Boy Oh Boy... What a couple of Days...

Sorry for not posting the last two days but it has been somewhat busy. Great news on "Aunt Lou" she is being released from the hospital on Friday. God has been using this for his Glory. People are talking about how God moved in this event. God's awesome power, grace and mercy has been noticed. To God be the Glory. This Sundays service is going to be one to remember. My question to you is, are you ready to forsake all to be a Soldier of the Cross? This Sundays service in the Soldiers of the Cross series is titled "Boot Camp". I can see Chief Surrency and Senior Chief Canon now, how I remember the day.... whew.. By the way..Wednesday night we covered the 44th through the 46th Chapter of Genesis so if you're missing Bible Study?You still have time to up and get involved. I also want to welcome back to the blog page my family and friends in California. One of these days I'm gonna get over there and ride that Harley. Especially since you are occupied with the pedal versions and marathon running. Gotta go and work on Sunday's service. Pray for us as we serve Christ. More later, Semper Fi!
Pastor T.

Haven of Rest...

I spent the evening at the Haven of Rest Men's shelter. Pastor Barry Davis was unable to speak tonight and ask me to fill in. I arrived about 15 minutes early. When I walked in the door I saw two men I knew. One was a friend I had not seen for awhile and the other laid the foundation and brick work on my home ten years ago. We had a few minutes to chat prior to the service. My friend and I talked about a trip we made years ago to Sugar Mountain snow skiing. Neither of us were real successful on the powder. I remember Getting to the lift was a problem and once off it on the slope the problem was multiplied. I managed to fall every fifteen feet down the mountain until an old man about seventy skied up to me and asked. You need some help? I asked him what could I do to make it down easier. He told me to throw away the poles and get up without them, to point my toes together to slow down, to lean when turning and if necessary just sit down to stop if plowing don't work fast enough. Soon I was on my feet and down the rest of the mountain. When I got to the bottom Mark's brother asked if I had seen him. I said yeah he was fifty yards behind me coming down the mountain like I was every fifteen feet. I rode back up the mountain and skied down. I came upon Mark walking down the slope. He would push the ski's down the hill, catch up and push again. When I got to the bottom of the hill, his brother asked me again if I had seen Mark. About that time a pair of ski's slid past us. I pointed out the ski's as Marks and pointed out the man stumbling down the slope was Mark. We entered the chapel and I spoke to them about the purpose of God's call on their lives. We shared Mark 1st chapter. Jesus telling his disciples he was going to make them fishers of men. That was the purpose of our call as Christians. He called us out of different places to be fishers of men. It was exciting to see these men soak in the word of God. After the session two of the men wanted to hang around and ask questions. We shared scripture and before we knew it one hour had passed by. Out of the 30 men there I believe these two will be actively fishing as Christ called them. Just like the ski trip, we need to get up if we fall and try again. Never give up on Christ because he never gives up on us. We may stumble and fall, maybe even want to take off our ski's and walk. But is we will follow through we'll make it to where we are supposed to be. I hope to get back there soon to see their progression. More Later, Pastor T.

I had to let the Bulldawg in me out...

Oh it feels great to be a Georgia Bulldog. Out of the Orange and back into the Red and Black.

Go DAWGS...

Woof Woof Woof! Looking at all the Orange made me look up some red and black photos. Can't wait till its football time again in Athens. Pastors like football too! Remember, you have to keep your priorities right.


God first, Family second, Church third, UGA football fourth, Work....well let's not get too carried away.

God does it again....

I spent a lot of time this morning with Louise Powell, "Aunt Lou". She is 84 years young and had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and Ovarian Cancer. She has been taking Chemo for the last few months and her doctor scheduled surgery. Today it was done. Aunt Lou went through the pre- surgery events well. She was having a real good day Saturday and Sunday. This morning she was prepared to go to surgery and the staff took her to surgery finally around 10:30. We had prayer there around her bed, her sisters and friends and a couple of the Ladies of Lakeview were there as well. One person there did not want to pray and had even stated afterwards that she did not know why God was brought into this. As I think upon the statement I realized it was very possibly for her this event transpired. I believe God allows some things to happen to us as Christians to show his mercy, grace and sufficiency. I cannot help but to think of Romans Chapter 8. All things work together for good. To them that Love the Lord and are the called according to his purpose. I think back to the blind man where the scribes and pharisees ask the question of Jesus. Who sinned that this man was born blind? Him or his parents? Jesus said neither. It was done for the Glory of God to be seen. As for Aunt Lou, She was in surgery around 3 hours or so. The physicians came and spoke to her daughter, Wanda and told her all went well, he was able to get everything out and the cancer had not spread. One other tidbit of information. Just a few years ago a lady in a Mercedes Benz ran over Aunt Lou as she exited a family dollar store. Aunt Lou had to crawl out from under the Mercedes to the surprise of those who witnessed it. After some time in the Hospital and Rehabilitation she was out and about again. Praising the Lord and checking on her siblings. Praise the Lord and See what the Lord can do. It ain't Odd, It's God.
More later, Pastor T

Death Valley Day

Today I spent the afternoon with my Son's, Josh and Jake at Clemson University for the spring game. White vs Orange. Jake and I drove over to Clemson and met Josh and his friends at the stadium. I even wore Orange, can you believe it? For a Georgia Fan like me that was a real feat. Bulldogs don't do orange well. With a dose of Benedril on board, orange Clemson Pep Band shirt and Navy Cap, off we went. I can't tell you who won the game. I was just glad to spend some time with Josh and Jake at the game. I even got to go on the field. That's something I have never been able to do at Sanford Stadium. I remember when my wife was a student at Clemson, bmf-umphe years ago. We went to some games with student tickets. Man it gets hot in that stadium. This time it was cool and rather pleasant. We had a young man named Ike Boyette, an American Missionary to the Philippines with us. He came with Jake and John. He was like myself. A Georgia fan. Ike hails from the Atlanta Georgia originally. A great day was had by all. Well time to go. I gotta get out of this orange before I go into Anaphlactic shock.

T-Storms Galore

Wow, what an impressive light show God put on last night. I love to see the majestic way he shows us his creation. Big lightening bolts throughout the sky. Some looked like large electrical hands reaching out across the sky. Then the big claps of thunder. Sometimes I have to laugh as I think about those out there who hold onto the big bang theory of creation. I see one of those large flashes of lightening followed by a thunder boomer and think. Yep, God said so and BANG / Boom, it happened. Go God! Due to the electrical activity on Friday I was unable to post so consider this a Friday blog...late issued.. I went out on my front porch, after the bulk of the storm went by, and tried to take some pictures of the storms electrical power. One photo the lightening was so bright it looked like broad daylight. I mean you could see everywhere. Hopefully I will get the pictures uploaded and you can see them on the photo section to the left. Well, gotta go. Brunch is calling and I may even get to go the Clemson today with my son's to see the Tigers play their spring game. If the storms this morning will let up. If not, well let's just say I won't have to take that Benedril after all. Maybe we can go see Leatherheads instead. Just to be able to spend some time together. I can hear "Cats in the craddle", If you are old enough you understand the comment. More later, Pastor T.

If you are too busy for God you are busier than HE intended you to be.

Don't forget that Sunday starts our "Soldiers of the Cross" series. I remember when I went to boot camp in the Navy. The arrival, the rush and the haircut. Hmm I might share that in real time during this series. Josh, you got them clippers? ( You know who you are.) One Prayer is coming up too. Hey we made the web page. What a great time that will be. Check it out at www.oneprayer.com. So far the only two churches in Anderson participating is Newspring Community Church and Lakeview Baptist. I am looking forward to the series and hearing some of the teachers who will be speaking. I still have not picked out my three yet. Praying about it. God will lead me to the right speakers for us at Lakeview.
Boy, it is tough trying to figure out all the little gadgets and gizmo's that it takes to make a blog page work. I have been busy trying to figure out how to work photo uploads and prepare to place items onto this site. One thing I cannot do. I cannot let this interfere with my prayer, devotion or study time. I try to get alone and post something. But, if I miss it once in a while, well you understand. I was talking to a fellow the other day about church attendance and study time and he brought up this old excuse. He said, Well Pastor, I am just too busy to come to church. He went on to say. Sometimes I work 18 and 20 hours a day. I ask him who gave him the strength to work like that? He said, "God has blessed me". I replied, If you are too busy for God, you are busier than he intends for you to be. Take time to thank him for the strength you have and for the business he blessed you with. Don't forsake him. Scripture reminds us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as most me do. Take a hint from Job. He said, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away". "Blessed be the name of the Lord". Get the message. Something to chew on. More later. Pastor T.