Boys of Summer

The picture on the left is of Mariano Rivera (no relation) of the NY Yankees.
My sons love baseball and have said since they were little that they would play for the Yankees. The fact that we can get Yankee shirts with our last name on the back and not pay extra for special printing is a plus.

They may never make it to that level, but we sure have had some fun with baseball. This past week has been a busy one. Last Saturday, they were part of a Perfect Game. Joshua made a nice catch in the outfield to preserve it. On Sunday they won 6-4 and Benjamin got the win. He pitched 2 innings of relief and got 4 strikeouts. Jump to Thursday and they won 2 games. One for their school (ECA) and one for their other team-the Mets. Benjamin got both wins: 4-3 and 10-0. He had 17 strikeouts and Joshua helped with his hitting.

Some people think baseball is boring, but as far as I'm concerned there is nothing more enjoyable than getting outside and running around on a sunny day and playing with my kids or cheering them on as they play.

I guess it comes back to a saying we have in our Youth Ministry: It's not where you go or what you do, but the people that can make it fun. People/relationships are the important thing and my family (all 7 of them) make my life fun.

PB

Bad Guys Die, Hostage rescued

What great news! A victim/hostage has been rescued. And the perpetrators received the consequence of their actions.

Now, I am sure that there is going to be some pundit somewhere who is going to criticize the USA for being such a monster when it comes to handling international affairs. And so let's keep things in perspective, Captain Richard Phillips was trying to earn a living delivering humanitarian aid to African people. He was not intending to do anyone harm, just doing his job which included providing help to others in need. Nothing he did was intended to provoke 4 men bent on doing evil. These were 4 thugs who deserved what they got.

Contrary to contemporary world culture and even American society, Evil people should be punished for their actions. They are violating not only American law, and possibly international law, but most importantly God's law. Galatians 6:7 states that "God will not be mocked- a man will reap what he sows. If he sows to the flesh he will reap destruction."

For too long now we have been excusing evil, wrong behavior, and sin, It was only a month ago when a pastor was shot and killed in Illinois and the press tried to link the murder to the shooter suffering from Lyme Disease. Pulease! There is evil in our world. And evil reared its ugly head 5 days ago off the coast of the Horn of Africa.

And although the Bible tells us that "God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, He much prefers that they turn from their evil ways" (Ezekiel 18:23), numerous times in His Word He also tells us that"Evil men will be cutoff", Pslam 37:9, and "Evil men will bow in the presence of good men" Proverbs 14:19.

Why should evil triumph so often in our world? Why do we so seldom expect this kind of outcome where bad guys die and the good guys live? And I just wonder if the media, in the days ahead will try to turn the tables and try to vilify the good guys. I pray not this time.

God Bless these superbly trained Navy Seals. They too are a group of good guys who are just going about their job, rescuing lives. Protecting good men from evil men.

Pastor P

He is Risen!

Two millenia have come and gone and there is still no tomb containing bones of our Messiah. In other words, "make no bones about it", He rose from the dead. Jesus Christ was killed for our trangression (sin), the sacrifice of His own life has reconciled us to God. And then the "power of God raised Him from the dead" and He lives forevermore. And because He lives we too shall live. With only one condition- that we know Him and acknowledge Him as our Savior.

Christus Victor!

Pastor P

Stem Cell Research debate

Thanks Steve Lee for sending this info along to me.
This is incredible-no need to kill babies to get good cells.
Proof again that God's ways are better than our ways.
Shame on the Liberal Left, both media and politicians.
Pastor P


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDFJOzu9SyM

General Superintendents Cabinet

Last Thursday and Friday was our first Cabinet meeting of 2009. Our special guest was Ed Stetzer from LifeWay Research. The basic report that he gave us based upon a survey of Assemblies of God pastors showed that the Assemblies of God as a fellowship was ahead of all other denominations in areas of discipleship, doctrinal loyalty, and practice of distinctive beliefs. That is the Good News.

The bad news is that the bar has been set pretty low. My interpretation of the information given is that the evangelical church of today is rapidly descending to the levels of the mainline denominations before us. And that saddens me, it truly is bad news.

Unless you believe as I do that God will once again raise up a Revival Movement to replace all that is dieing or has died. One thing that I will always remember through my concentration in Church History is that Christian groups tend to follow a cycle. The cycle begins with a man, then becomes a movement, then a machine, and finally a monument. I know that this is simplistic but it is still true. Just look at the history of any major mainline denomination or any of our 100+ Universities in America that once had their roots in the purpose of training men and women to serve God.

When we get "too big for our britches" and get comfortable doing things in our own strength and power, God then looks for someone who will lean on Him and trust Him for the impossible and the cycle begins again. And this is where we need to be-right now.

For info on various church research go to www.edstetzer.com or www.lifewayresearch.com

Pastor P

New Challenges

Well, this will definitely be a year of new challenges for my family and I.

Our oldest son will be turning 13, we are expecting the latest addition to our family in August (They say it is a girl) and come September our oldest kids will start attending new schools. For the last several years they have had the privilege of attending a local Christian School. The school has had some changes this year and are no longer offering the discounts which made attending possible.

We know that this will be a big change, but we also know that nothing happens that God is not in control of. However, we do ask for your prayers for the transition and favor wherever they end up
PB