"Blog Title Change: Bloom Where You are Planted"

Having just returned from a week at the beach with our immediate family, son and wife and their two boys, and daughter and husband and their two boys, Renee and I can say one thing for sure.  We are blessed!

Having been away last week and worshiping in another church, my heart was moved and encouraged.  Encouraged to come home and get back after it here at FSBCamden.  It is also humbling having just celebrated our 32 year anniversary here as your pastor. 

For years, the title of this blog was "Joy in the Journey."  There has been joy and there still is joy as God allows us to forge forward together.  2025 has brought forth some new challenges, but God is faithful.

Recently the theme of "Bloom where you are planted" keeps recurring in my mind and heart.  So if anything good continues to come forth after all these years, we will encourage other churches and pastors with a reminder that we are called to be faithful where God puts us and let the roots run deep as we anchor in and preach the word faithfully.

Last night we watched the movie, "Twisters."  It is a remake of the original Twister that was released years ago about tornado storm chasers.  In the new remake, a man known as the tornado wrangler would literally drive his truck right into the tornado.  The only way they could survive was by driving automatic augers (anchors) deep into the ground to keep the vehicle from getting blown away and being killed. They were trusting that the anchors would hold.

Years ago H.B. London, a Nazarene Pastor,  James Dobson's cousin from Focus on the Family wrote a book entitled, "Heart of a Great Pastor", and one of the chapters was titled, "Bloom Where You are Planted."  That has always stuck with me, and has been a great encouragement as we continue to serve the Lord.

Jesus is the anchor.  May we drill deep and trust Him to continue to lead and carry us in the work.

Until He comes...we will go!  Bro. Greg
 

 

Remembering a Giant of the Faith

 "If the fire has been brought from the right place and to the right place, we have a good beginning; and main elements of a glorious ending." C. H. Spurgeon

Yesterday the world received the news that a giant in the faith, John Macarthur has passed from this life into Heaven.

 

Over the past thirty two years as your pastor, his influence on me, through his preaching, commentaries, and exposition of scripture has greatly helped, instructed, and encouraged me.

I remember those early years before coming here, I would listen to this line up on WFCJ.  Charles Stan
ley, John Macarthur, then Chuck Swindoll.  Wow, what a powerhouse!  We have now lost two of these three. In a week that remembered Jimmy Swaggert's passing as well, life is changing.

 

Cody mentioned that the loss of MacArthur has shook him. I understand what he means.  He has preached, taught, desiring to equip the next generation of Pastors to lead the church well.  

 

I remember the passing of  my mentors, Joe Baker and Charles Betts. it was hard to imagine them being gone.  The news that Adrian Rogers had passed greatly shook me as well.  At Dr. Rogers' service Ken Whitten shared, " The fact that Adrian was alive made me feel secure as a pastor."

 

John Macarthur finished faithful and that is my prayer as well.  I am sure he will continue to speak beyond the grave through radio, and that his legacy will be lasting.  We pray for his family.​

 

First verse from Rodney Griffin's "Start with Well Done"

 

 

More than great riches

More than a claim

More than meeting strangers

Who already know my name

More that respect from

My closest of peers

There′s a voice and a statement

That I long to hear

Chorus

Only two words will fulfill me

When I see his face

For there's eternal meaning

In this one little phrase

When this life is over

And the next ones begun

I want it to start with well done!