The Wreaths at Arlington are a Gift of Love

This one won't be as spiritual as some, I guess. But maybe my patriotism is catching up to my age. :)


You may be interested to know that these wreaths, laid at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetary-- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington , Maine . The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.



I couldn't help but relate this touching story to the fact that 2000 plus years ago, in a stable in a little town called Bethlehem......not the capital city of Jerusalem. In a stable.....not in a palace gilded with fine gold. Wrapped in torn cloth.......not in fine linen from the Orient, a Savior was born. From a poor family, from a questionable situation, a donation was made. Scripture tells us that God gave His only begotten son.



An interesting fact that I read into this story is that the Bible tells us God is love. Jesus is God, manifest in flesh. Love was the gift, love was born on Christmas Day. Out of a poor beginning, from a heart full of love for humanity sprang the greatest gift that was ever given on any Christmas. Oh, I know. Love existed before that first Christmas day. But the essence of true love became evident that star-lit night when the angel so proudly proclaimed that unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given. See, God had been what love is for centuries, and had loved his creation since he first scraped up the first handful of dust and began to sculpt into existence his plan to redeem us. Love wasn't shown in the cost it took to make man, we are dust and to dust we will return.

Love manifests itself, not in the expense of the gift that is given, but in the care that is given in choosing the gift itself. Redemption was the gift that was born that day. The Savior, giftwrapped in humanity, just dirt really, but it wasn't the cost of the wrappping, it was the contents of the heart of God. WOW.............no greater love hath any man than this, that a man will lay down his life for a friend. Jesus did that for me, what a gift. My redemption, my salvation.



No wonder pride swells in the hearts of Americans when we see what Merrill Worcester has done for the brave men and women who have laid down their lives for our freedom. No wonder
we stand in silent wonder as we watch the tireless efforts of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in all kinds of weather. Soldiers prepared to defend the defenseless against all enemies both foreign and domestic.


Christmas is a time, at least for me, of reflection. Reflection on gifts, and giving, love and sharing. I'm proud to be an American, to stand beside men like Merrill Wordester and say, "This is my Country." And, I'm thankful to be able to say, "I'm a Christian. Jesus is my Savior."

Humble beginning, I was there; questionable surroundings, that was me; tattered garments, I wore them, but Jesus paid it all. And just like the old song of the Church says, All to Him I owe.

The great gift of love in Arlington is awesome, thank you Merrill Worcester for your love for this country and for your unslefish giving to the fallen soldiers who defend us. But his gift pales in comparison to the day love was born, the gift of love was given to me.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of love on that first Christmas night. Thank you angels for proclaiming this glorious story, you started a story that has never died. Thank you sheperds for seeking the Savior, you led the way for us. And thank you friend for being wise, for wise men really do still seek Him.

Merry Christmas

Increase The Body

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 (KJV)

"Each part... helps the other parts grow." Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

Really, the scripture is speaking to us about networking here. Not necessarily in the sense we think of on our job, with clients, other sub-contractors or sales reps.
But, in a spiritual sense, we network. The body, Paul said is "fitly joined together", "we are compacted by that which every joint supplieth"..........
then read on....................."according to the effectual working"...........
Christ effectively molded and built the church, strategically placing us where we can grow, but also where as we network with the body, where we can be an asset. As the church reaches her potential, the members who are fitly framed together, who know their place, who have fulfilled ministry, who walk in the Spirit and are led by the Spirit of God, they grow together. As they grow, they help develop the entire body. Paul said every part....helps the other to grow. It isn't a show. It isn't always something that can be seen outwardly. It is a spiritual growth.

Next time you're walking in the woods, imagine what's taking place under your feet. As the roots of trees come into contact with one another they form an underground support system. One has access to water, another to nutrients, another to sunlight, etc. A networking is taking place that strengthens them all. This is what Paul had in mind: "[Under His direction], the whole body is fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Some of us independent types have difficulty when it comes to networking. We fly solo, until we crash and burn! Eventually our pain, not our brain, shows us our need for things like:


(1) Mercy.
"Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others" (Col 3:13 NLT).
What motivates us to show mercy to others? God's mercy to us. You'll never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you. this is an integral part of the network of the church. It is essential for us to show mercy in order for the body to increase.

(2) Understanding.
"Be sympathetic ...kind...gentle, and patient" (Col 3:12 GWT).
Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs we all have: the need to be understood and the need to have our feelings validated. The problem is we're in such a hurry to fix people that we don't have time to sympathize with them. We're too preoccupied with our own hurts. Self-pity dries up sympathy for others. We forget the time it took for us to grow from the tender young plant to the old oak tree we are now.

(3) Encouragement.
"I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you" (Ro 1:12 NCV).
All of us are strengthened in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us.
" And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. " Ecc. 4:12
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Jas. 5:16
So today, practice networking!!!!!!!!! Pray for one another, call out the name of a friend to God in prayer.
Encourage someone who is slipping.
Bring a neighbor to church Sunday.
Pick up that child in your neighborhood and bring them to Sunday School.
Be understanding instead of judgmental. Oh, come on now.......you know I'm right!!!!
Remember God's mercy in your life, and show mercy to someone today.
Let's network the Love of God, let's network the Mercy of God..........

Who Ya Talkin To?

Hey You....................Who Ya Talkin To?

I've got a blue tooth, ........not in my mouth silly. It is worn on my ear, it receives a signal from my cell phone so I can talk without holding the phone. I can't tell you how many times I have been walking along, talking on my blue tooth, no phone in hand, sometimes not even in sight. there I am talkin' away, passing people in the check out, at the restaurant, where ever and they hear me just jabbering. Often they look at me like, "Who you takin' to?"

Sometimes I think, "Not you." haha. After a minute it is obvious I am not talking to them, so in time they simply pay me no attention. But there is always the questioned look, "Who ya talkin' to?"

Look at this scripture............................

Galatians 1:15-16 KJV
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.

Paul gave no attention to what the people said. When he knew what God wanted him to do he didn't then go ask people what they thought about it. When you've heard from God you don't need to find out what your friends and family thinks about it. You just need to do it.

When you know that you know that you heard from God, you don't need a sign. You don't need to say, "Give me a sign Lord. Let a rooster cock-a-doodle-doo at midnight and I'll know it's your will." God doesn't lead you by signs; He leads you by His Spirit. When you pray daily, you will hear Him speaking to you.

Some folks don't pray until the emergency shows up. Now, I'm saying this jokingly, but I almost believe that when God hears certain voices praying, He says, "I haven't heard that voice in five years. They must be in trouble again." Since I'm on this point, there are also folks who don't go to church until things go wrong. God is not your Santa Clause. And he's not God-in-the-Box, where you wind Him up when you want to and out He jumps. God expects you to live for him with your whole life. He expects you to come before Him in prayer - all the time - daily, so that you can know that you know that you have His direction.

What you need is the Word and to follow the Holy Ghost. Paul said, I didn't confer with flesh and blood. If I had listened to people I wouldn't have a church, because people told me not to come here. You have to spend time in prayer, and let God show you what He wants you to do. Then when you know what God wants you to do, do it.

You mean God deals with me in the earth? Yes. He made you. He cares about you. Jesus died for you. Do you think He would then just leave you alone in this earth to fend for yourself until you die? No, He's involved in your life to the extent you will hear His word and obey His voice through prayer and fellowship with Him. He will show you what He wants you to do in life. When you have heard from God, you don't need the sound of many voices echoing in your ears.

Hey You..........Who Ya' Talkin' To?

No Place Like Home

In my office........................

at home with the family.........................

My 16 year old daughter, my 24 year old daughter and her husband, my 13 year old son, my wife and I all sit and talk. Well, actually we talk over each other. Do you ever do that?

Here we all are. we are sitting around the office, some in chairs, some on the arms of chairs, one on the corner of my desk. What are we talking about? Nothing really. Just talking, the clamour of voices, one over another. One loud, another laughing, one interrupting the last.

We have talked about french horns, gift cards, Dad's birthday, Amber and TJ arguing....imagine that!!!!!!!!!!! I love my family, I love it when we are all at home. But my family just likes noise.

My family is not unlike other families, but it is our family that has defined us. Our family brings strength to one another. we can pick at each other, and talk over each other, but no one else had better try it. We are family. I have seen my daughter run down the street chasing kids who were picking on her little brother, truly a sight to behold.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.................

Shouldn't our extended family be like this as well? Shouldn't my church family be like this?
When somebody comes against my brother or my sister, I should rise to their defense. When the enemy attacks my brother, I should drop to my knees and tell my heavenly father all about it. Sometimes we are just noise and clamour. Sometimes we accomplish things together, sometimes it is just us, sitting around and talking, talking over each other, but we are family.
Together, we can accomplish things, together we can overcome. United we are strong, divided we we will fall.

We live in an age of "every man for himself." "I'll sell you out if it benefits me."
We need family.
We live in an age of noise and clamour.
We need the continuity of family.
We live in a loveless society.
We need the love of family.

Family strengthens, family holds on, family never gives up. Maybe that's why Jesus called us his children, joint heirs.....................................He didn't give up.
Get a grip on a church family, join us this Sunday.

Just a little thought in the midweek....................................
Look for more later.
God Bless

It finally came.................................





The rain we so desperately needed arrived yesterday. 2.22 inches in one day, Wow! They say it is a record for the month of August in Indiana. And with the rain, came the usual rain issues.

So, there I was at the local BP getting gas. The rain was coming down in

buckets, and I thought I could run between raindrops. I got inside ok,

and thought I'd sure like a nice cold diet coke to drink while I am on my

way to the hospital to do visitation. I paid for my gas, oh and my soda, and started out the door to the truck. Again, I thought I could run and miss the raindrops. So I ran out and got right to my truck when.............
whoosh, there went my feet, right out from under me. Remember, I was trying to avoid getting wet. As I lay there on the nice black asphalt, in my nicely pressed pants and white shirt, with my cup of diet coke now covering my chest.....I first looked around to see if anyone saw me. No one ran to assist the big guy on the deck. :) But I got up, now thoroughly drenched, assessed the situation, and thought, "Aw, what's the use.".....

But that is just a side note about the rain. I spoke to several people yesterday, and in passing everyone had something to say about the rain. "Sure is raining hard out there." "Boy, we really needed that rain, didn't we?" And the statement that caught my attention the most, "The ground is so dry and hard, the rain is just running off."

How many times in our lives has the ground of our lives been parched? How many times has our spirit been parched, and we have prayed for the rain, the fresh rain of God brought in by the wind of His Spirit? How often have we needed rain, needed a refreshing and we have gone too long without a visitation and the wind blows, and the rain falls, but our ground was too dry?

It's a good time for Pastor to tell you, you need to stay close to the fountain of life. It's a good time for Pastor to tell you not to stay away from the fresh rain of God so long that your spirit gets dry, your heart is so parched that it hardens. Stay close to the fountain. Listen, do you hear the thunder.........sometimes the thunder cloud that would cause us to fear, cause us to stay away, may be the very warning that God sends our way. All the while telling us there is a storm coming, there is a tempest raging, but in the midst of that storm is the rain that your spirit so desperately needs to sustain your spiritual life.

Jesus said it, If you are thirsty, come. If we can stay close, and allow the rain to penetrate our dryness, Jesus said then....out of your belly shall flow rivers.................rivers of living water.................springing up.................into everlasting life.

I feel the rain. The fresh, bountiful, refreshing rain from God.

Do you feel it?

You should bask in his rain.................................

Who Said So???????

I preached, in service this morning, from this simple thought. The world in which we live is filled with words. Evereyone has a word about something.

The enemey of our souls has a word, but God also has a Word for us today.

The writer of Ecclesiastes said in verse 4 of chapter 8, "Where the word of the king is.....there is power, and who will say unto him,'what doest thou?'" I said it this way, The King's is a voice of authority and nobody will say, when the King speaks, "Who said so?"

We don't just serve a king, we serve the King, in fact He is the King of Kings. When He speaks all creation takes notice. When the earth was void and without form, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, the spirit of God moved on this void and nothing changed, but when God spoke......creation began.

The spoken word of God brings life and peace. It brings something out of nothing. So, regardless of your situation, Listen for the Word of God, because His Word has power to change your situation.

I'm glad for the moving of the spirit of God that we feel in our hearts, but I need over and over again, the Word of the Lord to speak to me, to lead me, to guide me, to deliver me, to save me and, to keep me.

Troubles are about to get you down.......................Who said so?

Circumstances are about to overwhelm you..................Who said so?

Your past is sneaking up on you to overtake you.............Who said so?

I hear the Word of the Lord................and He said everything's gonna be alright!!!!!!!!