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Bread of Life

In John 6:35 Jesus says, “I Am the Bread of Life.” He wants to be our source of nourishment and our source of satisfaction. If we are looking anywhere else for our satisfaction we will be greatly disappointed.

How do we feed on the Bread of Life? How do we eat this Bread that Jesus claims to be? Here are some very practical ways to draw life from this Bread.

I encourage you to take some time and talk to Him. Take some time with Bible open and Listen to Him.And as you listen, you will believe.Your believing will produce doing.And as you’re doing, you will naturally share the bread with others.And as you share the bread you will want to talk to Jesus about it.

Jesus is indeed the true Bread from Heaven. Let Him nourish and satisfy you today.

The Two Most Important Questions

There are two questions that every person must answer and how we answer these two determine everything about this life and the life to come. So, what are the questions? The first most important question is this: “Who do you say that Jesus is?” And the second is like it: “How will you live based on your answer to number one?”

So, who do you say Jesus is? Many people have many different opinions. In fact if you just randomly interviewed people on the street, some would say a good teacher, a prophet, a great philosopher, a religious leader or some must even say, who?

But the question is, who do you say Jesus is? In the gospel of John 8:58 Jesus makes an interesting statement. In a discussion of the religious leaders of his day, they were having a big debate about their father Abraham. They were claiming that they didn’t believe Jesus because they followed Abraham. Jesus then made the statement that before Abraham was I AM. After he said that the Pharisees picked up stones and wanted to kill him. Why did they want to stone him for saying I AM? It’s because he was claiming to be God. He was claiming the name of God used by God himself in Exodus chapter 3.

According to Jesus, He thought He was God. Now we have a choice. Will we agree with Him or not. If we agree that Jesus is God then how will we live our life based on that answer.

You know you live in the country when...

This past week I taught the Bible lesson at our community Vacation Bible School. It was a lot of fun as I got to spend time with some great kids. I had a lot of neat experiences, but one that typifies our area stood out. I was teaching the parable Jesus taught on the sower who sowed his seed and the ability for the seed to grow depended on the type of soil.

I was out on the sidewalk and was using the concrete as an example of the hard soil where nothing could grow. The kids understood and we were having a lot of fun. So, we all agreed that the seed on the concrete would not grow and we also agreed that if we left it there it would be gone by morning. I asked them what would happen to it - who would take it?

I had four groups and every group's first response was the same. They didn't say a bird would eat it or a squirrel or some reasonable animal like that. No. When asked what would take the seed, every group said a bear would come and take it.

We have quite a few bear in our area and the bear probably have messed with these kids' bird feeders so I guess it made sense that a bear would take the seed. I'm not even sure if Jesus saw that one coming. He thought a bird would take it. :-)

Declaration of Independence

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

How will you manage your MONEY?

We continue our week considering the graduating seniors of 2010. As you know you are embarking on the years ahead when you will make the 4 biggest decisions of your life. They are: Who will be your Master? Who will be your Mate? What will be your Major? And How will you manage your money?

The final of the four decisions the young graduate will make is how will you handle your money? Well, you might first say, “That’s easy, I don’t have any.” But I am not talking about just how you do with the money you have, but rather how will you perceive money. Will you serve money or will it be a tool that you will use to accomplish the purposes God has called you to. Will you learn to tithe your income? Will you be a generous giver? Will you be a saver? Or will you spend like a crazy person and go into foolish debt?

These are the decisions and habits that face the graduate. This is the time to grab hold of God’s wisdom on finances. If you get a good start on Biblical principles on money, you can live your entire life free from the slavery that can come with things.

It’s been a joy to be with you this week. Once again, a huge congratulations to all you graduates out there. As you make godly choices, you will face an awesome future.

What will be your Major?

Those of you who are finishing high school – Congratulations!!! We continue our talks on the four most important decisions of your life. They are: Who will be your Master? Who will be your Mate? What will be your Major? And How will you manage your money?

Today, I want to focus on your Major. Now, first of all I am not talking about just what you will be your major in college. I am talking about making your career choice. For some young people that includes college, but there are, of course, other paths to take also.

Why is it important to choose a good career path? Well, consider this. You will work for about 40 years. That is nearly 80,000 hours. Think of a lousy summer job you have had. Those jobs where a 6 hour shift is difficult. Imagine doing that for over 80,000 hours. Wow!

God has wired each of us up differently. He has given us unique giftings, talents and passions. Choose your career path, your major based on His calling on your life, based on His wisdom. He created you and He knows your future better than anyone else. So, choose wisely. And seek God for His wisdom.

2nd M - Your Mate

Those of you who are finishing high school – Congratulations!!! We continue our talks on the four most important decisions of your life. They are: Who will be your Master? Who will be your Mate? What will be your Major? And How will you manage your money?

Today we talk about your Mate or Marriage. “Whoa, whoa, whoa Rick, not so fast. I just want to head off to college and have some fun. I’m not thinking about marriage now.” I’m sure that’s true and I am not at all a proponent of getting married too young. So, this is not at all about you getting married now. What it is about is making wise decisions over the next years of your life when it comes to relationships.

Our life is wrapped up in relationships and it should be. So, be careful to choose your friends wisely. The Apostle Paul writes that “Bad company corrupts good morals.” And he is right. And how you choose your friends will affect how you choose your dates. And how you choose and treat your dates will determine how you choose and treat your spouse. Marriage is the most wonderful gift a person can have. He who has found a good wife has found the greatest treasure on earth. Make wise decisions based on your future, and God will bless you for it.

Who is Your Master?

We continue our week considering the graduating seniors of 2010. As you know you are embarking on the years ahead when you will make the 4 biggest decisions of your life. They are: Who will be your Master? Who will be your Mate? What will be your Major? And How will you manage your money?

The primary decision you will make that is the foundation for all other decisions is: Who is your Master? Who or what is your God? You might say, “Well, I am a Christian. I have been one since I was a little kid.” That is wonderful, but this is the time of your life when Jesus truly becomes your God. He is not the God of your parents or the God of your church. He must become the God you love and serve. He must become the Master of your life.

The years after high school are great years, but they are also potentially difficult times. By making Jesus your Lord and by pursuing your relationship with Him, you are setting the only sure foundation that can give you the start in life that you need.

Choose wisely on who will be your Master.

The Decade of Decision

June is a tremendous month. Summer is finally here and everyone is excited especially the kids who are off for summer vacation. All kids are excited but every year there is that special group known as high school graduates. They have finished their high school career and they are ready to take on the world. So, first of all I salute and congratulate all of you graduates out there – you need to be commended – Great Job!!

I think it’s interesting that the graduation ceremony is called commencement. That’s because graduation is not an end, but is instead the beginning of the next stage of your life. I have worked with teenagers for nearly 20 years so I watched this transition a lot over the years. I have come to think of this decade of a person’s life from about the ages of 16-25 as the Decade of Decision. And if you or someone you love is in this decade of their life, you understand this to be true. For it’s in these years that you will decide on 4 keys areas of your life that will affect your entire future. I call these the 4 M’s. During this decade you will decide on your Master (who is your God?), your Mate (who you will marry), your Major (career path) and your Money (how will you manage it). These are 4 huge areas that we will explore this week.

For you graduate, you know you need tremendous wisdom as you forge ahead and that wisdom comes from God. Proverbs 1:5 says let the wise hear and increase in learning and 1:20 says that wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice.

My friends let’s listen to the wisdom that comes from the Lord. I look forward to spending time with you this week as we pursue God’s wisdom for this Decade of Decision that you, the graduate is about to embark upon.

Dr, Kevin Leman

Make sure you come out and hear Dr. Leman on Sunday morning June 6th. We are quite privileged to have him in our midst at PF.

Another "Life in a Small Town" Moment

I live in the same town that I grew up in. And there are times that I am really reminded that this is "small town America". So, here is one of those - "You know you live in a small town when..."

Yesterday I went on a field trip to an Erie Seawolf baseball game with Zachary's school. I was one of the Dad Chaperones. As I was on the bus with all these first graders I looked around at the adults. Can you believe that there were six of us on the bus that went to high school together? Six first grade chaperones were in school together. Those are just the parents on this trip. There are other parents of first graders that I went to high with also. This is truly one of those small town things. Some people don't like it, but I absolutely love it!!! I can think of no better place to raise our family than right where we are.

Another Truth to Consider

I have a FATHER who CHOSE me, therefore, I am WANTED!!!

A Simple Truth

Here is a very simple truth that many, even most in our culture do not believe. I challenge you to consider if it's true and consider if you believe it.

I have a Creator who Made me, therefore, I am Needed!!

Taylor Mason in Warren

Taylor Mason will be at the Warren Library Theatre on Friday, April 30th at 7 pm.

A Typical Spring Day

If you live in the north, this will be very familiar to you. If you live don't live in a climate like ours, let me describe a somewhat common April day.

Both of these pictures were taken on Saturday, April 10th. On Friday, the 9th, I mowed the lawn in shorts and a t-shirt and I was hot. Saturday morning we woke up and all the ground was covered in snow and we had to clean off our car windows. Then Saturday afternoon we were out in the backyard playing ball once again in shorts. The common expression around here in the spring is, "If you don't like the weather, wait an hour, cuz it will change."

Some of us have lives that seem like Spring in Northwestern PA. Nothing seems to be constant. Every moment the unexpected seems to happen. Wouldn't it be nice if something was constant? If something was rock solid and unchanging?

Well, there is. It is our Lord Jesus Christ. He never changes, never has a bad day and is never in a bad or unpredictable mood. What a comfort to serve a God who truly is the constant in our lives.

I love the weather here, but I am sure glad my mood or life is based on Jesus and not on something ever changing like the weather.

Amazing Love

The Other Criminal

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There were two thieves on the cross with Jesus. The one hurled insults at the Jesus and seemingly lashed out at him. But the other criminal was very different. He looked at Jesus and saw the true savior. He saw an innocent man. He saw a king whose kingdom was not of this world. He saw someone who was on an eternal mission and he wanted to be part of it. He knew that his deeds deserved death, but he somehow knew that Jesus had the answer to even death.

He turned to Jesus and said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus looked back at him and said, “ I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It sounds so simple. The criminal recognized that he was a sinner who deserved death. He believed that Jesus was innocent and died for others. He turned to Jesus and trusted in him for his eternity. Jesus’ response was quick and clear. “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

My friends, I encourage you to take another look at Jesus and turn to him. He is the answer to all our problems – including victory over death.

Have an awesome day as you live the Life He has called you to.

The First Criminal

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Jesus was hung on the cross between two criminals. The two guys were both sentenced to die. We are not sure what they did, but it’s safe to assume that it was pretty bad. Similar to Jesus, these two criminals were suffering tremendously. Crucifixion was just plane out bad. Both of them looked at Jesus and each of them saw something entirely different.

One looked at Jesus and hurled insults at him. He told him to save himself and to save them while he was at it. This guy must have had a lot of pent up anger in his life and he was taking it out on Jesus. Jesus did nothing to deserve this guy’s insults. The guy didn’t even know him. But still all of his anger was turned toward Jesus. This criminal’s life was coming to nothing. He was rapidly losing strength, yet he mustered up enough energy to insult Jesus.

I have known people like this. They have many hurts in their life. They are just plane angry, but they don’t know who or what to be angry at, so they take it out on God. The only person who could truly help them; The only person who could understand; they only person who could change their destiny, is the very one that they hurl insults toward.

Don’t be like that criminal on the cross. Don’t turn your anger toward Jesus. Instead, see Jesus like the other criminal did. But we will cover that tomorrow. Have an amazing day as you live the life that God has called you to.

Watch, Sneer, or Mock

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While Jesus hung on the cross there are three groups of people mentioned in Luke 23. People stood watching. Rulers even sneered and soldiers mocked him. These three groups of people at the cross represent many people’s reaction to Jesus today.

The people stood there and watched. They weren’t active in crucifying Jesus. They may have been quite passive - Spectators even. But they still rejected the messiah. Don’t passively ignore and reject the one who is unavoidable.

The rulers looked at him and sneered. They hated him. They were fueled by jealousy because he was messing with what they controlled. In their anger they lashed out at Jesus. Jesus is the King of kings and he rules with perfection. Will you let him rule or will you sneer at him?

The soldiers were also at the cross and they mocked him. Jesus would have been different from everybody else they ever crucified, so they had some fun with him. They thought they were in control of everything. The problem with mocking the Son of God is that he always gets the last laugh.

My question today is: How will you respond to Jesus? Will you just watch? Will you sneer at him? Will you mock him and think he’s a joke? Or will you embrace him as the Son of God?

Father Forgive Them

In Luke 23:34 we find Jesus on the cross between two thieves. I can imagine him looking out at all the people around who were all just part of the action. I don’t know how many were there, but there must have been quite a few. We know there were people standing around watching. The rulers were there. They had sentenced him to death and they were now there sneering at him. And the Roman soldiers were also on the scene. They had fun with Jesus and mocked him.

Jesus saw all these people who all had something to do with his crucifixion. And as he looked out at them, he said one of the most amazing statements recorded in the history of mankind. He looked at the evil people who were killing him. He turned his head to heaven and said,

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

In the middle of his crucifixion, Jesus was thinking about the souls of the ones doing the crucifying. He saw beyond their immediate actions and he saw their eternal destiny. He didn’t look down and see executioners. Instead, he looked down and saw future evangelists, prophets, preachers, elders in the church. He saw their potential.

May we have that same attitude as we see people. May the Lord give us eyes to see beyond a person’s immediate actions and may we see their God-given potential.

And, oh, by the way, I am convinced that many of those at the cross became followers of Jesus in the months to follow.

Visitors from Alaska

Over the next couple weeks our dear friends Marian, Joe and Lucy are in our area visitings. They are from Togiak, AK. This is the town where our church has been pretty involved over the years and these are the three main leaders from that village. Marian is from Russell and has been a missionary to Alaska for the past 12 years or so and Joe and Lucy are a Yupik couple who are two of the most precious people I have ever met.

Last night we met as a leadership team with Joe and I sat there in awe of the amazing people He has placed in our midst. As Joe spoke to us I could see a man of God, full of wisdom. I just wanted to hear more and I wanted to learn everything I could from this man.

The Yupik culture places a high value on the "council of Elders". They often refer to wisdom in terms of the elders. You may be in conversation with someone and they will say, "the elders say..." and they share some great nugget of truth.

May we always honor those great men and women of God who are our elders. Not just in age, but also in wisdom.

The Future is Bright

Seth's dad is one of the worship leaders at Praise Fellowship. In this video he is behind Seth. Seth adores his dad and wants to do everything he does, especially playing the guitar and leading worship. May the Lord use the "dads" of the world to give an example for the next generation to follow.

Olympian Kelly Clark

Kelly Clark: Head Over Heels in Love

By Shaun Brown and Barbara Cornick
The 700 Club

CBN.com – “Being 16 years old and growing up on the road by yourself without supervision, you get into some pretty bad things.”

Champion snowboarder Kelly Clark is at the top of her game literally. She won Olympic gold in 2002 as the youngest member of the U.S. team. In February 2005, Kelly boarded her way to first place at the World Cup competition in Italy.

You’d think that with all this success, Kelly’s life was ideal. But if you ask her, you might not get the answer you expect.

“I achieved the highest in my sport. I was famous,” she says. “I had money. I had an Olympic gold medal. Everything that anyone could have wanted, and I found out that wasn’t what I was looking for.”

So Kelly did what she thought would fill the void in her heart.

“I strived to drink the most. I strived to be the rowdiest... all this silly stuff. That didn’t seem like a very good idea, but at the time that was what I thought was gonna make me cool. I wanted people to like me.”

Neither Kelly’s gold medal nor her partying was enough to take away her deep sense of emptiness.

“I had spiraled into this depression and into this place that was just real dark. I was at this contest, and I was staying by myself. I spent the morning writing about how I didn’t want to live anymore and how it wouldn’t even matter.”

Kelly didn’t know it, but she was about to find out just how much her life did matter and to Whom.

“Snowboarding’s still going great from the outside perspective. My life’s great. I’ve got it made. I’m living the dream, but on the inside I’m dying. I’m standing at the bottom of the pipe.

“This girl comes down, and she’s crying ‘cause she fell on both of her runs and she didn’t qualify. This other girl goes up to her, [and] I’m standing there. They didn’t know anybody was listening. She was like, ‘Hey, it’s all right. God still loves you.’ I was blown away. If there’s a God who loves me like I need to know Him.

“She was staying in my hotel, and I found out what room number she was in. So that night I knocked on her door. She told me about having a relationship with Jesus, and she started telling me that was what it was about. My Creator wanted a real relationship with me, and He loved me very much.”

After taking some time to think about what she’d just heard, Kelly made a decision.

“I gave my life to the Lord that day," Kelly says. "It was pretty cool. The Lord really apprehended me at that point.”

United States snowboarder Kelly Clark is one of the most aggressive riders on the team. Usually in a competition like the half-pipe, a rider drops into the pipe along with their board. But according to Kelly, this year she’s not going in alone.

“Now having a relationship with the Lord, I find that there’s a lot more freedom in snowboarding for me," she explains. “I’m just so in love with Him. Every time I think about Him I have to tell Him I love Him ‘cause I’m head over heels. He makes me smile.”

Gotcha Day

Today is Jason's Gotcha Day. It was 3 years ago today at 6:35 EST that we met our little boy in the hotel lobby in Guatemala. After about a year of waiting we first held the adorable little 8 month old that was our forever child. We are so thankful to the Lord for this amazing gift and Sandie and I truly say that the Father in Heaven handpicked our two boys for us. Thank you, Jesus. I can hardly remember and can't even imagine life without Jason.

Be forever be thankful for the gifts that God has given you - especially your kids.

Super Bowl Commercial

With the Super Bowl coming up one things comes to many people's minds - Commercials!! For a couple decades the Super Bowl has produced some of the most memorable TV Commercials ever. Companies spend millions of dollars producing these 30 second moments and even more millions to purchase the air time. One ad that is stirring controversy even before it has been aired is one where star quarterback, Tim Tebow tells the story of how his mom ignored recommendations to get an abortion when she was pregnant for Tim. I am definitely looking forward to seeing it. Here is a Great Article on the story behind the the life and faith of the Tebow family. Enjoy!

Are people understanding

"You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” - Lee Iacocca

One of the ideas that Iacocca and Chrysler got across was the mini-van. Chrysler had a really good idea that people really wanted. (even though they didn't know they wanted it.) So Iacocca took this struggling company and used its limited resources to pitch the mini-man. I think he did it pretty well. :-) The American family responded and the mini-van craze was birthed.

As I was reading that quote the other day and thinking about our first Dodge Caravan, it really forced me to think about how we as the Body of Christ are doing at getting across the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please understand that we have the most amazing message ever: God has made a way for sinful man to come into relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. That is really good news. And people want that message. (Even though they don't know it yet.) Are we communicating that message well?

I may take a few posts this week to contemplate what it means to be an Ambassador for Christ. It's an amazing privilege that God has given us and we should take it very seriously.

Snow Plow for Jesus

I love winter, and I especially love the snow. I have always said that if you are going to live in this area, you have two choices – enjoy the snow or move. I have chosen to enjoy it. I know I’m a little odd, but one of my favorite things about the snow is plowing. I like shoveling, I like using the big snowblower and I especially like driving the plow truck. I sometimes get to plow the church parking lot. Not because no one else will do it. I do it because I enjoy it.

One snowy Sunday, very early in the morning, I was over at the church driving the truck and a few of us were working pretty hard to clear the parking lot and sidewalks so people could get in the building. As I was plowing the Lord taught me a wonderful lesson.

I was clearing the snow away for one simple reason – so people could safely and easily get into the building. The hope is that once they get in there, they will grow closer to Jesus through a variety of means. My job as the plow guy is to make the path easier.

That’s exactly how it is with our lives. Our lives should be a pathway to the Lord Jesus. Everything about us, our walk and our talk should be pointing to Christ. You see, there is a blizzard that has dumped a pile of snow between most people and a loving God. Our call is to shovel the snow.

John the Baptist said that he was a “voice of one calling in the desert, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”” May we also be that voice.

Most people have no idea the name of the guy who plows their road, but they are sure thankful that someone does. May we each be that person who clears the way. May we be a snowplow for Jesus who makes the path to Him easier for someone else to follow.

A Job Description for Jesus?

In all our jobs we all have some kind of Job description. Is it possible that Jesus also had one when he was on earth? This Sunday, Pastor Ed from Gateway Church taught at PF out of Is. 61:1,2 . He said this is Jesus' job description.

Here it is: He was sent to:

1. Bring salvation

2. Heal the broken hearted

3. Bring physical healing

4. Bring freedom for the captives

5. Set at liberty those who are bruised

6. Proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Hope)

That's a pretty awesome job description. This isn't a list of what He might do if He gets around to it. This is what He came to do. And if the Church is His Body, it is also the call on us. Wow! May the Lord continue to walk out this ministry through us, His Body.

Memories from Elim

Today I went up to Elim Bible Institute to join them in their annual week of prayer. This is a week they set aside every January to seek the heart of the Father. In the three years that Sandie and I attended there from 96-99, those were some very special weeks. It is always good to go back and spend time in the place where I met God so many times. We had chapels in the Tab four days a week and He was so faithful to let His glory be evident to all. I walked around campus today and as I looked at buildings, the lawn, classrooms and even our little apartment, I was drawn back to those precious times with Jesus.

As I drove away I was reminded by the Lord that as excited as I am about today and about the future I should never lose sight of the past. We should always be remembering those times that God showed Himself faithful over and over again. I hope you have memories of precious times with Jesus. And I hope that the things happening in your life now are producing memories that in ten years you will back upon as being very precious.

And, by the way, if you are looking for a good Bible School, Elim is one of the best. :-)

Worth listening to

Worth listening to

More Dan Mohler teaching

A response to Jim's blog

Pastor Jim, who works with the youth at PF asked a bunch of youth leaders in the area to get to the core of their strategy and purpose in working with teens. You should go to Jim’s Blog and check out the comments that the other youth workers gave. They are really thought provoking. Below you will find my response as I think about my own ministry to teenagers.

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Wow, these are great answers to a hard question. Like my brother, I have been working with teenagers a long time. I jokingly say that I have either been a teenager or ministered to them since 1983. :-)

I can sincerely say that at the core of everything I have done in youth ministry has been to help them to understand that they are loved, they are wanted (acceptance) and they are needed (valuable).

I feel those are the overriding needs that every young person is trying to have met and only Jesus provides genuine answers. So, my job in loving teenagers is to do everything I can, with every tool at my disposal, in all the power of the Holy Spirit to have them understand how Jesus sees them.

Sometimes it's teaching the Bible, praying and other typical "ministry stuff." But much of the time it's smiles, hugs, watching their soccer games or a host of other seemingly insignificant things

Jim’s Blog

Dan Mohler Coming

This weekend Praise Fellowship of Russell, PA welcomes guest minister, Dan Mohler. He will be ministering on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 pm. Child care will be provided at both evening services. He will also have a session Saturday morning teaching on practical ways to pray for healing of the sick. And on Sunday morning he will be speaking at both services, 9:00 and 11:00. The public is welcome.

The mission of Neck Ministries, which he leads, is to connect the Body of Christ with the head, Jesus Christ. Pastor Dan ministers to thousands each year, preaching the gospel of salvation, healing, deliverance and blessing. His aim is to help believers experience the transformational love of God and use their God-given gifts to spread the good news of the kingdom to the world. Visit Praise’s website www.worshipplace.org to learn more about Pastor Dan and to watch the services live.

Jesus' learning style

In the account in Luke 2 about Jesus at the Temple at age 12, we see how Jesus learned. It's hard to imagine that the omniscient God came to earth and learned, but he did. And look at the pattern that he used. Mary and Joseph found the boy Jesus "in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. " Luke 2:46

John Piper points out the four parts of Jesus' learning style.

1. He sought out good teachers.

2. He listened

3. He asked questions

I encourage each one of us to do those very things. No matter what it is we want to learn, that is the path to use. And if we want to grow in our walk with Jesus we must use that same model. Find people that you respect, listen to them and ask questions. Don't be a passive disciple. Aggressively learn the ways of God. You will be amazed at how far it takes you.

Then in Lk. 2:47 it says that "everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers." When you seek out good teachers, listen and ask questions then the fourth thing you can do is speak.

4. Speak

A great kick-off

Yesterday we began a new season at PF. We began two Sunday services. This is more than just having two services. This is a time when God is challenging us to be more than we have been and all that He wants us to be.

Yesterday was awesome. There was such a buzz and excitement in the air. Both services were very well attended. I'm pretty sure that the sanctuary could not have contained us all if there was only one services. That was so encouraging. I believe this year God is calling us in two areas: Increase and Impact!! May He send His increase in every way He wants to and may we see Him impact our lives, our culture and the nations.

On a humorous note: The kitchen crew served breakfast between the two services. They do breakfast once a month and there are usually 50 or so people who come and eat. Well, yesterday there were nearly 200 people at breakfast. Needless to say, they were not really prepared. However, they are amazing. Somehow, they fed them all. They said that they cooked everything in the kitchen and even had to make a run to the store for more eggs.

Praise God for His faithfulness and I can't wait until this coming weekend. We are having a special guest, Dan Muhler with us Friday - Sunday. I will write more on that later.

72 Hour Prayer & Fasting

Once again, this weekend at PF there is a call to prayer and fasting. For three days there are people in the sanctuary and in their homes seeking the face of God. It is quite an awesome sight to see and just to know it's happening is pretty amazing. We believe that when Jesus taught us to pray in the "Lord's Prayer" He meant it when He said, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Let's believe that He wants His kingdom to come now, to come here and to use us.

If you have things that you would like prayer for e-mail them to prayer@worshipplace.org

And come and join those praying anytime through Sunday afternoon.

A decade ago

Ten years ago this week was full of incredible excitement in Russell. It was the week of the opening of the new worship facility that Praise Fellowship currently meets in. Wow, what an incredible time. We were just days away from our first service in this ,at the time, Huge building. We had been a mobile church for the previous 2 years as we met on the State Hospital grounds and we were finally ready to have a place to call home.

This place really seemed big at the time. We were renting a storefront in downtown Russell. I think the entire building was 22x60. The stage at the new facility was almost that big. Who could have imagined that the 400 seat sanctuary would soon be filled with worshippers hungry for the presence of the Lord?

That brings us to another major shift this week, an exact decade later. We will begin our second decade this Sunday and we will celebrate by beginning holding two Sunday Morning worship services at 9 & 11 am. That means that we essentially double the size of the sanctuary. That really makes my head spin. Are we ready for an increase? Are we prepared for the Harvest? Can we keep the unity in the Spirit as we grow? So many questions. But for all the questions, I only have one certain answer. God has directed us in this path and I am confident that He is in control and that He will have His way. I look with incredible anticipation to this coming month, this coming year and this coming decade.

I believe that 2010 is the year of Increase and Impact! May He use Praise Fellowship to fulfill the purpose that she was created for. And may He do the same for every church body who preaches His Word and may every individual believer fulfill his/her purpose.

Let's have an amazing 2010