a remarkable day!

Sunday was such a remarkable day. Culminating` in a quality time around the altar, we shared communion and wholesome fellowship with each other.

Scripture gives us a template that we should all follow as we endeavor to build towards the vision of becoming a healthy, vibrant, and stronger church. As we put these into practice, we will see some amazing results occur!

Let's examine once again, our shared responsibilities:

1. Be in agreement with one another
2. Pursue that which builds up one another.
3. Accept one another
4. Show courtesy to one another
5. Carry one another's burdens
6. Tolerate one another
7. Forgive one another
8. Submit to one another
9. Admonish one another in wisdom
10. Comfort one another.
11. Promote love and good works in one another
12. Love one another

We are all in this together. We are on the same team. As we are faithful and keep our eyes on Jesus, one day, we'll all celebrate together at the feet of Christ!

23
that's an incredible number! that's a number that reminds us why we do what we do. this number provides us with encouragement, confirmation, resolve and everything we need to keep on going forward. 23 that's how many people stepped over the line of faith in September during our weekend services and our recent youth outreach. 23 more people who initiated a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I would like to thank everyone who is inviting people to join us for worship. That is the church in action. I am so grateful to you for reaching our and caring about people there is nothing more spiritually mature or Christ-like than introducing others to our Saviour. That's why we're here!

Throughout the coming days seize the opportunities that God brings your way. I'm interested in hearing how you're being blessed. Share with me your blessings and how the Lord is currently using you as a blessing to others.

the simple life!

While on vacation, nearby to my sister's residence, we discovered nestled among some of Tampa's most expensive real estate, seemingly out of place and lost in time, a quaint farm that will remind many of a simplier time and season of life. Marion Lambert is the owner of this quaint farm. He owns a single milking cow that he named "Lilly Bell", a handful of pigs, goats, working horses, banji chickens and thousands of honey bee's producing both wildflower and orange blossom honey. He sell's the milk, eggs, and honey on the "honor system" on a roadside stand located at the front entrance to his farm.

we very much enjoyed this visit with Mr. Lambert, he was very gracious with his time towards us. He is a simple man surrounded with simple ways of living, pleasures and purposes. For him simple is in and complexity is out!

In their book "Simple Church" by Thom S Rainer and Eric Geiger, they state that "people are hungry for simple, because the world has become much more complex. The amount of information assesible to us is contiually increasing. The abiliby to interact with the entire world is now possible. Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. The result is a complicated world with complex and busy lives.
And in the midst of all this complexity, people want to find simplicity, they long for it, seek it, pay for it, and even dream of it. Simple is in. It works. Many respond to simple".

How bout you? is there an experience or memory that you have had in your past, that reminds you of the joy and pleasures that simple living provided? I'd like to hear from you, step back from your busyness and share a memory that will once again refresh your spirit and bring joy to others! I look forward to reading your comments! And if you would like to get a hold of some great tasting honey, have I got a great connection for you!

see ya soon!

Time Away Update

We woke up today to another beautiful Florida sunshine day. The previous week was quite busy. It began in Jacksonville as I attended the Asia Pacific Board of Regents meetings. Our featured speaker was Darth Li, a missionary from Cambodia. His testimony was both heartbreaking and riveting, as he shared with the assembled group of pastors his childhood growing up in “The Killing Fields” under a ruthless regime. Bro. Li has been to Bethel Temple in the past, yet many of our church community have never heard his testimony. It will bring you to tear’s. I invited him to return next summer when he comes to America on furlough.

Later in the week I drove to Sarasota where I met up with Shari as she went there to spend time with her sister Andrea and her husband Jacob. We went to Anna Maria’s Oyster Bar where we ate some outstanding fresh seafood! And yes I did eat some raw oysters!!! Later we went to Kilwin’s a favorite ice cream place on St. Armand’s Circle near Siesta Key beach. They have some of the best butter pecan ice cream to be found anywhere.

On Saturday we traveled to Tampa to visit with my sister Theresa and her son Derrick. We went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner that night. I had a ribeye steak that was pretty good. I can say that I’ve eaten well this week. On Sunday we went to Suncoast Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Pastor Tim Suddreth’s ministry team made us feel very welcomed. Probably 4-5 people asked us if we needed assistance in finding a Sunday School class to attend. We chose to go to their “Biblical Life Foundations” class taught by a young man named “James”, his lesson on forgiveness was right on the mark! As we made our way to the sanctuary we were met by David Ambrose, who was doing a fine job of greeting everyone as they entered the main service. The worship service was very good too as their worship pastor, Shelly Korrot brought the entire congregation into the presence of the Lord. One of the choruses featured a soloist Tamara Marsha whose anointed voice really elevated the worship time. Pastor Tim’s message was aimed at those who serve in the education field (teacher’s, school administrator’s ,college professors, etc..). He brought out some very good points from scripture and spoke of the importance we all have in teaching our children how to live lives productively and spiritually. He concluded by bringing all the teachers up to the altar (80-100+) and having them prayed over by St. Petersburg Christian Schools Lead Administrator, Dr. Sheila Cornea.

It is always good to visit another church to see what God is doing elsewhere. It’s also a great way to glean fresh perspective on how others do church differently and effectively. I wonder if others in our church who visited another church saw some things that were different. Things that helped make attending that service more enjoyable? I look for your comments and we will share them with our church staff in a future staff meeting.
Today my bible reading was 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians. As I read 1 Thess. 2:8 where it says, ”being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.” I began to think of so many of you and I prayed God’s richest blessings for you today. Bethel Temple comprises some of the best people to be found anywhere! We miss you all very much.

Heart

Here it is my long awaited first attempt at BLOGGING!

During this time away, besides a season of rest and relaxation my main purpose is to seek God, His grace, His Blessing, and His Supernatural activity in my life. A great many at times experience spiritually dry times, those dry times tend to diminish our desire for the things of God and hardened our hearts.

Challenges, obstacles and worries, all tend to become bothersome distractions and wear on us. Today I read some outstanding scripture verses, that when looked at more closely, they become tremendously impacting.

Psalms 42:1-2 NIV “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you oh God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God …..”

As water is essential for physical life, so God and His presence are essential for direction, satisfaction and wholeness of life.

Twice, in Ezekiel (11:19) HOLMAN BIBLE God said “and I will give them one heart and put on a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel (26:36) HOLMAN BIBLE “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you! I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

As I am seeking to have a softened heart that is sensitive to the work and voice of God, I am also praying for each person who is apart of our community of faith at Bethel Temple.

Over time I have observed that people with hardened hearts are afflicted with a deep spiritual ailment that makes them stiffed necked, bull-headed, and miserable. As their lives begin to reflect so many impurities they make others around them miserable too.

A hardened heart can have devastating effects – consuming the individual who has it, stunting their Christian growth and hastening their spiritual death.

I am so very thankful to serve as the Senior Pastor of a church filled with people who desire and want softened hearts that can hear Gods voice. Together as we keep Christ in sight and the Lords will as our goal we will experience much more blessing growth and unity.