Taking Root

 Moving to San Antonio has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. Adjusting to a new place and a new church and new people. Living close to children who I have not lived close to in years. There have been times in the past 18 months that I wondered if I had made a mistake moving here and I wondered if I needed to move again.

I am beginning to think that the Lord let me go through all of this so that I would not be tempted to do something like this again. 

I am beginning to like it here. I like this city and this church and these pastors. I am even starting to enjoy singing in Spanish, though I still have no idea what I am saying. And I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I have gotten my house decorated as I like and I have done all that needed to be done to make this house safe and secure. 

I believe that better days are ahead. And that I am putting down roots here.

Christ Is The Reason For Living

 One thing that I am noticing about this generation is that they don't want to grow up. They have money and support and don't need to work a job. So they spend their lives trying to stay happy.

Being happy is an empty life. Life was never designed to only provide you with experiences and adventure. Life is not an IG photo or a YT travel documentary.

Only in Christ do we find the answer to our reason for living. We were created in God's image and we will not be at rest or at peace until we find our rest in Christ.

Jesus promises us life more abundantly. He asks us to believe and trust.

Wisdom Available

 A poor man's wisdom may be despised. But that does not make him any less wise. It just robs you of the wisdom he could share with you. If you would take the time to draw it out of him. Like over dinner?

Water Baptism Service Tonight

 It was great to see new converts getting baptized after church tonight. A long line of people all obeyed the command to be baptized in water. 

We do our water baptism in a horse trough outside. It gets the job done. Our new building does not have a baptistry inside.

My prayer is that the Lord would baptize these new converts in the Holy Spirt so that they will speak in tongues like we do.

Church Picnic 2.0

 Today was supposed to be our fall church picnic and bbq. That didn't happen. So our home Bible study group did our own get together. We grilled some meat and had all that goes with it and we ate together and fellowshipped together and I had a great time.

I am glad that I feel more and more welcome and at ease with this group of people from church. I am glad we didn't just blow it off and do nothing. I hope we can do something like this again.

Esteeming Elders?

 As I grow older I begin to think more and more on issues regarding aging. Today I was thinking about how in some cultures elders and the aged are held in high esteem and sometimes viewed as head of the family or household. Many Asian cultures esteem elders highly. So do some Indian tribes. In the US it's not so. 

Here is one thing that I was mulling over today. As an elder you are somewhat an expert on some things. You know how we got where we are today. You know what worked to bring us to this point in our development. Are those things that were once true always true?

There are truths that are always true. There are things that work now but there is no guarantee that they will work again going forward. Elders sometimes are not wise enough to know what we need to do to move ahead in life. They can, by reason of what used to work, become resistant to new ideas or new applications of old truths.

God is eternal. He is always fresh and relevant. His word, by it's nature, is still a light to make our way clear. God is still working. The story of the church is ever adapting to it's area of influence. It may take some work but the Bible still applies to the important things of life today and is as active and powerful as the day it was first written.

Changing Plans

 Our fall church picnic that was scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled. Turns out the park was not available. So our home study group will have our own BBQ this Saturday. We will talk about the when and where this week. 

Y'all are welcome to join us if you want.

Random Thoughts

 A few random thoughts today.

People who run marathons are told that when they reach 50 years old they need to make some changes. Don't train so hard. Don't run every day. Get enough sleep. Don't compare your present state with your former state. You can keep on running, but you will never be 25 again.

Pastor Mitchell was a driven man. In a good sense. But you would be mistaken to think that he was going full speed right up to the day of his death. Pastor had slowed down in his final years. He had a regular schedule every year. But that is about all that he did. Pastor Greg let him preach in Prescott until he couldn't anymore. But pastor Mitchell, like most other older people, went as hard and as long as he could. But he had slowed down considerably in his final years.

When God spoke to Joshua in the ending of his life it was not to criticize Joshua for being lazy or not fulfilling his duty. It was a statement of fact that the work did not end with the death of Joshua and Caleb. There was still a lot of territory to conquer. Joshua did what God called him to do and no more. Joshua and his army stopped fighting and started building houses and towns to live in. Joshua's only failure was not making a disciple to carry on after him.

Living A Dream

 "When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream." Psalm 126:1

Has the Lord ever done anything for you that you did not expect and that left you amazed and in awe? Have you ever had to simply say, I do not deserve this? I have.

God is able to do things that leave us feeling like we are in a dream. Things that change the course of our lives and turn darkness to light. To fill us with joy and gladness.

"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing." verse 2

We do not always expect God to work for us. We never deserve the grace that is freely given to us. But God loves us and God is willing to make His grace be greater than our needs and our sins. He is able and willing to do more than we can even imagine.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad." verse 3

My prayer is what the Psalmist utters in verse 4. "Bring back our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south."

The promise is based on God's goodness and mercy. He is faithful to help us, and to never forsake us.

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." verse 5

By the way, this Psalm is not about the act of dreaming. It is when life seems like a dream compared to how it was a minute ago!

Grateful

 I am grateful to be here. To be in this church. To have these pastors. To be clothed and in my right mind. And I am grateful for all that the Lord, by the Spirit, is doing in me and in us. To be a partaker of the Divine nature. To have a living hope. To be at rest and at peace. I am grateful for my family and my friends both here and back there. I am grateful to be in good health. And I am grateful for the promises of God that are yes and amen in Christ. Hallelujah!

Drone Coverage

 Last night during the worship service I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and was surprised to see a small drone flying overhead. It buzzed around for a while, moving over the audience. I thought that was so cool. I hope to see the video they took with it!

Beyond Grief

 For years I kept a blog related to my journey through grief. I shared things that I learned. I shared things that helped me. I shared my thoughts and ideas and feelings. But I have moved on in life. I am on the far side of grieving. I rarely encounter grief anymore. I can still feel it when I encounter someone who is grieving. But my journey has taken me through and now beyond grief. I am grateful for that!

So my grieving blog is on hold. I won't remove it. I made that mistake before. I just won't post anything there anymore.

You have no idea what a chaotic and turbulent ride my journey through grief was. I am glad that is all behind me.

Thoughts on Nehemiah

 The story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem are rich with truth for us today. Pastor Miguel ministered on this in the conference. Here are a couple of thoughts that I had as he preached.

Leadership is the key to success and ministry. As long as Nehemiah was present and in charge things went well. The work prospered. But no sooner had Nehemiah gone back to Babylon that the work stopped or got sidetracked and derailed.

The crisis point came in chapter 4 where we read that the strength of the laborers was failing. This did not happen at the beginning. It happened when they were half finished. The danger point is not caused by hard work or by opposition. It comes when the zeal has worn off and the work seems overwhelming.

In life there are times when everything works and everything is great and all things are possible. But there can come a point or a season where it seems like things will never change or that it is more trouble than it's worth. In marriage, in work, in education, in ministry. Maybe we think that half done is enough. 

God saves the best for last. Only those who do not give up will see His promises fulfilled.

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail..." Luke 22:32

Pastor Warner's Impact on Conference

 Pastor Warner is the real deal. It is no wonder why God has used him to the extent that He has. Here are my thoughts after hearing our pastor preach twice at conference.

One thing I noticed is when pastor is preaching you don't even notice that he is in a wheelchair.

Another thing that I noticed is how his church seems to be allowed to do things and achieve things not directly tied to ministry. They know how to sharpen the axe.

Finally, last nigh pastor preached on a winning strategy for being a team player. He talked about the standard the Lord set for us. Love one another as I have loved you. Even this morning I still feel the power of that forgotten doctrine. 

I has been a great blessing to have pastor Harold Warner here at our local conference.

One final thought. I have been saved as long as the Tucson church has been open. I was saved in December 1973 just a week or two after Harold and Mona went to Tucson. That means that in 2023 I will have been a Christian for 50 years!

Wedding Pictures

 My friend Gilbert has been taking pictures of pastors this week. As I walked by him I had a revelation. When God begins to move among our young people and they begin to get married I think brother Gilbert should take wedding photographs.

We Are Here And Ready

 "...now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." Acts 10:33

During conference it is important that we gather in the right way in order to receive all that the Lord has for us. This verse came to my mind today about this.

First, we are all here. Present, in person, here. You cannot expect to get much out of conference if you are not here.

Second, we are here before God. It is not about me or you or our opinions or our agendas. We are here before God. God is first in our thoughts and in our prayers.

Third, we are ready to hear from God all that is preached. We have ears and we are ready to hear.

Fourth, we are ready to hear what God's man has to say. Peter, the floor is yours. Pastor, tell us what the Lord told you. I often hear God speaking to me through my pastors.

Conference is and can be a life changing event if we can just believe that God can make all things new.

Amen.

Appearances Matter

 The wisdom of God amazes me. When God sent Christ into the world think about how that happened. Jesus was born to common people, not in a palace. He lived in humble surroundings, not as a prince like Moses. There was nothing about Jesus to make him worthy of honor. He did not stand out in a crowd except among his followers. And Jesus died on a common cross with common men.

Because Jesus lived as he did it makes him relatable and accessible to common people of all time. Only the rich and the powerful stumble at this. The 99% of humanity rejoices in God's love and grace. The 1% live as kings and die in their sins. In eternity all will be set right. Can the rich elites get saved? Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle; but with God, all things are possible.

The Bible does not condemn wealth. But it warns us against the perils of excessive riches. 

"No one can serve two masters...you cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24

Pastor Mitchell could have lived a more lavish lifestyle, but he chose not to. And he was a giver in many ways. So pastor Wayman Mitchell gives us a pattern that we can follow also.

Remember the rich young ruler? 

Lonely At Conference?

 Do you want to know a little conference secret? At any conference you might be surprised to learn how many lonely people are there. People who are separated from their familiar surroundings. People separated from their circle of friends. People who want to be where God is moving, but they don't know anyone there. They put on a brave face, they try to meet new friends, but it is not easy.

You want a tip on where these lonely people are? Look for the guy who comes in, sits down, and talks to no-one. Or who stands aloof and alone like a wall flower at a dance. They will say hi if you greet them. They will chat if the opportunity arises. But they want to be back home where they feel safe and comfortable.

The good thing is conference is only a few days long and soon they will be back home.

Christ: God For Humanity

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

The old chorus says our God is an awesome God. And as the creator and sustainer of all the natural and spirit world He is awesome. His attributes are defined by theologians as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. That by his essential nature God is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere in space and time.

The problem for us is God is nothing like us. We are humans with bodies and minds and spirits that serve us well here on Earth. God holds the universe in the palm of his hand. We can't even comprehend that. God is so big and so powerful that any hope of being close to God and to pleasing him are impossible. There is nothing that he cannot do. There is nothing that he does not know. And there is nowhere for us to hide. 

There are a few things that God cannot do. He cannot lie. He cannot sin. He cannot change.

God, knowing that there is this huge impossible difference to bridge, comes to us as Christ. Christ is a man; fully man, and fully God. Humanity overlaid with Divinity. Christ is the high priest who can be moved by the feeling of our infirmities. Christ died on the cross for us. Christ is now seated at God's right hand for us. Christ is God and yet He is approachable and relatable.

How Jesus calls the God who dwells in unapproachable light Father is beyond me. 

"Phillip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Phillip? He who has seen me has seen the Father..." John 14:8

Afraid of Growing Old?

 Here is my question of the day. why are we in our church and in our Fellowship afraid of growing old? We understand that church planting is for young people. No older person in their right mind would go pioneer a church. A few have tried and they all failed miserably. But we all are growing older by the day and we seem terrified by that unchanging truth.

First, growing older is not better or worse, it's just different. there are things that I know now that I could not know 30 years ago. There are things that I no longer do. No sense tempting God and fate trying to do what I have no business doing. Second, acting young when you are not is foolish and it makes you look pathetic.

Why do we hate older saints in our churches? Oh, we don't say it like that. But we have nothing for them and do nothing for them and advise them to act young if they want to fit in. We do not honor them or seek them out or take care of them. We bend over backwards to minister to infants and toddlers and children and disciples. Everyone else is excess baggage and not worth taking care of.

It is my wisdom and superior kindness that allows me to not be offended by those who despise me. I do not think that I am better than you. But I have been through things and survived things that never cross your mind.

Being older makes me able to smile when the sermon does nothing but offend me. It is only here that you will ever know that I was offended.

I work hard to take care of myself as I age. I cannot turn back the clock. Neither can you. So please, do not think that young is better and that old is evil.