The Pastor's Heart

Power to Forgive

2012-02-03T09:07:00.000-05:00

I have been reading the story of Joseph and have grieved with him as he was so wrongfully mistreated - yet, when all is said and done, here is what he says to his brothers that caused him such harm:

Gen 45:5-7 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. (6) For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. (7) And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Gen 50:20-21 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (21) Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

As I have read this, I have been impressed with a key that can help me to forgive when I am mistreated. I need to understand that the sovereignty of God has been working right alongside the "meanness" of others toward me. What I mean is: God never causes people to sin against me and you, but He does orchestrate that conflict to work good in me, and perhaps even good in them. This sovereign control of our God is something that gives us strength then to forgive others. Joseph was able to forgive and even comfort his brothers because he knew that God's hand was even in their attack of him.

If you and I can believe and remember this, we can find strength to forgive and even thankfulness for people being mean to us!

pw

Is Christ Divided?

2011-12-30T09:53:00.000-05:00

1Corinthians 1:11-13 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Here was a struggle in the church of Corinth. There were divisions because members were worshiping a certain man and his particular style of preaching. Paul greatly rebukes this in the next several chapters making the point that we don't worship MEN. We are not "OF" men. Men who are spiritually gifted are to be imitated, listened to, learned from, respected, and even obeyed - but not to cause factions or groups to themselves.

Frankly, this is always a temptation within the body of Christ. It comes from Preachers who may struggle with the temptation of pride that comes when people listen to them and value them over other fellow Ministers. Also, there is a tendency that we all have to want to exalt and rally around those who make an impact on us. There is a loyalty that starts with good motives, but may grow to a faction that pulls the attention away from Jesus Christ and places it on men who are supposed to be His slaves! It is often easier to focus on men who we can follow physically than Christ whom we must pursue spiritually.

By inspiration, the writer simply says "Is Christ divided?" - the answer to that is "NO!" When there are divisions within the church following certain leaders or even laymen, we have taken our eyes off of the Goal. That Goal is Christ.

Is your pastor REALLY preaching God's Word to you?

2011-11-06T16:45:00.000-05:00

Is your pastor REALLY preaching God's Word to you?

That may seem like a silly question. I mean, you go to the church service, open your Bible, listen for 30-45 minutes, have an invitation and then go home - of course he is preaching God's Word isn't he?

I would like to explore that question by giving you an illustration that Pastor Mark Minnick used while instructing a room full of preachers what it is to preach God's Word. He said if you were studying topography and were sent to a certain mountain to bring back a report on that mountain, you would go and study the mountain and write the report on things like size, height, mass, number of trees, texture, type of rocks, etc. You would DISCOVER and write the report. What you would not do is CREATE. There is no creation to be done. The mountain is already there, you just need to discover what is there are present it in a report. This is preaching.

Unfortunately, there are many sermons that are created instead of being discovered in the Bible text itself. God has already presented the thought patterns, context, points, structure, flow, argumentation, etc. A Pastor's sermons should mirror the exact thought patterns and argumentation of a certain passage or paragraph of Scripture or he is not really preaching God's Word. He is preaching a Dr. Frankenstein experiment of his own creation. He is combining cliche's and folk truth that he has heard to present 35 minutes of a so called sermon that everyone leaves saying "that was acceptable, or he really got going, or that was really good (creation)". This is not preaching God's Word.

Sermons that truly mirror the argument of each paragraph of Scripture sometimes are shocking and even tough to ingest because they are Divine Argument. God often does not go to the cliche' Sunday School answer in the next verse. He goes where His divine heart would go. That is tough for some pastors because it doesn't sound like "3 points and a poem" like happens in most pulpits.

But when we preach this way, something incredible happens: people change. Cliche' preaching of repeating "ear candy" sayings and rhymes does not change people because it is man's word. God's thinking changes people.

I am not saying there is no place for Topical sermons - but those topical sermons had better be preached with contextual understanding. That means the preacher doesn't just string together rapid fire verses to support his point - he carefully searches out scripture that connects to the subject he is preaching and DISCOVERS God's mind on it and then preaches it carefully using the key passages of Scripture using the verses in such a way as to perfectly preserve the verse in the meaning God meant for it to mean in the context it was plucked from. Frankly, even Topical preaching is best done by going to the key passages and preaching them in their own contexts.

Here are some telling questions to answer the original question of if your pastor is REALLY preaching God's Word to you:

1. Does he take you to the passage he is preaching in your Bible and explain the context?

2. Does he get the "points" of his sermon from the points God makes in the Bible paragraph?

3. Is the argument flow of his sermon the same as you can read right there in the Bible on your lap?

4. Does he often refer to phrases/words in the passage as he preaches (this indicates he is following the passage as he preaches...this is very good)

5. Is he skipping verses as he preaches? (this is not good. Why is he skipping what God wrote? Why is he not following the flow God did in the verses?)

6. Are you hearing the same popular verses over and over? (this is bad...he needs to preach the whole Scripture. There are 66 books, why are you hearing the same verses?)

7. Is he explaining the modern meaning of words? (this is essential - the Hebrew and Greek are not always played out by our translations. The preacher definitely needs to clearly define words that God gave originally by inspiration.)

8. If you read the same Bible passage later, can you recall the sermon. It should "mirror", so the sermon should be easy to recall. If it is DISCOVERY, it will look the same as the passage. If it is "Creation", there is no telling what monster may emerge.

I do hope this helps challenge pastors to do their job and congregants to seek a church that preaches the very Word of God.

pw

Today is the End of the World

2011-10-21T10:29:00.001-04:00

This is October 21st, the postponed or redefined date of the End of the World by Harold Camping.

I will not waste your time talking about this heretic - I have written an earlier blog entry on him. I will however challenge you with the question "Are you ready for the end?" We do know that it is coming, whether Oct. 21, Dec. 5th, or ten years from now......

To put that in Biblical thinking, are you ready for the Lord to come today. If you are a recipient of the grace that is in Jesus Christ, that would mean what we call "the rapture". At first you may jump to the rehearsed answer "of course I am ready!" - however, are you ready to give account of the "things done in your body, whether they be good or bad?" as the Scripture says.

There is no condemnation to those in Christ and this cannot be answering for any/all/part of our sin. This means the quality of the good works done in our body since we have received Jesus. Those works, words, sacrifices to God are either good or bad. Period.

I think about this and I am not so sure that I am ready to stand before that trial of fire. I know that I have done many things in the name of the Lord, love, etc., but I am left with the strong impression and reality that many of them were done with motives that were prideful, selfish, and even self serving. It is a struggle to do these works that will be tried with pure motives. I think we have to have supernatural grace to do any works purely.

I have scripturally stained thoughts also about "the crowns" or rewards that we will receive. We quickly quote the Revelation 4 passage about these being cast at Jesus feet, and He certainly is worthy of that - but the passage we quote is not the passage of the saint's crowning, but of the "24 elders of heaven". Sometimes this "casting crowns" is a scapegoat for believers not to realize that what they are doing right now will have eternal impact on their standing in heaven. It is not like we will cast the crowns and then we all will be equal. As in Rev. 4 with the elders, there is ranking in heaven. We see that discussed with James and John's mother in the gospels who wants her sons to sit on the left and right of Jesus when He comes to power.

What I am saying is that your works as a believer do matter and will be rewarded accurate to your service, love, sacrifice, faithfulness. This reward will be played out in your Millennium and perhaps heavenly ranking. This is also illustrated by the parables of the talents when the managers are rewarded according to what they have done with the money entrusted them.

So, I return to Judgement Day today. Are you ready? Understanding that what you have done on this earth continues into eternity, are you ready to meet the Lord?

pw

Love Lasts

2011-10-08T09:04:00.003-04:00

I am sitting here this morning thinking about the passage in I Corinthians that I will be preaching tomorrow morning. The last phrase we will see before the invitation is "Charity (love) never faileth". It is like the Lord is saying that the validity of all he has taught us about loving people for the last several verses should be our goal because of the nobility and eternality of love.

So, what does that mean? "love never fails?" If you keep reading it becomes clear that many of the things that we think are tremendous spiritual virtues and abilities (prophecy,tongues, knowledge) will be gone at some point in history. Those supernatural revelations will be no more - but love "lasts". It will be a high and noble virtue supported by the Lord on through all of eternity.

I think about that in my love to people. For instance, in my love to my children, some of the things that cause friction between us and I make a big deal of simply will not last. I allow things like their lack of performance in school, chores, etc. to interrupt the fellowship of my love to them when the truth is whether they earned a "B" or a "C" in Chemistry is not going to matter in the grander scheme of things that really matter. Love does matter. Love lasts. We certainly must push our kids, but not to the point of causing anger and deep scars from our words and scoldings.

We have but a few fleeting years with friends, family, coworkers, spouses, etc. We need to concentrate our relationships with others on what matters: Love. Love lasts and so we must make it the highest priority with others right now.

pw

The Sin of President Obama

2011-10-07T09:53:00.006-04:00

Luke 3:18-20 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. (19) But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, (20) Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

As I was reading this today, I was reminded of the responsibility of preachers of God to call out the sin of government leaders. There is a careful balance between the respect that we owe our leadership (Romans 12) and the responsibility for the mouthpieces of God to declare sin and repentance to those who are over our land.

Listen to our President on Homosexual rights:
"We've got more work ahead of us. But we can also be proud of the progress we've made these past two and a half years. Think about it," he said, mentioning the repeal of DADT, new hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples and hate crimes legislation protecting LGBT individuals.

"I need your help to fight for equality, to pass a repeal of DOMA, to pass an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill, so that being gay is never again a fireable offensive in America," said Obama. "And I don't have to tell you, there are those who don't want to just stand in our way, but want to turn the clock back, who want to return to the days when gay people couldn't serve their country openly. Who reject the progress we've made. Who ... want to enshrine discrimination in state laws and constitutions -- efforts that we've got to work hard to oppose, because that's not what America should be about. We're not about restricting rights and restricting opportunity."

President Obama's Administration has made wicked progress on Civil Unions and Gay Marriage. This is a terrible and sinful responsibility that he bears and will give account for to Almighty God. His position as the most powerful man in the world carries with it the mandate to lead the world to righteousness and obedience to the laws of God. This is not a minor thing that should be ignored by Bible-believing Christians. We must use our rights and opportunities at the voting booth to remove this wicked man from leadership.

President Obama on Abortion: Obama, in a brief statement marking the 1973 Supreme Court opinion, said he also remains committed "to policies, initiatives and programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and mothers, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption..."on this anniversary, I hope that we will recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights, the same freedoms, and the same opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams."

Again, our President serves wickedly by supporting the deaths of millions of innocent babies. This is murder and he is the loudest voice to stop this abomination in our country...yet, when given a chance, he supports the "rights" of women to support their own selfishness and murder their unborn babies. The blood of the innocent cries out for justice against you Mr. President.

President Obama on False Religion: "That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

Our President is an Idolator. We must not be the "frog in the pot" of the gospel of tolerance. It is not acceptable that President Obama panders to Islam. It is not expected or understood that an American president should be neutral on religion. There is only one true religion and all kings and presidents are under the authority of God to bow to it: The Worship of Jehovah and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Have we listened to the sweet words of Satan's media so long that we actually believe that there is some sort of "right" in America to subdue Christianity and promote Islam? Is this what our forefathers practiced? Absolutely not. "In God we trust" had only one Person in mind: Jehovah, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As John the Baptizer, I call out our President's sin and expose his wickedness. The responsibility of born again believers is to above all vote BIBLICALLY AND MORALLY. Government system's and Parties come and go, but the Word of the Lord endureth forever."

pw

The Grounds of Unity

2011-10-03T10:58:00.000-04:00

We have been preaching through Philippians and 2:1 is not an easy verse to interpret.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
After studying it for a while, I concluded that the "consolation in Christ" mentioned here as well as the "comfort of love" were not speaking of something we could do for other believers, but rather something that Christ did and does to believers. The consolation and comfort of love comes FROM Christ directly.

I know you may have heard it preached that we give the consolation and comfort of love because or by encouraging people about Christ.....but I don't believe this is what the verse means. Verse 1 is the "grounds of Unity" - it is speaking of two People and what they do to give a foundation for unity: Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Listen to John MacArthur's commentary on the verse: "Consolation" can also be translated "encouragement,"...which our beloved Lord does for His own. comfort of love...portrays the Lord coming close and wihispering words of gentle cheer or tender counsel in a believer's ear."

I agree with this understanding and I think that is very clear when we understand that the "ifs" of the verse are assumptions of why we can always have unity in a local church. Christ and the Holy Spirit's are always present in a true church. These are non-variables and the "grounds" of unity.

pw

Construction and More

2011-09-21T13:23:00.002-04:00

I wanted to give a quick update on how Construction was coming along on the church.

We are very excited that the Lord has answered the prayers to hold back the rain this week so far. We have had full workdays with Nowland's crew. The back of the property is amazingly ripped up with storm water management trenches, swills, etc. They are laying pipe and other mechanisms to control water run-off of the site.

The construction entrance is/has going in and the various garages should be demolished in the next several days. The crews are working hard toward the pouring of our building pad before the winter sets in.

In the meantime, final color/texture choices are being made for the building. We have chosen a brick that was used in the New Visitor Center at the University of Delaware on South College Ave. across from the Morris Library. It is a timeless deep red brick with variegated "flashing" that will be beautiful and available for time to come. The roof will be "slate gray" metal and will match our existing building. The exterior of the main building will be a neutral color with gritty texture similar to many "Dryvit" buildings you see in this area.

It is an exciting time and the best thing is that we are seeing now with our eyes thousands of prayers raised to the Lord over many years. Amen, thank you Lord!!

pw

Happy In the Lord

2011-09-19T08:55:00.000-04:00

Today I am happy in the Lord and I just wanted to tell someone.

We had such a good Lord's Day yesterday and that encourages my soul a good deal. It is wonderful to see people of all ages fellowshipping in true Christian love. I love to see pockets of people before and after the service just loving on each other and spending time building friendships that are sharpening each other in the Lord. It is exciting when that happens naturally and is a sign of a healthy, Biblical church.

I also rejoice about the spiritual growth we have seen lately. People's hearts are tender to the preaching of the Word. We have had several saved lately, people waiting to be baptized, and a surge of church membership. Amen. Beyond this, there is growth spiritually in individuals that is not so public - People who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness (and by the way, being filled!)

Amy and I walked the construction site on Saturday and praised the Lord that the faith and patience of many years is becoming site. Before long, Lord willing, we will see the steel arive for the frame of our building, the footers poured, and the site taking shape. Wow....Amen. (Steel arrives in 7 weeks :)

There are many sorrows and hardships in our church right now and it is a joyful thing to see other believers responding to them in selfless ministry. Hardship and joy rest side by side in the Christian life.

I just needed to praise the Lord today. He is patiently teaching me about Himself in the Gospel of Mark. I am very slowly letting go of my preconceptions of Jesus and seeing Him for who He really is in the phrases, actions, and chapters of God's Word. I am trying to no longer stuff Jesus into the pretty boxes of my thinking, but rather allow Him to be who He really is and for me to admire and learn.

"I praise you this day Lord, I want to use my day for your glory. Help me to remember today that I am dead with Christ on the cross, I am alive to righteousness because I was in/with Christ at the resurrection. Let this Biblical Truth be my power for pleasing you this day. In the name of Jesus, Amen."

Fourth of July Congressional Prayers

2011-07-03T08:21:00.000-04:00

I thought that it would be good to see on this day that we celebrate the birth and greatness of our country the progression of spirituality and prayers to God that have been made over the years in our great countries Legislature. I hope you enjoy and pray for the United States that first of all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ might continue to convert men and women to the will of Almighty God who birthed our nation.

Prayers in Congress

1861 (July 4), Senate Prayer

The following prayer was offered by Rev. Byron Sunderland, D.D.Almighty and everlasting God, be not angry with us for our sins, which we only confess and deplore; but pardon our offenses and extend to us Thy favor. We thank Thee for Thy goodness on this anniversary of the nation a day tenfold more precious by reason of our present troubles, and sacred to the heart for the ever memorable Declaration of our fathers, in which Thou didst begin more openly to give us a name among the nations of the earth. We thank Thee for all Thy manifold and abundant mercies hitherto to make our nation exceedingly great and glorious; but now disasters have befallen us and darkness broods in the land. And now we ask Thy mercy as the Senate is convening at a most momentous crisis of our history. Give to Thy servants all needed help. Add to their deliberations wisdom and unanimity, and profit and speed to their conclusion. Bless Thy servant, the President of the United States, our veteran Commander-in- Chief, and all that have functions in the civil and military power. May the angel of Thy presence walk in the Cabinet and in the Congress and in the camp, to go before, to purify, and to direct the now greatly and universally-awakened love of country. And we beseech Thee to guide us, to overrule and order all things, and so to cause that nothing shall fail, that the disorders of the land may be speedily healed, that peace and concord may prevail, that truth and righteousness may be established, and that Thy Church and Kingdom may flourish in a larger peace and prosperity, for Thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. (Source: Congressional Globe, 37th Congress, first session, new series, 1, 4 July 1861.)

1918 (July 4), House Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D.D., offered the following prayer:Our Father in Heaven, the inspiration of every generous impulse, every high and noble aspiration, we thank Thee from our heart of hearts for the "Spirit of '76," which gave to us the immortal Declaration of Independence, which led on to victory and the formation of our Glorious Republic, which has not only been the wonder but the admiration of the world. We thank Thee for the day which will be celebrated with more than usual interest throughout the length and breadth of the land. The native born and the naturalized citizen will vie with each other in making it memorable.
For the first time in its history it will be celebrated by our sister nations, who are engaged with us in fighting for the same principles for which our forefather fought, in a world-wide war for humanity, liberty, justice, and equal rights for all mankind.
May it furnish new inspiration to us and our allies, which will bring victory to their arms; then an everlasting peace; to the glory and honor of Thy Holy Name. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-House,65th Congress, second session, 56/9, July 4, 1918, 8668.)

1943 (July 5), Senate Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, D.D., offered the following prayer:Our fathers' God and ours, on the birthday of national independence we confess our dependence upon Thee. Without Thee we are lost in spite of the overwhelming might of our national arms.
We thank Thee for those pilgrims of faith who came hither in their frail barque across mountainous seas and who stepped upon strange shores with the salutation to a new world, "In the Name of God. Amen." The Nation here established, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal has acknowledged that Name above every name and reverenced it, has built its altars, reared its temples, and raised its steeples, emblems of a faith that points to the skies and wings its sure and certain way to God. Make that faith of the fathers, we pray, real to us in these tempestuous days. Save us from a freedom of speech so empty that we have nothing worth saying, from a freedom of worship so futile that we have no God to adore, from freedom from want and fear with no creative idea as to how to use our plenty or our security for the redemption of our social order and for the salvation of our own souls. Let all that is low and unworthy in us sink to the depths. Let all that is high and fine in us rise to greet the morn of a new day confident that the best is yet to be. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-Senate, 78th Congress, first session, 89/5, July 5, 1943, 7160.)

1962 (July 5), House Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Bernard Braskamp, D.D., offered the following prayer: Psalm 11: 3: If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?O Thou Eternal God, may our minds and hearts be stirred with a deepening sense of patriotism and gratitude as we continue to think of that day of high and holy memory in our national history when a company of God-fearing men were guided by Thy divine wisdom to sign the Declaration of Independence
Grant that the blessings of freedom, which were purchased at a tremendous cost and which we prize so highly and are privileged to enjoy in such an abundant measure, may always be coordinated with the spirit of self-discipline.
Help us to cling with increasing tenacity of faith and fortitude to the great truth proclaimed by George Washington in his Farewell Address that religion and morality are indispensable and our national greatness if we allow them to be subverted and obliterated by secularism.
Hear us in the name of our blessed Lord. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record- House, 87th Congress, second session, 108/9, Thursday, July 5, 1962, 12703.)

1969 (July 2), Senate Prayer

The Chaplain, the Reverend Edward L. R. Elson, D.D., offered the following prayer:We thank Thee, O God, that the freedom we celebrate in coming days is not an attainment, but an obtainment that it is Thy precious gift to man as part of his createdness. We thank Thee for the daring of our forefathers in reclaiming their "ancient rights." We thank Thee, too, for the heroes' valor, the patriots' devotion, the prophets' vision, and for all the blood and sweat and toil by which our freedom was purchased. As we commemorate our national independence accept again the declaration of our everlasting dependence upon Thee. In all our joy and thanksgiving enable us to remain a nation "under God," and give us grace and goodness to minister to mankind in His name. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-Senate, 91st Congress, first session, 115/14, Wednesday, July 2, 1969, 18185.)

1974 (July 3), House Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Edward G. Latch, D.D., offered the following prayer:Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalms 33: 12.
Eternal God, stir Thou our minds and stimulate our hearts with a high sense of patriotism as we approach the Fourth of July. May all that this day symbolizes renew our faith in freedom, our devotion to democracy, and redouble our efforts to keep a government of the people, by the people, and for the people truly alive in our world.
Grant that we may highly resolve on this great day to dedicate ourselves anew to the task of ushering in an era when good will shall live in the hearts of a free people, justice shall be the light to guide their feet, and peace shall be the goal of humankind: to the glory of Thy holy name and the good of our Nation and of all mankind. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record- House, 93d Congress, second session, 120/17, Wednesday July 3, 1974, 22130.)

1992 (July 7), House Prayer

The Reverend Norman A. Hjelm, director of faith and order, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States, New York, NY, offered the following prayer:
Lord God of hosts, God of the nations: By your grace and in Your patience You have allowed this our land once again to celebrate its birth, its primal guest for liberty, justice, and equity. And we are grateful.
And once again by Your grace and in Your patience You have called this House-- responsible men and women who are equally faithful and unfaithful, righteous and unrighteous before You, each other, and the people-- You have called this House to the exercise of its solemn task of the legislation of law and the formation of the Nation.
Remind these Your servants that liberty, justice, and equity remain ahead of this Nation as tasks yet to be fulfilled and not as goals already reached.
Maintain before us a clear dedication to the needs of those in our midst who are on the outside because of age, ill health, race, sex, poverty, and urban or rural degredation.
And consecrate anew this Nation to the exercise of imaginative and sacrificial leadership in a restless and violent world which still struggles for authentic justice, peace, and a safe home in Your creation.
Accept now, O God, the labors of this day and the frail lives of Your servants in this House. To You be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-House, 102d Congress, second session, 138/99, Wednesday July 7, 1992, H5981.)

Courageous Parenting

2011-04-27T08:51:00.004-04:00

I have been reminded this week through conversations and experience how much courage it takes to be a parent. It is one thing to know what God wants for our own lives and quite another to teach and enforce those things to our children.

We know the Scriptures that teach us to "command our children after us,” to diligently place the Great Command of Loving the Lord our God before their eyes always (Deut. 6). We know we must rear them in the "nurture and admonition" of the Lord, not "provoke them to wrath." But the practical application of "God's parenting curriculum" is very hard at times to carry out in everyday situations.

Some of the reasons and solutions for this difficulty need to be discussed:

As our children grow, their future isn't only a matter of our "bring up a child", but also a matter of their choice to follow the fear of the Lord, or reject it. In the early, mid, and late teen years, each child faces the personal choice of whether to follow the Lord. I most fear for our children who have made early professions of salvation in Christ and show no evidence of that regeneration in their life. It is very hard to know what to say to a child like this: "Are you really saved?" "You show no fruit?" "If you love the Lord, why do you rebel from His commands?” I confess that I don't know how to articulate the right question to open their eyes to the obvious conflict between their profession and their lifestyle.

Each person individually comes to the choice of whether they will follow Christ. All the desire, prayer, and intent of the parents cannot change that one sobering truth. I do believe the aforementioned things are a factor in their decision, but in the end, your child must choose to accept or reject the way of the Lord. It is this truth that chills my inner man more than anything else about my family.
Another reason that it is hard to practically teach and enforce God's teaching is the changes that are occurring in our children. There is something very fearful about what happens between ages 12-15. I have had parents comment things like: "someone has taken my child and replaced him with this ‘Attitude.’” Suddenly, our 12 year old doesn't just do things because we say to. They question and actually care “why” they are doing things. They often have "better" ways to do them. Unfortunately, as they grow older and wiser, sometimes their ways are better. Now, how do we handle this? Do we give them free reign to be an arrogant teeny-bopper and say things like adults would say them? Absolutely not.

We need to understand that God is developing them within and that naturally comes with a desire of independence. There is nothing wrong with that - in fact, we need to begin giving them more responsibility and even more say in things that are functional (not moral). It is good in a very controlled conversation situation to hear out your (pre)teen’s thoughts even if they are absurd. I find that I struggle to wait until it is my turn to talk because I want to "blow away" every crazy thought. Please understand with me that what comes out the mouth in preteen and teen years is like a baby bird attempting to fly for the first time. His posture is absurd. His technique is crazy. There is no possibility of successful flying given the continued approach. Gently, lovingly – parents, you and I need to listen and then speak God's truth in love. I confess, I need to work on this a lot.

Within these exchanges however, is a magic line of respect. It is the authority that God has given you as parent that must be honored. You must not allow your child to cross this line by personal disrespect, rebellion, or usurping your authority. Hold the line with determined, unfaltering resilience.
The last think I will mention is the difficulty of teaching and enforcing God's ways because of the "energy crisis.” Let's face it - we cannot maintain enough energy in our 30's, 40's, and 50's to stand toe to toe with a mouthy teenager that has a seemingly endless supply of foolish reasons why they cannot simply obey or do right. It takes a huge amount of energy to parent. We need strength from God to meet the need. But, first I want to say that we must conserve our energy for battles that really matter. For instance, it may not be worth the fight to insist that your son change the color of his socks because his "fashion statement" doesn't match. Who cares - let him look like a bozo :)

On the other hand, it is not wrong for you to make the decision your way even if it isn't a Bible command. You are the parent and God has given you the right to choose for that child. You must avoid provoking for no reason, but there are times when you just prefer something different than the choice of that child and it is OK to insist on your way. In Tripp's book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" he points out that there are times to say "no" simply to shape your child's will into realizing he cannot always have what he wants. I agree with this perspective.

Another point concerning energy is this: don't "talk it all out" every time. You cannot keep up with the insistent adrenaline flowing in your teen. You do not have to. Understand their perspective, consider in your own heart what is best from God's perspective, make the decision, hold to it, and lay it out to your teen in about a 5 minute discussion. Don't argue back and forth, back and forth. Don't give your teen that liberty. You are the parent; you must make the decision. Do not fret your child holding a grudge or not liking you. You are there to represent both loving and just God and you must do that no matter how they take it. They don't have to like it. They just have to do it with a respectful and submissive spirit. End the "discussion" and do not allow them to spout at you.

One thing that our Sunday school class has discussed is the confidence of understanding as a parent that parenting is a "God-matter". When your child resists you point them assuredly to their rebellion against God. That is really the matter. Stand confidently with God as you parent.

I pray that God give you the great grace and great wisdom that I am also seeking to parent courageously.

pw

Good Friday or Earth Day?

2011-04-22T11:39:00.002-04:00

We remember on this holy day that our Lord Jesus willingly carried the guilt of our original and life-sin to the cross. Though He was the Just One, He suffered for the unjust. Though He never committed even one of your angry deeds, selfish motives, secret lusts - He lovingly accepted the verdict of God's wrath for them all.

With grateful hearts we remember this day and the nobility of Jesus Christ sacrificing His royalty, deserved pride, innocence, reputation, painfulness, etc. to win your soul for eternity. There has never been a greater love.

This year, very unfortunately, Good Friday and Earth Day are on the same day. It was not intended that way and Christians need not think it was purposeful. It is a terrible reminder however, that men worship themselves and creation rather than coming to the cross. They bow to the religion of "Green" rather than the payment of "Red". Oh, that men would come to Christ as Savior and Lord! I have included the Wikipedia article exerpt below on "Earth Day" for your education.

May your mind be on the Cross today. I am first including a wonderful Good Friday Song - The Power of the Cross http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdYE0pkCu-Y&feature=related

pw

Significance of April 22 - Senator Nelson chose the date in order to maximize participation on college campuses for what he conceived as an "environmental teach-in". He determined the week of April 19–25 was the best bet as it did not fall during exams or spring breaks.[51] Moreover, it did not conflict with religious holidays such as Easter or Passover, and was late enough in spring to have decent weather. More students were likely to be in class, and there would be less competition with other mid-week events—so he chose Wednesday, April 22. (wikipedia.com ; Earth Day selection)

The Burden of our Families

2011-02-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

I have lately been burdened by families who are doing their best...yes, you did read that correctly.

Many families struggle and eventually throw up their hands in defeat as their preteens and teens begin pursuing attitudes and interests of this world that dishonors God.

There are many Biblical principles that deserve meditation by parents, but I would like to share simply two:

1. Parents who "Really" love God.

By "Really", I mean "Real". Real love for God is not only on Sundays or Wednesdays at church. There are many well intentioned believers that have two standards for their home: A Church standard and a Home standard. They live in the dichotomy of conservative, holy Christianity for their church choice and attendance, but the lifestyle of pursuing a world without God's holiness and presence at their home.

Children need to see their parents loving God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

I was thinking this morning about the hundred's of Christian families that I have come into contact with in our years of ministry and how their children turned out. I believe the single most important factor other than the calling Grace of God is having Parents that "really" loved God. Their home life was like their church life. Their children saw them seeking God in the Word and prayer. Their media, talk, discipline, etc. was based on following the Bible, it wasn't only "church stuff". "Real Godly parents" mostly reared "Real Godly children" in the long run.

I notice in many of these "real" families that sometimes there was a stint of rebellion where an older teen would seemingly pursue the world, but then would return to living for God later. Of course, this isn't always true and their are many "real families" that lose one or two of their children totally to the world to return no more. "Train up a child" is a directional promise, not an "every time" promise.

2. Friendships that are allowed

Many of the hearts of our children are stolen by the Evil One through what seems to be a "nice friend". I will never forget the nice church friend who showed me a condom when visiting his house one day. His Dad was a deacon and good friends of my family, but it was clearly obvious that this son was very worldly minded. My parents could have seen that. I knew that.

We need to be kindly discerning and discriminatory about who we allow our children to spend their time with. This can get embarrassing and a struggle when you have to explain this to other parents.....however, we are talking about our very precious children - we must over come fear of other parents when we say "no". We must talk to our children about their friendships and know who children at school are. What happened to the old time "have the friends over for supper" routine?

I would also recommend you to be careful when allowing your children to spend the night somewhere. We cannot keep our children in a bubble, but we must know all the possible dangers of allowing them to go somewhere. Sometimes, just asking the questions can reveal some issue. Scripture says: 1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. We must not allow evil communications in the form of friendships to corrupt the good manners we are instilling in our children.

A childhood of righteousness can be corrupted by one bad friend. It is heart breaking when a teen will side with the counsel and direction of an evil friend and forsake the Bible counsel of their parents. Be strong to control who your preteen or teen "hangs with". Insist on helping them choose their friends. If you have built a relationship with your child, after some resistance, you will greatly influence their choices.

We cannot afford simply to do our best in parenting - we need to parent God's way.

pw

Seasonal Discouragement

2011-02-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

There are many Believers that struggle with seasonal discouragement or depressions. There are many reasons why you may battle with discouragement at certain times of the year. Your body may react to the changes of weather, you may have bad memories associated with some crisis or negative event that happens in the Winter or Spring. Whatever the cause, there have been quite a few people especially in Fall-Winter or Winter-Spring over the years that have confided that they struggle every year near the same time.

I do not have a "magic wand" solution for you, but you will do well to take heed to the progression of the Psalmist Asaph as he works through his own thoughts of depression to praise to the Lord in Psalm 77. Please join me for a short little study of this:

Psa 77:1-20 To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. (2) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. (3) I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. (4) Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Asaph came to a point where he was very discouraged. "In the day of his trouble" he was praying, trying to seek the Lord, crying out to the Lord, but his heart would not be comforted. In fact, when he remembered God, it caused him to be more troubled. You can hear his frustration and complaint in these first four verses as he became overwhelmed within himself with trouble. He could not sleep at night. He became so troubled, he did not even want to speak. His thoughts became all "inward". He had no interest in others, in reaching out to others, in talking things through - he only thought about his own trouble.

This is tempting isn't it when we get overwhelmed inside? We just replay our own troubled thoughts over and over and over in our mind. We may clam up and not even want to converse with others.

(5) I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. (6) I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (7) Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? (8) Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? (9) Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

Asaph considered the ancient times and how God had been gracious to those before him. He remembered his own "song in the night" when he went to bed joyfully and perhaps literally sang a song of joy to the Lord on his bed before sleeping. He begins to question himself about his depression. He does something he should not do. He begins to accuse the Lord in ways that disagree with the promises God had clearly made to him in the Scripture.

Here is a revelation of our own minds in depressions and discouragements. We begin to play "negative" questions or accusations over and over. Asaph asks "will the Lord cast off for ever? ... Is his mercy clean gone for ever? ... doth his promise fail? etc. These are poisounous accusatory thoughts that bring the Believer very low and take the hope right out of you. Proverbs 13:12 says - Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. When we allow negative thoughts to brew and brew within us, we are taking away the "hopes" of God that He has clearly told us in the Bible. We are allowing lies of the Evil One to poison us against God and the joy of living in Him.

(10) And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. (11) I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. (12) I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Asaph says "This kind of bad thinking is my problem (infirmity)" God is not the problem in my discouragement. He has not left or forgotten to be merciful to me. His promise has not failed me - the poison is my own thinking!

Asaph then changes his thinking. Three times he uses the word "remember" and once the word "meditate". The begins practicing good thinking and that leads to the victory seen in the end of the chapter.

Notice He remembers the "years" that the Lord has been faithful. He rememebers all the LORDS works in the past chronicled for us in Scripture. He remembers all the miracles told us in Scripture as "wonders of old". Then, he begins to replace the poison thoughts with meditations of God's working and doings. This is thought replacement that brings hope back again.

Notice also in v. 12b, he takes another step at replacement and begins "talking" of God's doings. So often when we are overcome with discouragments, our trouble is all we can talk about. Asaph controlled and changed his thoughts and then he changed his talk. I'm sure at first it was hard for him to intentionally "talk" of the Lord's doings. He probably had to make himself forceably - but this is the nature of taking steps out of depressions. You must take the baby steps of changing your thoughts, then changing your talk. You cannot allow yourself to remain in the place that you are all "inward" and "cannot speak" v. 4

For the rest of the chapter you see Asaph recovering from his discouragement and praising the Lord again. There is a startling change in his spirit from the beginning of the chapter compared to the end. May the Lord use the his thoughts to move you to the end of your chapter where you are saying "who is so great a God as our God?" v.13

(13) Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? (14) Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. (15) Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. (16) The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. (17) The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. (18) The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. (19) Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. (20) Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Norma Justice Memorial

2011-01-29T08:07:00.002-05:00

The Memorial Service at LBC for Norma Justice will be today (Saturday, 1/29/11) at 11am with a Luncheon to follow.

First Spock then Phil

2011-01-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

2Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The verse above makes an amazing claim. It says that through knowing God in salvation, by His power He gives us everything we need for life and godliness. Do you believe that? Those "all things" would include a Holy Spirit within us, the crucifixion of our old man, and the promises and commands of Scripture.

However, many Christians do not believe that we have everything we need in life. Emotionally, mentally, in counseling, many believers are following the world of popular psychology rather than digging into Scripture and/or seeking the counseling of godly people for their mental and behavior issues. They have bought into the lie of Satan that God and Scripture are not enough (not sufficient).

In 1946 a man named Dr. Benjamin Spock turned the hearts of millions away from God with an anti-Biblical approach to childrearing. He advocated that Mothers should do what they "feel" rather than conventional order and childrearing. Spanking was taboo. Children were encouraged to "act out" their anger rather than behave and God's Word was placed on the shelf as thousands of believers read his book rather than followed the Bible.

We are a generation of "Dr. Phil's". Even Christians have bought into the lie that the Bible, preaching, Biblical counseling, etc. is inadequate to meet their thinking, emotional, mental issues. We have received the "labels" of psychiatry as gospel for why we do and think wrong. We have sought the medication of drugging as the answer to why we are "imbalanced" rather than taking time through the Scriptural correction, godly advice, changed obedience, fasting and prayer, etc. to address the true reasons for our anxiety, depression, fears, and "baggage".

There are definitely time for "drugs". Organic damage, true body disease, thyroid problems, etc. all lend themselves to the help of stabilizing drugs. There are times when fears, depression, and anxiety have not been handled Biblically that a person becomes overwhelmed and truly imbalanced and drugs must be used temporarily for 6 months to a year to bring the chemicals in their body under control. These imbalanced states escalate to the point of hopelessness, terror, and even suicidal thoughts. In these extreme times, medication is necessary and vital to quickly bring the body and mind to a managable state. When these extreme terrors are under control and the person can think reasonably clearly again however, they must seek a skilled Biblical Counselor to deal with the reasons for the anxiety as they gently under a Doctor's care wean slowly off of the medication.

I do not share this thinking from ignorance or arrogance, but from the position of a Pastor who has personal experience in these issues in dozens and maybe hundreds of counseling situations in the past 18 years.

Anxiety medication does not heal, it manages. In many ways it "band-aids" the unresolved problems. Mental illnesses that are not organic (accident or disease) like labeled bi-polar, manic depression, anxiety attack, etc. are labels placed on you in the world of psychology. These are not viruses, cancers, or diseases that have diagnosis like a broken arm, a tumor, high blood pressure, etc. Doctors are giving names to your symptoms but have no physical test to prove it. There is no medical test for "chemical imbalance". They have learned to use medication to control your body to calm itself, but this is not the same as taking a Bible and looking at verses to change your heart about improper fears and anxieties within. Satan has convinced believers through popular opinion that the world of psychology is more athoritative on the issue than the God who made your body and wrote the Bible.

The life of psychology is a constant cycle of failed talks, drugs, treatments, clinics, programs, etc. There is constant correction of medication, labels, and failed sessions. Unsaved Doctors can never heal the issues of the mind and heart because they approach the treatment from Humanism and not God's thoughts. Secular doctors councel from the perspective of either "God doesn't exist" or that "He is a general helpful crutch of "having faith". They are not giving the Wisdom of the Word of an involved, specific, commanding God in your life. God must deal with your issues through renewing your thinking in those "baggage" issues from God's Word. It often takes a skilled Pastor or Biblical Counselor to get to the heart of your thinking, but when they do, you will change if you will obey the Word.

We must place our confidence again in God who has given us all things that pertain to godliness. Deal with your fears and anxieties with the Bible and a Pastor or godly Christan who knows the Word while they are small or they will get out of hand and you will be overcome with anxiety, fears, and depression.

We must reject Dr. Spock, Dr. Phil and return to Dr. Jesus.

"V" is for Victory!

2011-01-06T16:03:00.001-05:00

I am so happy to report that the New Castle Land Use Dept. has reversed their decision and granted us a three year permit for our "modular" buildings.

This was a great surprise to us as we went to the meeting ready to please our (God's) case. After some questions about dates, pulling files, etc., the Land Use Manager simply said that they would give us the three year permit and that it was an error on their side. Amazing.

Many thanks to Councilwoman Diller, Councilman Dave Tackett, Sen. Hall-Long, George Haggerty, Dave Culver, and others who helped us in this process.

God is great and heard the prayers of His people! Do you see it? Do I see it? Do we understand that God intervened in the hearts and lips of the right people to deal favorably with us?

I am encouraged in faith not only by these permits, but the bigger matter of building the building we so desperately need. The hour is here, God hears our prayers, the need is great, and God is on His Throne! Amen!

pw

Urgent New Castle County Prayer Request

2011-01-06T11:12:00.000-05:00

Dear LBC Family,

I ask each of you to pray and if you feel led to contact your council person or Delaware Senator over the following matter:

Since the week before Christmas, we have been going back and forth with New Castle County because they have denied renewing permits for our (2) Trailer/Modulars. As most of you know, these modular structures are of huge impact to our ministry. The allow for (3) Sunday School classes, our church office, King's Kids weekly children's program, Junior Church, Pastor's Prayer Partners, Senior Citizen events, Funeral dinners, Teen activities, video overflow of our services up to this point, and a host of other uses beneficial to our church, community, and to other churches that have used them.

I certainly understand the County's position in desiring to cleanup the temporary structures in our County, however, this comes at a terrible time for us as we seek with all our strength to build a new building. They are within their written ordinance writes as I understand it to refuse renewal, however, we are requesting understanding and common sense toward LBC in this time of moving forward in our plan to build.

I have called on area Pastors and churches to help us pray and influence this decision. WOEL 89.9 FM is running an urgent prayer request for us on the radio. Another Pastor is calling his former Senator to see if he can help the influence.

Today at 2:15pm we will meet with the Land Use Department and lay out our case. Up to this point, they have made it clear that they do not intend to compromise any on this issue. They will not renew our permits and we must get rid of the trailers immediately. Councilwoman Diller, Tackett, and Sen. Hall-Long have interviened to get us the "stay" until this meeting.

I ask you to urgently pray for the will of God in this transitional time of our church. This is a political matter that could influence other churches and your voice will be heard by your council person or Senator.

pw

Harold Camping

2011-01-05T13:28:00.000-05:00

Lately, more attention has been given to a deceiver named Harold Camping. He is the President of Family Radio that plays very nice Christian music in this area. I love the music, but it comes at the price of being taught heresy in his Open Forum radio call in show. Recently, I received this email question and here is my brief response. I do hope that it will warn any of you that may come in contact with Family Radio.

"Hi PW,

Have you ever heard of Howard Camp? I believe he does Family Radio Ministry from Oakland, CA. I was just wondering if he is considered “reliable” in Biblical knowledge.

Response: Yes, his name is Howard Camping and he is a deceiver. He is fairly popular on radio and now TV and is totally steering people in many wrong doctrines. Among these wrong doctrines are:

1. He incorrectly predicted that the Lord would come in 1994, now gives the date May 21, 2011 as the rapture or end of the world – I’m not sure which.

2. He is a hyper, hyper, hyper Calvinist which believes only the chosen can be saved AND even if you believe on Christ and ask the Lord to save you, He may not. He says you should just say over and over and over “God be merciful to me a sinner” and hope it works. (very bad salvation doctrine)

3. Most recently he preaches that every church is bad and all Christians must Come Out of the churches. No church is good. Only organizations like Family Radio are good, so send your tithes to them.

4. He doesn’t believe Jesus died in his human lifetime for sin, but rather before the world was ever made, God crucified him in heaven.....so, the death on the cross was only a demonstration of what He had done earlier.

This guy is bad news and he is deceiving thousands who are weary of organized religion (church)

Pastor Tobe Witmer"

Why are all these people smiling?

2011-01-02T07:04:00.004-05:00

As you look at this picture of President Obama sitting at a desk signing something, you may ask, "Why are all these people smiling and so happy?" It is because our President is signing into law a document that says homosexuals can no longer be discharged from the military for openly practicing Sodomy.

This December 22nd, 2010 repeal was one piece of wicked legislature built on the wicked legislature of President Clinton's 1993 mandate which simply instructed homosexuals to practice their sin quietly.

President Obama said during the signing: “No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie or look over their shoulder,” Quoting the chairman of his joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, Mr. Obama went on, “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.”

No matter how much our leaders and country smiles and rejoices, God says that Sodomy is sin of extreme perversion, lust, uncleanness, vile affection, against nature, and unseemly. It is an extreme sexual sin that is a consequence of a person or nation forgetting God. Though all sin is wicked, homosexuality is revealed in Scripture as an exceeding wicked national sin that deserves the destruction of the Lord as He did Sodom and Gomorrah.

Romans 1:24-27 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence (payback) of their error which was meet.

Repealing "Don't ask don't tell" is nothing to smile about, but rather everything to weep about. Beyond the terrible distraction that this will be to our military in everyday perverse situations, the greater harm here is a Country that once trusted God rejoicing in a lifestyle that spits on His holiness, His establishment of marriage, and the picture of Christ and the church.

Instead of conviction and shame for their sin that will bring repentance and salvation to perishing homosexuals, our country is glamorizing and commending the unrighteousness which will lead many to the lake of fire. Instead of compassion that preaches repentance to lost homosexuals, our country is applauding the extreme sin that often drives them to a life of debauchery, sickness, disease, death of their body, and ultimately death of their soul. For the sake of the repentance of perishing homosexuals, sin must be preached as exceeding sinful.

America is lost in sin and our only hope is national revival. As Christians, we must not put our head in the sand and ignore such terrible and wicked steps of destruction such as President Obama's repeal. We must be the pillar and ground of truth. We must never be politally correct, but rather be Biblically correct and condemn Sodomy just as the Lord does. We must cry in the streets, we must be burdened with our national sin, we must fast and pray for God to send revival.

Reigning Champion

2010-12-22T22:53:00.000-05:00

About every other year as part of the LBC Staff Christmas festivities, a battle of wit and guts rages in my basement. This week for several hours, the Staff men waged war against each other in Monopoly in my basement to the death.

This year, the reigning champ, Pastor Pritt met his match with a new young buck known simply as "Cruice like Juice". Please enjoy the play by play.

Witmer jumped out to an amazing first two rounds of the board buying up many choice properties on vairous colors. This slowed and Olinda eventually caught up to the purchasing frienzy. Cruice took the Untilities/Railroad strategy straight from an online cheat site, and scored the first "monopoly" with Utilities (though it is debated if Utilities can be actually counted for anything). Pritt seemed to lack "umpah" at first, but slowly built up steam and negotiated with Witmer for the first true "monopoly" in light blue slumb lands. This trade would determine the battle at the end of the game and was only given by Witmer to secure one railroad and an orange property to kill Cruice dead in his tracts that owned two railroads and an orange. The promise was made to Pritt that Witmer would bury the properties and they would never be sold to Cruice. A promise that was kept.

Olinda then made several decisions that seemed to allow him to surge to an imminent dominance. Cruice licked his wounds on the Railroad debauchery for several rounds and only made a purchase of minor properties in addition to Park Place. Somewhere along that time, Cruice landed on "Chance" as he seemed to along with "Community Chest" about 30 times in the game. This is no exageration. The card read "Advance to Boardwalk". With one turn of the game, Cruice owned Boardwalk and Park Place.

Meanwhile, Pritt developed light blue and slowly acquired the direct purple corner. Witmer was not silent acquiring several properties an "monopolizing" red. Olinda acquired yellow. Pritt developed first on light blue, then Cruice in the ritz, then Witmer on red. Before long Hotels and multi-houses lined the board.

Somewhere in those moments, Olinda's world fell apart and I believe Cruice put him out of his misery with a direct land on the properties of the quadruple figure rents. Olinda was out. Witmer held much longer, but finally paid the price after several Pritt hits and a final Cruice destruction.

Then, there were two. Pritt and Cruice exchanged rent and battled it out with no clear end in site. Since Witmer/Olinda property was now available, several other properties were purchased to get advantage. At the 5 hour mark, a time limit was set of 30 more minutes and the two battled it out like Tolkien warriors of old. As the final minutes ticked away, Pritt landed one to many times on the ritzy side of town and lost most of his cash and several of his extensive web of hotels and houses.

Pritt was dethroned and there was a new Champion in town. Hail to the new champion and be sure to go by his office to admire his new "traveling" trophy.

You may question the wisdom or legitimacy of such a game. I will simply tell you with experience that all work and no play makes a church staff...well, no fun to work with.

Caroling, Caroling now we go...

2010-12-22T22:24:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a most enjoyable time of Christmas caroling. This is the first time we attempted it on a mid-week service night and we were a bit afraid that we may suffer in attendance. In past years we have noticed that fewer people were coming on dedicated caroling nights. Anyhow, we were most pleased to see about 60 people show up to visit several of our shutins, widows, and hurting people.

James says: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. What happened tonight was pure religion.

Our group was the "Christiana group" of 17 people. We had three stops in about a 10 mile radius. The first was a member of our church who is battling cancer. They really appreciated our stop. The second was one of our handicapped seniors that has recently moved to a retirement facility. She wept with joy and hugged each of us as we finished our last song: "This is so wonderful" she said. The last was a dear couple well into their 80's who have also recently entered a retirement community. - "this is so nice" they said as they held Emma and listened to the sounds of the Incarnation of God in song. On another occasion in our journeys, we were able to sing the gospel to a group of unsaved ladies who rejoiced.

I have heard that the other groups had similar experiences of great fellowship and ministry. Anything new is a bit of a risk, but I will guarantee you that this will become part of our Christmas Tradition at LBC each year. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience "Pure Religion" and I didn't even write of the joys of being with the other families.

Merry CHRISTmas,

pw

Come to the Manger

2010-12-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

I would like to encourage our church family and friends to come to our Christmas Cantata: Come to the Manger this Sunday. There will be 2 showings at 9am and 10:45am.

The Cantata has three major movements. First, the humble scene of Bethlehem's manger with the shepherds attending. Secondly, there is the picture of visit of the Magi in Jesus' toddler years bringing gifts of precious and meaningful treasure. Finally, there is return to the manger with the realization of Christ's identity as future King and Lord.

I trust the Lord will use this event to be a blessing to believers and a gospel light to those without Jesus.

pw

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T09:35:00.001-05:00

May your Thanksgiving be void of empty appreciation and full of specific praise to God who richly blesses us with all good things !

Important Announcements

2010-11-18T22:15:00.002-05:00

Dear Church Family,

Please consider carefully the following:

1. This Sunday 11/18/10 is our Quarterly Building Offering - "Waiting On the Lord". Right now, we are on a "holding pattern from heaven" and we are terribly dependent on the Lord for the finances of our new Building. Now is the time for us to give in faith because we know the Lord has to do something miraculous among us. We are actively pursuing banks to loan us the money for our project, but the economy is causing them to be very stingy. We trust the Lord perfectly that He will make very clear to us what we must do. Right now, it is clear that we are to joyfully WAIT ON HIM. While we wait, we must make our own finances as attractive as possible to secure the loan. So, I ask you to give from the heart.

2. On Sunday Night, Brian Geeseman from Eagle Ranch will be with us to publicly give Joey Masarik his Diploma and to present the ministry to our church. This is the Ranch where Joey spent six months getting his mind straightened out before the Lord. I would like us to give a respectable offering to the Ranch, but I realize that "you can't squeeze blood from a turnip." I have already asked you to give to the Revival, give to the Building offering, give your tithes -- and that's a lot of giving-------SOOOOOO.........

Let's be creative..... On Sunday evening you will find an addressed envelope on your seat to EAGLE RANCH. Please take the envelope home and send the Ranch Money as soon as you can. We have JOEY to prove the value of this great work for the Lord. If you are prepared to give on Sunday Night - then, please put the money in the envelope (checks to Eagle Ranch) and place in the normal offering.

Thank you for considering these two items ----- Don't forget the Men's Prayer breakfast on Saturday at 8am) - -- forgive any Typos in this email....no time to edit :)

Much Love to all,

pw

Vote Righteousness

2010-10-31T08:10:00.000-04:00

http://www.delawarefamilies.org/pdfs/2010_Primary_Voter_Scorecard_(2)3.pdf

We are 2 days away from Mid-term elections.

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

• Please understand that this world cannot be changed by politics, governments, or elections - but by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• As Christians we must not get into the mindset of changing our world through Politics.

----However - we must engage in voting and even running for leadership in America to be righteous - we are commanded to take a stand for righteousness.

Pastors and Churches have always played a huge role to shape the direction of America - Come Tuesday Morning -- You must Vote for Righteous Candidates.

*Vote for candidates that follow the Bible - Morality, Pro-life, pro-religious liberty. You must reject candidates that agree with the pro-gay agenda.

*I would step further and challenge you to realize that socialist candidates are not Biblical - God rewards hard work and says to give to others from your love and will --- not by force.

----First I ask you to Vote - you have not right to complain if you do not vote --- Then Vote Righteousness on Tuesday. Vote for candidates that line up best with God’s Morality, direction, commands.

Thank You!

2010-10-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

I wanted to thank each of you that were so thoughtful for Pastor's Appreciation Day this past Sunday. Thanks to the Deacons who thoughtfully organized everything.

Amy and I opened each card with love and thankfulness. Thank you for all the gifts and the kind words you expressed. I especially want to thank the Kings Kids and children's classes for their excellent projects and displays. I love these things and will cherish them.

It is my great privilege and opportunity to be your Pastor. I do pray that I will be a faithful and loving under-shepherd to each of you.

Much Love,

pw

When the Towers Fell

2010-09-11T12:16:00.002-04:00

When the Towers Fell by Tobe Witmer

You cannot tell a Hero by the ribbons on his chest,

You cannot tell a warrior by weapons on his vest,

But when a man lays down his life for one that’s not his own,

That man is something special and deserves great honor shown:

When the towers fell, when the towers fell,

And the hope of every American heart lay crumbled on the ground,

They may have taken brick away, with glass and metal spans,

But we still have our Courage, Faith, our love, and praying Hands.

We woke up on that morning, just like another day,

Some started school, some work, some home, and some had time to play,

But somewhere close to nine o’clock, we lost our innocence,

When wicked men with plans of death killed thousands without sense.

We reached for hope, we shed our tears, we launched our troops with nerve,

And though we were attacked with hate, our justice soon was served,

Some lost their precious loved ones then, in fires set from Hell,

Some gained their faith in Christ that day and now their stories tell.

So from this foolish- hateful mess, came courage, hope, and strength,

May God help us to not forget our life’s uncertain length.

Our country holds a special place from shore to nation’s shore,

We stand for Freedom, Faith, and Truth; we’re hated and adored.

When the towers fell, when the towers fell,

And the hope of every American heart lay crumbled on the ground,

They may have taken brick away, with glass and metal spans,

But we still have our Courage, Faith, our love, and praying hands.

Mrs. Bonnie Beebe Funeral

2010-08-27T13:39:00.000-04:00

Our hearts go out to the Beebe Family as they mourn the loss of Bonnie. Bonnie was a faithful servant of the Lord, a great mother and wife.

Service: Lighthouse Baptist Church, 11am, Tuesday, August 31st. 10am visitation. There will be a luncheon in the Modular Building following the internment.

Funeral Arrangements for Dr. Richard Bish

2010-08-19T23:01:00.006-04:00

Our hearts are broken beyond words at the loss of our dear friend Dr. Richard Bish on Wednesday, 8/18/10.

Vistation will be at the Funeral home Sunday, August 22nd from 6pm - 8pm

Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam
130 Speer Rd.
Chestertown, Md. 21620

The Funeral will be Monday, August 23rd at
Chestertown Baptist Church
401 Morgnec Road, Chestertown, MD - (410) 778-5844

Visitation at 10am; Service at 11am.

Reception to follow: ***At Chestertown Baptist Church*** (This is a revision)

The service will be conducted by:

Pastor Terri Moore, Dr. Bruce Miller, Dr. Bob Hamblen, Pastor Tobe Witmer.

Lighthouse has been asked to bring sidedishes for the reception. We will need many ladies to participate. If you can make a sidedish, please contact Gloria Pharis or the church office.

Hello Heaven?

2010-08-14T09:50:00.001-04:00

Dear LBC Family,

I have just returned from a tremendous Men's Prayer Meeting at the white house. Once a month, men are invited to come and pray about our building project. We were especially praying today for our Summer Building Offering tomorrow.

While it is fresh in my mind, I would like to share with you a real prayer from this morning. Most of what I write is exact quote or very close to it:

"Hello, Heaven? This is your son Lit Powell, and I need a direct line to Jesus Christ. Please connect me with the best signal of phone, email, internet, whatever. Heavenly Father, we come to you needing a straight conversation with you...often we are distracted from the task at hand by even thoughts of our next meal. Keep us focused as we pray for this great financial need on a direct line of request. We need no static in this call.

Father, would you put us in contact with your best financial man up there standing by? We need a lot of money for this project. There are 12 other guys here praying for the same thing in addition to myself. We are around this big table. We need about a table full of money to do this building. Please hear our request and send it.

Now Father, I thank you for this call. We know we have a direct line to you. Thank you Jesus. In your precious name, Amen."

Now, Lit has no idea that I am posting this request, so don't embarrass him by pointing it out. He was just praying to his Abba, Father the way the Spirit was leading. It was genuine and from the heart.

Other men prayed tomorrow for the Widow's Mite. Others asked the Lord to hear the requests of our children, still others praised God for His past goodness on our church family.

I would ask you to put the same intensity in your request for this project, and especially what the Lord will give you the faith and courage to give tomorrow in the Summer Building Offering.

pw

Decade Celebration 10-10-10

2010-08-13T13:12:00.002-04:00

There is a lot going on behind the scenes for our Decade Celebration - here are some things for your enjoyment!

1. We will hold the event at Clayton Hall on Rt. 896 at the University of Delaware.

This is a beautiful venue with plenty of parking, a huge open area where several hundred people can fellowship peacefully - comfortable chairs and sitting areas that will be very enjoyable between services. Our two services will be held in a modern 500 seat auditorium that will also accomodate our multi-media presentations. We have reserved two large rooms for child care and will be hiring faithful ladies from other churches to watch our children during the services. Across the expansive common area is a huge banquet hall that we will use for a delicious formal lunch.

We are providing the event free of charge, BUT, free tickets must be secured by each person attending. (Please do not secure a ticket until you are absolutely sure of your attendance.)

2. Times:

Worship Service: 10:45am

Lunch: 12:30pm

Celebration Service: 2pm

All the services will be packed with excellent content, media presentations, preaching, special presentations, etc.

3. Additional "goings-on":

We are nearing completion of the LBC Decade Celebration History Book entitled: From Humble Beginnings to Joyful Ministry This book tells the story of God's Sovereign birth of Lighthouse through the events that have brought us to joyfully serving the Lord today. You will weep when you read about lawn chairs and shout when you remember the Lord delivering the Sears Property. You will muse on treacherous times of decisions and see the Lord gently leading through it all.

We have invited nearly everyone that had something to do with Lighthouse in the past. We have contacted old pulpit supply, missionaries, former members, etc. All are welcome with open arms!

There will be a special blessing in the Celebration Service as area Pastors and old friends bless the Lord on our behalf with testimonies of praise.

Lord willing, we will unveil an original Lighthouse Hymn written for our 10th Anniversary.

It should be a tremendous time to Celebrate the Lord's work.

The Scriptures say: Psalms105:1-2 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. (2) Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Lighthouse Baptist Church is truly a work of the Lord alone and on 10-10-10 we should celebrate wholeheartedly all that He has done for us.

Speak out believers!

2010-07-28T17:43:00.000-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/28/court-university-expel-student-opposes-homosexuality/

I just read the above article on Fox that stirs up my God-fearing zeal. The article is about a Christian student that was expelled from Eastern Michigan University for being a Counseling major who opposes Homosexuality. According to the article, the university expelled her because she could not properly counsel homosexuals because she believed they were morally wrong.

Let me give a bit of true wisdom. Here is proper and positive counsel to homosexuals: forsake sodomy, repent and ask the Lord's forgiveness by the blood of Christ on the Cross. Get accountable to a Pastor or Godly man in a Bible believing church that constantly asks you if you are staying pure. Get accountable in your internet and media. Memorize verses about fornication and purity. Date the opposite sex. Buy masculine clothes if you are a man - dress feminine and grow your hair long if you are a woman. Stay pure and get married. That is proper counsel. I want to make a statement that I hope all Christians will consider: Secular counseling (Psychology, Psychiatry is NOT in agreement with God's counsel. It is not proper medicine because it contradicts the ways of the Maker. Believers should be VERY hesitant of secular counseling and seek a Bible Based Counselor (a Pastor, or trained counselor) instead. Secular Psychology is very corrupt and destructive to the lives of those who trust it. It is not good as it works off of theories that contradict the Bible. Many Christian psychologists try to integrate secular psychology with the Bible. (James Dobson) This is not good and cannot work. The Word of God is totally sufficient and believers should not seek a substitute or value modern Psychiatry as "medicine" or scientifically superior to God's Counsel. Consider true Biblical counseling www.nanc.org/

Secondly, this is not a matter of meeting standards at a college. It is Christian persecution that a Judge has now upheld. Welcome to the beginning of creative ways to hurt believers in America. I do pray that there is a large group of Christians organizing to picket outside of Eastern Michigan University. I do pray that there are Pastors trying to book radio time to denounce U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh's ruling. I do hope there is a Supreme Court to overturn this decision.

If and when this happens around Lighthouse, I do trust that we will have the courage and character to cry for God's Ways just as loudly, as lovingly, and as boldly as we possibly can. Please pray for this young woman, Julea Ward, who was expelled. Pray that God would bless her a hundred fold for her stand. Pray that perhaps she will be accepted into a Bible based Counseling program which would be much better anyway.

In God's holy zeal,

pw

Approved Record Plan

2010-07-27T22:16:00.000-04:00

I hardly know how to properly honor the Lord for His goodness to Lighthouse tonight. Nothing seems adequate to say. I just want to publicly tell the Lord "Thank You, and praise You."

After many years of meetings, thousands of phone calls and emails, 900 plus pages filed with New Castle County, public meetings, and hundreds of thousands of engineering dollars - Our Record Plan has been approved.

Our project was on the "consent agenda" tonight, which means that unless someone requests that it be discussed, we would be automatically voted on. Well, about ten minutes into the meeting, our project was read, and no one questioned a thing, so the Council voted unanimously (with one member missing) to approve our Record Plan. The plan will be taken to the County Executive, Christopher Coons for signature.

The Record Plan means that all requirements of site engineering, entrances, storm water management, grading, etc. have been met and the County is approving moving forward to build. Our project is officially recorded this week in New Castle County as permission to begin building.

This is the Big Deal, and from here details are minor in comparison. We praise the Lord for His great leadership and trust Him to lead us through the financial decisions to break ground.

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

pw

NCC Building Meeting Workshop Praise

2010-07-20T18:30:00.002-04:00

Our entire church should praise the Lord today for a very positive meeting with the Land Use Committee for the New Castle County Council.

We met at their offices in Wilmington. Our Site Engineer, Bruce Tease of Landmark Engineering and I represented the LBC building project.

Councilwoman Lisa Diller introduced our project with encouraging praises of a project that was very well organized and communicated transparently and effectively with her office. There were a few minor questions to Bruce and then the Chairman of the Committee, Councilman Dave Tacket told the Committee and all the spectators present that he was very familiar with the church and gave us glowing accolades of being involved and impacting our community. He placed his approval and excitement publicly on the project and we were dismissed without further questions.

We have been placed on the agenda for next Tuesday for the final meeting with County before our Record Plan is approved to be recorded. This will give us the permission that we have prayerfully and patiently pursued for over five years to build on our property. Over 900 pages of documents have been filed with New Castle County, hundreds of hours work, and over $300,000 in Engineering. We are seeing the end of the tunnel.

I praise the Lord tonight because He has placed His good hand of favor upon us to protect us and guide our way. Thank you Lord, we follow You and trust only on Your lead.

pw

Congrats to the Baranowskis!

2010-07-09T11:16:00.000-04:00

With Joy we welcome Jordyn Grace into the world. A healthy 8lb. 1 oz. beautiful girl. Amy and Mark are doing well. Amy hopes to come home today (Friday)

Huge Lighthouse Congratulations!

New Bodies Promised

2010-06-29T18:14:00.001-04:00

Dear LBC Family,

Please pray for the courage and strength of Mrs Phyllis Thompson who was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. She has some decisions and another biopsy in front of her. She will also be having chemo. in the near future. She needs your prayers.

We also pray for Mrs. Judy Griffiths as well in her treatments.

We know that these bodies were not made for the long hall. The Lord has new and improved bodies planned for each of us who are new in Jesus Christ.

Let's rally around those that are hurting as the family of God. The first priority of prayer is their spiritual strength. As you pray for their health, ask God to strengthen their faith in the inner man. Pray that the Lord would give them opportunities to draw closer to Him, to be a witness for Him, to comfort others in the comfort that they receive.

We love each of you that are hurting. The Lord cares about the fallen sparrow, and He cares for you even more!

pw

Prayer and More

2010-06-23T23:15:00.000-04:00

As I stated tonight in our Midweek service, I ask our LBC family to pray for two of my preacher friends with ministry concerns. Each of these Pastors need prayer for strength.

I also want to remind you to pray earnestly for our Building Permits as our project passes through the last step of New County County Council on the first two Tuesday's of July. This is a major big deal and it is the culmination of five years of planning. Thank you for earnestly praying.

The Building Team and Deacons are working through our options with the Building Finances right now. This is a very hard proceedure and needs much wisdom from the Lord. Please pray that we will know exactly the right steps to move forward. Everyone wants to move forward, but we are trying to be very wise and exploring all our options. As we all know, we are not in a financial situation to build the building "turn key" (completely finished). However, it is our goal and prayer to break ground and get started by the end of 2010. God can do anything and has been strong for us up to this point. The banks are weighing in on what they can do right now and what they believe we can afford comfortably. Pray, Pray, Pray!

pw

A Sweet and Sour Departure

2010-06-18T22:08:00.004-04:00

To the friends of Lighthouse that may not yet know - our Youth and Administration Pastor, Tim Valiante has accepted the position of Senior Pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Millville, Pa.

It is with sadness and joy that I personally say goodbye to PV. I first met Tim when he came with his Catholic background family to church at Bensalem Baptist where I was the Youth Pastor. Tim came to youth group with his older brother John and then his younger sister Andrea aka "Youthgirl". Tim accepted Christ under Pastor Love's preaching and got involved in the youth group and later "Preacher Boys" when he enrolled in the Christian School. One of my first memories of Tim was taking him along with me to minister to a young man in our church who was in a rehabilitation home.

It wasn't long before Tim was preaching as a high schooler and showing the potential of ministry. It was also my privilege to coach him in soccer where I enjoyed yelling at him regularly to make the most of his above average soccer skills. He had a background in travel soccer and was the most valuable player on our team in his time. Those were good times. He put many a goal in the back of the net. Tim went off to Northland and did an internship at BBC one summer. Again it was my joy to push him.

When Tim graduated, became engaged, and wasn't sure of his next move - the Lord directed our paths together and of course he came to Lighthouse to minister. I will never forget when he came to interview. Sarah flew in from Arizona and that was the snowstorm of 2003. Tim and Sarah (yet unmarried) were stuck at our house for 3 days. Good Times.

Of course we hired him and that was 7+ years ago. Tim joined me each day in the office at the warehouse and Sarah became the secretary when Georgia "retired". Those were the struggling first years of LBC and the ministry of the first pastors. They were not simple days and there was much work in this pioneer ministry. PV was an invaluable asset in the renovation of the building and the organization of our ministries.

PV brought a depth to the teen ministry in his teaching and his "even keel" temperment. I am a pusher, he is a plodder. I am an alarmist, he is laidback. It has been good years and I will miss him greatly.

We enjoyed many theologic discussions and thinking through vague Greek meanings and vernacular. He is ready and will do a great job as the Lord continues to use him as and instrument in the hand of the Master. It will be the joy and shock of his life to sit "in the big chair".

We look ahead with anticipation at whom the Lord will bring to take up the needs of Youth and perhaps eventually administration at LBC. Pastor Pritt is a great help to LBC and along with Jeff in the office and eager volunteers - we will keep everything afloat until the Lord fills the need.

The Valiante's last Sunday is July 11th. We have a large fellowship planned and we will be giving them a gift from the church as well as having a "card basket" and "money tree" to bid them Godspeed. Please let them know how much you have appreciated their ministry. I still have cards and letters from past ministries that mean the world to me.

This will be a sweet and sour departure, but we praise the Lord for His perfect will. Please feel free to leave comments on this blog to the Valiantes.

pw

Unprompted Love

2010-06-03T07:18:00.000-04:00

These days, I am thrilling in the love of God that came to us without our prompting. What I mean by that is that God's love is not like our love, and that is what makes it amazing. See - the love that we are familiar with on this earth is love that sees something in someone and responds to it. God's love is not like this.

Don't think you understand this easily - think through it. I began to love Amy twenty years ago because I saw in her things I admired and was attracted to. She was beautiful. She was very smart. She was kind, etc. SEE? My love was a response to things I had seen in her.

Now, God's love is not like this at all. Stop and consider that He CHOSE to love you, despite NOT being attracted to you. In fact, He is repulsed by His rebellious creation. He was repulsed by your sin, your disobedience, your attempts at self righteousness. This is how He found you when He came to you and loved you. When He called you to be saved, He called you because He decided to, not because He saw anything that He liked in you. This is why the wind of salvation is impossible to predict. People of any status, condition, class, etc. are perfect candidates to be saved. God is not a respecter of persons because the love of salvation comes from His side totally.

I think you probably agree with me on the surface, but don't realize that some of the things we say in evangelism conflict with this. We (general Christianity) refer to people "seeking" for God. WHAT?!? This is certainly different than what my Bible says. God found us running away from Him. This is why His love is so amazing. It is generated from His side. If you find a "seeker", it is only because God's love is calling them. He is turning them around when they are running from Him. Amazing love. If this really sinks in, you will have a "precarious moment" when you realize that you should not be saved - there is no reason you generated for God to save you. If you get this, it will take your breath, your chest will tighten and you will realize how close you came to hell. You will say with the old Hymn writer, "Lord, why was I a guest?"

If we understand this Biblically, things like "feeling like God is far away" doesn't make sense anymore. If He initiated His love toward you in eternal salvation, the constancy of love is sustained by Him, not you. If He decided to love you as an enemy, He much more continues to love you through your Christian struggles and failures. He sustains the love, not you. Not your performance.

Lately, I am thrilling in the unprompted love of God.

Softball Cancelled Tonite

2010-05-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

5/18/10 - Softball Games are cancelled for this evening due to rain.

Eulogy of the death of Princess

2010-05-16T13:29:00.001-04:00

I almost feel compelled to give a public statement about the death of our cat because of the number of times I have used her as a sermon illustration.

On Friday morning we found Princess had passed away from unknown causes. I was a bit amazed at how her passing affected me and the thoughts I have had since. Andrew found Kitty and immediately alerted the family. I sent the family into the family room while I surveyed the situation. When I went to examine her, I immediately felt the sorrow that a very present part of our family had been lost.

I know that there are those reading this that think I must be joking. I did not like cats. I really did not like many of the things that Princess did. Sometimes she had very bad habits. But none of those things changed the feeling of looking at her laying there lifeless. It was not her. She had gone. The vehicle of her life was left behind, but she was not there. My spirit sank. I was afraid of her body. How odd it is that hours before we would have petted her, snuggled her, shuffled her out of the way - yet now, I felt fear. Fear of death. Fear of a lifeless body. I was struck by the realization that flesh is not life. Flesh is a vehicle, a body only. How quickly life can be separated from the vehicle.

Throughout that day, I kept thinking how quickly things can change. We had talked about giving Princess away because of her habits. Perhaps someone else could have trained her....perhaps not. But we did not give her away....she left; she suddenly left. The Bible says we do not know what a day will bring forth. The moment before we found her, everything was normal. I am reminded that we must seize everyday. We must value and appreciate all that is around us in every day. We must be thankful for what we have today, because there is a good chance that tomorrow it could be gone.

Amy and I also had many thoughts about people around us - appreciating people we have today. We do not know when death will take any one of us. We must value each other today. We must say the things we want and need to say today. We may not have tomorrow.

Princess slept on each of our beds on different nights, or times of the night. She is not there now. She greeted the day with me as we made coffee and I opened the door for her to the porch. Our hearts are heavy because she is gone. Some of you have lost pets. It is a very real sorrow; loss.

How much more the sorrow of losing a spouse or family member. Today in my Sunday School class, the teacher spoke from I Thess. 3 about "sorrowing with hope". We take heart that we will see saved loved ones again, but there is still great sorrow. How hard it must be for those of you who have lost spouses. Loss is real. It hurts. It is fearful, gray, sad.

We buried Kitty in our back yard and the children wept as we placed flowers on her grave. Amy wept. I wept. It was good to hate Kitty, it was good to love Kitty. I feel the loss of her.

Gone Home

2010-04-27T22:20:00.000-04:00

Mr. Woody Waldron has gone to be with the Lord tonight. I got a call a few hours ago.

Woody was a great guy and it was my joy to see him for the last time this afternoon with Pastor Valiante. The Hospice chaplain said it would not be long, and it certainly wasn't. Our hearts go out especially to his granddaughter that is taken it quite hard.

We will be officiating over the funeral and it will most likely be next Tuesday or Wednesday. Spicer-Mulliken will be handling the details. For the family, I would like to thank several people who visited quite regularly. You know who you are and great is your reward in heaven!

We will miss you Woody.

Softball Cancelled

2010-04-27T16:17:00.002-04:00

Tonight's Softball game has been cancelled due to wet fields. The team is to report to the Witmers house at 314 Jaymar Blvd. Newark, De. for a team meeting. Come hungry.

Why Still the Lamb?

2010-04-04T13:56:00.000-04:00

As I left the second showing of the Cantata this morning, I pondered in my mind why God continues to call Jesus the Lamb even into the book of Revelations. He will be seen in the future as the Lamb upon His throne.

We are told that Jesus is also the Lion of Judah. Why does the Father not only portray Christ as the Lion after the resurrection and exaltation?

I would like to suggest an educated guess. Jesus still bears the wounds that He received as the slain lamb. John the Revelator refers to the exalted Christ three times as the slain Lamb. I believe that the Father chose to continue to call Jesus a Lamb because of these "forever wounds".

Jesus will forever bear the marks of our salvation in His blessed palms, feet, side, and head. The Father chose that His glorified body would retain these marks as testimonies that our sins are forever atoned for.

This is my best guess...and I think it is a good one. Praise be to the Lamb slain, resurrected, and glorified. To Him be honor, riches, glory, and might forever and ever. AMEN! He alone is Worthy. He is risen! He is risen indeed.

Mint: Official endorsement

2010-03-27T17:12:00.001-04:00

It is a very strange for me to endorse a secular product or service. However, I am so impressed by Mint.com that I feel like it could be a real blessing to your family for the income God has given you. Incredibly, Mint.com is totally FREE and simple to use. No strings attached, no downloads. It is all online on their servers. It is highly rated, perfectly safe, and very popular in the financial world.

We switched to Mint.com when Microsoft announced that they would no longer offer Microsoft Money after 2011. We had used Money to budget our finances for a few years.

These products connect to your checking account via the Internet and allow you to set up a budget, show reports, etc. Mint.com is only a budgeting tool and does not allow you to pay your bills. It only connects to your bank account to download your transactions. Anyhow, you have to pay your bills on the Bank's website, or just the old fashioned way of checks.

So.....as I was saying originally - I LOVE MINT. It categorizes all our spending almost automatically and generates instant reports of what we are spending our money on. You see pie charts for the whole year and even compare them to the average other families are spending in the USA or Delaware. I spend very, very little time inputting any information. It does it automatically from my bank. Awesome.

You can set up a budget for every category and it will warn you when you overspent for something. It will send you a warning email or even a text message I believe. "Too much for restaurants!" it says.....Ha, Ha, good stuff. "Mortgage payment due in 5 days!" There is also humor built into the service. "Freshen accounts?"....get it? Fresh, Mint....oh well....leave the humor to the bears and Jack Wagner.

I see this as a great help for God's Church as well. When we as believers are good stewards of our money, we have more decision power for offerings like Faith Promise Missions, Building, etc. Tithes should be automatic - no decision. But, when we've blown all our money on Starbucks....well, it doesn't go to World Missions, I'll tell you that.

Hope this helps. It sure is helping the Witmers. (by the way, the screenshot above is NOT my account :)

Feed the Fish

2010-03-23T22:18:00.000-04:00

Have you fed the fish yet on the right of this blog? Simply click in the fish tank a few times.

Thanks. They were hungry.

Deacons

2010-03-23T22:17:00.001-04:00

I want to take a moment and praise our present Deacons. Tonight we had a Deacons meeting and discussed many very important things that will shape the direction of our church.

There was one issue about the new building that raised a discussion that I was not prepared for. Near the end of the discussion, it was obvious to me that many of the guys actually had more vision for the project on that detail than I did. On the way home, I could only smile and praise the Lord for bringing such faith and courage to our leadership.

Some Pastors have the problem of getting their Deacons to be excited about anything. I have the wonderful "problem" of having a group of guys that have seen the Lord work in the past and are ready to trust Him into the future no matter how great the mountain to climb, or deep the ocean to swim. Praise the Lord!

Friend and Coworker Day

2010-03-01T09:11:00.000-05:00

We praise the Lord for "the many" visitors who had a chance to hear the gospel on Sunday morning. You "Lighthousers" did a great job of bringing people.

We do know that at least 5 people took Red discipleship indicating that they had trusted Christ. As you know, we don't push numbers here, but glory in obedience to preach the gospel, fruit that will remain, and being the savour of life unto life and death unto death.

The Lord worked in our evening service and after as well. I know that many were moved by the thought of our dark world and the need for Christ from Romans 1. It is precious to see grown men cry under the touch of the Holy Spirit. Afterward, the Lord did His saving work and brought one to Christ. The Lord had used several influences outside of the church throughout the last few weeks to call her to salvation. Amen. "Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase."

COMMENTS

2010-02-23T13:37:00.000-05:00

I wanted everyone to be aware that the "comments" area of The Pastor's Heart is now available for use. I would love for some of you to leave comments periodically about each blog.

The comments are moderated for appropriateness and then published. Thanks to those who have already left comments to read.

Take care and rejoice in the Lord!

The Lord met me at Wawa

2010-02-22T11:21:00.004-05:00

Mondays are hard for Pastors. In some ways they are a great rest from the pressures of the weekend, in other ways it takes half a day to feel like you don't have a "Sunday hangover".

Though I did not preach yesterday, I awoke this morning feeling rough as usual. I was so encouraged by Dr. Stephen Jones bringing our minds to the Lord yesterday, but I went to sleep bearing a heavy burden from a ministry situation.

I got ready for "the Monday" like most "Mondays" with just enough time to get the kids to school, but without time to make coffee. I told Amy not to make it which is code for "I'm stopping at Wawa to get us cappuccino".

I dropped the children off and pulled into Wawa. Though I know it will disappoint you, I will tell you because of my stupor that I intentionally parked our 23' Suburban in a space marked "Cars Only, No Trucks". I reasoned that they didn't really mean this - foolish sign.

As I drug myself toward the back of the store, I picked up two 20 ounce cups as I heard a faint voice directed toward me in the crowd of caffeine seekers. "Blah, Blah, Blah...still pastoring there....Blah, Blah...." I squinted around wondering if I were awake or dreaming within this circle of work boots. I looked up to a face with "chillin' sunglasses" that I strained to recognize.

"I'm sorry, excuse me?" I mumbled. "I worked construction in front of your church...do you still pastor there?" It was then that I realized that God was meeting me. I don't mean physically, I mean He had intentionally put someone to minister to right in front of me on the day I least expected it.

This man's name is Van. When road crews were working on the turning lane in front of LBC in the heat of summer, the staff guys and I put out a table each day with a cooler filled with ice, bottled water, and Gatorade. We had also placed church literature and tracts on the table. Van was one of the crew chiefs and had remembered the kindness "in Jesus' name".

"Yes, I still Pastor at Lighthouse." "What time are your services? I want to come...my parents live right around the corner." Van is a professed believer who is attending a church, but was impacted by God's love in a simple act of kindness.

I tell you this story for the main reason to show you that I had not intended to "reach out" much this morning because I was tired, dragging, and self-centered. As I left Van, I had the distinct feeling that the Lord gives us opportunities all the time if we will take them. I took my coffee to the cashier with renewed focus of living in God's will today..."I'm doing good today Pat, I want to give you this pamphlet, I'm a local pastor and I would love for you to visit our church. The pamphlet has some verses that tell you how you can be right with your Creator through Jesus."

As I exited the store, my attitude and outlook for the day had changed. "I shouldn't have parked here" I thought.

Year of the Shovel Offering this Sunday

2010-02-11T21:25:00.002-05:00

Dear Lighthouse Congregation,

If all goes as scheduled, in three days we will take one of the last two building offerings before we receive our Building Permits. In the coming weeks I will hold a family meeting detailing the final price that we have just received. We have asked our builder and engineer over the next couple weeks to try to find “value engineering” to save us money that will allow us to break ground in 2010. Though it was our desire to build a finished building, unless there is a large surge in giving, we will need to leave classrooms, hallways, and offices unfinished.

The Congregation has given well over the years and we are in sight of the “end of the tunnel”. We have paid for nearly all of the Site Engineering in cash. We have paid for nearly all of the building design and drawings in cash. About $300,000 of the building is already paid. We need to give a desperate financial push to make up the gap between what the banks are willing to loan us and the cost of building our new Auditorium. This gap is significant, but I believe by God’s provision and willing wallets it can be done.

Let me share with you a few financial blessings recently:

1. The church was given legal ownership of a house that will be turned over upon the owners passing. (approx. $150,000)

2. Several people have recently purchased Wall of Honor Memorials ($500.00 per)

3. A kind family outside of our church recently sent the building fund a check for $6000.00.

4. People have given to the building fund “in lieu of flowers” at funerals this year.

We praise the Lord for these showers of blessing, and I am asking you to do all that you can in the Year of the Shovel offering this Sunday. Some may be able to give very large amounts, some can only give the widow’s mite. Please give all that you can. We ask the Lord to provide as we have followed His will.

Pastor Tobe Witmer

Fire Starter

2010-01-24T07:18:00.000-05:00

Today's morning sermon is called Born To Lead. I am preaching on the family and this deals with the Purpose and role of the man in life and marriage.

One of the points of scripture about man's leadership is his love for his wife. Men must take the lead. I don't only mean physically, but emotionally. Men are the ones that must work to keep the spark of joy, friendship, communication, and attraction in the marriage.

Concerning this, there is a book out called Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. I have not totally read the book, so I can't endorse all of the content. The book deals with ways that people respond to be loved. It is important to understand what "language" your wife responds to be loved in. Some respond to gifts, some to talk, some to acts of kindness, etc. Here are some tips that may help you men as you accept the role to lead as a "Fire Starter":

1. Talk to your wife - communicate, don't just relay information and make necessary plans. Build a friendship.

2. Write random notes to her. Leave them places. Make them short and very sweet.

3. Occasionally, for no reason, buy her flowers.

4. Show your love for her publicly. Put your arm around her. Refer to her affectionately when around people. Allow her to here that. Let her know you appreciate and love her publicly.

5. Do something that is her responsibility without being asked. This is not a role reversal, but just showing her that you care and want to help her by cleaning a bathroom or whatever.

6. Include her into your business. She isn't with you all the time. Tell her your interaction with the business world, etc. Ask her about her interactions through the day. Be interested in her life, thoughts, etc.

7. Ask her randomly to tell you stories of her life before you were married. Ask her to tell you a story from when she was 7 or 11, or 14 yrs. old. This helps you dwell with her according to knowledge, but also allows you to share fond memories in her soul together.

I pray that this series on the Family will greatly strengthen our homes to be what the Lord desires a home to be.

Allegiance

2010-01-20T10:18:00.002-05:00

The sermon this past Sunday morning (Allegiance in the Home) has stirred some positive attention. The theme of the message was that God alone should have the allegiance of your love, service, obedience, etc. - even over other family members. I used the examples of Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, many verses from Jesus, and the argument of I Cor. 7:15 to show this

There is another point from I Corinthians 7 that substantiates our allegiance to the Lord over family. It is the point that Paul makes to encourage to stay "single" if possible at that time Christians . He argues this in v.7-9, 25-26, 27-28, 32-35 from different angles.

Paul's argument to remain single is based upon two things: persecution of the time and the ability to wholly dedicate oneself to serving the Lord.

Here again is proof of allegiance to the Lord supremely. Paul says in v. 35 to remain single if possible (both from virginity or if you are loosed from your spouse) so that "ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction." He also makes clear in this passage that marrying is certainly not sin. He tells fathers that have virgin daughters in v. 37-38 that if they give them in marriage they do well, but if they give them to serve the Lord as single women, "they do better."

These things may be hard for you to ingest. They make the Lord our supreme allegiance, love, and interest even over marriage and family.

May I ask you Christian, is the Lord your greatest love? You would say yes - then I would counter your answer by asking is that true in the facts of the decisions you make with your time, thoughts, wallet, effort?

How you presently live your life shows what or WHO has your allegiance. We must never neglect the love or our spouse or family; but we must find the balance of how to love them without jeopardizing the greater love of obedience, lordship, service, time, and worship of Christ.

Haiti Disaster Relief

2010-01-16T12:18:00.002-05:00

I encourage Christians everywhere to compassionately pray and support relief in Haiti. Haiti has been a place historically where the gospel has had an impact. We can give directly to a Haitian missionary with one of our Fundamental mission boards: IPM. Brother Saul is directly working with the relief effort.

“Lucien Saul Disaster Relief”
International Partnership Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 337
Hanover, PA 17331-0337

Pastor Witmer

Andress and Mason Funerals

2009-12-28T09:29:00.002-05:00

Two of the men of our church have gone home to be with their Lord. Here are the details of their "Homegoing Services":

Bruce Andress -

Visitations:
6:00PM to 7:00PM on Monday, December 28th, 2009 at Lighthouse Baptist Church,1842 Otts Chapel Rd. Newark, De 19702

7:00PM at Lighthouse Baptist Church, on Monday, December 28th, 2009

Cemetery: Tuesday Morning
Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery
2465 Chesapeake City Road
Bear, DE 19701 (map/driving directions)

Bill Mason:

Visitations:
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home

11:30AM to 12:30PM on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at Lighthouse Baptist Church,

Services:
12:30PM at Lighthouse Baptist Church, on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Cemetery: (following the Service)
Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery
2465 Chesapeake City Road
Bear, DE 19701

A Lonely Grandmother

2009-12-14T10:54:00.003-05:00

The first adult that I ever led to Jesus was a lonely lady at a Nursing Home. Many of you know the story of me returning several years later and finding her not only bearing fruit, but leading a ladies Bible study.

Many older people at Retirement Centers are very lonely and desirous for someone who will simply talk or sing to them. Many have no one to talk to on a daily basis. A bright, new face would be such a blessing to them at Christmas.

This Friday night, you can be a part of the Churchman's Village Retirement Center Caroling activity. Lighthousers will meet at the Center at 7pm. I know Gary Fornwalt and the regulars would really appreciate some help in ministering to these dear older folks.

Because of flu scares, you need to be at least 12 years old to go.

You could be a great blessing to a total stranger this Christmas!

Concerning God's Use of Our Lives

2009-12-10T09:17:00.001-05:00

Rom 12:3-6

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school.

They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.
The duck was excellent in swimming; in fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he [became] only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that — except the duck.
The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed "charley horses" from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and a D in running.
The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there. . . .

The point of the story is obvious. Like the animals, every person has his own special but limited set of capabilities. Trying to operate outside those capabilities produces frustration, discouragement, guilt feelings, mediocrity, and ultimate defeat. We fulfill our calling when we function according to God's sovereign design for us.

(from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2005.)

Life Isn't Fair

2009-12-08T11:33:00.002-05:00

Hi Carmella!....sorry, couldn't resist.

*Some have inquired about the New Post that only says "Hi Gary". Things got very busy last month and I couln't post much on the Pastor's Heart. During that time, Gary Fornwalt pestered me about posting, posting, posting (nag), and so I posted the "Hi Gary" just to irritate him in Christian love.

Hopefully the smoke is clearing and I will post some for the enjoyment and hopefully enrichment of our loyal readers.

The Back Deck

2009-12-01T22:17:00.005-05:00

I am sorry I have not posted for a while. Things have been busy for everyone over Thanksgiving. I do hope all of you Lighthousers are continuing to apply those things you have leaned in the Revival services to your life.

I want to continue my Childhood Home Blogging until I say all that I want to say. You can refer to the previous blogs for pictures of the back of our house and specifically the view of the "Deck".

My earliest memories of the deck off the back of our house was when there was no deck. The deck extends out of our family room and can be accesses through double glass sliding doors and a door off the kitchen. Before my parents built the deck, the doors off the second floor family room simply exited to thin air. My parents only opened them when the screen was closed and safe for my toddling around.

I suppose some skeptic among you would argue that I could not remember falling through that door at such a young age, but the vivid fear of falling through that open sliding door still haunts me. Someone had forgotten to close the screen and I fell to the ground some 8 feet below.

This was not nearly my only fall. I suffered a serious concussion when I fell down the stairs of a friend's farmhouse as a young toddler. I also have been struck in the head by sharp and heavy objects propelled by my older brother on several occasions. All of this explains much of my erratic behavior.

Some time after I had fallen from the sliding door my father added what we called "the redwood deck". I really don't know why it was called that because it was simply pine lumber painted a rusty red color. I don't believe my father used pressure treated lumber at the beginning because it seemed we rebuilt the deck every few years. It always had rotten boards that needed to be replaced.

In my younger teen years, my brother and I made a sport of jumping off of the deck to the ground. This was a 12 foot leap from the top rail. As I got older and braver, I found I could hurdle the top rail while running and leap off the deck touching only one hand to the wood. Even then, my mother warned us of knee problems when we got old.

From that deck we used to throw corn cobs and spent watermelon rinds to the creek. It took a serious arm to get one over the bank and into the water.

My sister Tonia had a joke going with a fellow in the church. She would joke about his shoe size, and he her weight. One day he visited our home and we all went out to the back deck. Once more, the rotting lumber showed its integrity and my sister's foot went straight through the floor. The joke of course was that this guy had proved that Tonia's weight had caused her to break through the deck.

Under the deck, on the far side toward our neighbors the Grahams, my mother grew mint tea. Mint tea is wild and requires an acquired taste. Once or twice a summer, my mother would pick the leaves and make the tea. It tasted VERY minty and I guess I might even like it if I had some today.

My mother had a green hammock on its own legs on the deck most of my childhood years. It was made of canvass and had a little pillow. You can still purchase these types of hammocks now-a-days. I used to lay on that hammock and dream it was my boat and the deck was the water. I had to be very careful lest I capsize and fall into the shark-infested ocean.

Now, our "redwood deck" has been replaced by a beautiful two tiered pressure treated stained deck. The lower level is a circle that extends out into the yard. No one as far as I know has fallen through it yet.

New Post

2009-12-01T22:16:00.001-05:00

Hi Gary.

Our Backyard

2009-10-26T08:54:00.004-04:00

This is the view of the back of my childhood home. My father was the first to purchase property in that strip of land on Dughill Rd. He bought three parcels and eventually sold the two others to our adjoining neighbors to build houses on. At that time, we all went to the same American Baptist Church. The parsonage of the church was built two parcels from us. After a few years, the Lord showed my parents that this church did not honor the Lord and they moved on when I was just a tyke.

The backyard of my home afforded all the entertainment of my youth. It is a 3/4 acre lot and we had plenty of room in the back to play soccer, Ghost in the Graveyard, archery, and many other great games. The back left wall served as both a soccer kicking wall and a baseball backstop. I remember one day that we found some toads and so from that baseball backstop we pitched them into the air and sent them screaming with one swing of the bat the 60 or so feet to the creek.

When I was younger, each side of the yard had 2 parallel trees that served as goals for either soccer or football. My brother and Pastor's son Craig would come over and shoot archery in the yard. They would set up hay bails and shoot their compound bows. One day, after watching the variety show "That's Incredible", my brother and Craig thought the could mimic the show with some trick shooting. Ray would lay down in front of the hay bail and Craig would shoot the target only inches above him. They also got the bright idea that they could shoot arrows at each other and catch them. This lasted only a few shots as they almost killed each other. Another archery idea they had came from the Dukes of Hazard. They poured the bb's out of 12 gauge shotgun shells and then placed the shell upside down on the end of their arrow. All that was left was the primer and powder wad. They then shot the arrow at a huge rock we used to have at the edge of the creek. When the arrow hit, it made a tremendous BANG and shot right back at them. They decided that this too could kill them, so they stopped.

The focal point of the backyard was definitely the high rope swing tied from a 40 foot limb of the Sycamore tree. We used that swing for so many childhood games. It always served as "base" during tag. We used it so much that it always had a 4 or 5 foot dirt bare place underneath of it. My dad changed the rope to that swing every few years. It was a neighborhood event when it happened. Dad had devised a method of getting the rope that high by tying it first to a ball-peened hammer. He would through the hammer over the limb, and then my a series of ingenious throws tie the two ropes at just the right distance to come down and be attached to the seat. For my sister's wedding in our backyard, Dad purchased special white rope that was beautiful. He would drill two holes of course for the seat and tie a knot below the board. A very important step was melting the ends of the rope so it would not fray over time. Mom would not have liked that look at all.

A fun thing we like to do with that swing was sit someone on it and then twist up the 40 feet of rope. They would rise, rise, rise as we twisted them and then spin with furious speed as they unwound. If you were in the seat, you could get more speed by simply leaning forward. When the ride finished, the rider would hop off and stagger around drunkenly. It was great fun. I never remember anyone throwing up from the ride, but I sure remember many who could not walk for several minutes.

My father has always been meticulous about his lawn in that yard. Originally, when we built the house, my parents raked the yard for rocks for several months before seeding it. They also "rolled" the yard several times a year with a large water-filled roller that we had for many years. My father religiously fertilizes, and today that lawn is softer than most carpets with zero weeds. It is great to visit and romp around with the grandchildren or simply lay on and look up at the sky through the large boughs of the Sycamore tree.

The Rock Garden

2009-10-17T20:10:00.003-04:00

My mother always kept a "rock garden" on the sloping side of my childhood home. I assume it was called a rock garden because of the large rocks that bordered the garden and also separated the large collection of plants within.

In my early years I remember the top of the rock garden being a steady row of orange/brown Iris flowers against the house. Each end of season, my mother would faithfully cut away the plants to allow the bulbs to send up new growth in the spring. One year, I really wanted to help my mother. A friend of mine had just purchased a new invention that hardly anyone possessed: a weed eater. As I saw my friend cutting down weeds with that orange electric Black and Decker weed eater, I thought of all the time I could save my mother if I got him to cut down the Iris plants. I was a good boy and I explained the contraption. She hesitantly agreed and came to watch progress in action. As the string began to spin on that weed eater, the Iris' choppings began to fly like a blender without a lid. It was as if we were in the middle of a tornado of juicy plant shreds. My mother lost her sanctification and we were barely able to escape with the weed eater and our lives.

Another rock garden story fills my mind...Our neighbor to the left was a mean man. He was rather well-to-do and didn't seem to like kids at all. His wife was very nice though and we tried to be kind to her when we could. Our next door neighbors to our right had two girls a bit older than me. The younger, Tina and I decided that it would be a nice thing for us to put some Iris flowers from my mother's rock garden in a vase and leave them anonymously at the front door of our mean neighbor. So, me (being a good boy) asked my mother first if we could do it. She of course said "yes" and thought it was a good gesture. The problem was that I didn't understand horticulture. I found a large vase, dug the Iris plants up (bulbs and all) and put a large handful in front of our neighbors house. My mother was sore at me for several days that she had lost those good bulbs.

I found a very nice garder snake one time in that rock garden. I kept it for a while in a large glass canning jar. One day, to my surprise, that snake vomited itself up. I don't know how to describe it to this day. I don't know if it was shedding it's skin or what. All I know is, it opened it's mouth wide and vomited it's entire body out of its mouth. I was so freaked out that I dumped the snake out and ran away with only the willies.

My Childhood Home

2009-10-07T10:11:00.004-04:00

"I will look to the hills from whence cometh my help..."

I often speak of my childhood home in West Virginia. Even to this day, I draw strength from those hills. I am invigorated when I deeply breath in the air of the hollow where I was born.

My parents built our home the year that I came into this world. It was the only house that I ever knew. I thought it might be fun to share some photos and stories with you of this sacred place.

A road barely two cars wide runs up a hollow called "Dug hill". I do not know whether the two hills on opposite sides of this road were indeed "dug out", but the hollow is only separated by the road, a strip of land perhaps 3/4 acre wide, and a beautiful creek.

These are the elements that cause years of precious memories to flood through my veins. I hope to share a few with you.

Pastors in Prison

2009-09-23T10:22:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was a tremendous day for our Pastors. We spent the day from morning till night in Howard Young Prison and then Smyrna.

We go into the prisons along with the Rock of Ages Prison Ministry. This time there were 7 of us that went in. We go in teams back into the prison "pods". Pods are like 20 cells or so enclosed in a big common area with wooden picnic tables, a TV up on the wall, shower stalls enclosed only by a hinged 1/2 door, a common sink, and that's about it. The common area is about 35ft x 35ft or so.

We pass through the prison halls and come to each pod that is accessed by metal doors from the hallway. You bang on the door and are "buzzed" through to a very small hallway and then buzzed through by 2 officers per pod into the common area.

Some guys are willing to talk and some are not. The Muslim men are generally unwilling to talk. Yesterday, I found myself doing a lot of "pastoring" to men who had already received Christ. There seems to be little discipling to these men. There is little spiritual growth and these men quickly fall into the 2 Peter 1 scenario of those that are saved, but are barren and unfruitful and eventually become "blind" and "forget" they were purged from their sin. Eventually, this leads to them getting back into sin and returning to jail again.

I am reminded at how important discipleship is after salvation. I do not doubt that most of these men that I spoke to are indeed "born again". In several cases, I tried to talk them out of their hope in Christ and they would not be swayed. They were not confused in the least that their hope for salvation lay only in the substitutionary death of Christ.

In Smyrna, we are always thrilled with the electricity of the service. These men come with great joy, smiles, and heartfelt singing. Soul-felt choruses ring the air with truths of how much we "need the Lord".

We three Pastors sang "The Unclouded Day" and many of the men rose to their feet with claps of rejoicing. Brother Jeff Cassell (the guy from Sunday Night at LBC) from Rock of Ages preached a sermon about Achan "What's in Your Tent". He bellowed out the truths of Achan's Eyes, Heart, and Action that hid his sin. The message was primarily to the many believers that Chaplain Pennel and our Missionary Tim Heald have discipled for many years. When the invitation was given, weeping men filled the altar confessing sin and crying out for help from the Lord to amputate sin from their lives.

Oh, what a joy it would be if the people of Lighthouse would be serious about their sin in this manner. We may be tempted to look at these men as "big sinners" - I would ask you today who read this blog, "What is hidden in the tent of your life?". What is in your mind, your cell phone, your Internet history, your radio, your language, your reading? Oh that God would bring a stirring to us as He did last night.

I prayed with one dear man who was one of the first to come to the altar. He was weeping and I asked what what I could pray for. Very broken, he said, "just pray for freedom". He spoke not of his incarceration, but the incarceration of besetting sin of an honest saint of God.

Another man came up to me after the service. He was a nice young white man who was in earnest. He would be released soon and asked if he would be welcome at our church. I told him sincerely that we would do everything we could to help him spiritually when he was released. He then told me something that shocked me. He told me that he had been sent a letter from a very well known Independent Baptist Church in lower Delaware. Though he was repentant and broken, the letter stated that they didn't want him any longer in the church. They stated "they didn't want his influence there". I could certainly understand this if it was church discipline, but it was not. It was the response of a Christian without compassion, blind in their own self-righteousness without realization of the depths of their own depravity without God's Grace.

I plan to contact the Pastor to find the source of this letter. The Pastor was not there when letter was sent. We must never have this tone at LBC. I told the Rock of Ages men to send us every man they could who was released from Prison and thirsted after the Lord. It is our great privilege to serve these broken princes of the most high God.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

It was a great blessing to be in the prisons. We got to our homes after 11pm last night and each of us knew that we had spent a very long day exclusively in the service of our Noble Master. Good Stuff.

Bobby Ogden Funeral

2009-09-08T19:37:00.002-04:00

Bobby Ogden's funeral will be held at The Potter's Field on Thursday Sept. 10th at 1pm.

Pastor Dave Persinger from Pleasantville Baptist will be conducting the funeral.

Potter's Field can be accessed from the Southbound lane of Rt. 13 coming from Wilmington. It is the turn beyond the State Hospital before Highway 295. It is the same turn as the Women's Correctional Facility.

The 1pm service will be at the graveside and those attending need to park at the Women's Correctional Facility and walk through the gates to Potter's Field.

Ministry Photography

2009-08-26T22:05:00.006-04:00

I want to thank David Baker for doing some ministry related photography. I needed a Ministry Photo of our family for an upcoming preaching engangement, so I asked David to take some photos on the church property. David would like to consider being a professional photographer. He has been blessed with a professional grade camera and a studio quality portrait printer that his grandfather bought for him. He is available to LBC families for events as well. This is the time to use him, in five years, you won't be able to afford him!

The Haven of Rest

2009-08-26T09:14:00.002-04:00

Hello All! Here is a recent email received from the mother of one of our missionaries:

Hi Pastor Witmer,
You probably don't remember me but I'm Missionary Sergio Robles' mother-in-law. I just wanted to take this opportunity to "Thank-You" and your church for the missionary home that you make available to your missionaries and their families while they're in the area. The "Haven of Rest", what a fitting name indeed. My daughter and her family enjoys that home whenever they're in the area. My granddaughter, Kyla Rose, refers to if as the "Gopher House", because last summer while they were staying there, there was a family of gophers that they enjoyed watching. Now whenever she knows they're on their way there she says,
"We're on our way to the "Gopher House" , Grandma!!!! I don't think you know what a blessing it always is to them!!!! They're so looking forward to getting there again next week. We've visited them while they were there and it's a lovely place.
Thank you and your church for being such a blessing to my "special " missionaries, let alone the many others.

Mrs. Kim Pagan

MEN'S BUILDING PRAYER

2009-08-22T10:21:00.001-04:00

Calling all LBC Men!

Don't forget: Tonight (Saturday) at 6:30pm is the last summer building prayer meeting for men.

This is NOT a service, but rather a concentrated and extended time to ask the Lord to provide the details and finances of our new building. We usually pray about an hour.

God said "Call unto me, and I will answer thee......."

We take Him at His Word !

Full Heart

2009-08-21T07:10:00.002-04:00

My heart is full this morning from God's work among us. It was my pleasure last night to spend time with one of our men who has seen the Lord reach down in grace and work tremendously in his life. Together we drove up to Grace Baptist Church in Bridesburg, Philly. We heard Pastor Jay Muholland preach his midweek service (Thurs.)and our hearts were lifted to courage as he spoke on faith out of Hebrews 11.

He preached that faith moves forward under the leadership of God into blind territory. It trusts that God is leading and trusts Him for the outcome. The Holy Spirit worked in my heart at "walking by faith" means picking up your foot and putting it down into a dark spot that you cannot see. I feel this way sometimes with especially the finances of the building, yet through God's working hand in the life of this man and so many others at LBC, God impresses me to lead forward with a place to expand the ability to help people spiritually.

Two times in the last few months I have been under hard preaching that spoke directly to me that our new building is God's Will. I have come away rejoicing though the spot that we put down our feet is not clear. Who among us is sufficient in himself to give enough to see it done? Yet - that is not the point. God can and will do His will, HIS WAY.

We have before us the harvest field of New Castle County and immediately Elkton on our boarder. There are thousands of souls that are damned for hell, backslidden Christians, hurting believers that need a Lighthouse. God has made my heart full that with humility and exalting only HIM, we must be that Lighthouse.

Can you see them coming? Unsaved and hurt people that need a Word?...if you can't see them coming, you haven't looked around you presently in our services...they are already coming to hear...and there are many, many more on the way...

Showers of Blessing

2009-08-17T08:47:00.003-04:00

What a tremendous Lord's Day it was yesterday at LBC! It just seemed like people were "rejoicing in the Lord" (as Dara sang:) and had hearts wide-open to worship and hear from God.

I praise only the Lord for a lady who was greatly burdened and received Christ after the service.

The man who gained assurance of his salvation last week has made arrangements to be baptized as soon as possible. He is thrilled to be under the Word and walking with the Lord.

The Lord was working in many Christian's hearts as well. Amen....Good Stuff.

The "Favorite Hymns Night" was very uplifting and joined us in a great choir of worship to our Lord.

"How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!...."

The Pritts

2009-08-03T19:22:00.001-04:00

Dear LBC Congregation,

We praise the Lord together with the Pritts that they have finally settled on a house. This is a great answer to prayer in our economic times and has come with much patience and effort.

It is a very special occasion because it allows our Music Pastor to put down roots in Delaware. I remember when the Valiantes purchased their first home here and the stability it brought to their lives and their position at Lighthouse.

The Pritts are renovating their new home with hopes of moving in around August 15th. Several men have volunteered to help and are presently painting, cleaning, laying floors, etc. If you are willing to help them, please speak to Pastor Pritt.

We are told in Scripture to minister physically to those who minister spiritually to us. 1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Let’s show them how much we appreciate their family and tremendous ministry at Lighthouse!

Pastor Witmer

Safeway Response

2009-07-10T13:39:00.005-04:00

Please read Safeway's response to our petitioning against their homosexual posters: You can click on the letter to make it larger.

Baby is Here!

2009-07-06T12:37:00.002-04:00

Emma Lynn was born at 11:57am. She is 8lbs. 5oz. - 20 1/2 inches. She has plenty of dark hair.

Amy is doing wonderfully. We checked into the hospital at about 6am and obviously delivered less than 6 hours later! Amen, and thanks for all your prayers!

Show and More

2009-07-03T07:22:00.003-04:00

With the hubbub of expecting a new Witmer baby, I did not blog any final comments about the John Watson Show. I don't want to belabor the event, but do want to say a few things to close it out:

#1. Praise the Lord for giving calmness and boldness in answer to many of our prayers.

#2. Thank each of you who called in and listened. It was a great encouragement to hear the voices of the "LBC family".

#3. There have been several positive results of our stand and the show including God's Word and Gospel being heard by thousands of people; visitors that heard the show coming to LBC; three local business owners that called or stopped by to pledge their support of our stand; the cooperation of fundamental churches together; etc.

#4. Surprisingly, we have not had too much backlash from our stand. We had only one negative email and one anonymous letter.

Well, that concludes that chapter in our lives, but does not conclude the call to stand publicly for what God says. A week or so ago, my daughter was given a book as a gift from the local library for reading so many books this summer. It is a program to reward reading. You guessed it, the "teen" book featured a gay man as one of its characters. Amazing...this Gay Agenda runs wide across many spans of influence.

Let us not grow weary in the work of love, send the Light...send the Light !

John Watson Show

2009-06-19T20:10:00.009-04:00

I would ask your prayers for a quiet heart, clear mind, boldness, Biblical Answers, etc. this Monday morning on the John Watson show (WILM 1450 AM 9am)

The discussion will be the Lighthouse protest of Safeway's promotion of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

I want to make clear to you that this battle must not be for the purpose of publicity or self promotion in anyway. It may be tempting to seek attention, but that is not what the purpose is. With as little or as much voice as the Lord gives us, we must declare that homosexuality is an offense and sin against Almighty God. The Bible says in Leviticus that it is an abomination. Romans 1 says it it is vile affection and against nature. I Timothy 1:9-10 says places homosexuality among the worst sins to be realized. Jude 1:7 reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah and that eternal fire is awaiting homosexuals who will not repent.

All sinners including Tobe Witmer need to repent. I praise the Lord for that day 29 years ago. God will forgive any sinner that will repent and come to Christ.

If we are all sinners, why do we publicly stand against homosexuality? Gay and Lesbianism bears with it special judgment of God. This is a heinous sin that God judged by fire from heaven. This sin attacks the very core of God's picture of Christ and the church in marriage. Do you realize that this is Satan's greater plan? To distort marriage is to distort Ephesians 5 and the beautiful picture that Christ the Groom gave himself for His bride (the saved).

Do you realize that the average lifespan of a homosexual man is somewhere between 43 and a few years older? (this statistic is disputed, but the danger and premature death of homosexuality cannot be denied)

Please pray that this opportunity will be used to the greatest glory for God and for His Christ. May the Lord receive glory and a clear picture of His holy judgment bring fear to repentance for every person listening - gay or straight.

Please consider the Bible that condemns homosexuality is the Bible that our Presidents take their oath upon, endowed us by our Creator with "certain unalienable rights, teaches us "In God We Trust", and is the basis of many of the laws of this great United States. The words of Congressman Forbes of Virginia couldn't be more true.

"That's YOUR opinion"

2009-06-13T12:47:00.002-04:00

Today, one of our members sent me an American Family Alert that Safeway Grocery stores (including Genardis) were displaying large posters celbrating Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

I was driving by our Safeway beside K-Mart in Bear and decided to see for myself. Low and behold as I entered the store, there it was on the right at floor level. It was about a 2ft.x 2ft. poster exalting Gay and Lesbian Heritage.

Now, a situation like this demands a decision: either I get mad and ignore Safeway's blatant support of perversion, or I stand for God, holiness, family, America, and all that is right. I suppose I could just fume and preach at church about it and let it at that; however, that will not change one thing. Christians must be publicly vocal against homosexual perversion or your grandchildren will have a Lesbian President.

I calmly went to the information desk and addressed the Assistant Manager, asking him if he was the Manager on Duty. I then told him that the Gay and Lesbian sign was extreemly offensive to me and my family. I told him that homosexuality used to be against the law in our country and that it was wrong and immoral. He told me that "That is your opinion". I told him that Safeway would lose business over this and that the majority of our country was not Gay or Lesbian. He told me that his company (Safeway) was proud of the Gays and Lesbians. I ended the conversation by telling him that homosexuality was wrong.

I am asking every Christian who reads this to complain to Safeway.

The Website: www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/Comments#iframetop

The local Bear store phone number: (ask for a manager) (302) 834-4830

Boycotting is the least we should do.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" Edmund Burke

Willow Creek Confession

2009-06-06T21:28:00.003-04:00

www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11558438/page1/

Lighthouse Baptist Church was founded in part because a group of grounded believers said no to their church participating in the Willow Creek Movement. If you are not familiar with this movement, it is/was the "Seeker-Sensitive" model of reaching people. They sure did reach people. Mega Churches grew up in many places.

Now, after a mult-year study of the results of this "Seeker-sensitive" approach, a book has been released admitting that a great mistake was made. Willow Creek is full of people who don't know their Bibles and are questionable disciples of Jesus Christ.

I would encourage you to really think through the gimmicks that are being used to "reach" people for the Lord. It is not gimmicks that REALLY reach people, it is the plodding of preaching, soul winning, discipling, teaching, and a Biblical local church. Numbers and crowds are not the goal. We need to wash ourselves of the foolishness of "churching" for numbers. As Willow Creek is now seeing, it leads to places of mistakes.

Speak Up Christians!

2009-06-04T11:07:00.004-04:00

Though we don't make it "the main thing" at LBC, I believe that we should continue as individual believers and sometimes as a church group to be very vocal in our world against the immorality around us. Christ wants us to be salt in light in this vile world. I am speaking of boycotting, picketing, letters to the editor, radio, phone calls, signing petitions, etc.

You will remember that I encouraged you to join the American Family Association to boycott McDonalds to withdraw from the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. They did withdraw after Christian's all over the country pressured them. AFA is encouraging companies to remain neutral in these moral fights.

Pepsico Corporation (Pepsi, Frito Lay, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade) has become a very outspoken leader in the corporate world for the Homosexual agenda. This includes financial support, diversity training to workers, fringe benefits to gay partners, membership in the Gay Chamber of Commerce, open homosexual commercials on TV, ads in Out Magazine, etc.

I want you to read the letter that I sent to them via their General Contact site at www.pepsico.com :

Dear Pepsico,

I want Pepsico to know that I will be boycotting your company and encouraging everyone to do so until you become neutral on the homosexual agenda.

Stop giving advertising money to Out Magazine (Homosexual Pornography). Stop supporting Gay Pride day. Stop running ads encouraging homosexual activity. Withdraw from the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Other companies have become neutral: Ford, McDonalds, etc. Follow their example of an American Company that does not push agendas that offend a very large segment of Conservative Americans. We drink soft drinks also.

Tobe Witmer

In addition to writing this letter, I called the Pepsi Consumer Hotline and expressed my boycott until they become neutral on the Homosexual agenda. 1-866-626-0633

I ask the Christians of LBC to speak up and not be silent on the terrible moral state of our Country. We prevailed with McDonalds and we can influence Pepsi. We are definitely fighting a losing battle, but shame on the Christian who will not fight for the Word of God. We are to occupy until the Victor Comes in the Clouds with a rod of iron to set all things right. "Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?...Sure I must fight if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord; I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word." - Isaac Watts

Here is the American Family Association information on the issue:

Take Action!
• Call PepsiCo's Board of Directors Concern Line at 1-866-626-0633 and tell the board of directors that you are boycotting PepsiCo and asking others to do the same. If there is no answer or you get a recording, stay on the line until a live operator comes on.
• Sign the Boycott Pepsi Pledge. After signing the pledge, please call Pepsi (914-253-2000 or 1-800-433-2652) and tell the company you will boycott its products until it stops promoting the homosexual agenda.
• Call the Pepsi bottler nearest you and ask it to stop supporting the homosexual agenda.
• Pepsi’s products include Pepsi soft drinks, Frito-Lay chips and snacks (800-352-4477), Quaker Oats (800-367-6287), Tropicana (800-237-7799) and Gatorade (800-884-2867).
• Print the Boycott Pepsi Pledge and distribute it.
• Forward this e-mail to your friends and family so they will know about Pepsi’s support of the homosexual agenda. Millions of people are not aware of Pepsi’s support of homosexual organizations.

Vacation 3

2009-05-31T21:01:00.003-04:00

Hello to all in Lighthouse land. We are on our return voyage home and have stopped through Morgantown, WV to avoid a Hotel charge halfway. (hey, I believe in honesty)

Anyhow, this is the first that we have had reliable internet and I was watching some things that Brian Mensch as uploaded to the website. (Yes, I am missing our church)...Anyhow - Wow!! What a great job Josh French and Kelley Evans did on the Penny Whistle and Piano - -what a wonderful reminder that the Lord leads us like a shepherd. It was also nice to see the reminder on Memorial Day that "All Across the Country, the Country needs the Cross" --- that is certainly true of America.

As you see in the picture - I had some Fishing Fortune with the help of Mr. Powell's borrowed lures.

Well, we will be back in Delaware tomorrow night, so be sure to stop by our house and help us unload and unpack! ttfn

PW

On Vacation 2

2009-05-25T07:13:00.006-04:00

Well, I finally got around to writing the second installment in our vacation series.

The drive to Chincoteague was a couple of hundred miles. Going regular highway speed, we should have gotten there in maybe 2 1/2 hours or so...however, both Mapquest and TomTom kept saying longer. There is a certain torturous value to seeing 60 miles to your destination and driving 1 1/2 hours and still no destination.

I guess it is the stop and go of that particular Route that winds through towns, etc. This actually was good for Amy as she needed to stop periodically because of the pregnancy. We were able to hit a real nice Goodwill and peruse other people's junk for 30 minutes or so. Also, we made an excursion off the road to find a "Case Knife Store" for the boys who enjoy whittling and other dangerous things that boys do with knives. Andrew has quite a nice collection of knives and Daniel is well on his way. We have only had one minor accident with a minor wound last year on vacation. It healed.

The Island of Chincoteague and Assateague (sp?) are very nice. There is a good balance between tourism shops and wilderness adventure. There is also a very nice beach that is big enough (long enough) to get alone. We were here preseason, so the people were minimal and the ocean was ours to enjoy.

The Atlantic was brutally cold and only Abbie and Andrew spent extended time in it. Abbie seems to have a "polar bear" ability to endure such numbing temperatures. I went in for a minute and literally went numb all over. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

We were overjoyed to find out that NASA was launching a Rocket from their Wallop Facility which is beside the Island. We went out to the shore and watched the rocket soar into the sky. The children were delighted as were we.

Well, this week will find us in Amy's Parent's cabin in Fancy Gap, Va. It is a beautiful little place tucked away off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is in a Golf Course community, in the woods with its own fishing Pond. Mr. Powell "hooked" me up with some promising lures to snag large mouth bass. I have caught only a few, but know from the experiences of others that they lurk in the pond.

We will also enjoy Antiquing, perhaps a trip to Pilot Mountain (Andy Griffith Show), a trip into Galax for some good BBQ, hiking through the woods, and quiet reading on the deck of the cabin. There is also a "Game Center" not far away with Arcade, Laser tag, etc. for the kids. Oh....I failed to mention the llama farm. Nice llama...
Amy's folks have a golf cart so we generally scoot around the golf course and area in joyful glee.

Well, that's enough for now. I am supposed to exercise with Abbie, so see you later! Don't know if installment 3 will be written. Poor internet access at the cabin.

PW

On Vacation 1

2009-05-23T13:57:00.001-04:00

Packing up for vacation can be a dangerous experience. In our home, packing begins a few days before the actual trip when the suitcases are pulled up from storage and Amy begins to layout the children’s clothes.

I must admit, my packing is much easier than hers. The older children pack themselves and Amy checks what they have chosen giving instruction along the way. Ellie, of course is given the task to pack a “toy backpack”. This year I found Ellie on her floor crying as she had three “toy backpacks” around her unable to stuff her blankie in any of them for lack of space. She still so sweetly mispronounces the word “bag” as “bay-ug”.

Amy works from a master list that she created years ago that has everything neatly listed that she and the family will need. I work “buffet” style, walking around the room, thinking about what I want to pack returning several times to the same drawers and closet. My one “strangety” is putting everything in my toiletry bag the night before instead of waiting till morning. This includes things I will use the next morning. I guess I am afraid I will leave something behind, so there is a higher chance of taking it if it is already in the bag.

There is a longstanding "frictionous" point the morning that we leave. It seems to me that it takes hours to actually pull out of the driveway. I feel like Amy decides to spring clean the morning we leave for vacation. Of course, the truth is that she is being thorough so the family will not forget anything. I just think of all those cars that are getting ahead of me on the highway. One very disciplined habit that Amy has is leaving the house clean so we return to a neat home from vacation…..OH THIS KILLS ME !!! She obviously is the more mature of our relationship.

I help her and she actually writes down jobs for each of the kids to do on that morning. I do big stuff and actually pack the car……but my packing philosophy provides for the biggest suitcases to go first, which of course are the last things Amy finishes before we leave. Ugggh.

I normally am at the point of losing it when I physically pick up each of the kids and buckle them into the car….I don’t care how large my children are getting, road rage gives a man supernatural strength. So there we are, car (now truck) running waiting on Amy to actually lock the door and buckle in. I remember one year getting so tense waiting for her to get in the van that I barked at her asking what took her so long… she honestly replied that I had forgot some personal items and I felt about an inch tall.

So we all get buckled in. We have a ritual of Amy putting the second car into the driveway and then we all pray together for safety. Driving out of the development is rough because Amy is scanning her memory to think of items she has forgotten. I am trying to make it to the highway to make up lost time. As we add children I think we would do very hard to make it out of the driveway by 9am. (And this getting up at 6-6:30am!) Although I am bearing honesty in these lines, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Amy that is the brains of organizing everything from the children’s clothing to the food we take.

This year, packing was a delight with our new (to us) Suburban. We struggled over this decision, but now it is a no-brainer to us. Somewhere between 3-5 children a Suburban makes a lot of sense. There is tons of room for packing, tons of room for growing children to move around, and let’s face it – tons of fun to drive this “beast”. I like to “kid” about all the hybrids I run over.

Well, that is packing…stay tuned for Vacation 2 – “the 180 miles and 4 ½ hours to Chincoteague Island”

Answer To Prayer!

2009-05-12T21:53:00.002-04:00

I am praising the Lord tonight and all day long about the meeting with DelDot this morning.

Several weeks ago, DelDot had limited our Building Plan to one entrance off of Otts Chapel Rd. Our Engineer was happy that we got this 4 motion entrance/exit. After prayer and agreement from the Deacons and Building Team, we asked for a meeting to appeal the decision. We did not know what this may bring, and had been warned not to "stir the pot". However, I felt deeply that a frontal entrance was important to our project.

I praise the Lord that DelDot understood our reasons and agreed to the Old Baltimore Pike entrance. All that is left of the issue is for the Engineer to draw it up and address the engineering details.

We praise the Lord. This is a direct answer to prayer and evidence of the good hand of our God that is the giver of all good gifts.

S________

2009-05-02T20:33:00.003-04:00

Amy and I met a very nice lady today named S______. This lady has just moved here from Texas and her husband is a contractor in Iraq. She was a dear sister in the Lord and she shared her testimony with joy and praise to the Lord.

She has 3 children. An older teen boy and twin 16 month olds. Wow. She had 6 miscarriages after her first boy and finally told the Lord she would stop trying to have children. Through a surprise pregnancy, God gave her twins. A beautiful boy and girl. Amen.

She doesn't have a church yet and lives near LBC. She was excited to be invited to our services and we ended our meeting in park with prayer together. One of the last things she told us was she was headed for Kmart and stopped at the Park on a whim. She was so glad she stopped and so were we.

Praise you Lord for saving people and allowing us to fellowship together! How happy heaven will be...

Praising and Learning

2009-05-02T20:13:00.003-04:00

I am just praising the Lord tonight for His direction and care for our family. I don't know about you, but sometimes when I come to decisions that take faith I am fearful. I seem to forget that the Lord has directly guided us so many times, and He WILL do it again.

Sometimes, I chalk God's guiding up to coincidence. That is lack of faith. I am learning through experience that there is no logical way to explain away how many times the Lord has provided for and directed our family.

We have recently been praying for an issue that took a lot of faith. There was turmoil, the temptation of doubt, the fear of being alone in the decision, the disappointment of an unexpected turn, etc. -- but the Lord guided us and we are sure that we trusted Him in the decision.

I am learning that trusting the Lord may go against what you think you want or should get at the beginning. God often may choose a decision for you that you don't want. You may not understand why God guides a certain way and you may even be disappointed. But, were you wanting your own way or the best way? Were you wanting your will or His will? Trusting God means going His direction with the assurance that where He is leading is better. No matter what, in the end, whether you see it or not, His way is better. This is faith.

I know that God speaks to us through His Word. My decisions must be based on some Biblical principle. Some times, that principle may simply be James 1 prayer for wisdom. When we pray this way and we don't have a verse to rest on, we must believe the Lord has given us the wisdom to make the decision. We can make the decision in assurance and not look back in regret or fear.

At my last Master's class, I debated with a Pastor at my BJU class about discerning God's Will by "feeling". You cannot trust your "feelings". You shouldn't make decisions primarily based on "feelings". People who base their decisions on "omens" and "feelings" regularly make unwise decisions that may even conflict with principles in Scripture and Godly counsel. This is wrong....... However, I concede that God does assure His will to us sometimes through a "peace" that is hard to explain. Sometimes, it is the experience of many believers to know in their hearts exactly what the Lord wants them to do. I do not doubt this as long as it "run through" the filter of God's Word. I do not find this is my case often in decisions. Some of the best decisions I have made have been raw faith without much "peace".

When I have a large decision to make, I nearly always read Proverbs. I usually just open Proverbs and read several chapters to get my mind thinking as God's. Sometimes there are principles from verses that directly apply to what I am trying to decide. Sometimes it just quiets my heart and gets me thinking like God to ponder the Proverbs. In all cases, it is good.

We have the promise of Scripture that the Lord will direct our paths "if we acknowledge Him". I am working on "liking" that at the beginning of something that seems to go wrong as well as at the end. God can be trusted. I am learning.

Call Senator, Congressman

2009-04-22T09:35:00.003-04:00

Presently (today), the Hate-Crime bill is expected to pass the House of Representatives. With the support of 30 Republicans along with Democrats, this new bill includes crimes against Gays as a hate-crime.

The problem with this of course is 2 fold: the singling out of protection for a group that's identity is an abomination against the Lord and this bill will be the justification of silencing Pastors who preach against Homosexuality.

We need not wonder if Pastoral Censor will come. In Canada and England, outspoken anti-gay Speakers have been arrested for their words. (see CBNNews.com) This had nothing to do with actions, but rather the preaching against homosexuality.

I would like to encourage you to call you U.S. Senator and Congressman. A KIND SECRETARY WILL ANSWER THE PHONE AND YOU JUST TELL HER YOU ARE AGAINST THE HATE-CRIMES BILL. IT IS VERY EASY AND SIMPLE. I just called all the numbers and it was not uncomfortable at all.

Delaware)

Sen. Ted Kaufman (302) 573-6345 or (302) 424-8090

Sen. Carper (302) 573-6291

(Maryland)

Maryland Senators of the 111th Congress

Cardin, Benjamin L. - (D - MD) Class I
509 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4524
Web Form: cardin.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
horizontal line
Mikulski, Barbara A. - (D - MD) Class III
503 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4654
Web Form: mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm

Delaware Congressman Mike Castle:
Washington Office
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
p: 202.225.4165
f: 202.225.2291

Strange American Times?

2009-04-22T09:07:00.002-04:00

1 Peter 4:12-14

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

This morning, I was listening to Andrew's homeschooling DVD with him and this verse was being discussed in his Bible Class.

With all of the Christian bashing, the political correct Gay Marriage happenings, the threat to preachers of hate-crime preaching, etc., this verse speaks to the attitude that we must have. We are definitely approaching days of discrimination and probably persecution as Bible-standing Christians.

Some Christians are not handling this well. They love their country and are terribly upset that we are going this direction. It is true that we must stand very vocally against the sins of our country; however, to live "upset" each day is not right. The Lord told us that these days would come and that we should "rejoice" that we are partakers of Christ's sufferings. We are looked down upon because we identify with Christ, His Word, for God's truth.

Another aspect of this is the President Obama bashing that I hear from the mouths of believers. For one thing, just because he is President does not mean that he is personally responsible for ALL LIBERAL AGENDAS right now. For another - bashing your government is sinful. In II Peter 2 we are told of False Teachers that they would despise government. Also, God reasons there that even the angels do not bring accusations against dignities (government leaders), yet false teachers would bash them openly. We must not act like these false teachers. We can stand against sin without ugly words toward our President. God ordained that man and the angels won't speak against him - who are you to bash God's ordained?

I ask you to consider the right attitude in these days. As a Pastor, I must find the ground where I can stand for the things of the Lord with the right attitude from the pulpit. I must be serious and vocal against the sin of our country, but within my heart rejoicing that we are suffering for the cause of Jesus. The I Peter passage above says that God is glorified when I happily suffer. Will you glorify the Lord this way and refuse to allow the terrible sins of our country to rob your happiness to be identified with Christ?

He is Risen Indeed

2009-04-13T07:17:00.002-04:00

I praise the Lord for the opportunity to make much of Jesus Christ yesterday at "Bread of Life" (the Resurrection Cantata)

It was a great blessing to think of the music, drama, and then see those things in John 6 from our Bibles.

I praise the Lord for those that called upon the Lord to save them. The increase is God's business and we praise Him for working.

I was also so very excited about the response of our people by involvement, attendance, interest, etc. The 2 Cantata's back to back was a bit of an experiment I should think. We did not know who would come to what, but it was important to Pastor Pritt that everyone be there "in person" and not in the video overflow. I was amazed in the 9am service as the auditorium filled to capacity. Then, we prepared the choir and all for the shock of emptiness in the second service....but.....low and behold, there we where at about 70% I guess in the second service. I am told that there were a lot of visitors. I did meet some of them, but with the rush, could not make my normal "rounds".

I did miss the evening service I must confess, and though there were many very good reasons that we did not have it, we will revisit it in our thinking next year. I just know that no matter the fact that I am preaching, the evening service lends to a very good and wonderful Lord's Day of Worship each Sunday.

Well, much love to all and grace and peace from our Lord Jesus and His Father: Jehovah. (Read I Peter 1) :)

Rick Warren

2009-04-09T14:49:00.003-04:00

This past Monday night on Larry King Live, Pastor Rick Warren disavowed support of the marriage protection amendment and said that he had apologized to his homosexual friends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHPIhI5WDM8

Rick is the celebrated pastor of the Saddleback Church and the author of The Purpose Driven Life. I want to explain to you the road that would lead a self-proclaimed Bible-believing Evangelical to become friendly with the Gay and Lesbian Community:

Pastor Rick and present "New Evangelicals" (now Old-Evangelicals) believe in removing walls of doctrine or division that may keep believers or potential believers apart. New-Evangelicals arrive at their place of compromise by trying to have a "loving" welcome of sinners that calls them to Jesus. That sounds terrific but neglects both Prophets, Jesus, John the Baptist, Disciples, and Apostles continual preaching of Repentance from the abomination of personal sin.

Warren appears in Aids Concerts to raise money for the Aids Agenda. Warren publicly apologizes for believers who say that Aids is God's Plague on sin (Larry King Live). The disconnect here that has brought Warren to a place where he forgets Sodom and Gomorrah, forgets Romans 1:26-27, etc. is the Armenian view that man's salvation is of the greatest value in the universe. This view is willing to go to the "nth" degree to see a soul saved, even if it means removing all offensiveness toward sinners from our Bible. They want to "love" people into salvation instead of exposing the truth that they are hopeless sinners that must repent and THEN turn to the love of God through Jesus Christ.

We must understand that even in Salvation, CHRIST, not man is the central figure. God's character of holiness cannot be compromised to make sinners feel more comfortable so that they "may feel like" receiving Christ. This view places an unbiblical sales presentation on the gospel that aims to persuade the lost to come to Christ by kind arguments, fads, and acts that turns the gospel into a trendy product that appeals to everyone. A man does not need a Savior until he knows that he is drowning in the wages of his own sin. This is what the law taught as a schoolmaster. A sinner must realize he falls short of the glory of God before he is converted. He must by the Word, God's grace, and God's calling be brought to repentance of his sins before God. A homosexual cannot be saved unless he is told from Scripture that his sin must be admitted and forsaken before God at the moment of salvation. He cannot repent without the power of God, and his repenting is not an act of reforming before the Lord can save him. Repentance is an acknowledgment and willingness of the mind to abandon sin at the moment of salvation.

This slippy road does not even include Rick Warren's quest for popularity and world prominence. I cannot judge his heart motives on that, but I certainly can view his fruit.

It is obvious to you now that I totally reject and condemn Rick Warren's compromising stand. His compromise and form of evangelism perverts the gospel and keeps people from true salvation. This is not "loving the lost" - this is blinding the lost to their sin and their offensiveness to a perfect Creator. This form of evangelism removes the need for Christ's atonement at God's hand. It removes the meaning of our sin's being laid upon Christ. It creates a mighty congregation of those "sold" into Christianity with marketing techniques without being Born-Again.

I compel true believers that read this to reject any Pastor that is clearly standing against the Scriptures. Our examples are Preachers of old that went against the grain of political correctness and were even martyred for that. The Prophets and Apostles preached strongly against sin. Roger Williams, John Huss, Martin Luther, Lester Roloff, Billy Sunday, Charles Spurgeon, Gypsy Smith, Bob Jones, Monk Parker, George Whitefield, Conrad Grebel, etc. all stood and preached stongly against sin. Warren stated on one of his several Larry King appearances that he certainly did not equate marriage with pedophilia or incest. REALLY RICK? You cannot call homosexuality perversion?!??

We have sunk to an all time low spirituality in our Country . Rick Warren would say that he was a Fundamentalist in the sense of believing the Fundamentals of the faith. He would certainly say he believed the same major doctrine as Lighthouse Baptist Church. A Fundamental Pastor apologizing for opposing Homosexual Marriage. This is only equaled this month by our President informing the world that we are no longer only a Christian nation.

Amazing. Listen for the Trumpet or the Police coming to drag believers away!

PW

Kuler or Color Website 2.0

2009-04-09T09:33:00.002-04:00

Would you like to have an input in the new color scheme of our "soon to launch" Website 2.0? We would like to know the preferences of those who use our website.

You can help choose the main color scheme by doing the following:

1. Go to www.kuler.adobe.com
2. Type in the Search field "lbc"
3. You will see 4 color palettes pop up for lbc that you can choose from.
4. Choose the color palette that you like most.
5. Email the name of your choice to me at pastor@lbcde.org

Thanks for voting !

PW

Faith Promise Giving

2009-04-09T09:26:00.002-04:00

I praise the Lord for the tremendous response to the Faith Promise Commitment. We are at almost $87,000!

Pastor Barber (our Conference speaker)called the other day and was so excited at the great response. Please begin giving your new Commitment immediately.

We will be voting on the new missionaries (the Ruleys and van Reijns) on April 19th. We are excited to expand our Missions' Vision further into Brazil and the Netherlands.

Pray for our Easter service to be powerful. Pray that the Sermon would work with the Cantata to touch people's hearts in a great way.

I hope each of you are rejoicing and praising the Lord today...remember, Jesus came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly.

PW

Missions and Prison

2009-03-27T09:12:00.003-04:00

Hello Lighthousers !!!!

We have enjoyed a really good Mission's Conference with Bob Barker, the Ruley's, Jim Wright, the van Reijns, and the Wilsons.

I don't know about you, but it was a real encouragement and challenge to me. I was continually hit with the love and grace of God and how it is our joy, duty, and responsibility to spread it here in Newark and abroad to the world.

I was challenged by Bob Barker's church of 160 or so people giving over $180,000 to missions each year. The people (and their wallets) have really caught a glimpse of worldwide evangelism, and we must also. Don't forget this coming Sunday, first thing, we will pass the offering plates to turn in our small blue card for our Faith Promise Commitments. I am excited that we will exceed what we have given before.

On another note - the three Pastors spent yesterday in Howard Young and Smyrna Prisons. In the morning and afternoon, we went into the cell pod areas and gave the gospel man by man. I was surprised to meet some true believers that needed some "Pastoring" about inner sin struggles of their life. Pray for Marcus, James, and Donald.

Also, we were able to lead a man named Ivan to Christ. He will be released in April and we have asked him to come to Lighthouse. Pray that he will come and experience the love of the true body of Christ that is no respecter of persons.

In the evening, we held a service in the Prison at Smyrna. This is a huge facility with 3300 men I believe. We had about 150+ at the service. The Rock of Ages Evangelist told us that Chaplain Pennel and Tim Heald do a great job of evangelism and discipleship and that we would have predominately saved men. When the men arrived, they began with a choir singing heartily a wonderful chorus of "Your gonna' need Jesus". I very deeply realized that this was a church. An assembly of believers under a Pastoral Chaplain. It was good for us to see.

We preached from Romans 6 about victory over sin after salvation. Many men connected and responded to begin struggling with the mindset of "not paying the old landlord of sin anymore". They seemed to realize that they vicariously died with Christ on the cross and rose to a new life with Him. That sin was not the defeating master anymore. They were alive to yield their members as instruments of righteousness.

Although the room was predominately Born again, 3 men came forward to accept Christ as Savior. It was a glory time. Pastor Pritt ended the night singing acapella "Stand up, Stand up for Jesus".

Overall, it was a tremendous time that allowed us to put into practice the preaching of the week.

We look forward to Sunday and being again together with our local gathering of the family of God.

PW

Help Middletown

2009-03-24T15:46:00.001-04:00

From Pastor Ed Lasko - Middletown Baptist Church:

Middletown Baptist Church is facing a new crisis with DelDOT. We have been informed of another change in the Green North + Spur Road of Route 301. The information can be found at http://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/us301/. We are concerned because this will directly affect our church. The overpass will come along the tree line to the right of our new auditorium.
I have attached a petition that we have asked our church members and community to sign. We have asked DelDOT to reconsider this option. We feel the Green North + Spur Road will have a negative impact on our church and that DelDOT should implement the option that the public chose as best: Green North with Armstrong Corner Road option2A and spur road option 3B. We are opposed to any "new changes" that are being introduced! Could you please put out copies of the petition and ask your congregation to sign?

We need to receive the completed petitions by March 31. You can fax them to (302) 378-2443 or mail them to Middletown Baptist Church, 419 Armstrong Corner Road, Middletown,DE 19709.

Thank you for your efforts on the behalf of our church.

In Christ,

Dr. Edward J. Lasko, Sr.,Senior Pastor

Middletown Baptist Church

419 Armstrong Corner Road
Middletown, DE 19709

Mr. Heald Funeral

2009-03-12T13:36:00.002-04:00

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Debbie and Roselda Heald in the loss of Paul Heald.

Services are this Friday at Strano Feeley Funeral home.

10am - Visitation

11am - Service

Private Interment

Please contact Deacons Rich Simpson or Jack Miller with desires to help the family.

Laughing in the Tent

2009-03-11T07:20:00.002-04:00

Thoughts of Sarah and Sunday morning's sermon have come to me often lately. I can't get over the thought of Abraham and Sarah's immediate disbelief and then their ultimate strong faith. I praise the Lord for His patience in that process of rebuke and change in our lives. We need to take our faithlessness to the woodshed.

I can almost see the preincarnate Lord Jesus arguing with Sarah and concluding "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" This question is a powerful statement coming from One who knew. Somehow, the devil has convinced us that we are not Sarah. We cannot see the hand of the Lord. He does not work through the natural and supernatural to control our lives.

I do not advocate that you search for the miraculous. There is nothing more spiritual about the miraculous than the natural work of God in your life. Like Sarah, we must surrender our wills to what God wants, and He will do in us His will regardless of probabilities, impossibilities, or any obstacles.

I cannot help but apply this to our new building. God has raised up this church, and through many obstacles, improbabilities, and struggles we stand where we are today. We are blessed beyond measure as a young church. And God has naturally by His will brought people and overflowed our facilities. He has put it in my heart, and the heart of the Leaders of our church and much of the Congregation to build this new auditorium. It has been a process of faith. God has rewarded with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised, the Sears property purchased, a great team of Engineer and Builder, a great Building Team, a beautiful design, etc. etc.

Now we are in view of getting the Permits from County by the Fall of this year. All that will stop us from building then will be having enough money. Last night we met with our Builder (Nowland) and were told that since our last estimate in 2007 building costs have gone up around 11%. Though the sagging economy has lowered costs some, this is still a valid increase. The preparation, excavation, landscaping of the site have risen to over a million dollars themselves. The building itself is about 1.6 million. With all other amounts, estimates for a turn-key project are hovering at 3 million dollars.

The Lord gently rebukes the thought of us raising enough money for a healthy downpayment to get the mortgage payment of this 3 million affordable. I hear Him say "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

We must do the natural of sacrificial giving and allow God to decide when to do the miraculous. He knows our need, He has heard our prayers, we follow Him in faith, and wait on His timing. We must do our part and follow by giving and prayer. We wait on Him to do the "too hard" part.

PW

A Button Message to the World

2009-03-09T07:24:00.005-04:00

Hello World !

One of the amazing things that we have observed about our website is the fact that we get "hits" from dozens of U.S. States and many different countries. Some of the countries of course represent our missionaries, but many do not.

Our website is viewed regularly by people outside our area viewing sermons, music, or just watching what is going on at Lighthouse. We praise the Lord for this ! Our webmaster, Brian Mensch, has worked very hard at incorporating new ideas, navigation, design, etc. into our website. We are currently working on a "2.0" edition that will give the website a complete overhaul into a more simple, beautiful, streamline website. A neat fact about our website comes if you simply Google "Lighthouse Baptist Church". All over the world, our website is the #2 listing for Lighthouse Baptist Church. This is pretty amazing. The website is responsible for bringing several of our new people to Lighthouse. We praise the Lord only for the tool the site has been to the entire World.

Well, World...we would like you to consider giving back if our ministry has been a spiritual blessing to you. As many of you know, we are building a new 15,000 sq. foot auditorium. This is a true need, not a luxury. We have been overflowing our current building for a few years now. With the help of a video building overflow, we average over 260 in an auditorium of 211! Our people line up down the hall for the bathrooms, and we fill each current room with classes. Our parking lot overflows into grass, surrounding driveways, etc. Praise the Lord for this problem, but it is a problem none the less!

You can help us....you will notice a new yellow "Donate" button on the main page of our website under the picture of our new building. If we have ministered to you, we ask you to help us with our ministry. It is exciting to see people from dozens of States and Countries accessing our church ministry, and we ask you to consider returning the blessing.

May the Lord bless our ministry as WE BLESS HIM. Please do not feel indebted to give, we simply give you the opportunity.

PW

Mincy Worship

2009-02-24T09:01:00.002-05:00

I cannot say how much I enjoyed and truly Worshiped the Lord at the Sacred Concert on Sunday night. Dave Mincy is a fellow who puts his whole heart into his music, yet avoids the Contemporary trap of lust of the flesh, eyes, pride of life. Pray for him as he plunges forward into the blind will of God with his music. He confided that he feels much like blind Noah right now.

Can you see the difference in his music and what is offered to you at the Christian bookstore right now? His music is "Contemporary" in that it is up-to-date, yet is not rocky, sensual, or self serving -- Rather, it is God centered, self revealing, and doctrinally pregnant. He is not seeking fame, fortune, or popularity - He is ministering in local churches like ours.

We need to understand that we sing the "old hymns" because of their tremendous doctrine, God focus, and "singability" for our worship. We do not sing them because there is something more sacred about the time period in which they were written, or the music styles from that period. Praise songs from Mainstream Contemporary "artists" today are puddle songs (very shallow). They are focused on self experience and God doing something to me. They are also written to be marketed as a business for the greatest return with secular (unbelievers) music labels, attention, and respect. Mincy's songs are wonderfully transparent about our own sin and God's amazing Character, grace, and majesty.

I surely hope that more present day Pastors, Music Pastors, and believers will write new songs that can be sung in churches to add to our wonderful hymns. The idea of new hymns from Godly people that are far from the "sensual world" is a GOOD THING.

We praise the Lord for Who He is and how Great He is in all His Ways -- He Is God! Do yourself a spiritual favor and go to "What's New", or "Special Music" in this website and watch the video from some of the concert -- I would recommend "You are God" and "God's Plan".

PW

Eons

2009-02-16T09:24:00.002-05:00

It may seem to you eons since I wrote last. It has been a month. No special reason for the delay other than my laptop hard drive failing and having to get a new HD in it. This of course meant that all my settings, programs, etc. were gone. Praise the Lord my personal files and sermons were saved! (my programs were not saved, but some of them were under deep conviction)

This has been a great month at LBC. WOW - the BJU music ministry team was a huge blessing yesterday, weren't they? I was so excited how transparent and ministering they were. In the afternoon when we took them to eat, I found them to be the same way. We have never had a group that was so interested in our church and our ministry. Usually, the college kids are young and don't really seem interested. But this group was very special. My heart was ministered to greatly by the S.S. message and Audrey's testimony (violin girl). I could feel the pain of her journey with God.

I want you to know that the Lord is working in the hearts of several individuals behind the scenes. Praise the Lord for this strange thing called Sanctification. He actually purifies the redeemed sinner as a process before we see Him face to face. How unsearchable are His ways!

Well, that's about it -- you did a great job at the Polar Bear Offering - near 25,000 now. We still need to pray for "Big Bucks" and give the best we can. We were informed that we will save on reduced cost of steel, labor, etc. - but the challenges of our sitework have added a huge amount to those costs. I would type how much "huge" is, but I can't bring myself to look at it. We are having a budget meeting with our Builder sometime soon to look at the updated costs. We knew all along that the longer we take to build, the more building costs would rise. Every building site has unique challenges that push costs. Our challenges are the underground storm water management system, the replacement of trees from previous owner, and the work we will need to do on the new entrances.

In all these things, God is faithful! He has an exact plan for this, and I hold fast to "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." We have walked with Him to the Union Hall, to the Warehouse, to 1842 Otts Chapel, and now to where He leads. I don't say this as a cliche'---I really believe it, and it keeps my heart calm when I see the big costs of the new building with all the "zeros" behind it. God has a plan for Lighthouse, it is not a "dice-shoot". God is directing our steps. We know this because He said it. Now we act on it, and expect the reward. Hebrews 11:6.

PW

The Prayer Meeting

2009-01-15T17:07:00.005-05:00

In reading for my Winter class, I came upon this quote by Charles H. Spurgeon in his sermon: "Ask and Have":

"As to the congregational prayer, the gathering together in what we call our prayer-meetings, is there not a falling off? In many cases the prayer-meeting is despised, and looked down upon as a sort of second-rate gathering. There are members of churches who are never present, and it does not prick their consciences that they stay away. Some congregations mix up the prayer=meeting with a lecture, so as to hold only one service in the week. I read the other day an excuse for all this: it is said that people are better at home, attending to family concerns. This is idle talk, for who among us wishes people to neglect their domestic concerns? It will be found that those attend to their own concerns best who are diligence to get everything in order, so that they may go out to assemblies for worship. Negligence of the house of God is often an index of negligence of their own houses. They are not bringing there children to Christ, I am persuaded, or they would bring them up to the services. Anyhow, the prayers of the church measure its prosperity. If we restrain prayer we restrain the blessing. Our true success a churches can only be had by asking it of the Lord. Are we not prepared to reform and amend in this matter?"

Updates on Past and Present Things

2009-01-15T09:46:00.001-05:00

Hello Lighthousers! (ANNUAL MEETING THIS SUNDAY NIGHT)

I wanted to briefly bring you up to date on a few things:

1. Thank you for your patience for the Memorial and In Honor Display. A year ago, we took dedications of $500.00 in Memory of those gone on before us, and In Honor of those we respect that are still living. For many months, I worked with a professional Memorial Display Company to design a nice display. After much red tape, very expensive quotes, and dissatisfaction,etc. - I abandoned the idea for a much better one. By the end of February you will see a beautiful display in our auditorium on the piano side/lobby wall. It is gorgeous, so be ready to be pleased :) Those of you who would like to give a gift to the Building Fund in Memorial, or Honor -- there is still time, and places will be available after the display is up. We will also be offering a larger, second Tier of Memorial/Honor at the $1000.00 level. Past donors may upgrade their Memorials. Please see a staff member for details.

2. The 6:30pm Prayer Meeting start has been a Kick-off success. We have dismissed the service at or before 7:45pm. Folks have enjoyed the new format and there has been much fellowship following. It is our continual goal through 2009 to grow that mid-week service to fill the auditorium.

Please pray for my family as we will be traveling this coming Monday to South Carolina for my annual Master's Degree block class. I am somewhere near 1/2 way completed with the degree. (Actually PV may beat me earning his!) This year, in lieu of the Pastor's missions trip (interrupted by baby #5) - I will be taking the full 2 weeks of class. I will be missing only one Sunday and will see you again Sunday, Feb. 1st.

Well, see you this Sunday!