I got a chance to catch up with lots of people and get some time with my new granddaughter over the last couple weeks. I had lunch with Margaret Brookover and Michael Sarver before I left for Vegas. Visited with Mary Roberts after she broke her arm. And I had good visits with Michelle McCaffery, Joanne Bernor, Bill Spellman and Tammi and Pat Cullera. Sharon, Nyssa and I had a great time with my eldest son, KC and his wife Josie. And it was pure joy to hold Atley Grace Huebner for the first time. Her picture is on the bulletin board outside the church office next to Nancy Blethin’s newest granddaughter, Romy. We took a flight Monday night at 11:30pm and arrived in Tampa on Tuesday morning. I intended to take a nap before the COGS luncheon but slept clean through it! I did hear that they had a nice meal at the Cracker Barrel. Wed night was the official kick-off for Bible Olympics and there was a good crowd here. Next week will begin at 5:00pm with soccer and ballet. There will be a meal at 6:00pm and then activities for youth and adults starting at 6:30pm including a new Bible Study in Spanish. Friday night the men’s group had a fun outing to see the Avengers in 3D and DBox. We had a great time and were joined by a friend of Ira’s and ran into Steve Collier. Sat morning Canzion was in action all over the building and we had a nice work day. My thanks to Michele Pass for installing the new toilet seats in the women’s restroom and helping with the basketball pole; to Hal Duke for cleaning the ministry house; to Bob for coming in and working on the financials; and to Tom Wesolowski for cleaning the filters, installing new toilet paper dispensers, and getting the basketball pole set. Thanks to Pastor Karen for opening the church on Saturday night for the Warner students to set up and to she and Brittany Bayliss for housing them Sat night.

This weekend Jan Foster, Connie Miller, Scott Kier and Bobby Biggs worked the Vis de Cristo weekend. I anticipate a multitude of praise from their ministry. This weekend Nathan Cress was wed up north in New York. We trust the family had a wonderful time and we wish Nathan and his new bride all of God’s richest blessings.  As our battle cry has often been: “the church has left the building.”

Sunday morning was beautiful and without surprise. My personal hero, Vaughn Boyer, was at work and had things open and set up. It was an odd Sunday morning without worship team practice and my routine. It did give me more time to fellowship with Johnny and Pastor Diana before they anointed me for the day. I wrote a meditation on God shaking things up for the chapel. Its on the website. The church was very quiet and there were fewer people around than normal. It made for a meditative atmosphere. I felt like I had more conversation both in preparation and small group and less drive-by relational moments. That has caused me to reflect a little more about the normal routine.

Sunday morning’s worship attendance was pretty fair considering the number of missionaries we had sent out on the day. I had not counted on the families of the Warner students wanting to spend Mother’s Day with them. We had a good crowd of family members from various locations join us for service yesterday. Pastor Karen introduced the worship band from Warner Univ. known as ‘Redletter’. They were very talented and filled with passion. All of the songs they sang were new to me so I struggled some singing along. I thought they erred a bit on the side of performance and they made it challenging to participate but they were certainly connected with the Spirit and their songs brought me into God’s presence. They did a worship set and the offertory. I send my thanks to Larry Siebert and Johnny Crippen for making sure we had ushers for two offerings. We had a healthy group of children and Pastor Karen showed them a ‘Where’s Waldo’ book. They knew that Waldo was there but one needed to search for him. She shared with them that God is constantly teaching us and His lessons for us are everywhere if we would look for them. After prayer they sprinted off to children’s church with Sharon. I preached from Hebrews 12 on endurance and asked the question, “What do you need to do today to insure that you will endure in your relationship with Christ?” And the Warner group came and led in some more music while we prayed together. Pastor Karen did the pastoral prayer. We took a love offering for ‘Redletter’. And we were dismissed for the morning.

After eating too much to celebrate motherhood, I returned for the evening service. The worship team sang one song and Pastor Jorge preached. I caught chapter and verse but never heard what book of the Bible he was in so I was lost from the beginning. I began to drift and then did an imitation of a bobblehead doll until there were folks having a loud discussion right outside the sanctuary doors. So I became the shussing elder. It was then that I spotted a pretty good crowd having a bbq at the neighbors house. I thought I might be of more service to the kingdom visiting the neighbors than sleeping thru the service so I walked over to say hello. I ended up in a conversation about the origin and reasons for the papacy in the Roman church. One never knows what is on the minds of those you reach out to especially if the have a significantly high blood alcohol level! I returned to service for the benediction and with a plate of food that I donated to the Vaughn Boyer dinner fund. The church was full. The music was spectacular. Pastor Karen did a great job. Pastor Jorge was very animated. The atmosphere was one of hope and joy and love. It was a great night.

Notes I can remember:

1.     Saturday is the Youth Yard Sale. There is still time to bring donations.

2.     We are going to have a dinner celebration of our graduates the first weekend of June.

3.     June 10^th Jan Cox will be preaching at Oak Grove

4.     June 9^th will be a Family Day at the church sponsored by our Spanish membership.

That’s all for today, except to say thank you to you again for all you do – continue to connect with God, each other and the world.

Know that I love you – Denny

In 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the now famous lyric, “Come over baby, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.” On close inspection that lyric may ring true about the work of God throughout history and in our day today. Our world and our lives often get shaken. I believe God’s purpose in all this shakin’ is to reveal the eternal and enable us to see our life foundations with clarity.

Psalm 46:1-3    God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and foam and the mountains shake with their surging.

Haggai 2:6-7  ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.  I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, ’ says the Lord Almighty.

Luke 6:47-48   As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.  They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

God is continually shaking things up. He wants to tear off the façade and reveal the unshakable realities that are eternal. Too many people (especially we who are Christian)  build their lives on things that can be shaken. But we believers are called live confident, peaceful lives in this shaky world. God is our refuge and strength when the world is crumbling around us. In the torrent and the floods of life we can stand because God is the rock of our foundation. God will continue to shake the earth so that by standing when all else gives way, we will reveal God’s glory.

Hebrews 12:28  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe

Our text for this morning reminds us that we are receiving an unshakable kingdom in a very shaky world. We can stand secure, confident and fearless. So we should be thankful and worship God in reverence and awe.

Today, let us allow all the shakin’ goin’ on to free us from that which is not eternal and secure our foundation in the one who is our true refuge. Let us thank God for our firm foundation and that we dwell in a house that is built on the rock. Let us reverently worship God from a place of thankfulness for our peacefulness in this troubled world. Don’t have any of that? Better let God shake a little harder so you can get down to something you can truly be anchored to.

One stormy afternoon I confessed my fear of flight with the passenger seated next to me. He was seven years old. With genuine concern he said to me, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll hold your hand.” In his child-like perspective the fear would be greatly lessened by the knowledge that I was not alone. The problem is that as we mature, the fears grow greater and more real and we no longer hold a child-like perspective. Thus, the real promises of God cease to bring us much hope.

Isaiah 43:1-3   But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior

God says that when the floods come to overwhelm you, I will be with you. When the rivers come to sweep you away, I will hold you steady. When you walk in the flames, I will keep you from being consumed. He ‘sandwiches’ these promises with relational realities in verses 1 and 3: I created you. I called you. You are mine. I am your God. I am your Savior.

The problem that quickly arises is one of proper expectation and Biblical theology: If you are my Creator then you should know my weaknesses and the fact that I cannot hold up to this! I am following Your calling so why has it led me here? If I am yours why am I in over my head, in the river, in the flames? If you are my Savior then rescue me! Get me outta here!

In our definition of salvation we assume rescue. We looked to be plucked from the fire or look for the waters to recede. But God’s promise is simply – I will be with you.

Pastor Jorge shared with me that there was a time for him when every day felt like crawling across gravel. In desperation one day he collapsed into prayer begging God for mercy. That day, Jesus laid down beside him and crawled with him through the gravel. That day Jorge understood the command to fear not because God would we with him. God did not take him from the difficult path. God saw him through.

For each of us the metaphor has a different interpretation. The waters that overcome, the rivers that blow us away, the fires that consume us are unique to each of us. But to each of us God is very clear: I am your God. I am your Savior. Thus, the challenge is to not look for less water and less fire but to find a child-like faith that will hold God’s hand and allow Him to be our courage and our victory.

Standing in any water? Crossing any rivers? Walking through any flames? Fear not. God is with you.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me – Psalm 23:4

It was week of meeting and planning this week for me. It takes a lot of pow-wows to make progress sometimes. We had a good Church Council meeting this week. We are working on new bylaws for the church and new flooring for the educational wing. We are praying about hiring a consultant to guide us into some long-term planning. We got some plumbing done in the restrooms and the AC repaired at the ministry house. Pastor Karen got to visit with Brenda and met with the 34^th Street Church as well as our Spanish women’s group. I met with Trevor, Carlos and Tato to plan our Spanglish Sundays and got to visit with Herb Morales and Doris Souther. JoAnn Pass was here to clean the kitchen and classrooms, Sharon did some redecorating in the restroom, Hal was here to clean the ministry house and Canzion had a very successful open house on Saturday. It was a solid and visionary week.

On Friday I went golfing with Scott and several of the men from his work or connected to it. It sounds like fun and play (and it was) but I would share with you today the inspiration that Scott is to me. Scott has a deep burden for the souls of the people that God has placed him in the midst of. He has consistently over the years acted to reach out to them, meet them on their ground and love them into the kingdom. I find it a great honor that he regularly places me in the midst of this group as his pastor in order to be a part of that love. No one will ever accuse Scott of being a great golfer but that is not why he is there. He is bringing men together in an arena of their comfort to love them and be Christ to them where they are. It was a joy again this week to pour into lives that need Christ and be a part of an effort to reach the lost where God has placed one of our missionaries. I pray that wherever God has placed you that you too are both on your knees and on your feet to reach those who need the love of Christ. I would be glad to partner with you in such endeavors.

Sunday bright and early Sharon and Nyssa drove off to Lakeland for a competition and I headed to the church. Vaughn was trying to bring order to the platform, Trevor was working at bringing order to the music folders and I was wandering around anointing everything in sight. I put extra chairs in the kitchen and I am pleased that we had to use them. I put the meditation on the church blog. Johnny came looking for me and he and Pastor Diana anointed me. Bobby walked up on his own and was here for communion and small group time! We did get started late Sunday morning with worship team practice. If we ask people to come at 8:00am, we all need to be there on time and start on time. That will serve to give us a full hour before small groups begin at 9:00am. We have drifted away from that and need to get back to it.

Sunday’s attendance was really good but we had both halves of our membership together for Spanglish service. There was a good representation from both halves and some visitors as well. There were a couple of young men visiting and I saw one of Mary Robert’s daughters. There seemed to be a mixing of folk as well. Sometimes the seating looks like two halves. Not so yesterday. The band kicked in with some very lively and familiar worship. They were enjoying themselves and it showed in their leadership and then on my face. I had my batteries in backward so I shouted my way thru the offering prayer but got that worked out while Tato sang a gripping offertory in English. Pastor Karen brought her Russian nesting dolls to share with a very healthy crowd of children. Each individual fit within the other and were held together as one by the largest doll. She shared about the oneness of the Body of Christ and that we are all held together by Christ. Clinton and Kathy Dailey took the troops back with them and I preached with Banchi’s translation to those who stayed behind. I took us back to the Church of God doctrine of unity and laid the Biblical foundation for our philosophy of ministry. Kind of a ‘why are we doing this?’ look at Spanglish Sunday. Preaching to the choir in many ways but I hope the choir better understands the Biblical foundations for the church of Jesus Christ. We then took time to pray together. The music was wonderful. The prayer was significant. There was movement to one another to encourage and pray for each other. There was a wonderful spirit about the response to the Word. When the service concluded, I went to the door and very few people left! I chatted with Banchi who shared with me how much he enjoys translating. But many stayed in the sanctuary to continue the fellowship. That did my heart good.

I had not changed clothes by 6:00pm and somehow felt the need to go and bring some action to my own words Sunday night so I cam back for the Spanish service. A good number of our leadership had gone straight from morning service to Lakeland for the first service of the “Spanglish” ministry there. So last night there was but a tired gathering of leaders. Jorge and Martha did the music and Jorge led a spectacular devotion for the 20-30 that had gathered. It was a small group of those who worked in the morning, the core group and four visitors. They received a special message from Jorge that will be the inspiration for my chapel meditation this week.

Notes I can remember:

1.     I am off to visit my new granddaughter on Wed. Doyle will be teaching Wed. Pastor Karen preaching on Sunday.

2.     Sunday is Communion. Would someone set that up for Pastor? We’ll need help serving and anointing.

3.     We need housing for Warner Univ. students for May 12^th for the service on Mother’s Day

4.     Youth Yard Sale is May 12^th at the church

5.     PD will be back in the office next Tues morning.

That’s all for today, except to say thank you to you again for all you do – continue to connect with God, each other and the world.

Know that I love you – Denny

When I was a child I had certain expectations of adulthood. I was sure that one day I would grow up, be on my own and do everything the way I like and the way I want. I would jump on the bed, eat in the living room, keep my clothes on the floor and have ice cream for breakfast. When I actually grew up I found that premise to be false and that those priorities were no longer mine. I had unrealistic expectations of what it would be like to be a grown man.

I think we can have unrealistic expectations of what it is like to be a disciple of Christ. Sometimes I think we see the path of a follower as leading to a beautifully decorated setting where we sit in comfortable chairs in nice clothes with other very nice people and we sing songs we really like. There are nice children and nice programs to meet our needs. A handsome and charismatic speaker entertains us as we invest the hour a week that is necessary to gain God’s blessing on the rest of our lives.

The reality that I have discovered (and I am famous for) is that when you follow Jesus, He brings unexpected people into our lives in very unexpected settings that often take us outside of our comfort zones. The fifth chapter of Luke gives us a few examples of this.

Luke 5:12-13   While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. A man breaks all the rules to appear before Jesus. There are a number of reasons Jesus should not have touched the man. He was repulsive and gross. He was breaking the rules. He was contagious. He was making them both unclean. But Jesus welcomed this unexpected guest; touched Him; healed him and they are both clean at the end of their encounter!

Luke 5:18-20  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”  A man paralyzed by sin comes to Jesus. He does not come the conventional way through the door; he does not wait in line – he busts thru the roof! He is unexpectedly lowered through the ceiling to Jesus’ feet in the middle of Jesus’ discourse. Despite the opposition or the consequence to Himself, Jesus forgave the man and sent him home having been set free.

Luke 5:29-30    Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Levi left everything to follow Jesus. Then he threw a wild tax-collector party at his house. No one would expect a loyal Jew, a good Rabbi to be either at a sinner’s home or at a sinner’s party but there Jesus was. He defends His need to be there to bring the opportunity of repentance to those who most needed it.

Are you ready for the unexpected as a follower of Jesus today? Are you ready to touch the ugly of this world with the power to make them beautiful? Are you ready to embrace the inappropriate of this world to bring them forgiveness and healing? Are you ready to be placed amidst the sinners to be a light to their dark place? Are you prepared to meet the unexpected person, unexpected circumstance, or unexpected location? What Jesus may do with you today, where He may lead you, or whom He may lead to you, will probably be most unexpected. Be ready to be grace, love and hope in abundance to whatever, wherever, or whenever He leads.

It was another typical Oak Grovian week that amounts to more thanks than I can remember to give but I do want to say to you that you are inspirational. This week I met with Tom Scott and got to worship out at Zephyrhills State Correctional. I had dinner with our State Executive, Greg Wiens and went to the Rays game with the men’s group. We had 14 in right field and cheered the rays on to a disappointing loss. Pastor Karen was at the church with our women’s group building bridges, teaching and connecting with our Spanish speakers. Clinton and Kathy Dailey took their small group up to Oak Grove UM to work at Heaven’s Kitchen (the outreach to the homeless there). I got a phone call from Bill Loos telling me how much help they all were. Canzion was at church Saturday morning and NA had a fashion show Sat night at which the dance team from 34^th Street Church performed. Wed afternoon I became a grandfather. KC and his wife Josie gave birth to Atley Grace Huebner at 2:30 Wed afternoon. She was 7lb 10oz and 18 inches long. All appear to be healthy and excited. I am going out to see her and thus will not be here for worship the first Sunday in May. Pastor Karen will need your assistance with communion and anointing.

Wed night we had some brave and willing souls join together with 34^th street Church of God and Heritage Progressive Baptist to celebrate Pastor Tom Scott’s 32 years as the pastor there. It was very much a different style than ours. It was so loud my hearing aid melted and the word was long and circular. But it was much noted by Tom and his staff that we were there. Thank you all who took on that adventure. Thanks to those who served enabling others to go. Thanks to Pastor Karen for giving Jorge’s Mom a cultural experience. Thank you all for helping me to make us a part of the larger Body of Christ.

Pastor Karen and I had breakfast with Danny and Michele on Sat morning and got caught up with our youth ministry and did some visioning and planning. God has called them to a very special calling and had brought a very challenging group of young people into our midst to be their functional family. Showing them Christ and making it real is an overwhelming task. Please make their ministry and our young people a regular part of your prayers. Please be praying for increases leadership for that portion on our mission. We plan to do some structuring and job descriptions to help make volunteer work more clear and help more abundant. They have a few key fund raisers going thru the summer to get some of our young people to Atlanta to work with the Church on the Street. Your help with the Yard Sale, the Graduation Cookout, gift card sales or hiring a young person would be great. Yesterday starting a youth small group on Sunday morning for those who are looking to go a little deeper. Your help and prayers with this teaching portion of the mission would be greatly appreciated as well.

Somewhere during the game Fri night or Sat morning my personal health started to go south and the barometer changes turned my head to play-dough. I sent a warning flare to Pastor Karen and I thank her for prayer. Supportive prayer, Indian tea with Floridian honey and a good night’s rest helped me to rally for the day Sunday but I was not the only one battling physically. Several of our members were missing due to health and Brenda had a particularly difficult week and could use you to turn your prayers up a notch. It was either sunny or pouring rain Sunday morning but a refreshing day. Pastor Diana was struggling with an abscessed tooth and Johnny was in Sky Valley so Karen and I tag-teamed the chapel. It was a pleasant surprise to see Sandy Cress join us while she could, She and the worship team were in good formed and were prayed up for service. The sanctuary needed some adjustment but it got anointed as well. I was very aware of and thankful for our young leadership and their involvement in preparation for worship. I was very thankful for the small groups and the consistent heartbeat they are to the lives that serve our mission. I felt horrible but could not have felt more blessed, lucky and grateful.

Sunday’s attendance was low for a variety of reasons. It was a real treat to see Juanita Sosa and Simon Cordero with us. Pastor Karen took the reigns and got us started. We did some wonderful worship songs and the lyrics were very meaning for me. Britt and Darleen were smiling and singing. Danny was in a worship-world of his own. Sandy stopped a couple times to wave her arms and dance a few steps. They really were all lead worshippers. Our soloist did not show on Sunday so the band took the offertory – thank you. We really missed Connie yesterday. She is really traveling a lot of extra miles caring for her parents. Please invest in her this week. A call, a card, an email and lots of prayers should go her way this week. She needs divine assistance to carry out the calling of this hour and we must be her armor bearers! Without her leadership and missing our normal ‘collecters’ there was a scramble to get ushers to take the offering! Thanks to Tom, Sharon and Bob for jumping into the isle at the last minute! Pastor Karen brought the children forward and shared with them that the only good news she could find in the paper was in the sports section. Even then, it was not about people she really knew so the good news was not as great as it might be. We know Jesus and we know each other and He is doing some great things in our lives that are worthy of celebration. Thinking of the Good News in the lives we know the children went off with Sharon to children’s church. After a few announcements we tackled the end of Hebrews 10 together. It encouraged us to draw near to God, hold on to hope and do that together. A part of that is spurring one another on to love and good works and encouraging one another. I challenged us all to use prayer time to exercise that calling in the Body and to go to one another to encourage each other and prayer for each other. I got caught up in praying with people, so I did not really see what went on in general as a response. I did have a member come to me after service and say (in tears) my friend came to me and prayed for me today. That is what I really needed. I trust we glorified God in our gathering and that we were all encouraged.

I was given grace to make it through the service but after lunch found my bed and stayed there. I watched Ben Hur and drank lots of citrus and slept my way into Monday. I feel well enough to be in the office this morning and the ride on my bike was invigorating. I will trust in some healing such that I can get some visits in this week.

Notes I can remember:

1.     Tomorrow night is Church Council Meeting.

2.     Wednesday activities return to normal this week.

3.     Sunday April 29^th is our next Spanglish Sunday

4.     Youth Yard Sale is May 12^th at the church

5.     PD on vacation May 2-6

That’s all for today, except to say thank you to you again for all you do – continue to connect with God, each other and the world.

Know that I love you – Denny

Psalm 87:7    “All my fountains are in you.”

I found in these few words a wonderfully poetic truth that we are often prone to drift from. In this psalm, the picture is of the people of God gathered in the joy of God’s presence. In their praise they sing of their source. They find in the Lord all inspiration, comfort, strength, joy, life and hope. As the Apostle Paul would say, His grace is sufficient for my every need. He is my true source and I find all my fountains in God. I believe this truth is a spiritual battleground of great temptation and regular drifting.

Jeremiah 2:13   “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

The Bible points to two evils here. They had forsaken God as their fountain of living water. Spoken to a people living in an arid land, these words must have had some sting. A water source was a matter of survival. An underground fountain was a rare treasure, gurgling refreshment to the dry and weary. It would make no sense to forsake such a treasure. Yet this is what the prophet says Jerusalem has done.

They compounded that insanity by making cisterns of their own. Attempting to catch and hold what little water may flow into them in hewn holds that were broken and truly could hold very little. They had given up everything to go after nothing. And there was for them little to quench their thirst.

How easy it is to invest in what the world sells to our consumer-trained minds and build broken cisterns and develop alternative, back-up fountains. And in this process forsake the true source of living water. I often witness a weary, over-loaded constituency that is consuming energy bars, caffeine, Red Bull and 5 hour lightening to try to stay alert and keep going. I see a drifting away from devotional disciplines, sleeping through worship, poor Sabbath principles and attempts to pull a rabbit out of a hat to fulfill service commitments.

There are so many attractive plans, programs, cisterns and alternatives. It is easy to drift away from our true source and forget that ‘all my fountains are in You.’ I’m glad you are here today. I am inspired by your discipline and your devotion. Take all the time you need today to drink from the fountain of living water. Listen, be refreshed, be filled, quench the needs of your soul, pour out the burdens and worries of your heart. Be prepared, restored and renewed at the true fountain of the Lord of Lords.

PRAYER:   Lord you are the fountain of my faith and the spring of all grace. You are the fountain of all my dreams and desires, the spring of my activity and all of my doing. You are the fountain of my hope, my salvation and my eternity. All my strength and anticipations lie in you, Lord. Without your Spirit, I would be a dry well, a mocking cistern, destitute of power to bless myself or others. I cannot live without you. I need you this day precious Lord. Be my every fountain.

Did you ever have one of those weeks where you had a great plan to do a number of things but life happened and you never got to any of them? Last week was one of those for me. I’m never completely sure if God is directing me to His plan or if weak boundaries deteriorate my divine agenda. Probably a bit of both. I did get a half day with our State Executive, Greg Wiens to give a state of the ministry report and to talk about missions. I started with the team to get Pastor Tom Scott elected as the Supervisor of Elections. And I got by to see Doris Souther and Hugh Flowers. We had a marvelous road trip to Plant City to visit one of the groups favorite haunts: Fred’s Market. We had a dozen people and lots of laughs and great food. I drove out with Norma and her two friends and held three simultaneous conversations – the only magic I performed all week!

We did have a nice work day on Saturday. My sincere thanks to all the men who showed up to give some time to our facility. Tom Ski and Clinton Dailey replaced ceiling tiles and repaired the sound booth. Vaughn Boyer and Ira Miller pained the sigh out front. Jeff and Kevin Blythewood cleaned off the roofs and the gutters. Trevor Baker worked on the plumbing all over the building. Pat and Tammi Cullera helped everyone. Jonathan Colhouer coached us at Home Depot. Ira supplied the steaks and Tom the potato salad so we had a very nice lunch and got a good morning of tasks accomplished.

Sunday morning started with our normal pattern. Vaughn was opening up and setting up computers. Trevor was copying music. Pastor Karen prayed up the worship team and Pastor Diana cared for the chapel and anointed me. I ran into Clo Collier in the hall way and she noted how quiet it was Sunday morning. I thought a lot about that and had a conversation with Pastor Diana. In our busy, noisy world when do we have a half hour or 45 minutes to be in quiet and meditate on God’s Word and pray? We really do have a gem in our schedule early on Sunday. I know it is much earlier than many “have to be here.” I know others have responsibilities and ministries that eliminate that hour for them. But I would encourage you to talk about our Chapel Time on Sunday mornings and even use it yourself. Take a quiet hour or so and simply be in God’s presence. Receive the holy ordinance. Meditate on His Word. Prepare yourself for mission and ministry.

I found Sunday worship jovial and rich. We had a good crowd for after Easter (though most of it was against the walls). We had visitors back for previous weeks and a couple who joined us from the sunrise service at the park. No video, we just prayed and sang our way into God’s presence. Several of our regular band members were away but Trevor and Judy did a fine job. Sadly it was Don and Judy Demer’s last Sunday with us as their snow-bird season came to an end. They will be representing us at campmeeting this summer and we hope to see them again in the Fall. Jon Foster, Trevor and Judy did a great offertory. I thought it was both meaningful and fun. Pastor Karen called the young ones forward and showed them a model car. She explained that she could not have ridden it to church because it was just a model. She tied that to the sermon and the idea that what came before Jesus was simply a model of what was to come but Jesus superior to all that came before because he can truly  transport us into God’s presence. I followed Karen with a walk thru the beginning of Hebrews 10 and said the same thing only a much longer version. I attempted an invitation to receive Christ, but to my knowledge no decisions were made. We moved through some serious prayer time that just exhausted me. Sometimes the burdens are pretty heavy to carry and weigh heavy on your heart. It was a wonderful morning of worship.

Sunday afternoon we made our way to the Red Elephant to eat pizza and plan worship. My thanks to Pastor Karen, Trevor Baker, Curt Gray, Larry Siebert and Sharon and Nyssa for being a part of the planning process. If you were not emailed the new schedule and you want one please see me or Adam in the church office.

Sunday night I got a visit from an old friend named Roger and his fiancée. I met Roger at ZCI and after eight and a half years of incarceration he is now a free man. He is doing very well and very involved with ministry sharing his testimony everywhere. He was very confused that our evening service was in Spanish but marveled at what God is doing. Not everyone gets it but most can see it. Tato started Sunday night with a song. Pastor Jorge preached on being faithful, steadfast, patient in following God Word and used the paths of Abram and Lot to lead us through the difference between consistently choosing God and choosing our own way. The band did a very lively collection of music that allowed me to sing poor Spanish very loud much to the chagrin of those seated in front of me! The Spirit was evident even to those of us who understood very little. Our Spanish speaking members have been meeting on Sunday morning at the ministry house and Pastor Frank has been leading a Bible study in the first classroom. We are a very fruitful bunch!

Notes I can remember:

1.     Yesterday was Margaret Brookover’s 92^nd birthday.

2.     Friday night the Men’s group is going to cheer for the Rays.

3.     THIS Wednesday, the 18^th, we are going to 34^th Street to worship. Please plan to join us! Please!

4.     Tuesday April 24^th is Church Council Meeting

5.     Sunday April 29^th is our next Spanglish Sunday

That’s all for today, except to say thank you to you again for all you do – continue to connect with God, each other and the world.

Know that I love you – Denny

Joshua 3:14-17    So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

The people of God had come to the shores of the Jordan once again. The promise of God lay on the other side. This mass of people and all they owned would need to cross over the Jordan river and it was at flood stage. The instructions they were given were that the priests should carry the ark to the waters edge and get their feet wet. In simplest terms, the priests were the community’s spiritual leaders and the ark was the very dwelling place of God. So, in order for the people to get to the promise, the leaders had to hold on to God, literally step out in faith and get their feet wet.

We, as a faith community, may define success by a number of terms: growth, maturity, transformation, salvation, discipleship, impact, obedience, and glorification to name a few. I believe the success of Oak Grove under any of these terms will come only as her leaders hold on to God, follow God’s instructions, and take the risks involved with getting their feet wet.

Unlike the Israelites, we do not carry God in an ark. We are blessed to have God dwell within. But we still must make a daily effort to put God in a place of Lordship and priority in our lives. We must feel the weight of God’s presence in every moment and be cognizant of God’s plan. We must be a listening and learning people that work diligently to know God’s instructions. We cannot proceed clueless in our faith journey. We must be people with a firm handle on God’s instructions for our lives and our mission.

We, as spiritual leaders, need to get our feet wet. We need to literally walk by faith, take steps into what is only certain by way of faith. What does that mean for you today? This week in the life of Oak Grove? Where is God calling you to lead the way by holding Christ up, being obedient and stepping out in front by faith? What steps must you take to lead others to the way of faith and to God’s promise?