It was a great day. All of the men got gifts from the church. I preached a simple message using an acrostic F-A-T-H-E-R. The Spirit of the Lord was here and really blessed us. We had no PM Service, so I went over to my clerk’s home for a Father’s Day feast. They had a spread… burgers, hot dogs, stuffed jalapenos with cream cheese wrapped in bacon(Yum O), bratwurst… it was great. A much needed break from my veggie diet. GOd is doing great things at the “Green” and I give Him all the glory.
Camp Meeting Recap June 9, 2008
Well what can I say? Tommy Bates is ‘da man. Bill Lee is awesome as well. Orville Hagan is a powerful word preacher, but the momentum was a little less Wed. nite. I really got touched this week. I released some things to God, and God really healed some wounds. I even got a chance to be a musician at CM. It is very hard to sit and listen to music when you love it as much as I do, and at CM, the music is great, and I always wonder if I will ever get the chance to sing or play ever again. Well I did this week. Thanks Denice. You made a dream come true again for this music loving pastor. I don’t play or sing for exposure, I just love to lead worship, and absolutely love to play. As the song says, “I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause. “I’d rather be faithful to his dear call…” That’s my heart.
I also had a luncheon at Pit Stop. It was a round the table discussion with about 11 other pastors. It was beneficial and I was really encouraged by it. Thanks RC for your idea. It was great. Thanks GM for the meal! “Nuff said for now! God bless.
Sunday PM at the “Green”, and the “Slime Episode.” May 27, 2008
Redeemed Trio ministered to us in song. They were GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT! as Tony the Tiger would say. We had CHURCH! By the way, we also had 110 in attendance. Too bad Sunday evenings do not count on the COG Statistical Reports. If I could just get them to come out and hear me preach. I did get some Praise and Worship Time in though. You know how much I love Music, and you know I used to be Music Pastor. For about 15 minutes, I sang and the people worshipped. Holy Ground still has the same PUNCH as it always has. God was surely inhabiting some praises of His people. It was like old times when I used to be Music Pastor. What a rush it was to be in my “Music” element again.
Also, a bit of good news. I took in 1 new member Sunday. While we were giving this new member the right hand of fellowship, another faithful newcomer asked to write for her transfer. Hallelujah, God is good! It may be two at a time, but two at a time added to the church is better than none at all.
Lastly, the “Slime Episode.” Last Friday, our church came together for a Pancake Supper for YWEA. Last year our small little rural church raised over $250 in coin cards with pocket change. This year, we more than doubled that amount to $513. SO, as the tradition was started last year, I got slimed along with my youth pastor. The whole crowd stayed and watched the festivities.
I must say that the “SLIME” looked more like “vomit” than slime. They used every color food coloring one could imagine, along with some ketchup, and used oatmeal as the base. Yup, you guessed it, brown oatmeal slime, that looked like it was fresh vomit. It was poured down my shirt, down my pants, and all over my body. I must tell you that oatmeal feels so very NASTY in body crevices where it normally doesn’t go! However, my skin is much smoother this week! Oatmeal is good for the skin.
As Forrest Gump would say… “That’s all I have to say about thy-at.”
All in all, the kids were excited that their pastor would “Humble Himself” before the crowd, and Hey, Cambodia will be $500 richer because of our church. I’m proud of ‘em.! God bless until next time!
The slimy one from the “Green.” – Olin
Sunday at the “West Green” May 27, 2008
God gave me a message entitled “The Severed Head.” It was a message about schisms in the body, Jesus being the Head of the body, etc. The gist of the message was about how Satan uses schisms, and difficulties, and yes even others to cause division in our churches. No names were called and no fingers were pointed. It was preached in love. Anyway, Satan uses any means necessary to kill the life of any church. I compared the physical head on our bodies, with its veins and spinal cord attached to it, nerves, and even the carotid artery. If in our physical body, the head was severed, or even our throats slit, we literally would DIE!
The same goes with the church. Jesus is the head of the body of Christ. Kill the head, and the church will suffer and eventually DIE! You get it! Yes, it was as hard to preach as it was to hear.
I did, however, flip the coin in the message, and talked about victory that comes from the “severed head.” I went over to the OT, (1 Sam. 17:50), and talked about David and Goliath. The Bible says that David had already prevailed over Goliath, but he “had no sword in his hand.” (v. 51) says that he took the sword of Goliath, and “severed Goliath’s head with Goliath’s very own sword.” When the other Philistines saw that their champion was dead, and saw the head of their champion in the hands of David, they fled.
We ave a weapon called the word. It is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It will sever the head of our enemy Satan every time. And when we rise up and defeat the enemy, all the demons, and imps of Hell are put to flight when they see that we have the head of their champion, Satan, in our hand. WHOA, Nellie, I’m about to preach again! SHEW! IT was a great message on victory for God’s people, and maintaining Life in the church.
Copies of theis sermon are available at www.olinsellssermons.com (He He He – Just Joking) Really if you would like a copy, I would be honred that you asked. If not, OK, I just hope you were blessed by the blog. Preach on!
The Fluffy Bishop!
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!
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!
