Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Give Thanks!

I love this time of year when we get to do lots of things that we love. Hunting with friends is always high on my priority list this time of year! Hanging out with my family is something that I look forward to as well. We always head north to my sister's house in Prattsburg, NY. We enjoy our time traveling in the van, then as we arrive it is always exciting to spend time with our loved ones. They mean so much to us and we so look forward to seeing them each year. We spend a lot of time eating and talking and eating more!! I guess that when we think about it food, almost always, goes along with a good time! Corn, Mashed Potatoes, Green beans, Stuffing, Bread, Gravy, Turkey... mmmm... thank God for Turkey, and Mom's Apple Pie! The best apple pie in the world. O, sorry I forgot where I was.

The founders of our great country knew what they were doing by breaking bread together and giving thanks to our God in heaven who is responsible for the abundant blessings that He has chosen for each one of us!! Certainly we should give thanks on that great thanksgiving holiday, but what about the rest of the year... Ephesians says something about this: Eph. 5:19,20 tells Christians to "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ALWAYS giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

See, it is not a once a year and done kind of thing. Our joy and strength comes from Him. He meets every need that we have. Sometimes we struggle and sometimes we prosper. Give Him thanks no matter what. It is hard sometimes, but He will bring us through to the other side! Thanks for giveing thanks in your life. Our God is worthy of it all!!

God Bless,
Pastor Carl

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Men's Conference

Christian Life Assembly-Camp Hill, PA
Last night we heard a powerful message from Dary Northrop from Timberline Church in Colorodo!!
His message was simple yet so very powerful. He challenged us to 1. Take a risk and he referenced the book of Acts and the straight street account in chapter 9:10-16 where God spoke to Ananias to go to straight street to meet Saul there to pray for healing for him! What a risk taker!!
He also challenged us to be truthful and not to live our lives as a lie!! Also, to live a life of vision, and finally to live in acceptance of people. Just like Barnabas in verse 29 of that same Acts chapter. What a powerful time in the Lord!! He is so good to us and I am thankful for His challenging Word!!

Blessings,
Pastor Carl

Friday, October 17, 2008

Honorbound Men's Conference


This weekend is our annual Honorbound Men's Conference in Camp Hill, PA. This event is really exciting to me!! I love just listening as 1200-1500 men worship our creator all in one accord. It is truly powerful to see and to take part in. The speakers are always spectacular and there is such depth and richness to the ministry that takes place. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is so very powerful! What a great ministry to our men that our district puts forth! What an amazing, uplifting weekend this will be for our men!! Pray for us as we travel and attend the different workshop sessions and events. See the Shedule and Speakers here!

God bless you all!
Pastor Carl

Friday, October 10, 2008

Hunting the Deer!


As many of you know one of my passions in this world is hunting deer. I love waking early on the crisp fall mornings where the heavy dew is frozen to the leaves. I enjoy climbing into my stand with my bow and arrow ready to wait it out until one comes by. This kind of anticipation motivates me each year as the bow season approaches. It is as if I live for the moment when I hear the release click opened and the smack of the arrow placed neatly into the vitals makes me shake in my boots. I do love those moments, especially when my pin settles in on a nice big buck. All of this talk of passion and excitement is great isn't it?? But infinitely greater is my passion to see young people saved and transformed by God's grace and power. That excites me so much that I live for seeing these young lives come and make new and fresh commitments to Him. As great as my passion is for taking a great whitetail, my passion for seeing lives changed far exceeds this. I am committed to God's plan for using me in this ministry. Will I have obstacles come up? Sure I will and I have. I cannot even tell you about some of the things that I have had to endure in our 11 years in youth ministry. We move forward because this is what God would want from us. What would King David's life have looked like if he would have just quit because someone came against him?? He never quit and neither should you or I! His plan is far greater than anyone or anything in our way. He calls, He directs, He leads!

As a teenager planning on attending Bible college God placed this thought in my mind. One day in prayer the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said this: "if I spend my entire life in youth ministry and just one student's life is changed by God through my ministry, then the entire voyage will have been worth it!" Thank God for that one!!! Thank God for each one that gets it! Amen!!

Pastor Carl