Pastor Appreciation Week April 17, 2008

My church is doing the Oprah WInfrey thing this week, you know, Random Acts of Kindness?  It is P. App. week, and I gotta tell you,

Monday – nothing done. 

Tues. – flower arangement sent to family from church

Wed. – Meal at member’s house, clerk spoke and gave me the night off.

Thurs.  Lunch out with a friend, Supper out with friends, wife gets roses

Fri,  Supper with church members

Sat.  Haven’t got a clue

Sun.  No PM Service, Special speaker, and a Homecoming type feast

Then it’s back to where the rubber meets the road.  HMMMM!  Good things come to and end!

West and Wewaxation at wast… huh huh huh huh April 12, 2008

As my old cartoon friend Elmer Fudd would say…well just read the title.  Yes the funeral is over.  Wow, what a spread these ladies put on for the family.  The food was great.  The service was just so peaceful.  The presence of God was there in a solemn, sovereign way.  Our church really “Shined for Jesus.”  Hey, after all, isn’t that what we are supposed to do…minister?  Now that it is over, I am at the hacienda blogging for today, and feet kicked back in the old La-Z-Boy, and feeling my eyelids getting heavy.  The stress of the day is finally over, Bryce is at the movies, the girls are away, and I am home alone!  Feels kinda nice! 

Well, I must answer the call that tiredness has inflicted upon my body.  To all you pastors, and my readers, have a blessed evening.   May your church services be awesome, and your altars be packed tomorrow!  God bless!  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Bachelor week is over! April 12, 2008

This week I spent the entire week alone with just my 4 year old son Bryce.  My wife and her mother, and my two darling daughters, went to South Florida to visit family.  Let me just say that as much as I enjoy the peace and quiet, it is time for them to return home.  I hate washing dishes.  I hate washing clothes.  However, I must say the house for the most part is spotless, even if a couple of boys lived in it for a week without the girls!  All the clothes are washed, folded, and put away.  Dishes are clean!  I am the MAN!  Not only that, I miss ‘em.  So does Bryce.  Thank God for Pizza and tacos.  Whoever invented those two food items, I give KUDOS to you.  Well I must hasten off to bed, but Let me say to the readers of this blog, whoever you are,  God Bless You!  Good night!

Overwhelmed April 11, 2008

Wednesday evening, I had three phone calls, and a knock on the parsonage door.  4 deaths, all related to the church somehow.  I am only one person, tell me how i can be everywhere at one time.  I am not omnipresent, GOD IS!  So, I cut my Wed. evening message short, hopped in the Yukon, and went to BOTH funeral homes in Douglas before 9:00 PM so I could see all the families involved with the church.  Luckily, I made it in time for them to see me.  PHEWWWW!

Tomorow, at 2:00 PM, I have a memorial service for a newly joined member’s sister.  It is very informal, and just a graveside, but the service will be held in the sanctuary.  Full blown funeral service or not, it is stressful. 

To top everything off, I must say this is the greatest bunch of ladies EVER, in a church, PERIOD!  I called them all about 5:00 PM this afternoon, and asked each of them to prepare some type of dish for the family who just lost their loved one.  We will feed the family at 1:00 PM tomorrow.  Even at last minute ministry details, ladies, you came thru with excellence!  Thank you!

However, the good news is that God has given me two soul-searching, heart-burning messages for Sunday!  Look out devil, Here I Come!  Now I feel better for venting. God bless.  Have a great day!

Easter recap April 10, 2008

Well I am excited.  Easter Sunrise Service was held at WGCOG.  We fed everyone breakfast.  You have to know this community to appreciate this next statement.  We had 125 in attendance! Can you believe it?  Half of the crowd belonged to WGCOG!  Yup, that is what I had for our regular scheduled service for Easter. 62.   A small, rural community such as West Green, and we served 125 people the Word and a meal!  THAT IS AWESOME!  To God be the glory great things He hath done!

A Milestone April 10, 2008

Well, we finally broke the attendance record at WGCOG since I have been the lead pastor.  There have been services in the past where we have had 100 or more, but they were special services, and usually on Sunday night.  Sun. PM services do not count on the statistical reports.  I am so thrilled that in the month of March, we averaged 50 in attendance!  50, you say?  Big deal!  It is a big deal for WGCOG.  You see, when I preached my first sermon here July 5, 2006 on a Wed. PM, there were 8 in attendance.  My first Sunday as pastor almost two years ago, there were 18 in attendance on Sun. Morning.  Five sunday months do make a difference, but we were headed to the 50 mark well before Easter.  Praise God!  Persistence is paying off!  Perseverence is paying off.  Prayer is paying off!  God is good!

Hello world! April 10, 2008

Here i are!  We shall see if i keep this up.