Holy Land Blessing!

First View from the Mt. of Olives

I sit here today in Nashville reflecting on the recent trip that the church blessed me with to Israel. A trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land!  Over the past 20 years the church has blessed me with many things, but this trip may have been the greatest investment they have ever made.

It was so much more than I expected.You mean I expected something less? I based this assumption on it not being what I thought it would be based on reports from other people who have visited. You simply have to see it for your self to as the Bible comes alive in a new way that will never be forgotten either in my mind or sermon.

As it all impacted me, the Garden Tomb was where I was overwhelmed with great emotion as we read the Biblical account and shared communion as believers.

To walk where Jesus walked and to stand in the synagogue ruins where He taught, it has etched images in my mind that will forever change the way I preach. to walk down the rough steps to the dungeon where Jesus was beaten  was a memory that will never be forgotten.  A beating He took for me on the way to the cross, our Hope.

The lifelong friendships with preachers like Scott Smith, Johnny Ellison, and Eric Trawick are treasures that the Lord blesseed me with along the way.  We had a great group, the Light Blue Bus, and the best guide, Shraga.

Thanks Church for blessing your Pastor, I hope to be worthy of this great investment.

The Day Everything Changed

I was in the office most of the day on Friday, December 14th only two days after I had posted a blog in regards to 12/12/12 and to the wonder and joy of Christmas. It was a fun blog, but today we don't laugh, we cry.  We cry with families from a small community in Ct., perhaps a little like Camden.

 It caught my eye as the headlines began to scroll on the 14th and I began to see that a shooting, the Sandy Hook School shootings, were worse than tragic.  Twenty first graders and six teachers shot and killed in the sanctuary of their elementary school and classrooms.  How can this happen in America? Innocent kids, faithful teachers, and a principal that loved here students.  Anger, disbelief and pain.  Oh, pray for the hole and the emptiness of loss that is in each families heart tonight.

We have a number of teachers in our church family, and our children are both teachers. Sunday was a very emotional day in our pupit and no doubt in most.This merciless killing spree has torn the heart of every American. Our hearts once again bleed together as a nation.  One that comes together in times of need and loss.

As the President searched for words, he spoke as a father, not just the President.  He was moved to tears and brief moments of pause to regain his composure.  He mentioned prayer, and quoted Scripture, reminding us all, that there is only one place we can turn to for help when there are so many unanswered questions.That place is to the Lord God.

Psalm 46:1  says that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 121:1-8 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2] My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. [3] He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. [4] Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. [5] The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

I pray right now for these families that have suffered great loss.  I pray for the survivors whose lives will never be the same.  Lives that will be scarred with the ringing of gunshots and the screams of frightened classmates.  I pray for the parents that are looking at empty beds tonight and those that are placing their hands on a cold casket today and in the days ahead.  I pray for those who have lost spouses, and mothers, and sisters. I pray for the teachers as they try to go forward with their students in Newtown, as well as across the country. I thank God for those who tried to stop him and for those who stepped in front of a killers aim to protect her kids. I pray tonight for the family that remains behind of the one responsible for these senseless killings. Oh if he would have known Jesus he would have understood that there was hope for whatever problems he had.  How many of us have held our kids or grand kids tighter, looked at them longer, prayed for them with more conviction and urgency.

My daughter Stacy teaches third grade.  One of her students told her parents that if that had happened at her school, Mrs. Herrmann would have done the same thing. Oh I pray that we never see this again. 
God help us! If anyone understands it is God, as he watched an innocent Son die unjustly.  Through the pain and fog of grief, what man has intended for evil, may the Lord bring about something good.

Take our hand precioous Lord and lead us.

12/12/12 and Christmas

It is hard to believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away.  Today as I write on December 12, 2012 it is the last time in our lifetime that the month will match up with the year.

Today at as I left lunch, the person checking me out asked, "Do you think the end of the world is coming on December 21?"  

The Lord opened up a door for me to share Christ, and that the world will end one day.. at the Father's command, not the prediction of a person here on earth.

The first Christmas was about Light coming into the darkness.  About Hope that would be born so we can have peace about the future and what is ahead of us.  While 12/12/12 is a day that will be the last of it's kind for our generation, it is symbolic of this season as well.

While past Christmases bring wonderful memories, and perhaps even some pain, we can't go back and relive it the exact same way.  God allows us to make new memories right where life meets the road, the here and now.

If God allows and we celebrate one more in a few days, here are some things I want to do more of this Christmas.

1.Listen more and talk less
2.Thank God and people more and complain less.
3. Forgive more and have a shorter memory when hurt. 
4. Give more and receive less.
5. Sit in the floor with the grandsons and just watch their excitement and energy.
6. Realize that tears of gratitude are a good thing not to be ashamed of.
7. Thank the Lord more for the greatest family in the world.
8. Recognize and pray more for families that are hurting this Christmas.
9. Be a better pastor and leader to those God has entrusted to me.

Bigger than the Buckeyes?



 Having been home a few days from the 59th annual State Convention of Ohio Baptists, I now have an opportunity to share some things that greatly blessed me. It was at a waterpark! A new standard for the other states to follow.
I must say that I have been a little withdrawn from our State Convention lately. Don't get me wrong, we still are a strong CP giving and mission going church, and we do appreciate all the SCBO has done and continues to do to help us reach Ohio and over 7 million without Christ, but I have not been too involved lately.

1. The fellowship was good. Not only with Renee and my mom and dad,   I have forgotten how much preachers need each other to encourage each other on the journey of ministry.

2. The reports were encouraging :  The many reports of folks who came to Christ and were baptized, 44 church plants, some good unexpected financial blessings that allowed for property mortgage burning, great ministry reports, and tremendous cooperation with NAMB while working together to obey the Great Commission. The Next Factor looks like a solid model.

3. Did you know that Ohio had a National Champion Bible Drill Winner?


4. Perhaps one of the greatest takeaways was the preaching. It was tremendous and each speaker brought God's Word in Power and Truth. Dr. Jack Kwok, President Mike Wilson, Pastor David Starry, and wrapped up by S.B.C. President Fred Luter. (Pictured above with Doug wolf and myself) What a great convention of preaching. Dwayne Lee led a great band that led us in worship and three of the ladies from 4Real were his praise team.

I love the Buckeyes, but the biggest news in Ohio is still Jesus Christ, He's on the throne and changing lives!

Does Revival Really Make A Difference?

After experiencing one of the greatest weeks of Revival I have ever been a part of with Dr. Phil Hoskins and Greg Lockridge here in Camden, I praise the Lord for allowing us to be part of something bigger than us.  What a blessing to pastor a church that loves the preached Word, each other, this community, and not only their pastor, but preachers.

Revival?  You just don't hear too much about Revivals any more.  Most of the time it seems that the context in which the word is used is when we are talking about our nation or world.    Now please understand, we desperately need it as a nation. But why have so many pastors and churches abandoned the concept of having revival meetings? why is it becoming common to hear, "We don't have revivals anymore."

I recognize that some pastors have been humiliated in front of a guest speaker by a church that didn't support it, by being present or by sacrificial giving.  Many churches that once scheduled revivals regularly have stopped simply due to competing for time with other things families are involved in.

Revival doesn't come riding in with a preacher, yet I believe as a pastor, that God uses a fresh voice not only for the church but for me as the pastor.  This was also the first time that we had brought  in a Music Evangelist, and this was great for our Worship Team to learn from him.

Old School and conservative traditionalist  may be just a few things that people may think of me and of the ministry here in Camden, but that's ok. We rejoice over the two young adults that gave their hearts to Christ and for the many decisions of recommitment that were made by believers.

Revivals and Evangelists do make a difference. We all need a fresh touch from God.

Cookies, Golf Carts, and Ministry

This past week we arrived Sunday evening at Ridgecrest Conference Center for a Lifeway Trustee Meeting.
Upon checking in, I was greeted with a smile and an offer. "Would you like some cookies and a bottle of water?" After a brief glance, I said Ann! I could tell at first she did not recognize me, then she said, "Greg, you look just like your dad! John is down flipping burgers. We  have been here most of the summer."

Ann and John Bailey are retired from ministry and John was the Music Director at North Dayton Baptist church  and we were neighbors when I was a boy, in the early 70's. I couldn't believe that the Lord would put our meeting at a time when I would be reunited with a couple that shaped some of my early church life.

Following a late plenary session meeting I walked to Clouds Coffee Shop to get something and began to walk up the hill when along side of me pulled a golf cart passenger car.  Who was driving it?  John Bailey! We rode together in the front seat and reminisced about days gone by. After a lot of laughter we prayed there in the dark in front of Mountain Laurel Inn.

What did this reunion teach me?
1.No task is too small when it comes to serving Jesus.
2.Joy is contagious.
3.We never really retire from ministry.
4.An encouraging word goes a long way.

1 Cor. 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

Who would ever think that Cookies and Golf Carts = Ministry? It does for me.

Revival In July?

Two great bits of advice I received from my boyhood pastor/ mentor Bro. Joe Baker was: Never evaluate your ministry on:  1) Monday 2) or in the month of August.  Well , yesterday was certainly the exception as we close out July.  July 29, 2012 will go down as one of those days that may be part of a Revival that God is blessing our church with.

After a tremendous Vacation Bible School, and twelve decisions, we followed up immediately. Several returned calls and we planned to baptize three, God blessed as we baptized 8.  You talk about a Holy Hallelujah! This may well be the second greatest harvest day in the baptismal water that I have ever witnessed.  To top it off, a teenage boy came forward and shared he was ready to give his life to Jesus.  I am telling you that God blessed us with a day that we pray and long for.  Four of those that were baptized were sisters with the youngest being a leukemia survivor that God continues to heal.

I am not sharing this to boast somehow about us, because it is evident, when God shows up big things happen. Ephes. 3:20   Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 Anything good that happens here is because of the grace and mercy of Christ.
 Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

Looking forward to trusting God with the days ahead.  What a journey!
Revival in July? Can it happen?  Yes, and Praise the Lord!