25 Random Facts About Me

It's from my facebook, but I thought I'd put it here too.

1. My wife and I are total opposites. I’m loud she’s quiet. I always want to run around, she’d rather stay home. If I say I like it, she probably doesn’t, and yet she is the love of my life, and I can’t think of anyone more perfect for me.

2. I was a hyper-active child, but instead of medication my parents put me on this crazy diet called the Dr. Feingold Diet…as a kid I couldn’t eat anything good. No chocolate, no cola, no artificial preserves, sweeteners, coloring ect… this rules out much more than you’d imagine.

3. In a former life I had 8 piercings including my throat, labret, eyebrow, and big holes in my ears. I took my last 2 out the day I was baptized.

4. I am a very emotional person; this week alone I have been brought to tears twice reading the news. I have cried during sermons, movies, songs, and more…and no, this is not the gayest thing I’ve ever said.

5. “The Bridges of Madison County” is my favorite Clint Eastwood movie… This IS the gayest thing I’ve ever said…but it is more of a testament to how little I like Clint Eastwood, not how much I enjoyed the movie.

6. I am a very passionate person especially about food; I love trying new foods, weird foods, cooking, experimenting, eating, and watching food network.

7. My wife and I have lived with her parents for eight years…most would shudder, but I am very thankful. They are great!

8. I am madly in love with my wife, and can’t stand being away from her. When I went on a mission trip to NYC last year for four days it was the longest I had ever spent away from her since we met. It drove me crazy!

9. I never thought I would like NYC, but I love it. I love the subway, the smell of hot dogs cooking, the beauty of the buildings, the people walking everywhere…I probably haven’t been there long enough.

10. I miss my Mom like crazy, but on Mother’s Day and my Birthday it is the worst.

11. I’ve had 8 pet snakes or lizards, an albino Burmese python named Stanley, 2 Ball pythons Adam & Eve, 1 Dumeril’s Boa named Buck Snuggles, 2 Savannah Monitors Capt. Crunch and Igor, and 2 Bearded Dragons Henry and Anias. I am still afraid of snakes.

12. For my first job I was a ceramic and silver sanitary engineer at the Brockport Diner…OK…OK…I washed dishes.

13. I love my job! I love the work I do, I love the people I work with and I love the company I work for, that is priceless to me. I worked at a place I hated for 3 and a half years and it nearly killed me. Never Again if I can help it.

14. Most of my hero’s are Missionaries, some are my friends too.

15. I snore very, very loudly. Seriously it’s ridiculous.

16. I truly believe the evolution theory is the biggest lie Satan has ever sold, I really can’t believe anyone could believe such bunk...it breaks my heart.

17. My Mom or Dad never made me feel like I couldn’t please them. If they knew I tried they were satisfied. They would encourage me to do better, but they would never make me feel like what I did was not good enough.

18. One of my favorite things to do was to go out to the Penny Arcade or some place and watch my brother play drums in his band.

19. Open air or street preaching and witnessing is one of my favorite ministries.

20. After I said how much I hated baseball, a certain un-named pastor (bald with a goatee) of mine told me that it was because “Baseball was a thinking man’s game” this insult led me to try and see what I was missing… I’ve been converted…LET”S GO METS!!!!

21. I talk waaaay too much. You’ll notice instead of 25 random facts it’s been more like 25 random paragraphs.

22. My father-in-law is the most loving, patient and humble man I know, and if ever become more like him, I will be more like Christ.

23. I believe that coffee is one of the greatest discoveries of all time, and that people who drink tea are pansies…OK not really, but they should drink coffee like a real American.

24. I wish there were more than “25 Random Facts” this is fun.

25. The most important thing that has ever happened to me happened in September of 2000. I was watching this video of a preacher kind of mockingly at first, and then more seriously as he answered each question that went through my mind. I went and borrowed the rest of the videos and spent the whole weekend realizing that every doubt I ever had about the Bible had an answer, and that every accusation I ever had about God was unfounded, and that every attempt to justify myself failed. I asked God to forgive me of my sins based on what Jesus Christ did to pay for them. I put my faith and trust in Christ and became a new man, and my life has never been the same. All Glory and Praise to the Lord Jesus Christ!

26. My greatest prayer is that everyone I know would come to a place where number 25 makes perfect sense to them.

The Reproach of Christ pt.2

Continuing on with the reproach of Christ…

Hebrews 11:24-26
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Verse 26 says that we are to “Esteem” the reproach of Christ, which means to ascribe value and worth to this shame, scorn, and disgrace. The reproach of Christ here is precious, not just good, but better than riches and treasure.

This verse shows us Moses as the example, now I’m not quite sure about how he carried the reproach of Christ let alone value it as precious, but here’s what he did.

First of all, he refused to allow the world to define who he was. The Egyptians saw him as one of them, and he had been for years, but once he realized his identity and was convicted he cast off that identity to be called the “People of God". When we come to Christ we are to put off the old man and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:21-24) we are to take on a new identity. The world no longer has claim to us, and the Devil (though we were once his) has no more claim to us… moreover once we take on this new man we no longer have claim to ourselves. We are bought with a price and we are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:20) we belong to Him.

Second, he denied the flesh. Moses had all the temptations Egypt had to offer at his disposal but he knew that it wasn’t pleasing to God. He chose rather to suffer, by denying himself the pleasures of sin. In the palace of Pharaoh he could have fared on the choicest meats, as an Egyptian he could have rested comfortably in soft raiment yet the Bible says he chose to suffer affliction for the worthiness of the reproach of Christ.

Finally, he looked toward the reward. Sure the sins of Egypt had their offer of pleasure and temporary happiness, but they were not worthy to be compared to the future reward, and Moses set his affections on things above rather on the things of this world. This hope gave him the strength to choose to suffer rather than sin, to esteem the reproach of Christ rather than the riches of Egypt, and to resist sin, knowing that great would be his reward in Heaven

The Reproach of Christ

I was reading the other day, and I got interested in the word “Reproach” it pretty much means - shame, scorn and disgrace and the Bible says we are supposed to delight in it. Many though would rather not take part in that kind of delight, but I would like to share some scriptures that have been encouraging me as I look into the "Reproach of Chirst"

Hebrews 13:12-13
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

To “Bear” His reproach could mean to endure it, but in the context of this passage it looks like it means to willingly take it up and carry it, that is what we are enouraged to do.

The “Closet Christian” makes sure that no one would ever see him as fanatical. He blends in hoping not to make anyone feel uncomfortable or convicted. He may carry the name of Christ, but only within the camp with the others who are called by His name. Without the camp is another story… when you willingly take the precious name of Christ without the camp you quickly see that this world is no friend of grace. You quickly find that the name that is praised and revered in the camp is a rock of offence to those who don’t believe. (1 Peter 2:8)

So here’s the problem… the name of Jesus Christ that is reproached by those who don’t believe in Him is the only hope of their salvation.

Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

…And the only way to bring that message to those that don’t believe is for Christians to willingly go without the camp bearing His reproach.

It is more comfortable to praise that worthy name of Jesus with others who do the same. It is more dignified to bridge people to the Gospel by inviting them and earning the right to perhaps speak to them about spiritual things, but this year would God help us to take the name of Christ and His reproach toward those who are without the camp and without Christ.

Matthew 7:21

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Probably one of the most terrifying verses in all the Bible, especially when it is put with its context. The people saying it are people who have prophesied in Jesus’ name and have cast out devils in Jesus name. I get the feeling that those who hear the condemnation “I never knew you” will be shocked.

Really this verse solidifies what I hear when I witness out on the street. Many times people will tell me that they’re all set, but when I dig a little deeper even many who profess to be born-again haven’t the first clue who God is. The Jesus they claim they know is OK with their language, their sexuality, and their lies.

The only person who is in worse shape than a lost man who knows he’s lost, is a lost man who thinks he’s saved. False assurance is a dangerous notion, and so Paul exhorts us to put our own selves on trial. We need to hold our lives up against the word of God, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal our shortcomings.

I do not believe any born-again believer can lose their salvation, but I do believe that there are many people who claim to be born-again who will be numbered among thoses that hear those dreadful words “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

2Cr 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve to masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Webster's dictionary defines 'Mammon' as: 1) the false god of riches and avarice. 2) riches regarded as an object of worship and greedy pursuit; wealth as an evil, more or less personified.

How many Christians have been ruined trying to serve both God and money? How tarnished has the name of Christ been by televangelists that have been caught with their hand in the back pocket of those faithfully trying to serve God? How many have walked away from the faith because they were taken advantage of and used by someone serving two masters?

This is a warning to every Christian that we must be singly minded, with our affections, our devotion, and service directed to the One that it is due. David had his priorities right, and therefore his wealth was put in it’s proper place.

1Ch 29:3 - Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

Matthew 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

A few weeks ago I was teaching about being an example of the believer in “purity” and I used this verse as an object lesson. I lit a little candle inside a little glass, and turned all the lights off. I asked the kids if everyone could see the light from the candle inside the glass. I explained that this is a Christian who is letting his light so shine that others can see it, but then I started mentioning things that we do to that can dim the light that others see. I pulled out my “Sin Markers”…otherwise known as dry erase markers, and with each sin I marked the glass. Slowly the glass began to be covered with blotches of colors, and the light became less bright. The light never changed, but the way others saw it was changed.

When we allow sin into our life we obstruct the light of Christ in us. When we live in a way that pleases God, others see His work in us, and they end up glorifying God.

Eph 5:8 - For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Matthew 4:19

“And he saith unto them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

So there are two guys in a boat casting their nets into the sea, and Jesus decides that they need a career change.

I like this verse because it is a clear direction with a promised result. It says that the part about us actually being fishers of men is in His hand. It’s He that makes us to be fishers of men; we just need to follow Him.

Sounds easy right?

Mar 8:34 - And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

1Pe 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Matthew 3:8

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

I got to admit, that I may swing and miss on this one. This verse kind of confuses me, but my guess is that John was looking for evidence of repentance from the Pharisees and Sadducees. If I was to try and name these fruits I would look to the following verses:

Psa 51:17 – Contrition
2Cr 5:17 – A changed life
1Pe 2:2 – A desire for God’s Word

I’m sure there are more, but these are first that come to mind. The other thing that I immediately thought if was all the different kinds of “fruit” or “fruits” mentioned in the Bible. Here is a few.

The fruit of the Spirit – Gal 5:22
Fruits meet for repentance - Mat 3:8
Fruits of righteousness – Phl 1:11
Fruit unto holiness - Rom 6:22
Good and evil fruit - Mat 7:17

Matthew 2:11

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
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When I read this verse I always think of Mr. Sunseri teaching the lesson to our first grade Sunday school class “Wise Men Still Seek Him”. The Holy Spirit records the wise men’s reaction to finding Him.

First they fell down - This is the reaction everyone will one day have in the presence of Christ as every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Next they worshipped Him - From the fall until now man had worshipped anything and everything. They have worshipped the sun, the moon, the beasts, and fowls. They have worshipped the figments of their own imagination as well as other men. There is no end to what fallen man will find to worship, and yet only ONE is worthy of our worship.

Lastly they presented their offering to Him - Myrrh for a Prophet, Frankincense for a Priest and Gold for a King. Gifts that were costly, precious, and appropriate. When we see Jesus and respond correctly to Him, we too will offer our spiritual sacrifices.

1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

The Sacrifice of Praise – Hbr 13:15
The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving – Psa 116:17
The Sacrifice of Self - Rom 12:1

Matthew 1:21

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from thier sins."

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The rescue mission of God's plan found in the name JESUS. From what I've read the name of Jesus is Yeshua which translates "Salvation" and the angel let's Joseph in on what God is doing. As I though on this verse I remembered the words from "Rock of Ages" and thought of what it means for JESUS to save His people from thier sins.

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,Let me hide myself in Thee;Let the water and the blood,From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure."

Jesus saves from the eternal penalty of sin, but also the power of sin in our present life now.

Titus 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

My Mom (part 1)

Out of all the days since my Mother has been in Heaven, Mother’s Day is always the hardest for me. I have ruined the previous two for my wife by just being in a bad mood, and I was determined not to do it again this year. I really tried not to think about her on Sunday. I think I made it through not being such a jerk this year, but after Mother’s Day was over I felt I had missed something by not taking time to think about what an amazing Mom I had.

I really would like to post a few times about my Mom, but we’ll see how this goes. One of the things I’d like to post about is how I had the chance to lead my Mom to the Lord, and all the circumstances that lined up to that event. She trusted Christ as her Lord and Savior less than a year before she died. Any sadness I get thinking about her is totally selfish, as I know that she is better now, and more alive today than she ever had been here on earth. She is in the presence of Jesus, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore. I WILL one day be with them both! Glory!

I am horrible with remembering dates, so I don’t know when she was diagnosed with cancer, but I was living at home. I pretended not to hear her say it on the phone to a family member, and I think I convinced myself that I misheard…until she got my brother and me together to talk. I hope you never have that talk.

The doctors called her cancer “very aggressive” and she had to go in for a radical mastectomy, followed by all the treatment that you know goes with that, also followed by all the side effects. I know that she and my Step-Father held back a lot of information from my brother and me so I may have some details wrong. From what I remember she beat the cancer, and they did another radical mastectomy on her other breast I suppose as a precaution…I’m not sure. I remember many surgeries, and recoveries. I thought that would be it, and it was for a few years.

When it came back it did so all over her body. The doctors again began treatments and with that again came side effects. The last bout had her all over the place. She gained a lot of weight, and then dropped down to hardly anything. She went from being in a wheelchair to walking around fine. It was a crazy rollercoaster. I heard them say the word terminal but they never said it to my brother or me. I guess they figured we knew. We probably did, but it is amazing how your brain will let you think that means something else.

I knew though...

I knew by the way she held her grandkids, and how she just poured herself out. You could see that she was trying to give all that she could with the time that she had. I know that she made it so long because she fought! Man, she fought for everyday, to see us, to see her grandbabies, to see her husband. I think she surprised many doctors. She saw both Zakk and I get married, and she was there to hold five of the six grandkids, but with a weakened system and two bouts of sepsis the cancer finally got its foothold on her.

When I got to the hospital she was already very medicated, and we were told that she had between two weeks and two months to live. She was too medicated to really speak to anyone from that point on. I remember sitting in her room and trying to think of Bible verses to say to her. I sang quietly “What a Day That Will Be” to her. I quoted Romans 8:18 – “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” over and over. I don’t know if it was for her or me. I let her know that it was ok to let go. I know she tried to say “I Love You” to me, which meant more to me than anything. It was the last words she ever heard me say, and the last words I ever heard her say. She only made it the two weeks.

I got the call Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church. She had gone on to glory very early in the morning. She had not opened her eyes in days, but my Step-Father said that she turned her head, looked at him, and smiled as she drifted away peacefully. My wife and I got to the hospital and into the room, and to me it was really the most reliving thing to see her. To know that she was now absent from that body and present with the Lord was the most comforting thing I could imagine.

I remember my grandma sitting at the head of the bed weeping. I leaned over and hugged her, and said, “Imagine the church service Mom is at this morning!” That was my thought. I can’t remember feeling any pain throughout that whole time. All I remember is feeling gratitude to the Lord for saving her, and comfort knowing she is with the one who loved her enough that He took her sins upon His shoulders some two thousand years ago.

The thought of my Mother in Heaven has comforted me everyday since she has been gone, and most days it is enough to know that she is with Jesus, and I will see her again. Other days I get a little selfish and wish she was still here for me to hug, and hear my kids call “Hunny”. Mother’s Day is one of those days, but the last thing she would want is for me to get hung up on being selfish, it was so not her style. Mother's Day now is for the Mother of my kids, who, like my mom is one of the most selfless people I know. She is a wonderful mother to our three kids, and I love her more than I could say. She deserves a Mother's Day each week, and by the Grace of God I will not ever ruin another one for her... my Mom raised me better than that.

Bonnie Kay
“Hunny”
1953 - 2006

Takin' it to the Street

I just wanted to share some pictures of Street Ministry this week. We had an amazing time, and the Lord gave us many opportunities to have one-to-one conversations. I had a wonderful chance to give the entire gospel message to to guys, Castro & Max. Pray for these guys! Someone tried to interrupt and Dan J intervened and ended up witnessing to him for about 20 minutes. Dave R knelt by a man who has lost his wife, kids, job, health, and home to alcohol and shared with him the good news. Rich W preached an excellent sermon about finding peace with God and had some engaged listeners. Alex S was witnessing with an open Bible sharing scriptures. Andy H was home watching his kids, but I had this picture from the week before, so I thought I'd throw it up.

Out of the Box, Into the Market

Ok… I need some help again…criticism, suggestions, ideas all welcome. I just want to lay this idea out to see if it makes any sense to anyone else.

If you are familiar with the public market you know that it is the crossroads of our entire area. From the rural areas to the inner city those who live within driving distance come to shop at the public market.

I have been up there a few times to try and see what types of evangelism can be done. Passing tracts out one time I really noticed some coldness. My guess is that I was not the first to think of that and people are sick of it. Preaching could work, but then I started thinking of something Missionary Jim Tag had said that they did in Spain. He set up a book table and used it to generate conversations. So here’s the idea… how to do it, well I have no clue about that yet.

What if you got a booth at the public market to sell books? There are many books that would by nature generate questions or conversation. I think of “God Does Not Believe In Atheists”, or any of the Creation vs. Evolution books. Any books that would get people to ask questions or engage in debate could be used. Perhaps you could sell some books, but what about taking the conversations and turning them into witnessing opportunities? Do you think that could work? What about also having surveys and just offering a small gift for taking a survey, then using that to begin a spiritual conversation? My father-in-law uses surveys going door to door every Saturday. Do you think that could work?

Here are the main obstacles if it could work.

How much is it to get a booth?
How do you get enough books to sell, or decide what to sell? – Could you cooperate with another bookstore?
Who is going to man it?

Let me know any thoughts you may have

Acts 17:17 - Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Habakkuk 2:13,14

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

New York, New York

So I knew that I would love the opportunity to go to spread the gospel in NYC, but I couldn’t believe how much I loved NYC itself. I LOVED IT! I loved the subways, the bus, the beautiful buildings towering into the air, I loved it all. I know I was in tourist mode so my goal is to back a few more times so I don’t love it so much. I’d go back tomorrow if I could. I could not believe all the people! The opportunity for street ministry there would be endless.

Anyways…With all the wonderful maneuvering that God orchestrated to allow me to go on this trip, I was excited to see what He was going to have me do down there. I really wanted to preach in Times Square, I wanted to pass out all my tracts, and I wanted to have some great one-on-ones. I really wanted to be used of God down there, but I soon found out what I’ve heard from many of my friends who have gone on short missions trips…the trip was more for them that for what they could do. Really it’s almost funny the arrogance of it all. God doesn’t need us, we need Him.

So I didn’t pass out all my tracts, and I didn’t preach in Times Square. I did have a good witness opportunity with a bunch of girls from England on a school trip, but it ended when the rest of their group called them back. God brought me down there to speak to me, and to encourage me. He used the preacher at Times Square Church, Carter Conlon, he used the preacher at Brooklyn Tabernacle, Jim Cymballa, He used the images that I saw walking down the street, and he used the people He sent down there with me. It was a wonderful time of worship and fellowship and ministry.

I would like to (in my free time) post a quick blurb about different parts of the trip as I can, even for me so I can go back and remember well, but free time has been hard to come by. I have a 5-7 page report to write, and a few tests to study for.

OK...I know this is dangerous ground to tread, but I am looking for your comments here concerning the comments of one of my heros, William Booth. Please leave your comments anonymous if you will.

The theatre in Worcester was crowded for the visit of William Booth on January 22, 1882. Even the General himself 'had great difficulty in getting in'. The door was smashed by the crowd still trying to gain admission after the place was full.George ' Sailor' Fielder, the Commanding Officer, had been put up to sing. He had been a sea captain with a voice that had often been heard above the roar of the waves. (Forty years later he still had ' a voice like thunder and gloried in open-air fighting'.) He sang his testimony in the words, ' Bless His name, He set me free.'

'That was a fine song. What tune was that? ' inquired the Army's Founder later.
'Oh,' came the reply in a rather disapproving tone, General, that's a dreadful tune. Don't you know what it is? That's " Champagne Charlie is my name".' That's settled it,' William Booth decided as he turned to Bramwell. ' Why should the devil have all the best tunes?'

An early pamphlet made the Army's position clear by saying that it' considers all music sacred when used with holy purpose'. For his Christmas message to War Cry readers of 1880 William Booth had already written: ' Secular music, do you say, belongs to the devil? Does it? Well, if it did I would plunder him for it, for he has no right to a single note of the whole seven. . . . Every note, and every strain, and every harmony is divine, and belongs to us. . . . So consecrate your voice and your instruments. Bring out your comets and harps and organs and flutes and violins and pianos and drums, and everything else that can make melody. Offer them to God, and use them to make all the hearts about you merry before the Lord.'

Getting There is Half the Fun

I guess the easiest way to do this is in little bites. First of all I want to praise the Lord for getting me to NYC, and I want to boast on Him for how He did it. When the trip was first offered, there was a man who offered to pay for me to go, but he has also helped me out so many times before that I didn’t feel comfortable with that. I fully planned on going to the Rochester parade to pass out tracts. A few weeks ago the man leading the trip explained that someone had to back out last minute so there was a train ticket and hotel already paid for if I wanted to go. OK, Lord! I’m going…well the guy who backed out had another change so he could go now. Did God still want me to go? Sure enough, as he came back on the trip someone else had to back out, so again train ticket and hotel provided by God! Just think of how that all worked. What a God! Then with ticket and hotel paid for I got the time off of work, and was all packed when at the last minute I had what was probably the worst toothache in all my life. Honestly my last post was written in such pain that I really didn’t think I was going. I e-mailed a few friends and took some Tylenol and finally around 1am went to sleep. Praise God I woke up and the pain was gone. It was sensitive, but it didn’t hold me back from going. Thank you for praying. God hears! From where I’m sitting it was just amazing to see God work out the details, and solve all the problems. He is a wonderful God.

Psalm 103:1 - Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Off to NYC...

OK… so here’s where I’m at. I’m leaving for NYC in about 5 hours! You’d think I can’t sleep because I’m so excited, and that I’m just restless because this will be my first time going away on a smite trip, and its St. Patrick’s Day in the Big Apple, so I just can’t sleep, but you’d be wrong. I can’t sleep because I feel like someone has hit me in the face with a baseball bat.

A few days…er…weeks ago I lost a filling. Not Fun! It has been on and off troublesome, but not “the cost of getting it taken care of” troublesome. Well…today it is “Grown man crying” troublesome. Yes, I know I should have had it taken care of days …er…um… weeks ago, but I didn’t. I put it off and put it off, and now I’m in so much pain I can hardly think. Oh did I tell you I am leaving for NYC in less than 5 hours?

Why am I telling you this? Well… I need prayers, and I figure this may an easy way to get the 5 people who read this to pray for me. I so do not want this to ruin the trip! I know I am supposed to go. This would be kind of neat if it didn’t hurt soooo bad. I mean think about it. I’m at a point where I can’t do anything, which is just where God likes us because the only option it leaves is for Him to show Himself in mighty to get me through.

Please pray for our team as we head down to NYC to sow the gospel seed with Little Red Book. Pray that tracts would get into the hands of some seeking sinners, and find some soft hearts. Please pray that God would be honored and glorified with everything said and done. Please pray for my tooth that this pain subsides, and pray for the families of the team. Thank You SO Much!

I will do my best to post about the trip when I get back.

When I consider thy heavens

Psalm 148:3b - ...praise him, all ye stars of light.

I know this is going to sound silly to some, and like I am searching for an experience to others, but believe me, the only reason I am sharing this is to glorify God.

I just got home from church, and missionary Ken Pitcher preached to us a message on glorifying God. He demonstrated through multiple verses that God is glorified, when we ask. Not when we ask for ourselves, but when we ask in order to glorify Him. That’s probably a very simple explanation of a great truth that Bro. Pitcher was teaching us, but it will suffice for my story.

On my way home from church after this message, I noticed how beautiful the stars looked. My eyesight is pretty bad and I don’t have glasses, but I can see the stars on a clear night. I get mesmerized by stars, and I often spend time looking up. The heaven do indeed declare the glory of God, and as I got out of my van at home I began looking up again. I reflected on Bro. Ken’s message, and even though it’s silly, I felt at liberty to ask God for a shooting star. Yes I know it sounds ridiculous, but forgive me for that. I am opening my silly self up here! I stared into the sky and quietly glorified my Lord for His work in creation, and for few minutes I just stood under the sky looking up amazed. I asked God in light of the message to show me a shooting start only so I could glorify Him for it, and I stood there…I probably started into the sky for five minutes, until the silliness of my request began to creep up on me. I started walking in to the house, and periodically peeked back at the sky, I began to silently speak to God and praised Him for the stars that I could see, and right before I turned to walk inside, where I was looking a shooting star streaked across the sky.

So what if it sounds silly! You call it what you want, but it was God answering a silly request in order that He might be glorified. Remember I know it sounds all sappy, but tears began to come to my eyes, and I praised Him for being Him!

I know that what I saw was from God to me, and that it doesn’t really translate well on a blog post, but I had to share.

Psalm 40:5 - Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Fun at the Dentist’s Office

If you’re anything like me even the thought of the dentist’s office is enough to make your stomach turn, and your brow sweat…no…OK…it’ just me then… really I’m bad. Even your standard cleaning appointment is enough to make me white knuckled in the chair. I hate the dentist’s office! The one positive is that everyone there is pretty cool.

Well Thursday I had my 6 month check-up…about 2 years, late (but that’s beside the point) and they were running late. I sat in the waiting room for a half an hour before they even called me back. Then after 16 or so x-rays gagging on the film that they cram into your mouth, my hygienist scraped and polished my teeth…what fun! As she had both hands in my mouth she asked your standard “chit-chat” questions like “what do you do for a living?” How old are your kids?” and in between mouthfuls of sharp metal hooks I was able to tell her about school, and my desire to go into the ministry. She continued scraping and prodding and polishing, and humming to herself between questions, and in a few very long minutes I was done. So I thought…

After the cleaning the Dentist is supposed to come in and look at the x-rays, and inspect my mouth, and give me the future game plan, but he was in the middle of a procedure, so we had to wait…and wait…but anyways. My hygienist asked me why I was going into the ministry, and that allowed me to explain to her my testimony about getting saved in September of 2000. After I gave her my testimony she asked, what made me come to decision to be saved! Wow! My hygienist opened the door for me to witness to her for over a half an hour! It was fantastic! I was able to share with her my love for Jesus, and His love for me. We talked about sin, and the cross, and salvation. Glory to God!

Here is the part where I’d love to tell you that she saw her need for the Saviour, and we both bowed at the dentist chair and prayer, but that’s not what happened. All I know is that I was able to do what the Lord commanded us to do. I’ve been reminded many times. It’s not my job to win them, it’s my job to tell them, the rest is in God’s hands.

I wonder what (if any) questions popped in her mind after I left? I wonder if she has thought about what I said?

Thank God, I probably need a root canal, and some teeth fixed so I will be able to see her again pretty soon, and maybe have further opportunity. Pray for Maria! Now if you don’t mind I’m going to go and cry and tremble in fear that I may need a root canal.