It is Friday morning and what a week it has been. This week we have seen a young man at the age of 39 leave this world unexpectantly. We have seen several of our faithful people taken to the hospital with the possibility of leaving this world also. It seems week after week that I am reminded that the thing that really counts in life is "ARE YOU READY TO LEAVE THIS WORLD"? I hope each reader of this blog really knows what it means to have repented of their sin and to have recieved Jesus as their personal Saviour. Please pray for me as I will be witnessing to some in the next few days that are not long for this world and still need to come to Christ. Have a great weekend and invite someone to church this Sunday. They may come and be saved themselves. 

I have been unable to blog for a few days, hope that will not discourage each reader to continue to check in. I have a goal to soon be able to blog daily. Last Friday eve i had a part of a Memorial Service for a 51 year old lady. It was a precious service and one that many thought would be attended by just a few, but by the time the memorial started the funeral home had to open up another section just to hold the crowd. What was so interesting was that this lady had touched the lives of so many in ways no one had any idea. Testimonies went on and on. One common theme to these testimonies was she just Cared. She showed a real interest in others. Another theme was " I WISH I HAD TOLD HER AND WISH I COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER NOW. I went home that evening and found my little granddaughter Luci was at our house for the evening. I was planning on doing some things just for myself and proceeded to do so , but Luci wanted to play with grandpa. At first I thought no not now. But then thought just a minute it is time to leave an impact and also a time to enjoy. Lets each take time to Impact lives and to make sure we wont have to say one day "I wish I would have " but that "I am glad I did". Hey by the way i had a testimony that eve also. The Lord had allowed me to lead this 51 year old lady to the Lord when she was 28 years old. We had visited her 6-7 weeks in a row on Tuesday eves before she said yes to Jesus. Praise the Lord!  

This morning I was thinking on how good the Lord is to me. I began thinking about the last 34 years 'SINCE I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED". I began remembering my condition before Jesus saved me, forgave me, and changed my life. It truly is "AMAZING GRACE". 

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like ME

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see  !!!!!!!

It's a Tuesday morning in February. It's Indiana. It's a very cold day in fact 20-25 degrees below the average tempreture for this day. It's sunny which really helps. But this morning I am so Thankful for another day of life. God is good and He is good all the time. I am going to take this day and invest it for the Lords Glory. I am going to allow the Holy Spirit to help me keep my perspective right and my attitude positive. Have a GOOD DAY and remember it is the day the Lord made for you and it is the ONLY ONE YOU HAVE TO LIVE.

For those of you who attend Liberty Baptist Church you realize we are having a series of sermons on "REVIVAL GLORY". This series has been both refreshing and convicting. It has been used of the Lord to help many experience renewal but at times has been both hard to listen to and hard to preach. Gods Word is a sharp two edged sword, and it cuts deep on occasion. Revival cannot be imported. We had better beware of using shortcuts, even consecrated shortcuts."Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing". We are as ships without wind, or chariots without steeds;like branches without sap, we are withered; like coals without fire, we are useless." "TRUE REVIVAL IS NOT WORKED UP IT IS SENT DOWN." It is not imported from the outside; it must begin on the inside. 

Exodus 13:17 tells us that God avoids shortcuts. When He delivered Israel from Egypt, "God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near." God took the long route for the good of His people, and He often takes the long route today.

Our instant society has so invaded the church that we are constantly looking for shortcuts. It seems to me that as I study the scriptures God takes time to accomplish His great works.  I may be wrong, but I have the feeling that we are looking for shortcuts because we don't want to pay the price for doing things Gods way. Travail in Prayer, Work hard at Study, serious Heart Serching, patient Sowing of the Gospel Seed, have been replaced with methods that guarentee instant results. RESULTS YES;FRUIT NO. You cannot have fruit without roots, and you cannot have roots unless you dig deep; and that takes time. Revival may take time for lots of revealing and repenting, but I for one am in this thing for the longhaul!

BEWARE OF THE HIGH COSTS OF SHORTCUTS!

Lately I have been thinking about lots of things others have that I dont have! Now before you judge and think I am coveting let me explain. I am thankful that we DONT HAVE an unhappy marraige. That we DONT HAVE children running from God. We DONT HAVE debt hanging around our neck pulling us under. We DONT HAVE  lots of things others have and that's just fine. As we have pondered on these things it has become very clear that the things in our life that make us rich are really the things money can't buy!!  Each of us need to learn this important principle of life.

                              "YOU"LL SEE HOW RICH YOU ARE WHEN YOU ADD UP EVERYTHING YOU HAVE THAT MONEY CANT BUY AND DEATH CAN'T TAKE AWAY"

February 12th ! What is so special about that day? Let me tell you that on that day God did something that forever changed the world especially my own personal life. On that day in history lots of things have taken place, but none better than the event I am speaking about . On that day He introduced to the world one of the finest it has ever known. It was in the year  1953 on this date that God chose to bring into the world one of the most unique little girls ever born. He decided that on this day he would begin making this little girl into a wonderful women one day. On this day began the process of the developing of a great Daughter, a great Wife, a great Mother, a great Friend, a great Grandmother, a great Pastors Wife, a great Servant of the Lord, a great Lover of God and one of the most dedicated Christians I have ever known. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Well you see on this day  KAREN BISHIR was introduced into this world and it certainly is the better because of it. Well I just wanted everyone to know how Blessed I am today to have her in my life. I certainly am counting my blessings today. Everyday since I first met her { in the 8th grade}, I have loved her and have been so thankful for the Lord's kindness in allowing her to be my partner for life. 

Have a great day!! Tell your wife you love her today.    

If you woke up this morning & you are still here-GOD STILL HAS A PLAN FOR YOU! Isn't that great news? Far to often we are overwelmed with feelings of failure or just thoughts of depression. The tempter comes and attempts to get us to give up on our dreams, or our call from God. Sometimes we dont have a reason or circumstance behind this just a feeling. This morning was one of those times for me. You say what are you going to do?  I already did! I thought my way out of it, and it only took a short amount of time. Phillippians 4  has always helped me on these occssions. Think on TRUE THINGS. I woke up this morning & I am still here-GOD MUST HAVE A PLAN FOR ME! I am "Off and Running" to fullfill that plan today!  REMEMBER, "IT IS ALWAYS TO SOON TO QUIT AND NEVER TO LATE TO START".

Today across America many states are holding their presidential primaries. For me I am a little weary of hearing about the religious right and the religious left. The issue is not right or left: the isue is RIGHT OR WRONG! I really believe that if we would clean up the pulpits and pews of America, we'd go a long way to cleaning up our nation. Yes pray for the elections but America's real hope is REVIVAL of the SAINTS! The key question is "WOULD GOD VOTE FOR AMERICA"?

Today has been Foggy all day. It has reminded me of how nice the Sunshine really is. I realize that we can't live every day in the sunshine, but the foggy days sure give us a real appreciation for those sunny days. Makes you pray for "Sunshine in your Soul". Even in the Fog we can have the compass of the Lord, leading our paths.

What a great game yesterday between the Giants and the Patriots! I have had a lot of fun talking to folks who were Pats fans and others who just wanted to see them lose. Several weeks ago I witnessed people who actually cried when the Colts lost. We learn a lesson, and that is, it really is only a game. Thank the Lord for such things which we can enjoy, but I agree with Tony Dunge that there are more important things in the world. 

Well, hope you have a Sunny Foggy Day!          

Just got word that a dear saint of the Lord is real close to entering into Heaven. Autry Smith is in her 90s and she has been saved for many, many years. She has served her Lord in many capacities, she has been a faithful supporter of missions and a great prayer warrior. Please pray for her family, many of you know her daughter Judy. Heaven will be the better for sure!!

What a great midweek service we had last night. The meal was really great. Marellee and all the other"Kitchen Kang" helped to prepair a wonderfull meal. Last night was a treat because we had "Long John Silvers" Fish and Chicken. The attendance was one of the largest of the season. I just wanted to say thanks to all those that help us with the meal. For some they spend at least 8 hours on Thursday seeing that we have this helpful ministry. Also our Buses ran and filled up several buses with precious children, teens, and adults so that they could attend church. Thanks to every willing driver, and helper in our Bus Ministry. Our adult electives were well attended, Teen meeting was great, Awana had a good night and Yams { Young Adults Ministry} reported their service was tremendous also. Our Prayer Groups grew and reported new Prayer Warriors present. Thank God for all of this.  NOW THE POINT! All this with a WEATHER FORECAST that told us not to get out and that we were to get 8- 12 inches of snow.  Well it did snow but didnt begin till after church was over and then thru the night we only got about 3 inches of snow  which didnt really keep us from doing anything we really needed to do. INTERESTING !!! I know some really wanted to be here and because of the FORECAST made a decision they felt needed to be made, for others they siezed an oppurtunity to miss because they maybe didnt really want to come anyway. The Point is "Watch Out For Those Forecasts" in our lives. NOT EVERYTHING WE HEAR IS TRUE! Have a great day!