Fearful

I am frightened. I can feel the fear rolling around me like a damp pervasive fog. My thoughts are disjointed and my heart is beating faster and I am fighting the urge to run and hide. It began this morning with a text message. I read the obscene message first with disbelief and a bit of anger and then with growing fear as the reality behind the words began to sink in. The extremely explicit message on my phone would only have been generated if my former spouse was drinking ... and if he is drinking then his volatility and anger is usually directed at me.

My heart began to race as I contemplated the scope of the issue. He could continue to send these obscene messages, he could continue to call (one recent night there were 5 drunken calls between 10:30 and 12:00 at night) it could mean that he is heading back to this area. That was the moment that my stomach began to heave.

I took the message and my fear to my good friend who is a counselor to get her input and wisdom  and I called my ex-father in law. Both of those conversations only deepened my sense of danger. I realize that fear is a symptom that God gives us to help us make good decisions. I am frightened because I need to be fully aware of the potential danger of this situation.

Now I just need to make good decisions and look for God's path through this. But meanwhile I think the dogs are going to be sleeping with me tonight.

Just Connie

Board Thoughts

I had an important Board meeting tonight ... a really difficult Board meeting. We were facing such difficult issues and the potential for hurt and conflict was so great on every side. I really had no idea where the meeting would go. But I have to say that I am so proud of all of the board. They faced the problems with love, wisdom and hope for a new future.

This Board is a new group just learning the parameters of their jobs and gaining understanding of each other. Watching them working together was a joy to me. I am looking forward to what God will be teaching us in the months ahead. I really think that the groundwork for a deeper trust and new opportunities for ministry were begun tonight in the work we did together.

So, another hurdle is behind me and it is time to look at what lays in the path ahead of me now.

Just Connie

Saturday Thoughts

I spent the day cleaning and moving furniture around. I am also staining switch plate covers and moulding. Then in between all of that I am picking up construction debris and sanding my hope chest which had gotten to looking pretty sorry over the last few years. So now that all of the furniture is moved out and there is room to work, I am taking care of it. I really miss my electric sander though, it is a lot of hard work by hand.

I probably have at least another week of cleaning and sorting before the room is really usable. I also have work left to do on the hearth and that is still stretching in front of me. I will be so glad when it is behind me and I am back in the room. At least the TV is hooked up now so I have some company when I am in there working. So that is a step in the right direction. I actually got the TV and cable all hooked up and felt pads on the bottom of all the furniture. I have gotten pretty innovative about how to move heavy things by myself. I just wish that I could move the couch back in by myself. But I guess I will have to break down and ask for some help.

I think it is time to to go and rest my sore hands and tired muscles and head to bed. Tomorrow will be a full day.

Just Connie

Printer Blues

I had printer issues today. I ran out of ink and then the printer would not recognize the new cartridges that I had made a special trip into McMinnville to buy. So I found myself at the church after a very long day of counseling and meetings at 6:00 at night, praying over my printer. I even tried two different printers trying to find some combination that would print.

But finally one of the printers began printing. I now have my sermon and the Sunday School lesson ready for Sunday morning. Now perhaps I can put my feet up and relax for a couple of hours before I have to start in on the house remodel again. But that is a whole new set of Blues to start singing ....

Just Connie

Remodeling Thoughts

Well, the remodeling project is winding up. I have some painting touch up to do, some work on the hearth and a few baseboards to finish and it will all be done. I have been cleaning the new wood floor and trying to move the furniture back in. It is very exciting to see it all coming together

I am finding that getting it put together is really a two (or more) person job. This is the kind of thing that really frustrates me. I am not as good as I should be about asking for help. I want to be able to do it myself and I cannot. It dawned on me tonight as I was getting frustrated that it was my own fault for trying to do it all myself.

So tomorrow I will make some phone calls and see if I can get 15 or 20 minutes of help to put it all together again. It will be so good to be able to use the room again. There is such a pretty view and the room is so open and inviting. But there is still a lot of work staring at me before then.

Sigh ....

Just Connie

Hot Work

Hot! Hot! Hot!!! I am  hot and sooo tired. The project is getting closer and closer to being finished. We grouted the hearth and finished laying the flooring. We also rant the wires for the thermostat. I had a serendipity int hat a friend from my prayer group came and crawled under the house for me so that I would not have to. I am  very glad. I really did not want to do that.

So tomorrow we do the moulding and other finish work and the end is getting close. I am  very ready to have this done. So it is time to wrap it up for the night and head to bed. There are good things in store tomorrow.

Just Connie

Due to the major work project going on at the house, today became my sermon day. Sunday I am preaching on faith and it's importance in our lives. I threw out the following question on Facebook this mroning. "What does faith mean to you?" The outpouring of responses has been intersting. Here are some of the responses.

"I guess it means different things to different people. The bible tells us that faith is the things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (paraphrasing the scripture). To me it's that undying knowledge of knowing that GOD may not be there when you need him, but he's ALWAYS right on time...PERIOD!!! Faith can move mountains. But most of all...Faith was the bad slayer on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" sorry had to slip in some comedy...seriously, my faith has never wavered. It gets you through some tough situations."

"To believe without seeing, touching, or for any reason. To know that God is in complete control and will take care of my every need."

"I think we have faith in many things...but sometimes it's not God. I think it's the opposite of fear.







"When we have faith, I don't believe that we think about it. It becomes part of us, like breathing air..we don't think about it much in our ...everyday lives....but if we are submersed in water.....we realize how much we took it for granted. I do believe that faith cometh from hearing....and hearing from the word of God. I think you have to seek faith out in some areas of your life...bye searching the scriptures that apply to the area that your seeking. When Jesus spoke to the devil he used the scriptures....that should tell us something...since he was and is the Word of God! I believe "

"Faith to me is a belief or trust that does not question , or ask for proof. But know is my spirit that GOD is in control. To have complete trust and conidence that He will never leave me or forsake me ."

"Faith is being willing to put yourself out there.....no matter how scary a situation and trusting that God has a plan no matter what :)"

"Faith is the light that guides you through the darkness."

"To me - It means in times of stress I hang on to my faith and I know my Lord will help pull me through. Without that deep seated faith I cannot imagine where your strength would come from. I tried to describe how I feel without using the word faith but as you can see I was unsuccessful."

"Believing those things that aren't as tho they were. Trusting in God, even though circumstances don't look good, knowing he is working out all things for good according to his purpose. When God makes a way, where there is no way, without human logic or understanding."

"Faith is the assurance that we are loved, just the way we are, by God. People are not always as generous. Faith is knowing that God keeps his promises.(Knowing his promises is helpful. Faith is knowing that God waits for us, wants more than anything in the world to spend time with us, to laugh with us, cry with us, share amazing secrets with us, if we just take a moment to listen to him. Be still-----and know that I am God."

All of these responses remind me that faith needs to be an integral part ofour everyday life. I need to stand strong and live in faith and confidence because faith is the wick on the candle shining in the dark.

Just Connie

Secret Squirrels

Today's sermon passage is found in Galatians 2:11-21


11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.


14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?


15"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.


17"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"


Back when I was a pastor in Portland, I became ill with pneumonia and was out of the office for several weeks. The day came when my doctor told me I could go back to the office for a couple hours ... answer phone messages and sort my mail. So I walked serenely down the hall to my office and opened the door.... only to have a squirrel launch himself off of my desk right at my face. I shrieked and slammed the door and once my heart started beating again, I found the janitor who helped me herd the squirrel outside. Once the squirrel was out I stood in the doorway in disbelief my office was completely and absolutely trashed. It seems that the squirrel had chewed a hole in the ceiling and fallen in and could not get out. Some kind person had put a box of chocolates on my desk. The chocolate had obviously upset his little squirrel digestion and their was  uhmmm "squirrel discharge" all over. Down the walls all over the furniture, on every paper on my desk. It ran down the bookcases and books. My office was a total loss. It had to be gutted. From carpets and furniture to books ... all it destroyed by one little secret squirrel.

In that same way Paul was letting a secret destroy what the power and freedom of the gospel. With one group he acted one way and he pretended to be another thing with another group. In the same way that the squirrel destroyed my office, secret squirrels can eat away at us from the inside out. Here are some of the dangers of harboring a secret squirrel.

        Deny who we are in Christ


        Draws other people into it


        Keeps others from knowing me

        Keeps others from being blessed by my transformation

        Lays the foundation for legalism

How to Guard Against Secret Squirrels
     Relationship with Christ

     Transparency of Life

     Honesty to self and others

     Accountability

Conclusion: Are there secret squirrels that you are hiding? Those squirrels need to be released. It is time to bring light into the darkness, it is time to live in the freedom of Christ. It is all about surrender. I trust God enough to live in light and freedom.

Just Connie


It is a matter of holiness. Let it go, lay it down at the foot of the cross. Are you willing to surrender it?

Building Blues

The work on the house is probably within a week of being wrapped up. I have to admit that I am very tired of working, of the unrelenting mess and the sheer lack of time to squeeze everything in. I realize that I have only been at this for a month, but when you live in such a small house and you have one room under construction and building materials and displaced furniture everywhere else it really takes a toll.

I also realize that I do not like the feeling of not being able to put my hands on what I need as well as the fact that the disarray bothers me. In the whole big picture of life I realize that these things are very small potatoes. But tonight I find that I am just tired and I would love to have a week of normalcy. But what that would look like I am not sure.

I guess when I learn what normal is ... then I can begin to expect it.

Board Meeting

As a pastor I work with a lot of boards and committees. I have learned over the years that committees can be wonderful when they are  working well and can be absolutely agony when they do not. It reminds me of the old saying "That God so loved the world .... that He did not send a committee.

I think that one of the important things I do is to offer training and support to the committees of the church. One of those committees is the Board of Administration for the church. This board is responsible to give oversight to the finances and ministries of the church. It is critical that there is a clear understanding of our roles and goals.

Tonight was a "Board Night". It was a tough meeting in many ways. We are dealing with some difficult "large issues". But I was blessed anew by the people God has put on this board. I can feel the chemistry beginning to gel as we develop trust and understanding of each other. It is an exciting glimpse of the potential we have to do great things.

So though it has been a long day, it has been a good day. I can see good things ahead.

Just Connie

Charlie

I have a large sheepdog (Charlie) that has been a faithful and fun companion over the past 10 years. We have hiked together and she has often been the comforting presence that my tears have fallen on through the hard times. This summer she has dropped weight and in trying to beef her up I triggered her food allergies. I finally realized that I was not winning the allergy problem this time and called the vet.

The vet poked and prodded her and hhhmmed and then said, "You need to realize that she is very elderly for a giant breed". I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I stood there and fought the tears back as I was flooded with fear. "The good news is that the allergies are treatable. The bad news is that we need to expect that at her age other systems will begin to shut down, but she is in good shape for her age".

I made it through the appointment and headed home clutching the meds. I am looking at her and I just do not see an an elderly dog when I look at her. I see the fuzzy puppy that chewed my shoes and the young dog that dug up the back yard. I look at her and see the dog that curls up with the bunny to sleep. I see more than a dog, I see a friend.

I guess this is a reminder to enjoy the time I am given with her. But I have to admit that this is not a reality that I want to embrace. I think I will go and curl up with my dog and tell her that she is still young in my eyes.

Just Connie

Reunion Thoughts

I went to a large city high school. There were over 300 in my graduating class. It was a big shock to the system of this little country girl. But over the years I learned to adjust to a very different environment. In many ways that experience taught me to adapt and also to accept a wide variety of people. I made many friends in all economic and racial backgrounds during my time there.


My High School Class Reunion was this past weekend. I had a wonderful time. I got to see some folks who were special friends in school and some that I did not know very well in school. What I found was that my classmates have grown into wonderful people. I had so much fun just getting to know them.

I was a class officer and one of the benefits is that they put you to work during the reunions. I got to be a greeter and that gave me the chance to talk to everyone as they came in. There was so room for any shyness and it gave me a good excuse to keep mingling and introducing myself. Though amazingly most of the people knew exactly who I was.

Another high spot of the evening was the chance to speak with several of my teachers. One was my PE teacher and Vice Principal Miss Elwood, who immediately recognized me (after 35 years, she deserved a medal). This incredibly kind woman encouraged me in so many ways in high school. She was the reason I had the courage to try the gymnastics team; where I lettered my freshman and sophomore year when most people were still on JV teams. She also took me on a tour of the school bell tower which was one of my high school highlights. I told her what a difference she made in my life and how grateful I was for the time she invested in me. She took my hands and told me that I was one of those rare students who made teaching a joy. My eyes filled with tears and I was floored and so completely blessed.

All in all, the reunion was a wonderful chance to connect and renew friendships that so enriched my high school years. I am hopeful that I will continue to hear from my classmates and I am looking forward to getting to know them better. Now I am ready for our next reunion.

Just Connie

Legalism

Legalism is alive and well in our churches around the world. The same issues Paul was speaking to, we are still fighting. Our passage today:

Galatians 2:1-10


1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.


6As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.


Intro: In China until it was banned in 1905 China practiced a form of execution called Death by a 1,000 cuts. Legalism is the churches death by a 1,000 cuts

At root, legalism is our attempt to offer God the produce of our own hands. Like Cain, we imagine God is pleased with the harvest of human righteousness.

How do we know if we are dealing those cuts in our own church? Here are some of the danger signs of legalism:

• Rules & Regulations more important than personal righteousness

• Programs are more important people

• Transactional rather than transformational

• Focus inside the church rather than outside the church

• Behavior rather than Heart

• Know about God, rather than experience God

• Death instead of life

Conclusion: It is not about what we do for God …. It is about what God does in us.

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ died in vain." Galatians 2:21

Legalism makes a people centered church …. Grace and freedom makes it a Christ centered church.

We are the solution to legalism. Our hearts, our drive, our passion, our commitment to live in freedom and our commitment to extend Grace rather than rules.

Just Connie

Identity

Camp meeting began tonight. I am sooo disappointed that I could not stay for the whole thing. But at least I was there for the first speaker. It was our pastor from Madras and he spoke on our identities. It was powerful and itreally spoke to me.

When my husband left me 12 years ago, my world turned upside down. I suddenly was not a wife, then I was not a pastor and motherhood was slipping away as well. I remember standing before God and crying out to Him ..."Who am I?" The reality was that my identity is not in what I do or in what people think about me, my identity is found in becoming the person God created me to be. That is a very freeing concept. I am still striving to live in the freedom that it brings. It is one of the reasons why when Gerrald left a year and a half ago  though it was heart breaking I did not question who that made me. It was a lesson I was already in the process of learning.

Tomorrow night I will see people who really want to know who I have become. It will be interesting to see how all of our lives intersect after all of these years. But tonight reminded me as much as I want to be liked and admired by my classmates, that it does not change who I am. I am ... who I am ..... and I think that is a good thing to be.

Just Connie

Busy Days

This is my last evening of relative leisure for the rest of the week. Tomorrow camp meeting begins and there will be wonderful blessings in store I know. There will also be a rather heavy schedule for the next 4 days. Mixed blessings but then most of life is that way I have found.

So I will look for the joy in the midst of the busyness and focus on the next task at hand. For now that would be the work party here first thing in the morning. So there is lots to get done tonight yet. I am still cleaning from this morning's work party .... sigh.... who would think construction would construct such a mess?

Just Connie

Tired Night

I am tired tonight. I have not been doing anything earth shattering .... just normal kinds of things. I spent 3 hours working on my sermon and then some desk work. Then ran a parishioner into Salem and then headed back home. I have spent the evening studying and cleaning. Now I am sitting here in my jammies watching tv and trying to motivate myself to go to bed.

I have a feeling that most of this feeling of being tired is let down from the big event over the weekend. And all the prep for this coming weeks events. But life will calm down to it's normal chaos after this weekend and that will be nice.

So I just have a prayer meeting, camp meeting, greeting at camp meeting, teaching bible study at camp meeting, a family get together, my High School Reunion dinner, a wedding rehearsal, my high school Reunion Brunch, a wedding and then of course normal Sunday stuff. Then the normal chaotic stuff  ..... Now I am really tired.

Just Connie

The Ball

Hope Puppy is an endless source of amazement and amusement to me. She has one passion in life and that is ... balls. Balls of all shapes and sizes she loves them all. One of her favorite outside toys is a flat basketball. She swings it around and around and then chases it with great joy. She plays with her basketball for an hour or more at a time. I find a endless supply of balls at the Dollar Store. She has tennis balls, baseballs and rubber balls. Her entire focus is on her balls and convincing people to throw the ball for her.

Even after a ball is in pieces she will bring me the piece to throw for her. Tonight she brought me a piece of a ball that was about the size of a fifty cent piece.  It took me a minute to realize that it was a very small piece of the inside of a tennis ball. She laid it on my lap and jumped back in great expectation .... just waiting for me to throw it for her. I asked her with exasperation if she didn't have a real ball for me to throw.  But she was completely happy with the piece that she presented me. For about 15 minutes I tossed the piece of rubber into the air and watched her leap to catch it. She was completely ecstatic.

Watching her with that little piece of rubber has got me thinking. I wonder how many times I rob myself of the joy because I am looking for the "real ball". Do I throw myself with enthusiasm into life or do I waste it searching .... searching for just the right thing. You know, I think I could use some of Hope Puppy's passion and joy in my own life. Perhaps it is time to experience the moment. I have a feeling that there is joy all around me just waiting for me to notice.

So .... anyone want to throw the ball?

Just Connie

Sunday's Sermon - Transformation

Transformed
It is Sunday and that means it time for today's sermon. Today we are in the book of Galatians.

Galatians 1:11-24
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.



13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.


18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.

Intro: Paul begins by laying out his credentials, not given by men but by God. Paul was a man who personally knew what it meant to be transformed. Before his life changing encounter with Christ on the Damascus road he was a man intent of stamping out the threat of Christianity.

Paul was
    1. Educated
    2. Religious
    3. Successful
    4. Determined
    5. Headed in the wrong direction

Paul was a man whose whole purpose changed. From that moment we see him transformed ... growing by the indwelling reality of a resurrected Christ. Here are some earmarks of a transformed life.

1. Humbleness – Understanding of what saved from
2. Reconciliation – Making Amends (past)
3. Attitude of Learning
4. Attitude of Leaning
5. Desire to share the Gospel
6. Love for Others

Conclusion: We need the kind of transformation that Paul had. A life changing encounter with a living God. It is time for us to be transformed. If we profess Christ and yet live lives that are not being transformed, it is nothing. Do you know absolutely know that God has saved you? Do you know that you have been … are being transformed? If our salvation experience stops at our own Damascus road experience we are robbing ourselves, we are robbing those around us of the power, joy and daily reality of being transformed.

Just Connie

Evening of Hope

The Evening of Hope went well. Kim Meeder who spoke was inspirational. Her life is a powerful testimony to the life changing reality of the restoring power of hope in our lives. It really connected with me.

It was amazing to sing in the park in that venue. It has been a long time I have sung for something like that. I am glad for the opportunity. Though I have to admit I was fairly nervous for it. But people seemed to like it.

I think in many ways tonight was a look back for me. How over the past dreadful 2 years God's hope was ever before me. I think I need to share the power of that hope in my heart and life more often than I do. When things are darkest, the hope brings light into the dark.

My prayer is that I will always walk in power and joy that hope brings.

The Event

Tomorrow is our community event. The "Evening of Hope" is finally almost here. We have been preparing for months for this. Meetings, problems, more meetings and lots of prayer have brought us here. Today I met with the other pastors and volunteers and we pulled pork for tomorrows dinner. I enjoyed working side by side with the others to prepare the food for tomorrow. Tonight I am relaxing and will have a quiet morning. Then I will meet the band and we will rehearse the music for tomorrow. After that I will join the other pastors in serving dinner as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity.

I am looking forward to hearing the special speaker. I am also mostly looking forward to singing. I runt he gamut between terror and excitement. It has been a long time since I have sung to a large group. But I am reminding myself that I am singing for the Lord ..... sometimes that actually works. So tomorrow one of the major milestones for a summer which has been full of them will be behind me. Then it will be time to gear up for the next thing. Sigh ..... that happens  exactly 5 days later. But what doesn't kill me makes me stronger, right?

Just Connie

Remembering

There are times that my heart hurts. Sometimes for easily understandable and clear reasons. Sometimes it is harder for me to get a grasp on what hurts. Yesterday was like that for me. I punched the button on the answering machine and listened to the familiar voice asking for a call back. After months of silence  ... there he was, my former husband. I picked up the phone and dialed the number before I lost my nerve. Over the next 15 minutes I struggled to find words, I cried and I hung up the phone with a heavy heart.

Over the next hours I sat and cried and remembered. I remembered the handsome man who promised to love and cherish me. I remembered nights of drunken rage, weeks of loneliness and crushing debt. I remember the man who tenderly cared for me when I was sick and had me cringing in terror when drinking. I remembered it all and I grieved for what could have been.

I am still a bit subdued tonight as I grapple with everything I am feeling. So many emotions .... so much loss. But in spite of the loss I can see how God has brought me through. His grace has comforted my grieving heart as His love has been a beacon of hope before me. And in the warmth of that light there is healing and the knowledge that tomorrow is a new day.


"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28


Just Connie

13 Hour Day

I am draped over my bed with my computer on my lap. The dogs are bouncing around trying to interest me in play. I am tired. I put in a 13 hour day today and I am tired. It was not only a long day it was a difficult and challenging day.

To begin with I had things to get done. I had a sermon to write, letters to answer and I had an early morning rehearsal. That was all very do-able ..... right up unto the time it all began to unravel.  It began with some planning problems with our weekend event. The thing with most problems is that there are people attached to them. People with hurts and needs of their own and people deserve time. So much of today was spent trying to solve problems.

When I look back on today's problems I see that I was given opportunities that i never could have planned for. I was able to pray with a someone who is dying, cry with someone who was hurting and build a new partnership in the community. None of that happened within my plans for the day. It all happened with the unexpected surprises of the day.

I guess it is a good reminder for me to look with anticipation for the appointments God makes for me through the day. Who knows what He has planned for me tomorrow.

Just Connie

Work Progresses

Well the work progresses on the family room. Today we finished the wiring and began the sheetrocking. I also started the process of scraping the "popcorn" off the ceiling. The next step will be to finish the taping of the sheet rock and then texture the ceiling and the walls. Then it will be time to paint and get the moldings laid down. Sigh .... there is still a lot of work ahead.

I am still feeling pressured by all the things that still have to be done. I am hoping tomorrow to get some good sermon studying time in and also am hoping for a good rehearsal to go over the song for Saturday. That would go a long way to help me feel better about it all. There are still a lot of loose ends to tie up.

But in reality that is the nature of being a pastor. There are lots of deadlines and little time. .... lots of interruptions and lots of people and .... well you get the idea. So tomorrow I will attack the day and do my best I guess that is all I can really do.

Just Connie

No Other Gospel

It is Sunday and it is time for today's sermon. Today's scripture can be found in Galatians 1:6-10.

6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Here we see Paul writing to his churches from his first missionary journey. He knows that they are embattled as they fight the Judiazers. This group was insisting that converts follow Jewish dietary laws and be circumcised. Paul deals strongly and certainly with the idea of exchanging the power of Christ for the slavery of the law.
Today we are still fighting battles of other Gospels. Here are just a few:

• Eastern Religions

      Buddhism

      Taoism

      Hinduism

• Mormonism

• Islam

• Humanism

• Legalism


Conclusion: Just as the Judiazers were attacking the Gospel of Jesus, we are under attack today. From the slavery of legalism to the dilution of the gospel with the influences of Eastern Religion. It is time for us to stand up for the Gospel. It is time to live what we believe. Jesus still saves and there is no other Gospel than that.

" I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6


Just Connie