes in her life and had not treated some people the way she should have and needed the Cross of Jesus to make up for the gap between her and a holy God. Same with Bi8lly Graham.

He said he felt like a hypocrite, but I assured him that god had been chasing him all his life (Like He cahsed Adam and Eve). He said how can I believe in Jesus if I have not been with him. The early apostles wrote about Jesus but they were with him. I told Larry that God had been showing him unconditional love through his wife who had been faithfully praying for him since they met as young teenagers.

He also said that He did not understand why he was sick. He thought he had done something wrong in his life. That is why I chose 2 Cor 4:11 - 5:10 as the scripture today.

He loved his children the most and wanted His kids to love him.

I can hear Larry now saying Ed, make it quick! In the end, Larry chose God’s plan for the gap between him and a holy God.

...His wife of 37+ years said "The last 3 weeks of His life were the best three weeks of our marriage!" Praise God!!!

ET RAMBLINGS...

MEMORIES OF MICHIGAN (EXCERPTS FROM MY ANNUAL REPORT)

2007-05-15T09:46:00.000-04:00

Leaving CWC was a hard decision but one that has been confirmed by God in both my and my wife’s spirit. I will never forget the love and kindness shown to our family from the first day I came to Michigan. I have learned and grown in my walk with God as both a follower and a leader.

I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned here. Being on staff here for five years has felt like getting a Doctorate in ministry! I feel that I have been the one who has been developed. My heart goes out to the staff and the church people for their investment in me and allowing me to invest in them.

I will miss the teens the most! Memories of smelly teens, weird hair, attitudes, yearning for love and understanding, looking for someone who cares, bumming a dollar for a pop, complaining, wild worship, did I say teens are smelly! Overnighters, Jason losing a kid in Indiana, young adults playing with my kids in my home, Delbert trying to rap, trying to talk to Steven McCoy after an all niter, crying with kids when their parents divorce, being the heavy (not the fat guy) the disciplinarian, speaking with parents/police, wishing parents would love and pay attention to their kids, Rita fixing Brianna’s room as she cried, telling teens the truth, messing up and asking for forgiveness, WHITE CASTLES double cheeseburgers, praying with Rod, the look in a teens eyes when they get it, the look in their eyes when they don’t get it, pure excitement to know God, getting Ordained, praying in nursing home with a 75 year old man to accept Jesus for the first time, the way teens want and need adults to mentor them and give them boundaries, teens embracing holiness and being with God, teens yelling “Pastor Ed…Dude” in the school hallway, having science teachers mad at me about creation questions, worship on the Romeo Peach Parade float, watching Janise standing on the counter aka “The Evangelism Linebacker”, Baptisms at Stony Creek, watching Dan and Riley play video games during a message, knowing Kristy will be fashionably late due to Belizean time, swimming in the mud at Wesleyan Woods, seeing Jason Fullum and Peter healed before our eyes, doing the Hokie Pokie in the office, feeding the homeless in Detroit, prayer and fasting, thanking God that Ruth finally will change her last name, working alongside teens in Pontiac and hanging with the Discipleship group! Having Cheri yell at me, that sweet feeling when you connect spiritually and musically with Larry Whitcomb on the Guitar, seeing Kris Johnson serve and worship, seeing friends rise above the hurt, GRACE, how I hate country music (thanks Jason Bailey), slapping Jacob Haupt and Austin Stulz in the back of the head, seeing close to 400 people accept Christ in five years, dodge ball, Kylasaurus and Cubasaurus (enough said), meeting Jon in the emergency room (over and over again), getting thrown out of the hospital, Gibbie’s broken arm…ouch, Peter’s ability to remind me what God saved me from, Brianna’s innocent heart, Matthew’s slick smile, Doreen’s strength and watching God show up and save the day over and over again! I pray God never takes these out of my memory.

In all, I pray that CWC continues to obey God!

“But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by His decrees and commands…”1 Kings 8:61

God wants our Obedience…Not our Opinion!

ET rambalings...

Christian Missionaries Killed!

2007-05-03T15:36:00.000-04:00

IZMIR, TURKEY — When Necati Aydin accepted Jesus his Muslim family rejected him. His boldness as a pastor led him to pass out Bibles in villages throughout eastern Turkey – and two trips to jail based on fabricated charges. After he played the role of Jesus in a passion play, he shared in the Lord’s sufferings and untimely death.
Aydin, 35, was one of three men martyred for their faith on April 18 in the city of Malatya, following a gruesome attack that involved several hours of torture partially recorded on their young assailants’ cell phones. Also killed was a 46-year-old German missionary, Tilmann Geske, who was preparing notes for a new Turkish study Bible.
The third victim, Ugur Yuksel, 32, also arrived that bloody morning for what he thought was a Bible study at the offices of Zirve Publishing. Zirve prints and distributes Bibles and other Christian literature throughout Eastern Turkey. As early as February 2005, a local newspaper warned that Zirve was under threat due to its activities.
Ugur YukselAydin felt the sting of rejection from his earliest moments as a believer. His family —staunchly Muslim — rejected him outright after his conversion. Disheartened that he married a Christian, they failed to attend his wedding. True to their convictions, they even rejected him in death and refused to attend his funeral.
“He was a very gentle man, very committed to the Lord,” recalls a long-time friend from his former church in Izmir. “He knew what it was like to love the Lord and put his life on the line.”
Chosen to play Jesus in a passion play at his church in 1999, he jumped at the chance, but the production faced obstacles. Local police conducted a mass arrest of the entire church a few months before the play began. “They said we were meeting illegally,” recalls one church member. While the church prevailed in the ensuing court case, police sealed-off the church, and no one could meet there for three months.
When they finally put on their first performance, the seats were jammed, and word about the successful production spread to other churches.
Tilmann & Susanne Geske & family
The following year, a church in Ankara requested the play. A month before it was set to begin, police arrested Aydin a second time, as a result of his Bible distribution efforts. Local authorities held him for a month on charges that he defamed Islam and “forcibly” sold Bibles. Finally, police released him after several accusers confessed they fabricated the charges.
The passion play moved to Istanbul in 2001, and this time it was filmed, with the video informally distributed to other churches throughout Turkey. The cast of 40 – mostly Turkish believers – knew this could be costly for them. Indeed, as their own video equipment recorded the event for church use, the secret police were also there filming the participants.
“He was not hiding his face,” recalls Fikret Bocek, pastor of the Izmir Protestant Church, and a close friend of Aydin’s. “He was open and courageous about sharing his faith,” he says. “Aydin was receiving threats in Malatya from ultra-nationalists and Islamists for distributing Bibles.”
Widows Susanne Geske & Shemsa AydinAydin became the pastor of the Malatya Protestant Church after he moved there from Izmir in 2003. Its 22 members met mostly in his living room, according to Bocek. Of these, eleven left Malatya after the killings, he said.
Malatya is far-removed from the cosmopolitan, European influence of Istanbul. Nationalistic and religious passions form a turbulent undercurrent in Malatya, which is also the hometown of Mehmet Ali Agca, who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981.
In 2001, the political climate throughout Turkey changed after the National Security Council made statements implying that Evangelical Christians posed a threat to national security. A campaign began in the media, as leading commentators and politicians railed against missionaries who “bribed” young people to abandon Islam.
Entering this poisonous atmosphere were a group of impressionistic teens who joined a group of “faithful believers” in Malatya known as a tarikat. “Tarikat membership is highly respected here ; it’s like a fraternity membership,” notes Darlene Bocek, the pastor’s wife, in a letter she sent out about the killings. “In fact, it is said that no one can get into public office without membership in a tarikat.”
Two of the assassins from the tarikat feigned interest in Christianity to gain the trust of Aydin and Geske, and even attended an Easter service some weeks before their crime.
The autopsy report has not been released, but various reports describe anywhere from 16 to 156 knife wounds as gruesome confirmation of their torture. The Turkish Daily News quoted Dr. Murat Uğraş, a spokesman for the Turgut Özal Medical center. He described the hospital surgeons’ fruitless efforts to save Yüksel, the only one barely clinging to life when he arrived at the hospital.
“He had innumerable scores of knife wounds,” Dr. Ugras said. “It is obvious that these wounds had been inflicted to torture him," he said. “His fingers were repeatedly sliced to the bone lengthwise. His buttocks, his testicles, his rectum, his lower and middle back had dozens of cuts. There was a very long and open cut on his neck from ear to ear.”
When Aydin’s wife arrived at the morgue to identify her husband, the attending official urged her not to remove the sheet covering his body from the neck down. “You don’t want to remember him that way,” she was told.
Despite Aydin’s sufferings, his face had a beautiful expression — frozen at his passing — as if he beheld heaven’s open embrace.
In a culture marked by an endless cycle of revenge killing, German missionary Tilmann Geske’s wife, Susanne, shocked many Turkish commentators when she offered the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to the perpetrators. In one of her first statements to the press she quoted Jesus on the cross, saying to surprised reporters, “Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Pastor Bocek affirms this attitude. “Overall, the reaction in our church is forgiveness,” he says. “There really is not fear, but a little more caution in the way we bring people to church. We already feel we are ready for whatever comes. We continue to evangelize, do our Bible studies, and have prayer.”
He sees evidence that God is already turning this horrible offense around for good. “Over the last 10 days, we’ve had four commitments to follow Christ,” he notes. Even a Jewish man in Jerusalem received word of the Turkish martyrs, contacted Pastor Bocek, and gave his life to Christ. “They didn’t die in vain,” he says. “God is really going to use this event. We all sense that something is coming.”

*************************************
THIS IS HAPPENING TODAY!~

ARE WE READY!

ETRAMBLINGS...

Home Plate 2007

2007-05-02T15:54:00.000-04:00

For the 21st consecutive year, SCORE Ministries and Baseball Chapel for the Detroit Tigers hosted an exciting outreach event called HOME PLATE on Saturday, April 28
The program included an autographed baseball give-away, souvenirs, and most importantly, the sharing of salvation in Jesus Christ through the personal testimonies of several professional athletes.
Program participants included: Detroit Tiger pitchers Mike Maroth, Todd Jones, Jason Grilli, and Nate Robertson, Tiger outfielder Marcus Thames, Tiger first baseman Sean Casey, Tiger coach Andy Van Slyke, Tiger broadcasters Rod Allen, and former Detroit Tiger Frank Tanana. Each person clearly explained when he trusted Christ and shared Scripture as part of his testimony. To close out the program, former Detroit Tiger pitcher Frank Tanana boldly and compassionately shared Gods plan of salvation.

8,020 people representing 258 groups from Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, and Pennsylvania participated in HOME PLATE 2007.

134 people indicated making a decision to receive Jesus Christ as Savior (62 adults, 44 teens, 28 children).

1,320 people indicated making a decision to renew their dedication to live for Christ (820 adults, 340 teens, 160 children).

ET Ramblings...

YOU HAVE RIGHTS!

2007-05-01T14:41:00.000-04:00

YOU HAVE RIGHTS!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

2 Peter 2:9

We are Sons and Daughters of the King, a Chosen Generation, A royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people belonging to God and when you are the king’s kid you have superior rights, when someone infringes on those rights they literally have offended the King Himself. In history, if the King didn’t invite you into their presence you could not appear before them or else it was death that you faced. When the devil infringes upon you, he has done so without permission from the King and therefore must be put to death. You have the RIGHT to put that devil to death in your life because you are a Chosen Generation, A royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people belonging to God.

STOP being violated by the Devil, Know your Rights:

1. You have the right to have life and life more abundantly.

2. You have the right to Praise the Lord.

3. You have the right to be Healed.

4. You have the right to be delivered.

5. You have the right to eternal life.

6. You have the right to be more than conquerors.

7. You have the right to be called the Sons & Daughters of God.

8. You have the right to be FREE.

When you understand your rights then the devil will not be able to make mince-meat out of you anymore. Remember you are a Chosen Generation, A royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people belonging to God...ET Ramblings

OUTBACK STEAK CHURCH!

2007-04-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

Exerpts from : writing by Keith Drury

The Outback Steak-Church

After a delicious steak dinner with our best friends the other night, I couldn't help wondering what church would look like if done with the Outback Steak House method. How would you do it?

1. You'd limit your programming.
The Conventional Wisdom in the restaurant business is find a good location, operate as many hours as possible to spread the fixed costs, and keep the food costs as low as possible. The Outback Steak House breaks all three rules. When Chris Sullivan and Robert Basham started the chain they wanted to have some life beyond steakhouse management for their two interests: boating and golf. Figuring their managers should get the same, they determined the Outbacks would only be open in the evenings - one shift a day. They thought offering everything all the time would water down the product. They decided to open less hours and do it better. What they discovered was both their waiters (and their pastor) avoided burnout (industry average manager turnover = 35%; Outback turnover = 5.4%). The point: doing less and doing it better. The Outback Steak-Church would do a few things really well.

2. You'd limit the seating.
Most Americans in love with vision more than Steak, prefer to dream big and build likewise. Hey, if you've got people lined up two hours for a steak dinner what would you do? Tear down your barn and builds a bigger sanctuary, right? Not at the Outback. The typical Outback is 6,000 square feet (with the kitchen taking more than half of that) and seats only 220. Only 220. Why? Because that's the optimum seating to guarantee a quality steak, according to Sullivan and Basham. Great Steak is their goal -- everything else serves the Great Steak goal. Is this an anti-church growth philosophy? Not necessarily. They just plant more Outback steak-houses in new locations. Which is exactly what they've done to the tune of more than 200 steak-house-plants in the last five years. They argue that an optimum facility is better than a gigantic one. An Outback Steak-Church would decide the optimum size then spin off other churches.

3. You'd recruit qualities then train for competence.
A friendly decentralized flat company, the Outback is committed to a friendly informal atmosphere. They worry more about friendliness than previous experience in their hiring. Instead of recruiting experienced cooks and waiters, the Outback hires 75-80 friendly people then trains them to cook and serve. They believe it is easier to add competence to friendliness than the reverse. The application is obvious.

4. You'd treat your workers well.
Outback managers only work from 3 PM to midnight and make about $120,000 a year doing what they love. The Outback's waiters start later yet and earn about $125 a night. Both work only one shift straight through. Morale is high, the managers stay put, (and the Sunday school teachers love it.) An Outback Steak-Church would value its workers, making sure they see their intangible eternal rewards which are far greater than a mere paper $120,000.

5. You'd serve first rate Steak-preaching-teaching.
The Outback serves Steak with a capital S. You don't go there for desserts or vegetables. You go for Steak. Every Outback Steak grew up in a particular area of either Nebraska or Colorado which produces the tastiest Steaks. Sure, the Conventional Wisdom is that people are eating less red meat, and entertainment is what they want from pulpits, but the Outback folk know better. If you serve great Steak, prepared well and seasoned delightfully, people will wait two hours to get a seat. It just might work.

hmmm....ET Rambling...

AMERICAN IDOL RAISES $30MIL +

2007-04-26T10:34:00.000-04:00

I ended up watching the American Idol "GIVES BACK" Yesterday and thought that this is what the Church is suppose to do! This is supposedly our greatest hour to reach out and carry out Gal 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens and in this way fulfill the Law of Christ". This is the only place in scripture that "THE LAW OF CHRIST" is mentioned.

Is the CHURCH missing the mark ?

Is Bono and American Idol doing the work of the church? Are we being isolated instead of being insulated!!!

ET Rambling...

NEW CHURCH HOME

2007-04-24T09:28:00.000-04:00

Although it has been official for over a month, we are moving to Clinton, NJ to minister at Faith Chapel Wesleyan Church in the Penn-Jersey District.

"THE CORE"
...was started to highlight our families answer to plant a church in obedience to God and start a prayer partner information site. Little did we reallize that God had a plan to jump start the program! Faith Chapel started as a church plant and is now an established church. I will be taking over as the senior pastor and am excited at the opportunity to allow God to work through me and His people.

Connecting with God...connecting with others!

I pray that we could have real faith for real life as we build lives for eternity and make a difference in our church, community and beyond.

The authority of Christ and His Holy Bible,
…the necessity of a re-birth, and

…the urgency of evangelism.

Please continue to pray for our housing, we need to sell our home in Michigan and find a home in NJ.

Our God is big enough!!!

Skating & Singing!

2007-02-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

Me singing

Shelly, Doreen, Brianna, Amanda

Doreen, Peter and Brianna

Mama'a don't let your babies grow up to be pastors!

2006-12-05T14:37:00.000-05:00

DON"T LOOK!

TOO LATE

We warned you!!!!!!!

Nicaragua Connection

2006-12-05T14:30:00.000-05:00

Two weeks in Nicaragua ministering with a medical mission team and I come back with the possibility of having another daughter??

Details to follow...

Detroit revisited!

2006-06-21T10:07:00.000-04:00

Hanging out after work!!!

The pitfalls of youth Ministry!

The blessings of youth ministry!!!

Why has God laid this on my heart? This years scripture was Gal 6:2 "Bear one anothers burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ."
I believe something big will come out of this. God is showing us what He needs us to concentrate on.

The "Law of Christ"....Let me show you the most excellant way...LOVE!!!

Checking out the Detroit mission again!

2006-06-21T09:33:00.000-04:00

MY BROTHER"S KEEPER CHURCH/MISSION

Paintball!

2006-06-17T15:59:00.000-04:00

Paintwar!

2006-06-15T14:38:00.000-04:00

Where are we headed ? Any regrets?

2006-06-14T15:44:00.000-04:00

Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through - all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing - but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

THE POOL IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!

2006-06-09T08:11:00.000-04:00

Matthew has been eagerly awaiting his turn!

Jason enjoying the fruits of Michigan...aaahhhhhh, at last!!!

Bri and Peter playing catch like the pros!

As I look back at my life and the way my parents provided I was indeed blessed to have a pool in the middle of the BRONX!!! Probrably the envy of all my neighbors too. I also remember the great times in the backyard with my family! My father dancing on the floor and yelling like a Cowboy! What a picture!

Now as Father's day comes a knocking, as the head of my house, we will swim, we will dance...We will serve the Lord!!!

As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord!!!

2006-06-08T09:37:00.000-04:00

A weekend to play and taste paint!

Pain...YES!

Fun...YES!

powerful preaching: Return to the faith!

2006-06-01T10:27:00.000-04:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

MOTOWN!!!

2006-05-31T08:05:00.000-04:00

For the second time in two weeks, I visited a homeless mission in Detroit (MY BROTHERS KEEPER)just off of the Lodge Hwy & I94??? five teens and I, travelled to the homeless mission to feed them and serve. I got to preach and pray with some of the homeless lost people. The Pastor of the mission sang two songs for us on the piano which he wrote. WOW I don't know if I ever heard that kind of passion and pain. He sang a cross between the blues and R&B as he told his testimony through music. He sounded like Luther Vandross and Teddy Pendegrass combined.

OH how I and the teens were blessed!!

If you ever want to join me please let me know!!

2006-05-19T15:44:00.000-04:00

I honestly don't know where I am going with this!

I just wanted to post a message...

"The CORE"