LEAD LIKE JESUS

The second part of a personal mission statement is to make the world a better place for having been here. If you ask people whether they want to make the world a better place, they all smile and say “yes.”

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APPROACHING THE FATHER

I don’t have to figure it out. I don’t have to understand it. I don’t have to know how it is done. I don’t have to beat somebody to Him. I don’t have to worry if I stumble and fall when I am coming. I don’t have to be able to articulate or say what I need. I don’t have to be dressed a certain way. I can come in my day clothes, night clothes, work clothes, dress clothes or no clothes. I can call on my Father any time, anywhere, but I must come with the characteristics of a little child. Milton Gordon

UPDATE & PRAYER REQUESTS

Today has been a very busy day. Karen and I have been working on getting materials and ideas for VBS together. The theme of the VBS is "Week of Faith." One of the nights will be on the Lord's Prayer and one of the nights will be on the Ten Commandments. We are developing our own theme and curriculum. There will be a night on Daniel and one on the three Hebrew children. Donna and Delilah came by and Karen went with them to get some materials for VBS. Sister Donna is getting T-shirts for the staff and putting some iron-on names, etc. on them. She is also planning to give each child a t-shirt on Friday evening - the celebration evening. Yesterday morning, I rode my bike and gave out several invitations to people and left them on the doors of several houses when no one came to the door. We are excited about VBS and ministering to children.

In between all the work for VBS, we have gone to the Moores a couple times this week and prayed for Sister Marie. She desires continued prayer for her legs and for healing from diabetes. Brother J. E. also desires prayer. His sugar level has been high now for about a month. Brother J. E. also gave us about a hundred ears of peaches and cream corn. We have frozen several quart bags and ate a bunch along with the fresh tomatoes he gave us. Yum, yum - fresh garden veggies.

Karen called Lori and Rex Worman Friday. Rex answered and was happy to tell Karen about his upcoming retirement. He will be retiring in late August. He said, "I'll get to be in church so much you all will probably get tired of me." Of course he was kidding. We miss them in church but understand their work schedules. They have been so very supportive of the ministry here.

Jimmie Davis called around 8:45 pm tonight and informed me about his wife's step-grandmother. She is requesting prayer. She had a stroke last Thursday and continues to ask for prayer. I left at 9:15 pm and went and visited with her and prayed with her, Brother Jimmie and Sister Virginia. We had a good visit.

We continue to request prayer for the VBS and for each child that comes to be ministered to. Children need ministry and we want to be on the "cutting edge" of ministry to children.

UPDATE - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!

Jason is 22 big ones today. Happy Birthday Son, we love you!

Yesterday was another busy day. After a time of devotion, Karen and I rode 7 miles on our bikes. We are enjoying the time together and getting much needed exercise. WOW, its really working on our legs and breathing.

Karen and I then left for Jackson at 10:45 am to meet with Sister Cathy Coleman to have lunch with her on her lunch break and take care of some business. We had a good time of fellowhip with her and also shared some prayer needs and praise reports. We left there at 1:30 pm.

Karen and I then went to get some things for Jason's birthday. He turned 22 years old, July 20. He is our only son and our daughters have spoiled him - Karen and I didn't do it - no way, right? We found some shirts, and some jeans for him. We are also taking him out to eat tonight - sort of a delayed present. Jason is continuing at Bethel College with a major in Music Education. He sings with the Renaissance choir. They travel all over the US and are supposed to go to Europe and Japan next year.

Karen and I got back to Huntingdon around 4 pm and went by the bank to take care of some business for the church. We got back home and went through a package that was delivered while we were gone that we had ordered for VBS. We are excited about VBS and are working daily to be ready for the children. Sister Virginia Davis, who has the daycare just up the street, is announcing and boosting our VBS and says she is bringing some from daycare and the parents will pick them up after VBS. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE, PRESENT, PRESENT, PRESENT for ministry to our children and youth.

I did some studying last night and tried to do some filing and clearing in my home office room. Thank God for His grace and strength. He has been keeping me going for several years now since I have had four major surgeries and other sugical procedures from cancer and complications - in 90, 93, 94, 96, 98 and 2000. TO HIM BE GLORY! HE IS AWESOME! I hit the sack at midnight.

LEAD LIKE JESUS

The first part of any mission statement is to get to know God better in your life.

Read more. . .Lead Like Jesus Devotions

FELLOWSHIP AND VBS TRAINING/WORK

We enjoyed a great time of fellowship, food and fun tonight.

After fellowship, fun-time and food we had some VBS discussion and showing of some of the lesson, craft, etc. materials. The pictures below say it best.

"I've got the songs on here for VBS," says Jason. "Okay, Delilah say, "Lets sing 'em." Donna says, "Go ahead, I'll back you way up."

"We can do this," says Josie. "Absolutely," says Donna.

Dalton says, "I'm giving directions here, all of you get to work!"

Dalton says, "I'm taking a break, you guys stay busy and if you need me I can do anything with my hands and feet."

We want everyone to know about VBS and we want them to come!

Daniel and Paul are getting the word out about VBS so everyone can see.

Mariah wants to boost VBS too. . .

Sister Lori and Sister Donna finish the other sign for the church sign board. Brooks says, "Be sure you do it right now."

Humor

TODAY

I enjoyed an early morning time of Bible reading and devotion.

Karen and I went bike riding at 7:30. We rode about 6 miles today and got back about 9:00. Karen is doing great but she did say that she can't go that far tomorrow. I'm really encouraging her because this is the most exercise she has done in a long time.

Brother J. E. Moore called me at 9:45 and I went over to the property on Northwood and helped with some clean-up and lawn work. I left there at 11:30.

I met with Dr. Chuck Burks at 12 noon to fellowship and to continue with some informative training and mentoring on our church polity and procedures. Brother Burks has taken the Jackson church as an Interim Pastor and State Overseer, E. C. McKinley is working with him toward licensing and appointing him as regularly assigned pastor. Brother Burks has a good attitude and desires to see growth at Jackson. I got back home about 1:45. We continue to pray for Brother Burks and wife Ragene as they minister there and we pray for the church as well.

Sister Carolyn Spain and her cousin came by this afternoon and stopped in for about a while. We enjoyed the visit. We loaded the drinks she bought and thanked her for the help. We continue to pray for her since she had minor foot surgery a few days ago and will have the same sugery on the other foot soon.

This evening I continued to work on the doctoral studies and take care of some other business.

UPDATE

Karen and I continued to ride our bikes yesterday. We rode about four miles early yesterday morning.

We did some more researching for VBS and found some materials that are copy free on the internet since we need to get materials right away. The theme for the week is "Week of Faith." The staff are developing their own teaching materials and getting ready for a great week of VBS. It will be centered around lessons on the Ten Commandments, The Lord's Prayer, Three Hebrew Children, Daniel and some others. We anticipate great time.

We visited with Stanley Reynolds yesterday afternoon in his wood shop that he has converted into a computer, dvd, cd and cassette copying lab. He could not continue with the wood work because of the dust and breathing problems. He did the wood work for about 12 years and has been doing the media work now since 1990. He has some good equipment (both old for reproducing old reel to reel, 8 track and cassette and new for cd's and dvd's) and does a great job. He is making copies of CD's of the gospel presentation that I did recently to give out to people. Great work Stanley.

Media Productions Coordinator, Stanley Reynolds, is on the job doing great!

Last night, I did some more studying on the doctorate and also tried to get my BLOG to working right on MS Explorer. No success yet.

BLOG SITE PROBLEMS

I noticed that when I pull up my BLOG on MS Explorer, my picture and profile are at the very bottom. I had this happen once before and never knew how to correct it. My hard drive crashed and when I got it replaced my picture and profile were in the right place again. If any of you who read this are computer whizzes and can give me an answer on how to correct this, I certainly would appreciate it.

This only happens with MS Explorer. When I use firefox the picture and profile are in the right place.

Tour de France Anyone?

Karen and I rode four miles this morning. Want'a race?
Yea! Let's go for it.

The wonder of bicycle exercise. Well, just think about it for a moment. Most of us are trapped day after day in an office, home, the cab of a vehicle or other limited space. We are not only in a confined area, but usually those places are filled with stress. What does a bicycle have to do with all that?

How can you find a release for that build up of stress and dreariness? By bike riding, of course. Hop on your bike and put your cares and worries away for an hour or two. Better yet, start planning a bicycle touring trip for your yearly vacation adventure. That's guaranteed to brighten your outlook on life.

Read more Bicycle Fever

Humor

THANK GOD FOR A GREAT TIME TODAY

LORD I worship you with my song and all that is within me!

The message. Lord we have a passion for the Holy Ghost to do His work among us.
The seekers. Holy Ghost come and shew us more of Jesus and make us a reaching, restoring, relating church - to the glory of God!

YES LORD! Take us from glory to glory by your precious Holy Spirit!

We thank God for another great Sunday at the Huntingdon COGOP. We welcomed a couple from the Truman, Arkansas church. The were traveling through and came by to be in church with us today. The Sunday School was great! The singing in worship was great! We are just thankful to God for His presence.

Tonight's service was charged with the presence of the Holy Ghost as people prayed, sang, testified and reach up to heaven for a renewing and recharging of the Holy Ghost. Thank God for His very close presence tonight!

We are also in the process of seeking God for a name for the new property, new pavilion and new future facilities. We are asking God to give the name that He wants to represent the ministry here. We thank God for the abbreviated mission statement (mantra) that we believe the Lord has given us - REACHING ~ RESTORING ~ RELATING. We desire that this be the passionate heart-cry of the ministry here in Huntingdon and Carroll County. May it be so Lord!

HEALTH WATCH - Ten Terrific 5-A-Day Quick Tips

It’s no secret that fruits and vegetables are nutritious and healthy, not to mention very delicious, so why don’t people get enough to fulfill the recommended 5-A-Day servings? Lack of prep time and inconvenience are at the top of the list of reasons why kids and adults alike don’t eat enough of these amazing foods. Lucky for you, we have the top 10 ways to help you and your family easily achieve five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, starting right now…

read more here. . .

LEADERSHIP

Servant leadership begins with a clear and compelling vision of the future that excites passion in the leader and commitment in those who follow.

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SERVANT EVANGELISM

Saturday, July 29th, from 9:45-12 noon is scheduled as the Windshield Washing Servant Evangelism Project in the Fred's Dollar Store parking lot. We will be washing windshields as an act of kindness to those who will let us. There will be no charge and no strings attached. We want to show our love to the citizens of Huntingdon and Carroll County.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - JULY 24-28, 6:30-8:30 PM

We are excited to announce that July 24-28, 6:30-8:30 pm is scheduled for a great time of Vacation Bible School. Several have voluteered for this time of teaching and ministry, especially to the children. We thank God for those volunteer workers who are involved in getting this together and we believe it will be a great success whether we minister to ten children or a hundred children. We want to have a good attitude and a great move of the Holy Spirit in this time of ministry.

Karen and I have been getting some materials and other items together for VBS over the past few days.

GRANDPA'S LISTEN TO JULY 12TH

LIGHTEN UP AND LIVE, By Ken Davis

Lighten Up

QUOTE

Seek out the struggle that will toughen you up. Negativism is a sin; so is self-indulgence. Bad times, such as depression or a state of war, should be a challenging test. Real men tighten their belts, throw full weight into the harness of their daily activities, and pull with all their might and main. J. C. Penney

LOCAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP

We are continuing in prayer as God speaks to hearts about their ministry in the local church. To date I have been approached by three who have been open with me about what they feel God is placing in their spirit in the way of local church ministry. God has a ministry for each one - and each one is very necessary and each one will fill the dynamic team effort of the local body. Let us continue to seek the Lord and He will direct us. . . .