2019 Passover
My Parent's First Trip to Israel
it is a blessing that my parents have enjoyed their first trip to the Holy Land. The above picture is of them on Mount Arbel near Tiberias, looking over the lower Galilee. This has been one of my greatest dreams; for them to experience the Land.
We know Christ lives within us but what an experience touching the stones and walking on the places we know He walked while on this earth. Above: Dad’s hand on the Kotel
Below: Mom and Dad’s feet on the steps leading up to the temple.
Below: Mom and Dad’s feet on the steps leading up to the temple.
How Your Church Treated Their
Previous Pastor Is indicative To
How You Will Be Treated
One of the positive remarks I’e heard our senior deacon, a man who has been in the church eighty plus years, say is, “Every pastor we’ve had has been the man God has sent to us at the right time.” It seems all the deacons at Lime Branch recognize that God has had His hand in each situation; bringing the man to lead Christ’s church for the distinctive season of its life. The culture of Lime Branch is one that appreciates all the precious pastors. It is an encouragement to me, the current pastor, to witness this love the congregation expresses towards previous pastors.
I was called to a church that had nothing but horrible accusations to sling maliciously about their previous leaders. When the people complain about one pastor, there maybe some validity, but when they have harsh words for several, a red flag should fly. As a young pastor I was naive to the point of believing that somehow I would be such a good shepherd as to win the favor of the people; breaking the chain of grievous relationships. While the tenure advanced, I soon discovered if I did not think and lead just as the movers and shakers desired, I too joined the list of despised parsons. In such churches Long-lasting significant advances for the kingdom usually do not take place. Satan has a stronghold; strangling the work of the man of God and the church. Okay, I must confess, I’m a slow learner. I pastored more than one church described here.
My advice to young pastors searching for a place to serve is to certainly follow the call. If the church who is considering you for their leader has disdain for previous preachers, be on guard and really know if God is calling you to lead such a people. If you take the church, be honest at the beginning about your concerns and subsequent plans. Get help from knowledgeable leaders. Guard your heart and your family.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you are pastoring a church like Lime Branch, don’t leave it unless you know it is God leading you away. It seems rare these days to find a church where the people and pastor work together in harmony. That doesn’t mean everyday will be perfect or that you won’t have days that you are discouraged, but do nothing on a whelm. If your leadership is appreciative of you, be appreciative of them. Be patient and watch and see what God will do with a group that loves one another and loves Him.
Above is a picture of one of our gelding, Daniyel Beha Chanan. The Lord has blessed us in seeing our dream of living on a small hobby farm come true. Out in the country, away from all the light pollution, it is a joy to stand and think about our God. How great is He; Redeemer, friend!
The Yad Vashem Graduate Christian Leadership Seminar in Washington D.C. sponsored by The Museum of The Bible was unbelievably great. Pictured above is Dr. Susanna Kokkonen with Christian Friends of Yad Vashem and Daryl Hedding with International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Below is Doris Mintz with Maasay Yahdav and Pastor Israel Ssekamatte from Uganda.
Below is a picture of friends from Uganda, Israel and Ruth Ssekamatte, Umar Mulinde, and Dr. Tony Crisp, my children and mom and dad.
What a joy going to God's wear house and seeing what is going on in kingdom work.
blessed beyond measure to have been a part of the Christian Leadership Seminar in Holocaust Studies sponsored by Yad Vashem, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, and the Bible Museum.
January 22, 2017
What a blessing to have two opportunities this week to share about Israel. I will be speaking this Wednesday to a group in Bremen, GA and then Thursday to a group at First Baptist Cedartown, GA. Join with me in praying for the peace of Israel and helping others understand more about the Holy Land.
In 2014, over 26,000 Jews made Aliyah, returning to the land, from all over the world. Israels population is now over 8 million. How can we as Christians not have a love for these Jews desiring to be in the land God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How can we not want this precious people to have their own land? The Jews are amazing people who have contributed phenomenal advances in the modern world. They have an unheard of history in that time and time again there were attempts to eradicate them from the face of the earth, but they came back by the grace of God. There has been a revival of the Hebrew language. And now there is a returning like never before to the land; the undeniable land of the Jewish people, regardl
What a blessing to have two opportunities this week to share about Israel. I will be speaking this Wednesday to a group in Bremen, GA and then Thursday to a group at First Baptist Cedartown, GA. Join with me in praying for the peace of Israel and helping others understand more about the Holy Land.
In 2014, over 26,000 Jews made Aliyah, returning to the land, from all over the world. Israels population is now over 8 million. How can we as Christians not have a love for these Jews desiring to be in the land God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How can we not want this precious people to have their own land? The Jews are amazing people who have contributed phenomenal advances in the modern world. They have an unheard of history in that time and time again there were attempts to eradicate them from the face of the earth, but they came back by the grace of God. There has been a revival of the Hebrew language. And now there is a returning like never before to the land; the undeniable land of the Jewish people, regardl
January 28, 2017
What a joy working with Harvest of Israel! Jennifer, Jonathan, and his friend Avry Burns traveled to Morristown, TN with me to help load a container for Israel. This was the 20th container sent out by Harvest of Israel. We are pictured here with Pastor Dean Haun, and a few ladies from Maasay Yahdav. Our dream is to have a collection place in North Georgia. It is such a blessing working with different organizations and meeting people all over Israel.
What a joy working with Harvest of Israel! Jennifer, Jonathan, and his friend Avry Burns traveled to Morristown, TN with me to help load a container for Israel. This was the 20th container sent out by Harvest of Israel. We are pictured here with Pastor Dean Haun, and a few ladies from Maasay Yahdav. Our dream is to have a collection place in North Georgia. It is such a blessing working with different organizations and meeting people all over Israel.
January 30, 2017
Pastor Scott Thomas had some great words to the Atlanta AIPAC annual meeting. He received a standing ovation and was the topic of many conversations. I'm proud of the Christians who are making a bold stand with God's chosen people. May we always bless the land and people of Israel.
Pastor Scott Thomas had some great words to the Atlanta AIPAC annual meeting. He received a standing ovation and was the topic of many conversations. I'm proud of the Christians who are making a bold stand with God's chosen people. May we always bless the land and people of Israel.