Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Pictures from Today
Tonight we are keeping the internet connection up by running two diesel generators. I got to help start them with a crank! No electrictiy tonight.First Night
Brent is getting the real missions experience! The power went out several times overnight. No air and no water pump when the power goes out. One mosquito found his was in last night. But here is the good thing. No power means we must use candles to light our room and one is a citronella candle that will ward off bugs.
Took my cold shower and we are off to breakfast. All showers need to be in the heat of the evening from now on.
Took my cold shower and we are off to breakfast. All showers need to be in the heat of the evening from now on.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
In Malabo
We arrived in Malabo tonight, Thursday, at about 7:55 p.m. local time. We are now at the missionary house, it is 9:40. I have slept only two hours since waking at 4:00 a.m. Wednesday to go to the airport.
We will start tomorrow by going and reviewing the worksite and taking inventory. Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m. Brent and I will post pictures and video tomorrow night.
I am going to bed, by.
We will start tomorrow by going and reviewing the worksite and taking inventory. Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m. Brent and I will post pictures and video tomorrow night.
I am going to bed, by.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Let's Help Haiti
Many of you are asking about Haiti and what the Church is doing to respond to the disaster. Sunday we started collecting money that we can send to Convoy of Hope and Assemblies of God Medical missionaries to help. This coming Sunday we will again be receiving money to help with the disaster relief.
Many of you have also asked about James and Rachael Courter, missionaries we support monthly, who visited our church last year. They are safe. According to their face book profile they were driving when the quake hit. Thankfully, not in a building. They are working with Assembly of God relief efforts.
I have been watching videos of Assembly of God relief efforts in the last few minutes this morning. I have seen several familiar faces of emergency and disaster relief missionaries I know, who have shared at our church. It is amazing that they are already there on the ground providing food and drinking water to literally thousands up on thousands of people!
I encourage you to watch two videos that will inform you more about these efforts. First, check out the address from George Wood, then the Convoy of Hope message from Hal Donaldson, who we had speak at the Men of the Church Banquet, last February, you men will recognize his face and voice. Then, for more detail, you can read some Assemblies of God new headlines as well.
Please pray for Haiti as you go about your business this week. Feel free to check the Convoy of Hope website and AG.org for further information.
Many of you have also asked about James and Rachael Courter, missionaries we support monthly, who visited our church last year. They are safe. According to their face book profile they were driving when the quake hit. Thankfully, not in a building. They are working with Assembly of God relief efforts.
I have been watching videos of Assembly of God relief efforts in the last few minutes this morning. I have seen several familiar faces of emergency and disaster relief missionaries I know, who have shared at our church. It is amazing that they are already there on the ground providing food and drinking water to literally thousands up on thousands of people!
I encourage you to watch two videos that will inform you more about these efforts. First, check out the address from George Wood, then the Convoy of Hope message from Hal Donaldson, who we had speak at the Men of the Church Banquet, last February, you men will recognize his face and voice. Then, for more detail, you can read some Assemblies of God new headlines as well.
Please pray for Haiti as you go about your business this week. Feel free to check the Convoy of Hope website and AG.org for further information.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Mission Trip
We did it. The total amount necessary for my entire mission trip to Equitorial Guiena has come in. In fact we have about $100 extra. Brent and I are going to take that extra one hundred with us in case of an emergency or unexpected problem. If no problems arise, we will simply bring it back and put it back in the mission team fund for the next trip.
Wednesday I have to go to St. Louis to get vaccinated for everything. Then I need to pack up and get ready to leave. I will return on Monday, February 8th.
To learn more about the work we will be helping with and our team leader Bill Moore check out Africa Tabernacle Evangelism.
Wednesday I have to go to St. Louis to get vaccinated for everything. Then I need to pack up and get ready to leave. I will return on Monday, February 8th.
To learn more about the work we will be helping with and our team leader Bill Moore check out Africa Tabernacle Evangelism.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Weekend Rewind
This last Sunday was the third in 40 Days of Purpose. We are looking at the purpose of fellowship, being formed for God's family. Being formed by God to fit into his family means that we all have a part, we are commanded to love each other, and remain committed to each other.
I was angry at my self at the end of service because the sermon took too long to preach. In the second service it was even worse! We started 4 minutes late. No one was in the room (the 2 minute warning did nothing) so we started with a song to get everyone in the room. That meant that the service was a total of ten to eleven minutes late! Add the sermon being too long and I was really frustrated. I would not have waited for everyone to be in the sanctuary, but the board and I wanted everyone to hear the announcements about the vision meeting we had last week. No use sharing announcements about our church when most of the people are not in the room yet.
However, we had a great attitude of worship, gifts of the Spirit in operation, and people really responded to the service. I am really excited about the next two weeks!
I was angry at my self at the end of service because the sermon took too long to preach. In the second service it was even worse! We started 4 minutes late. No one was in the room (the 2 minute warning did nothing) so we started with a song to get everyone in the room. That meant that the service was a total of ten to eleven minutes late! Add the sermon being too long and I was really frustrated. I would not have waited for everyone to be in the sanctuary, but the board and I wanted everyone to hear the announcements about the vision meeting we had last week. No use sharing announcements about our church when most of the people are not in the room yet.
However, we had a great attitude of worship, gifts of the Spirit in operation, and people really responded to the service. I am really excited about the next two weeks!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
What I Have Been Reading
Here is what I have read in the last few months.
1. Re-Create: Creating a Culture in Your Home Stronger Than the Culture Destroying our Kids, by Ron Luce. Great book for anyone raising kids or teens. The first half of the book is about creating a culture in your home, the second is about creating a culture in your church. Our small group just finished the first half before 40 Days of Purpose.
2. Is Believing in God Irrational?, by Amy Orr Ewing. I finished this a few months ago. Now my wife is reading it.
3. Crossing Over: Getting to the Best Life Yet, by Paul Scanlon. This is a book about transforming a local church into an organization that reaches lost people rather than taking care of believers and cycling them from church to church. Quick read. I had the board members all read this to prepare for a double portion. I finished it a few months ago also.
4. Presidential Courage, by Michael Beschloss. Very interesting read. He has an unusual way of notation that I am not familiar with. I love history and this book gets into some untold stories of the past.
5. The Success Principals, by Jack Canfield. Very inspirational. Helps remove "I can't" thinking.
6. Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity, by Mark Batterson. I finished reading this several weeks ago. It is a very exciting description of the greatest commandment of Scripture.
Leaders are learners. Never stop learning.
1. Re-Create: Creating a Culture in Your Home Stronger Than the Culture Destroying our Kids, by Ron Luce. Great book for anyone raising kids or teens. The first half of the book is about creating a culture in your home, the second is about creating a culture in your church. Our small group just finished the first half before 40 Days of Purpose.
2. Is Believing in God Irrational?, by Amy Orr Ewing. I finished this a few months ago. Now my wife is reading it.
3. Crossing Over: Getting to the Best Life Yet, by Paul Scanlon. This is a book about transforming a local church into an organization that reaches lost people rather than taking care of believers and cycling them from church to church. Quick read. I had the board members all read this to prepare for a double portion. I finished it a few months ago also.
4. Presidential Courage, by Michael Beschloss. Very interesting read. He has an unusual way of notation that I am not familiar with. I love history and this book gets into some untold stories of the past.
5. The Success Principals, by Jack Canfield. Very inspirational. Helps remove "I can't" thinking.
6. Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity, by Mark Batterson. I finished reading this several weeks ago. It is a very exciting description of the greatest commandment of Scripture.
Leaders are learners. Never stop learning.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Men's Ministry
Saturday is our monthly Men's breakfast. Food is always good at men's breakfast so come hungry. This month we are going to stick around for about two hours to do some work for the church. If you can help let Pastor Paul know.
We will clean out the storage unit, put up some traffic signs on the property and some minor maintenance. If you have a metal fence post driver let me know and please bring it.
We will also be announcing some of the future events we have planned for men in 2010 at breakfast.
We will clean out the storage unit, put up some traffic signs on the property and some minor maintenance. If you have a metal fence post driver let me know and please bring it.
We will also be announcing some of the future events we have planned for men in 2010 at breakfast.
On Track for 40 Days
If you are keeping up with the reading in The Purpose Driven Life as we go through 40 days you should be reading chapter 9 today (if you started on Monday Dec. 28th).
Sunday I will discuss the second purpose, you are formed for God's family (fellowship). Then on Monday of next week you will start reading devotions about fellowship and loving God's people and God's house.
Sunday I will discuss the second purpose, you are formed for God's family (fellowship). Then on Monday of next week you will start reading devotions about fellowship and loving God's people and God's house.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Amazing Small Group
Sunday night may have been the best Small Group experience I have ever had. People were honest and open. Every person in the group gave input! We discussed worship and loving God with all our heart mind and strength. Our conversation was mostly Scripture study and and theological. But like I said Sunday morning, you will feel in your emotions what you really think or believe. As we thought about God's love, and his plan for our lives people began to not only think about loving God, but really began to have feelings of love for God raise up in them.
Two people indicated that they had made commitments to God Sunday. One man said, "This has been an awesome day, you know, the morning message and getting together tonight." That is the kind of God encounter we are praying for.
Two people indicated that they had made commitments to God Sunday. One man said, "This has been an awesome day, you know, the morning message and getting together tonight." That is the kind of God encounter we are praying for.
Weekend Rewind
Sunday was COLD!
Church was good on Sunday, it was our second week of 40 Days of Purpose. I really botched the sermon in the first service. It was really bumpy. Saturday I practiced preaching the message with our power point presentation and I still messed it up! It was too complex. Less would have been better. In the second service it went perfectly.
About 6 people made re-dedications of their hearts to the Lord in the two services. That was exciting. One woman who has visited only about three times stood in the front row with tears streaming down her face as we took communion together. What an amazing experience to have prayed with her two weeks ago for salvation and then to celebrate communion and God's forgiveness with her Sunday.
Church was good on Sunday, it was our second week of 40 Days of Purpose. I really botched the sermon in the first service. It was really bumpy. Saturday I practiced preaching the message with our power point presentation and I still messed it up! It was too complex. Less would have been better. In the second service it went perfectly.
About 6 people made re-dedications of their hearts to the Lord in the two services. That was exciting. One woman who has visited only about three times stood in the front row with tears streaming down her face as we took communion together. What an amazing experience to have prayed with her two weeks ago for salvation and then to celebrate communion and God's forgiveness with her Sunday.
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