Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

There are about 200 geysers in Yellow Stone National Park. However, only 1 geyser stands out. It is not the largest, or the one that shoots water the highest. But it certainly is the most popular.

Its popularity is due to one thing: its dependability. Because once every sixty-five minutes it shoots a stream of boiling water over 170 ft. into the air. You can practically set your watch by it. They call this gyser "Old Faithful."

There are a lot of things in life that you could call faithful. The sun is faithful to rise every morning and to set every night. The tide is faithful to come in and to go out. The government is faithful to tax and spend, and then tax and spend some more. But there is one thing that is more faithful than all of these other things put together, and that is God.

Lamentations 3:22-23 say, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Robert E. Lee once said, "Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less."

I heard about a man who was talking to a big tall strapping giant of a fellow. He said, "If I were as big, tall, and strong as you, I would go out in the woods, find the biggest bear I could find and wrestle him right down to the ground." The big man just looked at him and said, "There are plenty of small bears in the woods too."

Some people say, "If I just had a million dollars imagine all the things I could do for god." But as I tell our folks here at Beaverdam, the fact is, you'll do the same thing with a million that you would do with a hundred.

God is looking for a few faithful men and women to change the world. All He asks is for volunteers who do their duty in all things.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

He Is Our Path

The story is told of a man on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?!” The seasoned guide stopped and looked back at the man and replied, “I am the path.”

I love that story, perhaps mostly because I ask that question from time to time. I have found that living in a small community in South Carolina can be like a safari. “Do you know where I can find Cassatt-Junction Road?” “Sure! Go to where uncle Lem used to have his farm. Turn right by that oak tree where Sally Hoskins was hung by the Yankees back in 1865. If you come to the sight of the Great Barn Fire of ’56, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and go back.”

And who can trust the GPS out here. If you are ever coming home from Lake Wateree at night, for heaven’s sake don’t trust the GPS! It has no idea about dirt roads or wooden bridges!

Have you ever asked God if He was sure He knew where He was taking you? I have, and God’s answer is the same as the safari guide’s...“I am the path.” Even if God did tell me what path I was on, I would be as lost as if I were looking for Cassatt-Junction Road. God sees the Big Picture, and I don’t.

God also saw fit to send me a Guide, however. Jesus promised in John 14, “I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true.” (CEV) The Holy Spirit says, “I am the Path.” Whatever storms of life may rage around us, we have an advocate with the Father. No matter how confusing the directions sometimes seem, (where Uncle Lem used to have his farm) Jesus promises us that He “will not leave us orphans.” (John 14:18 NKJV)

Sunday, April 25, 2010

I Do Not Play Farmville

I do not play Farmville, Bill.
I've never played it, never will.

Patty has hijacked my 'puter,
To make HER own Farmville cuter.

I don't mind and never will,
But I don't play Farmville, Bill.

It doesn't matter if it's rainin',
or the sun is shining; I won't be playin'.

So please don't ask me for a goat!
'Cause this game's just not my boat.

I know how much y'all love your creations,
But, jeez, I have 5000 notifications!!

Ten want chickens, and 30 want trees,
And I don't even know what that means!

So play the game and I wish you well,
But this Farmville thing is kinda heck.

Yeah, it didn't rhyme. But I'm a pastor
and wanted to leave you with some laughter.

So ask away, my chickens, my goats,
my fence row, and my garden moat

I'm sure Patty will send you what you desire
like a cow, or some barbed wire.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Easter slideshow

Monday, April 5, 2010