Shawnetta has surgery tomorrow.  Your prayers for her would be coveted.  Thanks for all you do Broadman…you are a wonderful congregation.

PC

A friend of mine and his family recently had his life turned upside down.  From my perspective what has happened to him is evil.  When you witness the evil that men due first hand it is devastating.  And it is even worse if you are the one who is going through the evil destruction.  As a pastor it has been hard to watch.  Yes I have prayed, but every fiber of my being also has screamed out desiring to reveal all things for what they are.  I know that is God’s job.  But it never hurts to ask God to speed it up!

I have learned from Job…the Lord giveth and He taketh away, but the name of the Lord is to be praised.

I have learned from Joseph…what you meant for evil, God has used for good.

I have leaned from James…to consider it pure joy when we suffer.

I have learned from Jesus…I am with you always!

I have learned from Paul…all things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.

Sometimes we simply cannot understand what is going on.  Why people do evil things, hurt one another, retaliate, deceive, betray, deny, back stab and so forth…but they do!!!!!  God knows it!  God tells us not to have anything to do with such people.  He does tell us He will protect us, but there is no guarantee that we won’t suffer…good and bad fall upon both the righteous and unrighteous.

As I have watched this family endure this pain of evil, I have had wounds of my past resurface.  The Evil men do is just a reminder of how great our God is to have loved each of us enough that while we were still in the act of sinning Christ died for us.  God loved us in our unrighteousness…our own Evil.  May we be mindful that the evil men due can be a reminder of the greatness of His Grace, mercy and love!

Jesus said, “Behold I make all things new.”  What a wonderful thought when you see the evil men due to know that someday evil, pain, sickness, suffering and so forth will be no more!

Yesterday I did a funeral for Charlie Smith. Many of you in my congregation will remember him as the man giving his testimony and died at the altar. Of course the nurses and doctor at church that day revived Charlie, but it was his intention to give his testimony with his last and final breath if that is what would give glory to God. In many ways Charlie touched Broadman…in ways he never knew on earth. I know he touched my life…he made me a better man, person and preacher. I will never forget his support, love and stories…all kinds of stories about life. Charlie would always tell me “I guess you can’t kill the old hillbilly!” He was one tough guy…he taught me what determination and will power is all about…on his death bed I told him I loved him, I was proud of him and it was okay for this old hillbilly to go home to Jesus. I will miss you “old hillbilly.”

This is a simple but profound blog…HE IS RISEN!!!!

The one thing that sets Christ above all is the fact that He is the real deal.  He is God!  He came to dwell among us!  He loved us!  He made a way to reconcile us!  He is involved in our lives!  He is the one true living God!  It does not get any simpler than that…HE IS RISEN!!!!  CHRIST IS LORD!!!!!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.”  John 14:6

Every morning I get out of bed and take a breath…I realize I am sooooo Blessed!!!

Every day that I know God exists and live for Him…I realize I am soooo Blessed!!!

Every day I have the love of my wife in this life….I realize I am soooo Blessed!!!!

Every day I see my three red heads….I realize I am soooo Blessed!!!!!

Every day….I realize I am soooo Blessed!!!!!!

Thank you God for the blessings I can count and even those I may not realize!!!!

I am soooooo Blessed!!!!

Our God is a great God and He does things that sometimes that blow us away.  Recently Broadman has been annointed with “OIL” from God.  He has done so in several ways.  First I do believe His annointing is over our church…He has place His calling upon us and we truly are blessed.  However, the annointed “OIL” I speak of is not an ointment or a covering of the Holy Spirit…although God’s Spirit is clearing a part of this.  What I am speaking of is the bubbly brew of black gold…real OIL.

Who would have thought when this property was bought in the early 60’s that there would be oil?  Only God.  Now we are not going to be rich…the oil company will make the profits.  But we will be blessed with some royalities and other things that will help us advance the Kingdom of God more that we could have without it.  I believe God has annointed us with oil for His purposes.  He is going to call us to do something with this resource for Him.

I am feeling the annointing already…thank you Lord for this annointing…thank you for whatever it is you want us to do with this blessing…to Your glory alone!