Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore....

Oh, the quest of finding a home church. Looked near, looked far, looked near again.. looked on the web. Alas, didn't find it. Have been searching for awhile now... don't have my expectations too high, nor too low. Atmospheres and sermons have changed so much in the last decade, it's hard to recognize a good, down to earth, honest to goodness place of worship.

I'm wondering what happened to the pastors that brought forth the word of God in such a manner, that even though you knew the Lord, it made you just want to get saved all over again?! You know what I'm talking about.. the kind of preaching that literally and physically tugged at your heart strings and let you know that the most important thing in your life was your relationship with the Lord. Where are those pastors with those messages and invitations? And the music, I'll try not to stay on that subject too long.... what happened? Okay, there are young people out there, but then again on the other hand... oldies but goodies are always a good thing! So why must I sit through a service that has really loud drums, pounding sounds, and music so loud there's no way to comprehend the words to that worship song?

So, here's my 2 cents... Have the contemporary music, but don't forget about the rest of us here.. the one's that still hold precious to our hearts "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace". I like pretty much all genres of gospel music. Just not the same style the entire service. Leave room for this or that song, to bless this lady or that family, or that young person. Leave room for the Lord to work in the music ministry...

Jesus didn't just minister to the towns people... he went to the sea and ministered to those fishing, and the children, as well as the workers in the fields. He went to all walks of people.

Let us remember that there are "all walks of people" and we all strive to hold the Lord so close to our hearts. I'm trusting in Jeremiah 29:11, and wanting to quote John 3:17:

"For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved". Lord help us to realize that we need to minister to the world, not just a few. Help us to look to you for our guidance and strength.. Help us to love you more and more and to find our way home.

You're Still You ~ Josh Groban

"You're Still You"

Through the darkness
I can see your light
And you will always shine
And I can feel your heart in mine
Your face I've memorized
I idolize just you

I look up to
Everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
I've loved you for so long
And after all is said and done
You're still you
After all
You're still you

You walk past me
I can feel your pain
Time changes everything
One truth always stays the same
You're still you
After all
You're still you

I look up to
Everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
And I believe in you
Although you never asked me to
I will remember you
And what life put you through

And in this cruel and lonely world
I found one love
You're still you
After all
You're still you

This is an amazing, thought provoking video... listen to the words...

Holidays are Upon Us!

It's the most wonderful time of the year... and yet.. I'm thinking about the "street people".  I pastored a church, and ministered to homeless people for 7 years in downtown Oklahoma City... and when the temps get below 40'... I know they are suffering... literally living on the streets of OKC!  I chose to not call them homeless , but rather, street people, because... they always have a home in the Lord.  It just makes sense.  Thus, to me, they are street people.  First person I saw when I began that ministry was a man named John Todd.  He was literally living in a cardboard refrigerator box, in an alley.. in Oklahoma City.  My heart hurt and I cried to myself, as I spoke with him, and told him about salvation with Jesus Christ.  I sang to him, a song that the Lord had put on my heart that entire day.  I sang to him in that dark alley, a song called I Won't Turn Back.  There were no bright lights, no microphone, no fancy silk suit and my heels, no TBN stage there for me... just a cold, lonely man in a dark alley, needing the Lord more than ever.  He accepted the Lord right there in that alley, in 20' sleeting weather.  His eyes just lit up after that prayer and he became a faithful "member" of that street ministry.  In working with local missions, we were able to get temporary housing for so many street people, and some of them eventually became a part of the work force again.  A ministry like that makes you  truly realize what IS important in life...  the major difference between wants and needs.  They had simple needs.. a comb, toothbrush, clothing, food...but most of all, to know Jesus.  Reminds me of when Jesus went to the multitudes and spread the gospel.  When we first started that ministry, I prayed for souls to be saved and lives to be changed.  I was so naive.  I had no idea how much it would change me.  Fishers of men... people need the Lord.

First blog.. It's all about Jesus....

Well, guess I'm playing catchup with the rest of my blogger friends... and those out there that I haven't met yet... My first blog... next to facebook... and it's to praise the Lord for saving me, for watching over me and my family, and for the gazillion blessings He has brought to my life.  Where would I be without His love... a lost lamb.

I started this blog for several reasons, but the most important is to share the love of Jesus and so many blessings I've seen over all the years.  Another is to just speak what's in my heart, and hopefully, someone out there, somewhere, will be blessed and gain strength.  Let's face it, people need the Lord.  They need to know they are not alone.  That is really important.  One of my favorite passages in the Bible... "Trust in the Lord with all your might, and lean not unto your own understanding... In all they ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths".  Proverbs 3:5-6.  I have literally lived on those two verses for decades now, and I am a survivor, because my strength came from the Lord.

This blog will take us on some lows, and some highs.  Only mentioned the lows because, again, people really need to know that they are not alone.  The highs... are really pretty incredible.  Stay with me..